THE LORD’S RETURN FOR HIS OWN

Newsletter 215 October17,2010

If found when I started to prepare this lesson, that of all that I have on
ecord, there is not a single study from Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. I realize that there is a need to do so, perhaps because there has been so much written of late that speculates far beyond what the Bible actually says. It is not just the day and the hour that God in His wisdom, chose not to reveal to us but, but he also does not go into great detail.

He gives us enough that we can be certain that he is returning, enough to reveal that we must live in a state of readiness, enough to encourage believers to look forward to it, but not so much that believers need be fearful.

I read the entire series of the “Left Behind” books that a few years ago swept the world. I had also read one of the author’s serious studies and recognized immediately that they were a fictional story that applied those theories, and went deep into the realm of speculation as so many other books had and still do. Having said that, let’s look at what Paul, the Apostle, actually wrote to the church in Thessalonica. For the time being, let’s put aside, Daniel, Matthew 24, and Revelation. We can read those later, if we wish.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 King James Version

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. (Acts 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 4:5)

He did not need to write because they already knew these things, God did not reveal the times or the seasons.

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (1 Corinthians 1:8, Luke 21:34, 1 Thessalonians 5:4, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 3:3, Revelation 16:15)

AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (Jeremiah 6:14, Jeremiah 8:11, Ezekiel 13:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:9)John 16:21)

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (Acts 26:18, 1 John 2:8, Luke 21:34, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 3:3, Revelation 16:15)

THAT WARNING WAS FOR NON-BELIEVERS

They were already aware of the habits of thieves. Thieves may strike at any time, but for some reason the hours between 2:00 and 4:00 seem to be favorites. Any family who has several children is also aware that there is a reason their doctor instructs to have a bag ready for immediate use in those final days of a pregnancy. Those are occasions that you know will come, but you don’t know just when.

CHRISTIANS KNOW HE IS RETURNING, BE READY!

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (Luke 16:8, Acts 26:18, 1 John 2:8)

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
(Romans 13:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, Ephesians 2:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 1 Peter 1:13)

Our church and Bible Book shops in South Africa had iron roller shutters to protect the doors. That of the church was also protected by a steel railed deck so it was the shop and the vehicles that were vulnerable. Repeated attacks on those, caused me to lose much sleep and to start to develop an ulcer. I had to have auto glass replaced repeatedly, and one car was stolen. Shop lifters plagued the shop.

7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (Acts 2:15, 2 Peter 2:13)

CHRISTIANS ARE DAY PEOPLE

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:5, 1 Peter 1:13, Isaiah 59:17, Ephesians 6:14, Ephesians 6:23, Ephesians 6:17, Romans 8:24)

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (Romans 14:9)

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (Ephesians 4:29)



THESE DAYS WILL PASS, AND GOD WILL REWARD.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (Romans 4:9, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 15:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:13)

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1 Kings 3:12, 1 Kings 20:35, 2 Corinthians 12:1, Galatians 1:12, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 15:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:13)

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Joel 2:11, Jude 9, Matthew 24:11, 1 Corinthians 15:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Revelation 14:13)

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, 2 Corinthians 12:2, Daniel 7:13, Acts 1:9, Revelation 11:12John 12:26)

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


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RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
OCTOBER

17th. Sunday – Jeremiah 40, 41, 42, 2 Thessalonians 2, Psalm 119:49-56
18th. Monday – Jeremiah 43, 44, 2 Thessalonians 3, Psalm 119:57-64
19th. Tuesday – Jeremiah 45, 46. 47. Titus 1, Proverbs 25:11-20
20th. Wednesday – Jeremiah 48, 49:1-27, Titus 2, Psalm 119:65-72
21st. Thursday -- Jeremiah 49:28-50:1-46, Titus 3, Psalm 119:73-80
22nd. Friday - Jeremiah 51:1-58, Philemon, Psalm 119:81-88
23rd. Saturday – Jeremiah 51:59-64, 52:1-34, 1 John 1, Proverbs 25:21-28 __________

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exhalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

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The Perfect Husband...

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker-function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen.

MAN: "Hello."

WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"

MAN: "Yes."

WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"

MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."

WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2005 models. I saw one I really liked."

MAN: "How much?"

WOMAN: "$90,000."

MAN: "OK, but for that price, I want it with all the options."

WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing .....the house I wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000."

MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer of $900,000. They will probably take it. If not, we can go the extra 50 thousand. It is really a pretty good price."

WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you so much!!"

MAN: "Bye! I love you, too." The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths agape.....

Then he smiles and asks: "Anyone know who this phone belongs to?"