Sudden Destruction

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

 

My desire is to encourage you. Paul, Silas, and Timothy also wanted to encourage the church in Thessalonica and throughout the ages.

 

In chapter 4, the encouragement is explicit. The dead in Christ will rise first, and we will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air with them. And thus, we will be with the Lord forever.

 

With this straightforward explanation, the missionaries turn to look at the times and seasons. The question is, “If we can be sure the resurrection hasn’t happened yet, how will we know when it will happen?”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:2 says that we know that the time will come like a thief in the night, which means suddenly and unexpectedly. But like the thief, only those who are sleeping will be surprised. So, we too will not be surprised because we are not sleeping.

 

However, those who do not believe the word of God will suffer a strong delusion. (2 Thess. 2:11-12) They will think that the world has finally reached a place of peace and safety. But it is at that point that sudden destruction will come upon them.

 

God wants us to understand all this, so He has told us quite a bit about it. First, no one needs to suffer this destruction, but many will.  Look with me at 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (NKJV) 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

God takes no pleasure in the death of the unrighteous. But we see here that some choose not to believe the truth but take pleasure in unrighteousness. Since they refuse the truth, they are increasingly deluded. We cannot expect anything different. If a person refuses to believe the truth, the lie is all that is left. God does not take away their intelligence or their thirst for truth, so, refusing to believe the truth, they participate in creating the strong delusion. God does not lie or deceive anyone, but if a person invites the devil in and, for all practical purposes, asks for the lie, God does not stop them, and He does not take away their power to choose. By their choice not to believe the truth, the path to sudden destruction is set.

 

As far as sudden destruction is concerned, Jesus taught about the destruction that is coming. Matthew 24 tells us some of what Jesus said about this. 

Matthew 24:6 (NKJV) “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

 

Wars, pestilence, disasters, and evil must come to pass, but they do not signal the end. However, an interesting phenomenon is about to take place. Daniel 9 tells us:

Daniel 9:27 (NKJV) Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

 

The “he” in this verse is speaking of the Antichrist. He will make a seven-year covenant (treaty) with Israel. That is one aspect of “peace and safety.” Next, let’s look at a verse from Revelation 6.

Revelation 6:2 (NKJV) And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

 

In this verse, the rider on the white horse is the Antichrist. He has a crown, and we know from the Scriptures that he will set up a government over the whole earth. He has a bow but no arrows. He will conquer without bloodshed. Probably an economic measure, which is now within the realm of possibility, given the world’s economic shift to the internet. 

 

Between the establishment of a globe-spanning government and a treaty with Israel, the whole world will say, “Finally, an age of peace!”

 

But let’s look at what Jesus says about what will happen at that time. In Matthew 24, He says:

Matthew 24:21-22 (NKJV) 21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

 

Jesus says that there has never been, and never will be, a time of greater tribulation than what is going to happen at that time. So, when people think they finally have world peace, sudden destruction will come. To give us an idea of how bad those days will be, Jesus says, “Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved.” Jesus will end this time before everyone on earth is dead, but from the Scriptures, we know that somewhere between half and 3 out of 4 people on earth will die. So out of 8 billion people, only 2 billion will survive the 7 years.

 

That is the second element of the threat hanging over Earth's inhabitants.

 

We have seen that when people think that world peace is finally a reality, the worst wars and disasters the world has ever seen will happen. And there is still a third element to the threat that hangs over the earth. 

 

The third element is “They shall not escape.”

 

Simply put, there will be nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

 

Now, you will recall that the Author is giving words of comfort to believers in Christ. Let’s look at a couple of things He says that are comforting.

 

First, He says:

1 Thessalonians 5:4 (NKJV) But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

 

God told us what is going to happen. I have told you today what God says. None of us will be surprised by these things. But that is not the best comfort for us believers. Let me show you a couple of verses.

 

First, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (NKJV) 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

 

God did not appoint us for this wrath. He does not mean for us to experience it. Look at the words this passage ends with. “Whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” These words take us back to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV) 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

 

These verses echo each other. “We shall always be with the Lord.” 2 Thessalonians 2 teaches us that the Antichrist will not come into his world dominance until we, the Church, are taken out of the way. It says:

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

 

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 (NKJV) 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will do so] until He is taken out of the way.

 

Verse 6 says we know what is restraining the man of sin from being revealed. How do we know? Remember, Jesus told us that we are the salt of the earth. We, the Church, are what needs to be taken out of the way, because we are a preservative. The “He” in this verse is the Holy Spirit who lives in each member of the Church. We will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air because we are in the way of God dealing with the evil in the world.

 

We can comfort each other with these words because we will be attending a feast in Heaven while these things are happening on the earth. 

 

Let’s share the message of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ with everyone we can so that they, too, may escape the wrath that is to come.

 

If you are not sure of your relationship with Jesus, let’s take care of that right now. There is nothing you need to do to get ready. But you do need to ask, because God does not force us. We have all broken God’s law and are destined for wrath, unless we ask Jesus to be our Savior.

 

Just ask. Following is a prayer you can pray. The words are not what is important. Your heart and intention to ask are what matter. But if you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can pray this prayer or something like it right now.

 

Jesus, I recognize that I need you as my Savior. I know that I have sinned and ask you to forgive my sin and make me your child. Please come into my life and be my Savior. Amen.

 

If you have just prayed that prayer, you ought to let someone know. Doing so will confirm your decision and add a confession of your faith to your request. 

Romans 10:9-10 (NLT) 9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Peace and Safety

Peace and Safety

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

 

 

As we continue with our study of 1 Thessalonians, we come to chapter 5, focusing on the same verses we looked at in the previous article, where we discussed the times and seasons mentioned by the authors of 1 Thessalonians in chapter 5, verse 1. 

 

We come now to look at part of verses 2 and 3. These verses say:

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (NKJV) 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

 

These verses sound ominous, scary even. The words “sudden destruction” and “they shall not escape” tell us that bad things are coming.

 

This verse describes a threat looming over the world. Three components of this threat hang over Earth's inhabitants. They are as follows:

1. Men say, “Peace and Safety.”

2. Sudden destruction comes upon them.

3. They shall not escape.

 

We will go through them in order, but in this article, we will only discuss “Men say, ‘Peace and Safety.’”

 

Let’s look at 1 Thessalonians 5:3 again.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (NKJV) For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

 

This reveals a problem in humanity. There are scoffers among us. God has made it clear in His word what He will do. But throughout history, most people have not paid much attention. Jesus spoke about this in Luke 17, when He was explaining His return to His disciples. He said:

Luke 17:26-30 (NKJV) 26 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed [them] all. 30 “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

 

Consider Noah as an example. Noah preached to the people around him for a hundred years while building the Ark. Anyone who listened was welcome to join him on the Ark. If people had listened, they could have built multiple Arks, but, sadly, people mocked Noah and kept on with their usual ways. This worked for them for 100 years, until it didn’t.

 

2 Peter 3:3-6 tells us:

2 Peter 3:3-6 (NKJV) 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world [that] then existed perished, being flooded with water.

 

We should observe three things about these people and ensure we are not like them. First, they do not take God's word seriously—they scoff at it. Second, they walk according to their own lusts. In other words, they see life as about pursuing what they can get for themselves. Their desires rule their lives. And third, they intentionally forget. We have a world full of evidence of the flood, yet people have found a different way to explain the evidence and deny the truth.

 

So, the first threat looming over Earth's inhabitants is of their own making. They say “Peace and safety” because they refuse to see the obvious signs God has given.

 

The second element of the threat is “Sudden destruction comes upon them.”

 

“Sudden Destruction” will be the topic for a later time.

 

At this point, let’s wrap up this session with a question.

 

Do we scoff at the word of God? Is there something that God says that we ignore, explain away, or question, like “Did God really say?”

 

I want to challenge you. If you have a sin or a habit that you know displeases God, do what you have to do to get rid of it.  

 

Let’s read what Galatians 6:7-8 says.

Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

 

My challenge to you is to sow (plant) to the Spirit and reap everlasting life.

 

First, ask God to help you, to save you from the trap you find yourself in.

 

Next, confess your sin.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Then plant the word of God in your heart. Don’t just read it, think on it. Mull it over in your thoughts. Memorize it. Think through how to implement it in your life.

 

In doing these things, you will find the joy of the Lord and avoid the sudden destruction that comes from ignoring truth and warnings. 

Times and Seasons

Times and Seasons

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

We live in uncertain times. Each person reacts differently. Some are too busy having fun to worry about it, while others are so worried that they try to have fun as a way to escape their fears. Some are so anxious they can't sleep, and others are so scared that they numb themselves with drugs. Many rely on governments to get their act together and fix the issues. 

The United Nations has a Scripture engraved on a wall:

They shall beat their swords into plowshares... nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

These words are from Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3, both of which speak of the time, still in the future, when Jesus will return and set up His kingdom. God’s word makes it clear that world peace will not happen until that time. However, some are supremely confident that humanity will solve its problems.

God has many things to say about the future. For those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, God’s words are very comforting. For those who do not believe, fear is the appropriate response.

The Thessalonians were concerned about what was happening in their day, so Paul addressed their concerns, saying:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 (NKJV) 1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

“Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.”

I read that and say, “But you are going to do it anyway!”

It’s like when we say, “No offense, but…” Such a saying is a signal that something offensive is about to happen.

However, when Paul says, “You have no need that I should write you concerning the times and the seasons,” he indicates that he plans to discuss something else. The topic he will discuss relates to the times and seasons, but it is not about the times and seasons themselves. The real subject is “Be READY!”

Look again at this passage: “Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.” What are these “times and seasons” he is referring to?

This question is answered in the following sentence when he says, “You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”

He is talking about the coming “Day of the Lord.”

What does he mean when he says we know perfectly? Do we even know what he means by “Day of the Lord?”

On a personal level, we all know what the Day of the Lord is. We know we will die, but we don't know exactly when. It will come like a thief in the night—unexpected and sudden. Some of us die from diseases that take time, so we are aware that our time is limited, but we don't see the exact moment of our death. However, when we die, we will have our personal “Day of the Lord.” It's even a common saying, “He is going to meet his Maker.”

Going to meet our Maker carries the idea of judgment. Hebrews 10:26-27 tells us:

Hebrews 10:26-27 (NKJV) 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

We all instinctively know that we will be judged when we meet our Maker. Just as we each have our personal “Day of the Lord,” the world also will have its “Day of the Lord.” The Bible says a lot about this coming Day, and we should not be ignorant of what it says. Be ready!

Paul says they do not need him to write about times and seasons related to this “Day of the Lord.” The words “times and seasons” need a bit of clarification, so let me explain what Paul is talking about. When I looked up the Greek words Paul used, the meaning became a little clearer. 

The Greek word translated “times” is χρόνων (chronōn). The meaning of this word is “a space of time or interval.” It might be a short time — just a few minutes — or a long time — just a few centuries. When we refer to “the age of the dinosaurs,” we mean the interval of time that dinosaurs lived on the Earth. We all intuitively know that we are living in the final days of the earth, but no one knows the day. We call this the end times or the last days. Be ready!

Next, we will look at the Greek word καιρῶν (kairōn), which is translated “seasons.” This word means “a set or proper time, an occasion.” When we want to meet with someone, we set a time, such as Tuesday at 8:00am. There is a day set when Jesus will return. God has set the hour of His return, and only He knows when it is. Be ready!

When asked by His disciples when He would set up His kingdom, Jesus said:

Acts 1:7 (NKJV) And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

Thus, the time will come like a thief in the night. It will be unexpected and sudden. Be ready!

We all know this instinctively. We can figure it out on our own. However, many people ignore the warning signs and their own inner person that keeps saying, “You know this is all going to end soon.” They go on about their business. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 tells us:

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (NKJV) For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

People tell themselves, “We are safe and still have time.” And, they ignore that their own lives can end at any time, and they ignore that the God who made this earth may return at any time. Be ready!

However, Paul tells us:

1 Thessalonians 5:4 (NKJV) But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

All this “Be ready” talk may have you wondering how to “Be ready.” Preparing is the simplest things in the world!  When Jesus was explaining how to enter the kingdom of God,  He said:

John 3:16 (NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

If we believe in Jesus, we have nothing to fear. On the contrary, His coming is the great hope of us believers. It means that we will be with Him forever! He will wipe away every tear, take away all our sorrows, and give us perfect health. And, these are just the beginning of endless blessings!

If you are afraid, you can find comfort in Jesus Christ. He said that whoever calls on His name will be saved, and He means it. If you simply call on His name, you will be saved.

Call on Him today. Be ready!