Discerning the End Times - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (v.1-2)
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)
1. Having future hope strengthens today.
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” (4:13)
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (4:18)
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (5:11)
“While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (5:3)
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v.9)
2. Knowing what we are waiting for.
“For the Lord himself with descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (4:16-17)
“We’re not going to be taken out of this world into heaven but heaven is going to come down at the end of time to renew this world.” (Tim Keller)
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” (Revelation 21:1)
“So we will always be with the Lord.” (4:17b)
3. Being spiritually on
“So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (v.6)
a. Putting spiritual armor
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” (v.8)
b. Living out missionally.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) In order to save more people
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
Eschatology & Ethics
Eschatology & Evangelism
c. Waiting for the bridegroom
“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9)
