Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 4:16-5:8
Eschatology is the “study of last things.” There are a variety of theological positions on the Bible’s teaching on the second coming of Jesus Christ. Yet one truth is common to every position — Jesus Himself will return to gather His church, judge sinners, set up His eternal kingdom, and condemn forever Satan and all who reject the gospel. The text — I Thessalonians 4:16-5:8 — before us lays out a variety of details as to this great truth.
(1) Assurance — We begin with the assertion that Jesus will return, 4:16-18. He will bodily and visibly descend from heaven accompanied by the shout of an archangel. Those who have died in Christ will be raised from the dead. And those who are alive at the time of Jesus’ return will be “caught up” to meet the Lord and so we will be with the Lord forever.
The angel affirmed the certainty of Jesus return at His ascension in Acts 1:11: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” This simple list of truths ought to give us assurance and encouragement.
Shrum
(2) Ignorance — While we can know a great deal about the Lord’s return, there are some things we will never know, 5:1-3. We are ignorant — without knowledge – when it comes to some things — we’re not dumb, but we are without knowledge. God has given us clues, but He has not given us exact times and dates.
In fact, the Lord’s return will come “like a thief in the night.” Further, it may come when everyone is saying – “Peace and security.” Or it may come like an expectant mother anticipating the soon birth of her child.
Danger, danger, danger! — Some claim too much knowledge when it comes to the Lord’s return. Over my 45 years of ministry, I have seen too many assign dates, times, and persons in reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is dangerous and misleading. While God has given us many many facts as to His return, He has not allowed us to have complete knowledge as to the when and how of His return. Where we can speak, we speak with boldness; where we cannot speak with all knowledge, we speak with humility.
(3) Patience and Preparedness — How do we hold together the assurance of Jesus’ return and the uncertainty of the timing of His return? 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 reminds us that we are to be patient and prepared. We are reminded that we are children of the light, and we must live that way. We do not live in the dark.
Further, we are not asleep or inebriated with the drunkenness of foolishness or idleness. We live self-controlled lives fully armed with the spiritual armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).
To summarize:
• Believers in Christ live in anticipation of Christ’s return.
• Believers are to be alert, watching for His return.
• Believers’ lives are to be characterized by faith in God, love for others, and the hope of eternity. B&R
