I Thessalonians Chapter 5
The day of the Lord does not refer to a single day but a season when God steps in to quickly bring about the end of this world as we know it. It is an Old Testament expression referring to “the day when God intervenes in history to judge His enemies, deliver His people, and establish His kingdom.” [Hiebert] The Bible tells us a lot about this future event. What it does not tell us is when it will happen. We cannot put a date on a calendar because Jesus specifically said, “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
Paul had taught the Thessalonica church about the day of the Lord, and he wanted them to keep it at the forefront of their mind as should we. In fact, he admonishes us to do more than just think about it, we should be sober minded, alert, awake, preparing and readying ourselves for the Lord to return at any moment.
Let's Reflect
1. What does Paul say will be the state of the world before the Lord returns?
2. Paul describes the surprise of people suddenly faced with destruction and uproar to their lives as what type of pain that is inescapable?
3. The believer does not need to be afraid when the destruction comes because they can be comforted in the knowledge that they are _____________ of the light and not part of the darkness. The believer knows how the story ends.
4. The believer is prepared because they wear the helmet of salvation. Paul also said that we must put on the breastplate. What does the breastplate represent?
5. Although the day of the Lord means that God is going to bring destruction and His judgement of wrath upon this earth, we can have great hope because God has not destined us for wrath, but we will be destined for what?
6. With this knowledge Paul says we should do what? See verse 11.
7. Paul admonishes believers to esteem or have great respect for those who are laboring to spread the gospel and to teach the Word. They are doing the most important work one could do. How can we show preachers or teachers of the Word respect?
8. While we continually teach that salvation is by faith and not through good works, we must realize the importance of good works. Paul gives a list of some things believers should be involved in that are good. Of those items listed is there one that made you stop and think? Are there some things that you believe the church at large needs to get busy doing?
9. One area we need to really pay attention to, is not to quench the Spirit. To quench has the idea of putting out a flame. We can put out the flame of the Holy Spirit when we are distracted by this world, we doubt God’s Word, or we do not take it seriously. He then mentions that we should not despise prophecies. As mentioned previously, the Bible tells us a lot about the end times, and there are many who will prophecy about those end times. Paul says we are not to despise prophecy, but we do need to do what?
10. You may think that it seems Paul is ending his letter here to the church of Thessalonica and you would be correct. But as you flip the page of your Bible you will find another letter written to them. We will discuss why he wrote a second letter tomorrow. He ends with a call for sanctification which in chapter 4 he described as someone who walks with Jesus, living to please Jesus. How do we want Jesus to find us when that day arrives, and He comes to get us?
