Times and Seasons
1 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 14 viewsThe Day of the LORD will take the World by surprise.
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Times and Seasons - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
Times and Seasons - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
Life as we know is going to CHANGE - 1
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
Times - an indefinite (not precise) period of time during which some activity or event takes place, time, period of time - BDAG.
Seasons - a point of time or period of time.
The times and season refer to the doctrines of last things - Bible prophecy.
The Thessalonians were fully aware of end times doctrine; Paul knew they “had no need that [Paul] should write to [them].” Do you know what the Bible says about the future? You can know, and God wants you to know.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
The Thessalonians “knew perfectly.”
“Know” - suggests fullness of knowledge - Zodhiates.
“Perfectly” - accurately, carefully, focus on attention - BDAG
The apostles taught their disciples Bible prophecy, and the Thessalonians were eager to learn.
What did they know with a careful, accurate knowledge? They knew that the Day of the LORD was real, and that the Day of the LORD comes as a thief in the night.
A. The Day of the LORD is real.
The Day of the LORD is a great subject in the Bible; the Bible describes it as a day of darkness:
18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light.
20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?
The phrase “The Day of the LORD” is used 26 times in the Bible. The Day of the LORD will come upon the whole world:
11 “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
“Terrible” = tyrants.
The Day of the LORD corresponds to the Tribulation period; John wrote:
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
The “times and the seasons” refer to the Day of the LORD in our passage.
B. The Day of the LORD comes as thief in the night.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
How will the day of the LORD approach the unbelieving generation? It will come upon them like a thief in the night.
Have you ever experienced being ripped off by a thief?
I have counseled previous thieves who explained to me that they looked at stealing like this: if a person was dumb enough to leave their stuff out, that was fair game and their fault for leaving it out. That’s the mind of thief.
One time, the company I worked for had a very expensive generator stolen from the job site. The thief came under cover of the night and stole that new generator.
A thief comes by stealth in the darkness of night; he doesn’t walk up to a building in broad daylight, break windows, pry doors open, and take what he wills while people are around to see him .
A professional thief is as quiet as moose?- a mouse! He comes without introduction, while people are asleep or away from their home.
In Bible prophecy, the the Day of the LORD comes on an unsuspecting generation preoccupied with everyday living.
2. The Last Days’ Political Slogan - 1 Thess. 5:3
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.
SLIDE: “For” is “because.”
SLIDE: “They say” - unbelievers not believers.
SLIDE: “Peace and safety” or “security” - This is a most profound statement. The deception of this phrase will impact the whole world.
All nations will believe that a man made covenant of “peace and security” between Israel and her enemies will prevail over the earth.
The political cheerleaders for this peace and security agreement will preach their peace and prosperity gospel in every nation. They will proclaim that the kingdom of God is being established on earth through their policies.
Billions will buy into it, support it, and receive the mark of the beast.
“Peace and security” is a deceptive political statement conceived by Satan, and one day a man will rise to power who will make this phrase his official political slogan.
How do we know this? We know this because God’s Word tells us the exact words the whole world will be saying: “peace and security.”
When you hear political slogans, statements, and agreements involving the language of “peace and security” without Jesus Christ, you know that Satan is filling the mouths and hearts of all those who repeat it.
Let’s make this very clear; there will be no true peace and security on this earth until the Messiah, our Lord Jesus, rules this earth:
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
It is written of the Lord Jesus Christ only: “of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end...” and of no other! Jesus said, “all who ever came before me a thieves and robbers...” - Jn. 10:8.
Saints, when you hear this phrase “peace and security” being heralded throughout the Middle East and the world, especially as it pertains to Israel, then beware! It is the gospel of the antichrist who will deceptively seek to induct a false kingdom of God on earth through miracles, signs, wonders, economic prosperity, security, worship, and world peace the whole while ignoring the Gospel of Jesus Christ and killing those who believe Christ’s truth.
SLIDE: “Then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains...”
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.
Please note the pronouns in this passage: “they say,” “upon them,” and “they shall..” Notice how the pronoun “we” is used in chapter 4:13-18 distinguishing believers from unbelievers.
Believers go to the Lord in the rapture while unbelievers enter the Day of the LORD.
The Day of the LORD will come suddenly or unexpectedly upon those who submit to and declare the “peace and security” gospel of the spirit of the antichrist.
Has anything ever happened to you “suddenly” or “unexpectedly?” I have had many sudden experiences from being hit on the bumper of my car to being decleated (knocked off my feet) in a college football game to being told Ronald Regan had been shot to hearing the Twin Towers collapsed!
Often times, bad things come suddenly or unexpectedly.
The Day of the LORD will come and the unbelieving world will be clueless.
How will this sudden destruction come upon them? It will come upon them “as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.”
A pregnant woman experiences unavoidable painful contractions that grow stronger and stronger until the baby arrives. The pains are severe. That is Paul’s point here. The Day of the LORD is severe, unavoidable, and painful.
SLIDE: “And they shall not escape.”
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.
No unbeliever will escape the Day of the LORD’S wrath upon the earth, but I believe that believers who are alive before the Tribulation will escape the Day of the LORD in the Rapture.
The only way to escape the Day of the LORD is to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ before the Day comes.
Jesus said it was possible to escape the Day of the LORD if one followed Him:
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
It is my prayer that you understand with “perfect knowledge” the Day of the Lord.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your God and Savior, please hear the Gospel:
Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins.
Jesus Christ was buried.
Jesus Christ rose again the third day.
This truth is in accordance with the Scriptures - 1 Cor. 15:1-8.
All who repent of their sins and believe this Gospel of the Kingdom will be saved from eternal conscious damnation in the Lake of Fire, receive eternal life, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and be forgiven of all their sins.
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
God bless you.