Wednesday, May 06, 2009

New Testament survey (13): 1 Thessalonians

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

Overview

[1] 1 Thessalonians, from Thru The Bible Radio with Dr. J. Vernon McGee © with free downloads Notes & Outlines (PDF), Complete 5-Year Study (MP3), The Next Happening in the Program of God (PDF), Sorrow Not . . . (PDF)

In 1 Thessalonians the emphasis is upon the rapture of believers, the coming of Christ to take His church out of the world. The fact that the coming of Christ is a purifying hope should lead to sanctification in our lives. There are a lot of people today who want to argue prophecy, and there is a great deal of curiosity about it. But John tells us, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). This hope should have a purifying effect in our lives. (Read the complete article)
[2] Book of 1 Thessalonians, from gotquestions.org (this website is also available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese-Myanmar, Cebuano, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese – Traditional, Hausa, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malaysian, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Quechua, Sesotho, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Zulu, and 70 other languages)
The first three chapters are about Paul longing to visit the church in Thessalonica but not being able to because Satan stopped them (1 Thessalonians 2:18), and how Paul cared for them and was encouraged to hear how they had been. Paul then prays for them (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13). In chapter 4, Paul is instructing the believers in Thessalonica on how to live in Christ Jesus, a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12). Paul goes on to instruct them of a misconception they had. He tells them that the people who have died in Christ Jesus will also go to heaven when He comes back (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-11). The book ends with final instructions of living the Christian life. (Read the complete article)
[3] 1 Thessalonians, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)
WRITER: The apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians 1:1)

DATE: The Epistle was written from Corinth, A.D. 54, shortly after Paul's departure from Thessalonica (Acts 16:, 17), and is the earliest of his letters.

THEME: The theme of the Epistle is threefold:

1. To confirm young disciples in the foundational truths already taught them;
2. To exhort them to go on to holiness;
3. To comfort them concerning those who had fallen asleep. The second coming of Christ is prominent throughout. The Epistle is incidentally most interesting as showing the richness in doctrine of the primitive evangelism. During a mission of about one month the apostle had taught all the great doctrines of the Christian faith.

The divisions of the Epistle are sufficiently indicated by the Chapters.

1. The model church, and the three tenses of the Christian life, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
2. The model servant and his reward, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20
3. The model brother, and the believer’s sanctification, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
4. The model walk, and the believer’s hope, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18
5. The model walk, and the day of Jehovah, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28
Discussion

[1] Key verses: 1 Thessalonians 3:5, 7; 4:14-17; 5:16

[2] The rapture of the church is the future event in which God removes all believers from the earth in order to make way for His judgment to be poured out on the earth during the tribulation period. The word “rapture” does not occur in the Bible; it comes from the Latin word rapturo, which is a translation of the Greek verb "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The rapture is clearly taught 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. The sequence of the rapture is:
  • Christ shall descend from heaven
  • The dead in Christ shall rise first (given glorified bodies)
  • Believers alive at the time are taken up (also given glorified bodies)
  • To meet the Lord in the air
  • We shall forever be with the Lord
[3] The Rapture and Second Coming of Christ are separate events.

In the Rapture, Christ returns in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). In the Second Coming, Christ returns to the earth (Zechariah 14:4,5, Revelation 19:14).

The Rapture will be “secret” and instantaneous (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The Second Coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).

The Rapture brings comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:9). The Second Coming brings judgment (Matthew 24:40-41; Revelation 19:15).

The Rapture concerns the church – those who are “in Christ” (1 Thessalonians 4:14,16). The Second Coming concerns Israel and the nations (Zechariah 12:2-9).

The Rapture changes believers who are given glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The Second Coming changes the hearts of Jews (Zechariah 12:10).

[4] Scriptures on Second Coming of Jesus Christ:

Job 19:25, 26; Matthew 16:27, 28; 23:39; 24:1-51; 25:1-13, 19, 31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:1; 13:1-37; 14:62; Luke 9:26, 27; 12:37-40; 17:22-37; 18:8; 19:12, 13, 15; 21:5-36; John 14:3, 18, 28, 29; Acts 1:11; 3:20, 21; 1 Corinthians 1:7, 8; 4:5; 11:26; 15:23; Philippians 3:20, 21; 4:5; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:15-17; 5:2, 3, 23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:1-3, 5, 8; 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:7-9; 1 Peter 1:7, 13; 4:13; 5:4; 2 Peter 1:16; 3:3, 4, 8-14; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 1:14, 15; Revelation 1:7; 3:11; 16:15; 22:12, 20

[5] Scriptures on Heaven:

Deuteronomy 26:15; 1 Kings 8:30, 39, 43, 49; 1 Chronicles 16:31; 21:26; 2 Chronicles 2:6; 6:18, 21, 27, 30, 33, 35, 39; 30:27; Nehemiah 9:27; Job 22:12, 14; Psalm 2:4; 11:4; 20:6; 33:13; 102:19; 103:19; 113:5; 123:1; 135:6; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Isaiah 57:15; 63:15; 66:1; Jeremiah 23:24; Lamentations 3:41, 50; Daniel 4:35; 5:23; Zechariah 2:13; Matthew 5:34, 45; 6:9; 10:32, 33; 11:25; 12:50; 16:17; 18:10, 14; Mark 11:25, 26; 16:19; Acts 7:49; Romans 1:18; Hebrews 8:1; Revelation 8:1; 12:7-9; 21:22-27; 22:1-5

[6] While 1 Thessalonians speaks of future events, it also contains practical commands for believers in their everyday lives (1 Thessalonians 5:11-28)
  • Encourage and build up one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
  • Support and respect the pastor (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
  • Be at peace among yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
  • Warn those that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
  • Avoid retaliation; Do good to all men (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
  • Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
  • Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17
  • Give thanks for everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
  • Obey the Holy Spirit as He speaks through the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
  • Study the Bible continuously and systematically (1 Thessalonians 5:20)
  • Practice Biblical discernment (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
  • Avoid questionable activities (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
  • Pray for pastors and church leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:25)
  • Greet the brethren (1 Thessalonians 5:26; in the first century, a kiss was the cultural norm for gesture of affection, as in Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Peter 5:14)
  • Read this epistle (1 Thessalonians 5:27)
Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Until He Comes, Commentary on Book of 1 Thessalonians, by Paul G. Apple

[2] 1 Thessalonians: Introduction, Outline, and Argument, by Daniel B. Wallace, Th.M., Ph.D

[3] Studies in 1 Thessalonians, various authors, from bible.org

[4] 1 Thessalonians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary (11 part series), by J. Hampton Keathley, III , Th.M.

[5] No Rest for the Righteous (1 Thessalonians Overview), by Keith Krell BA Th.; M Div

Sermons on 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Is Jesus Coming Back? by Dwight Jenkins, First Baptist Church

[2] Sermons by Michael Stark, New Beginnings Baptist Church
[3] Comfort for the Believer, by Billy R. Johnson

[4] A Deposit on Faith, by Thomas C. Black

[5] Promises from the Bible, by Lim Kia Sing

[6] Sermons by Rev. Harold A. Winter
[7] The End is Near, by Bruce W. Logue

[8] Encourage One Another, by Terry Cavanaugh

[9] Promise of the Parousia, by David Krueger

[10] Above and Beyond 4, by Daniel Waller

[11] The Last Day, by Shane Robinson

[12] Ready or not, here He comes! by Robin Koshy

For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.

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