1: But of
the times and the seasons[1]
brethren you have no need that I write to you 2: For yourselves know
perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night 3:
For when they shall say Peace and Safety*[2]
then sudden destruction comes upon them as travail upon a woman with child and
they shall not escape[3] 4:
But you brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a
thief 5: You are all the children of light and the children of the day We
are not of the night nor of darkness[4] 6:
Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober 7:
For they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in
the night 8: But let us who are of the day be sober putting on the
breastplate of faith and love and for an helmet the hope of deliverance 9: For God has not appointed us to
wrath but to obtain deliverance by our Lord Jesus Christ[5] 10:
Who died for us that whether we wake or sleep 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
we should live together with him 11: Wherefore comfort yourselves
together and edify one another even as also you do 12: And we beseech
you brethren to know them who labor among you and care for you[6] in
the Lord and encourage you[7] 13:
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake And be at peace
among yourselves 14: Now we exhort you brethren warn them that are
unruly comfort the faint-hearted support the weak be patient toward all 15:
See that none render evil for evil to any but ever follow that which is good
both among yourselves and to all 16: Rejoice evermore 17: Pray
without ceasing 18: In every thing give thanks for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus concerning you 19: Quench not the Spirit 20:
Despise not prophesyings[8] 21:
Test all things[9]
hold fast that which is good 22: Abstain from all appearance of evil[10] 23:
Now the God of peace sanctify you wholly and your whole spirit and soul and
body preserved blameless[11]
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 24: Faithful is he that calls
you who also will do it 25: Brethren pray for us 26: Greet all
the brethren with an holy kiss 27: I charge you by the Lord that this
epistle be read to all the holy brethren 28: The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you Amen
[1] The times and the seasons of God’s plan
of redemption [of our souls, bodies, and the earth], are “set” times. They have
already been appointed and are not influenced by what happens or does not
happen on earth, but rather, the pre-determined “set” times and seasons of
God’s plan are the cause of what
happens or does not happen on earth Acts 1:7, Ezekiel 12:27, Daniel 2:21, 8:19 (17-19).
[2] *Point of interest: 2017 was the
international year of Peace and Security (Safety) for the United Nations.
[3] In Luke 17:26-28, Jesus commanded the
Jews to pray that they would “escape” the terrible things coming to the
inhabitants of the earth. In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Paul comforted believers by
writing to them that only unbelievers would not “escape” the coming wrath of
God. This is exactly in line with what Jesus said, and many scholars agree that
both Jesus and Paul were speaking of the last days Great Tribulation, also
known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.
[4] Again, Paul references the teaching of
Jesus [John the Baptist and Joel]. Paul wrote that believers are not children
of the “night.” Jesus said, “Night is coming when no one can work.” In speaking
of the “night,” both Paul and Jesus were speaking of the same thing, the Day of
Darkness written of by the prophet Joel [Paul also used the word “dark”]. Paul
was referencing the terrible “night” of the Great Tribulation. Both Joel and
Jesus warned people to be “very afraid” of the horrendous things coming to the
inhabitants of the earth. This is contrary to the usual admonitions to God’s
people to “fear nothing.” The reason for these frightful admonitions is because
no one has to go through the Great Tribulation. Jesus commanded people to pray
that they would be found worthy to escape the coming horrors. John asked the Pharisees
and Sadducee's who warned them to flee from the “wrath to come.” Paul promised
believers that they were not appointed to “wrath.” Jesus promised that
believers [prior to the resurrection/rapture] that they would be “kept from”
the hour of trial that would come upon all the world to test them that dwell
upon the earth. All, Joel, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul were speaking of
the terrible [last days] time of Jacob’s Trouble, the Great Tribulation Jeremiah
30:7, Joel 2:1-whole chapter, Matthew 3:7, 24:21-22, 1 Thessalonians 5,
Revelation 3:10.
[5] The Christians at Thessalonica were
afraid they had missed the resurrection. Someone had been writing [or telling
them] that they were currently in the fearful Time of Jacob’s Trouble, spoken
of by the prophets Jeremiah and Joel. Paul assured them that indeed that was
not the case, that they were not appointed to wrath but rather to deliverance
(resurrection and harpazo). Paul had
also written of this to the believers at Corinth 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18,
1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
[6] Throughout the New Testament, the Greek
word “proistemi,” is often translated
as “rule” or “over,” when it also means to “care for” or “maintain,” depending
upon context. In this case, context demands the word be translated as “care for.”
Jesus said so. In Mark 10:42-44, we read, “But Jesus called them to him and
said to them You know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles
exercise lordship over them and their great ones exercise authority upon them
But so shall it not be among
you but whoever will be great among you shall be your diakonos (servant) And whoever of you will be the chiefest shall be
slave of all.”
[7] The Greek word, noutheteo (G3560), does not always mean “warn” or “admonish.” It is
used in Colossians 3:16, where the context shows, it should have been
translated as “encourage.”
[8] It is unfortunate that that the phrase,
“Quench not the Spirit Despise not prophesyings,” [προφητεία
prophēteía,
prof-ay-ti'-ah; from G4396
("prophecy"); prediction (scriptural or other):—prophecy,
prophesying.] is divided by verse numbers.,They should have been one single
verse, as Paul is not giving instruction regarding two separate things. He is
admonishing believers not to quench the unction of the Holy Spirit by despising
prophesyings. He is not referring to simple straight-forward preaching in this
case, but rather to the verbal gifts of the Holy Spirit called prophecy, the
word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge. These gifts are spontaneous. They manifest at the pleasure of the Holy
Spirit, and when obeyed, often interrupt the planned flow of things in
Christian meetings. Paul understood the natural tendency to resent interruptions
to carefully planned presentations during church services, and reminded
Christians that God can and does interrupt human plans [with his own words]
during these gatherings. And when that happens, Christians are instructed to
welcome the words of God [spoken through the inspired speaker who may or may
not be the scheduled speaker]. And the one who is prompted by the Holy Spirit,
is instructed not to quench the words of God by refusing to speak them.
[9] The Bible is a
book of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. But even faith is
testable. Hebrews 11:1, says faith is the substance (faith has a substance) of
things hoped for (if we have hope we have faith) it is the evidence (evidence
is proof) of things not [yet] seen. The Bible is the only
holy book that [in more than one passage—both Old and New Testaments] commands
its readers to test it.
[10] It does matter
what people think. Christians are ambassadors for Christ, and [whenever
possible] should take care not to allow wrong impressions to be inferred by
observers. Our behavior and choices should accurately reflect Jesus and the
choices he would make given the same situations. The sayings, “What would Jesus
do?” and “You are the only Bible someone may ever read,” should much more than
the clichés they have become.
[11] One of the ways audawm See Special Features is made in the image of God,
is that each individual (believer or unbeliever) is a triune being composed of
spirit, soul, and body, yet these three
[completely separate and individual] components compose only one person. It is at the Resurrection of
the Just, that the bodies of believers will be reunited with their souls and
spirits—preserved whole forever. There is a Resurrection of the Damned, where
at the final judgement (the Great White Throne Judgement) the bodies, souls,
and spirits of the condemned will not be preserved whole.
