Tag: Advice

Faithful is He – Part 1

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1Thessalonians 5:24-28 Faithful is he that called you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens. 

‘Faithful is he’ – Twelve times God and Christ are called faithful (Deut. 7:9; Isa. 49:7; 1Cor. 1:9; 10:13; 2Thess. 3:3; Heb. 10:23; 11:11; 1Pet. 4:19; 1Jn. 1:9; Rev. 1:5; 3:14; 19:11).

God is faithful and will not let one endure more temptations than he can bear (1Cor. 10:13-14), nor will He allow one to be lost without doing all in His power to save him (John 3:16; 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17). If a man falls into sin or is lost it is his own responsibility. He has not taken God’s way, as the psalmist did (Ps. 119:30, 173). As a last resort, God may allow trouble and even permit satan to afflict with disease to bring a man back to righteousness (Job 33:14-29).

‘Brethren, pray for us.’ Constantly Paul asked for the prayers of the saints. He recognized their prayers as more valuable than all their wealth and help otherwise.

‘Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.’ This was an Eastern custom and was used amongst believers.

‘I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.’ A reason for this is not clear unless there may have been some danger of it not being read to all the believers of the Christian congregations, or perhaps local groups in and around Thessalonica.

‘Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.’ Paul begins and ends the epistle with a statement about the grace of Christ.

To be continued…

Sanctify You Wholly – Part 2

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1Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All souls are fully conscious between death and the resurrection, the righteous souls being conscious in paradise and heaven (2Cor. 5:8; Php. 1:21-24; Heb. 12:22-23; Rev. 6:9-11), and the wicked souls in hell (Isa. 14:9; Luke 16:19; Rev. 20:11-15). For example, compare Acts 2:27 with Psalm 16:10; 1Corinthians 15:45 with Genesis 2:7; etc.

Psuche (G5590) is used for: Lower animals (Rev. 8:9; 16:3); Man as an individual (Acts 2:41, 43; 3:23; 7:14; 27:37; Rom. 2:9; 13:1; 1Cor. 15:45; Jas. 5:20; 1Pet. 3:20; 2Pet. 2:14; Rev. 6:9; 18:13; 20:4). The life of man, which can be lost, destroyed, saved, etc. and translated life (Matt. 2:20; 6:25; 10:39; 16:25; 20:28; Mark 3:4; 8:35; 10:45; Luke 6:9; 9:24, 56; 12:22-23; 14:26; 17:33; John 10:11-17; 12:25; 13:37-38; 15:13; Acts 15:26; 20:10, 24; 27:10, 22; Rom. 11:3; 16:4; Php. 2:30; 1Jn. 3:16; Rev. 12:11). The life of a man, which can be lost, destroyed, saved, etc. and translated soul (Matt. 10:28; 16:26; Mark 8:36-37; Luke 12:20; 21:19; 1Thess. 2:8; 5:23; Heb. 4:12; 6:19; 10:39; 13:17; Jas. 1:21; 1Pet. 1:9; 2:11, 25; 4:19). Man, to emphasize self, such as my soul, or myself (Matt. 11:29; 12:18; 26:38; Mark 14:34; Luke 1:46; 12:19; John 12:27; Heb. 10:38; 1Pet. 1:22). The powers of one’s being (Matt. 22:37; Luke 2:35; 10:27; Acts 4:32; 3Jn. 1:2; Eph. 6:6; Php. 1:27).

‘Body’ – The body is the house of the soul and spirit and goes back to dust again at death (Gen. 3:19) and becomes immortal in the resurrection (1Cor. 15:54-58).

‘Unto’ [Greek: en] Translated as “at,” 1Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13. It is at the rapture that saints will be set apart wholly unto God and His eternal will and made whole in body, soul, and spirit (1Cor. 15:51-58; Php. 3:21; Rom 8:18-25; 1Pet. 1:5, 9, 13).

‘Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ In each chapter of this epistle, the coming of the Lord is presented in a different aspect: 1Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23.

Sanctify You Wholly – Part 1

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1Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

‘And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly …’ This is the 5th and last New Testament prophecy in 1Thessalonians (5:23-24). If you will obey the commands of the note on 1Thessalonians 5:22, the God of peace will sanctify you (set you apart) wholly for His service and will.

‘Spirit’ [Greek: pneuma] is the equivalent of the Hebrew ruwach. Pneuma is used 385 times in the New Testament. “Pneuma” is used of [1] God as Spirit (John 4:24; 2Cor. 3:17); [2] Christ (1Cor. 6:17; 15:45); [3] The Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18, 20; 3:11, 16 – altogether of Him over 240 times); [4] Christ’s spirit (Mark 2:8; 8:12; Luke 2:40; John 11:33; 19:30); [5] Angels (Heb. 1:7, 14; Ps. 104:4); [6] Spirits of men (Matt. 5:3; 1Cor. 2:11; 6:20; 1Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12; 12:23); [7] Evil spirits (Matt. 8:16; 10:1; 12:43; Acts 8:7; 16:16; Rev. 16:13; 18:2); [8] The resurrection body (1Cor. 15:44).

‘Soul’ – the soul of man [Greek: psuche] life; soul or spiritual part in contrast to the material body; a departed soul; also the spirit which still retains the shape and size of its living owner; the seat of the desires, feelings, passions, appetites, and emotions. Psuche is the only word translated as “soul” in the New Testament. It occurs 105 times. Translated “soul” 58 times; “life” 40 times; “mind” 3 times; and “heart, heartily, us,” and “you” once each. Psuche corresponds to the Hebrew word nephesh in the Old Testament. Job 14:22 plainly expressed the often repeated doctrine of the material and spiritual natures of man. The flesh was upon him and his spirit within him. Only the body is material and of dust and will return to dust (Gen. 2:7; 3:19; Eccl. 3:19-21). The inner man, which is made up of soul and spirit, is spiritual; it was created to live inside the body (Gen. 2:7). At death the body dies and the inner man leaves it, going to paradise or hell depending on the way the individual lived in his lifetime – whether he accepted God’s provision of salvation and conformed to the righteousness taught in the Bible.

To be continued…

Abstain

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1Thessalonians 5:16-22 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

‘Abstain from all appearance of evil.’ Twenty-two commands and admonitions: Do not sleep; be spiritually alive (5:6). Watch, and be alert for enemies. Let us be sober, not intoxicated (5:6-7). Put on the armour of God (5:8; Eph. 6:1-24). Comfort one another (5:11; 4:18). Edify or build up one another. Know or be kind to ministers (5:12). Esteem ministers highly in love (5:13). Live in peace among yourselves. Warn the unruly, the disorderly (5:14). Console the fainthearted. Sustain the weak, strengthless (5:14; 1Cor. 8:10). Be patient with all men. Render evil to no man (5:15). Follow that which is good. Rejoice always in all things (5:16). Pray always about all things (5:17). Give thanks always in all things (5:18). Quench not the Spirit (5:19). Despise not prophesyings (5:20). Test all things; retain the good (5:21). Abstain from all appearance of evil, not only from all evil (5:22).

Not Appointed Us to Wrath

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1Thessalonians 5:9-11 For God had not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do. 

‘For God had not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.’ God has not appointed Christians to go through the tribulation wrath, the sudden destruction of 1Thessalonians 5:2-3; Revelation 6:1-19:21 and Matthew 24:15-21, or the wrath of eternal hell, but to be delivered by the rapture [resurrection] so that whether we live or die we should live together with Him forever (5:9-10; 4:13-18; 2Thess. 2:7; Rev. 4:1).

‘Whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.’ This refers to the rapture of 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 and proves that all in Christ – dead or alive – will be raptured and live with Christ forever and that all will escape the wrath of 1Thessalonians 5:1-3, 9; Matthew 24:15-21 and Revelation 6:1-19:21.

‘Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another.’ This expression is used in 1Thessalonians 4:18 and here, and in each passage, it refers to comfort because of the rapture and escape of the wrath which will be poured out upon men after the rapture and before the second coming (Rev. 6:1 – 19:21).

As a Thief

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1Thessalonians 5:4-5 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 

‘Are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.’ Christians are not in ignorance and darkness about the day of the Lord (5:1-2, 4-5, 9). The rapture takes place at least seven years before the second coming (2Thess. 2:7). Therefore, they will not be here for that day to overtake them as a thief like it will the ungodly (5:2-5). The Jews had a tradition that God would judge the Gentiles at night when they were careless and asleep in sin, but would judge the Jews in the day when they would be keeping the law. But both Jews and Gentiles who miss the rapture will have the day of the Lord come upon them as a thief. It is only brethren who will be translated and escape this day (5:4-5, 9; Luke 21:36).

‘You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.’ We are all Christians and will escape that sudden destruction (5:4-5, 9). Since we are of light and of the day, not of the darkness and night, we will not suffer the destruction appointed to children of darkness. The reason is clear from this fact, as well as what is stated in 1Thessalonians 5:9 and 2Thessalonians 2:7.

Sudden Destruction Comes

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1Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

‘For when they shall say, Peace and safety.’ Time of sudden destruction: When Antichrist shall have conquered the 10 kingdoms inside the Roman Empire in the first 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 7:23-24; Rev. 13:1-18 and 17:1-18), and by these kingdoms shall have conquered Russia and the other nations north and east of the Roman empire in the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 11:40-45), it will be time for the world to be saying “Peace and safety.” They will think that getting rid of Israel (Zech. 14:1-21) will mean no further wars. They will then look forward to a period of peace and prosperity, but the Lord will come suddenly when Jerusalem is half taken and sudden destruction will be upon all the nations at Armageddon (Zech. 14:1-21; Joel 3:1-21; Rev. 19:11-21).

‘Destruction come upon them.’ [Greek: olethros] ruin, destruction, plague, pest (5:3; 2Thess. 1:9; 1Cor. 5:5; 1Tim. 6:9). This destruction did not kill the man. Whatever it was it was capable of bringing him to repentance (2Cor. 2:7).

‘As travail upon a woman with child.’ Just like a woman knows she must travail if she is with child but knows not the day or the hour, so it is with the sudden destruction. We know the times and seasons of it, but not the day or the hour. Since the second coming of Christ brings this sudden destruction, it means that men will not know the exact day or the hour of His coming. This will always be the case, as predicted by Christ in Matthew 24:36, 24:39, 42-51; 25:13. Jesus Christ and angels do not know the day or hour of the second coming (Mark 13:32).

‘They shall not escape.’ The destruction will be general among the nations. The cities of the nations will fall in a great earthquake. Hail will fall weighing 52 kg., and the armies of the nations at Armageddon will be destroyed except for the sixth part of them (Ezek. 39:2; Zech. 14:1-5, 16-21; Rev. 19:11-21). Many will be left alive to enter the Millennium (Zech. 14:16-21; Isa. 2:1-4; Matt. 25:31-46).

The Day of the Lord

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1Thessalonians 5:1-2 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 

‘Times and the seasons.’ This refers to the times and seasons when the rapture (2Thess. 2:7; Rev. 4:1) and the day of the Lord will take place.

‘The day of the Lord’ – The day of the Lord here is the Millennium, from the second coming to the rebellion of satan at the end of that period (Rev. 19:11 – 20:10). The day of the Lord cannot come until the Lord comes to reign (Isa. 2:12; 13:6, 9; 34:8; 61:2; 63:1-6; Jer. 46:10; Ezek. 30:3; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14; Amos 5:18; Joel 2:1-32; Oba. 1:15; Zeph. 1:8, 18; 2:2-3; Zech. 14:1-21; Mal. 4:1-6; Mat. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; 1Thess. 5:2; 2Thess. 1:7-10; 2:1-12; Jude 1:14; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-10).

‘As a thief in the night.’ This expression is used only in 1Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2Peter 3:10 and Revelation 3:3; 16:15. Each time it refers to the day of the Lord coming as a thief, except Revelation 3:3 where it refers to judgment on the local congregation of Sardis. Christ’s coming is also referred to as a thief (Matt. 24:43).

Shall Be Caught Up Together – Part 3

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1Thessalonians 4:16-18 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.

‘To meet the Lord in the air.’ – Ten purposes of the rapture: To receive saints to Himself as promised (4:17; John 14:1-3; Eph. 5:27). To resurrect the dead in Christ from among the wicked dead (4:14, 16-17; Php. 3:11; Rev. 20:4-6). To take saints to heaven to live in the New Jerusalem and receive rewards (4:17; 3:13; John 14:1-3; 2Cor. 5:10; Heb. 12:22-23; Rev. 19:1-10; 21:9-10). To change bodies of saints to immortality (4:16-17; 1Cor. 15:35-58; Php. 3:21). To present saints before God (4:17; 3:13; John 14:1-3; Jude 1:24; Rev. 19:1-10). To make saints whole in body, soul, and spirit (4:16-17; 5:23; Php. 3:21). To receive the fruit of the early and latter rain (Jas. 5:7; John 14:1-3). To cause the saints to escape the tribulation of Revelation 6:1-19:21 (4:16-17; 5:9; Luke 21:36; Rev. 4:1). To remove the hinderer of lawlessness (2Thess. 2:7; Rev. 4:1). To permit the revelation of the Antichrist (2Thess. 2:7; Rev. 4:1).

‘And so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ Saints will be with Christ in heaven during the tribulation (2Thess. 2:7; Rev. 4:1); will accompany Christ to earth at Armageddon (Zech. 14:1-5; Matt. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; Jude 1:14; Rev. 19:11-21); will live in the new Jerusalem in heaven but reign on earth with Christ during the Millennium (Rev. 20:4-10; 21:9-10; Heb. 12:22-23); will move with their residence, the New Jerusalem, to the earth to live on the New Earth forever (Rev. 21:1-27; 22:1-21).

Shall Be Caught Up Together – Part 1

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1Thessalonians 4:16-18 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. 

‘Shout’ – Command [Greek: keleuma] a cry of incitement; an order; command in war; the call of preparation for action. Not the same word where shout is mentioned the only other time in the New Testament (Acts 12:22). Here it is the shout of command for the dead to arise, as in the case of Lazarus (John 11:43). This will be followed by the shout of the archangel (Jude 1:9), and the trump of God, whose great and terrible blasts – like those on Sinai – grew louder and louder until the heavens and the earth shook (Ex. 20:18-19; Heb. 12:18-21, 26).

‘Trump of God’ – This is not the same as the 7th trumpet of Revelation 11:15-13:18. One occurs at the rapture of true believers before Daniel’s 70th week (4:16; 2Thess. 2:7; Rev. 4:1), and the other occurs at the rapture of the manchild in the middle of the 70th week (Rev. 11:15 – 13:18). One is the trump of God (4:16), the other the trumpet of the 7th angel (Rev. 11:15). One is to herald an event that will take place in a moment (1Cor. 15:51-58), the other is to herald many events which are days in duration (Rev. 10:7; 11:15-13:18). One is a trumpet of blessing (4:16-17), the other a trumpet of woe to men (Rev. 8:13; 11:15; 12:12). One is before the 7 seals and first 6 trumpets of Revelation 6:1-9:21, the other is after these (Rev. 11:15).

‘And the dead in Christ shall rise first.’ Ten qualifications for the rapture: To be in Christ (4:14, 16; 2Cor. 5:17-18). To be Christ’s (1Cor. 15:23; Gal. 5:24). To be blessed and holy (Rev. 20:4-6; Heb. 12:14). To be good (John 5:28-29). To be worthy (Luke 21:36). To be part of the body of Christ (1Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:20-23; 4:4-6; 5:27; Col. 1:18, 24). To be pure (1Jn. 3:2-3). To be without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27). To live and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:19-21). To walk in the light (1Jn. 1:7; Col. 2:6).