1 Thessalonians 5:1-10

Introduction: Some of the believers in the Church called Thessalonica were wondering if the “rapture” and “day of the Lord” had already happened. Paul writes to remind them of the prophetic events that surround those end time prophecies. Looking back in retrospect to the inspired writings, we can glean the chronological timing of these occurrences, and thus not be deceived. There are three (3) urgent alarms that ring out to prepare us for the “Times” in which we are living! See if you agree:

1. It’s TIME to be AWARE of CHRISTIAN PREPARATION! (1 Thess 5:1-2)

“1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”

2. It’s TIME to Awake from the Devil’s Deception! (1 Thess 5:3-7)

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.”

**a state of national tranquility – exemption from the rage and havoc of war
**peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord
**security, safety, prosperity, felicity (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
**of the Messiah’s peace – the way that leads to peace (salvation) of Christianity 
**the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot
**of whatsoever sort that is
**the blessed state of devout and upright men after death

{The word “Safety” is aspháleia, which means
**firmness, stability, certainty, undoubted truth, security from enemies and dangers, safety}

There’s a true and a false “Peace and Safety”!

2. It’s TIME to be ARMED with God’s Great Salvation! (1 Thess 5:8, 9, 10)

“8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”

{The Church – God’s people – have not been “appointed” to face or experience “God’s wrath”}

{There’s a difference between “Chastisement vs Wrath”}

Conclusion: Since it’s a late hour, believers need to know the TIMES in which we are living, and be ready for a pseudo PEACE that’s on the horizon. It is all a part of God’s prophetic plan. But at the same time, we need to be alert, awake, and armed for what’s ahead. How close are we toward the END TIMES?

Very close.
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese