Peter Barnes: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4
SERMON NOTES: KNOWING ABOUT THE SECOND COMING (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4)
– they needed some clarification on some issues – 3:9-10. In 4:13-18 Paul had dealt with deceased believers; in 5:1-11 he deals with living believers awaiting the second coming.
- Know that Christ will return as King.
– 5:1-2. Paul says that they are ‘fully aware’ or they ‘accurately know’ this.
– we want to know the times and seasons but God has withheld that from us – Matt.24:36. In 1992 a group called the Mission for the Coming Days issued a leaflet which declared that the idea that ‘no one knows’ is ‘the snare of Satan’. It goes on to say that the Rapture will come at 1.00 a.m. EST on 29 October 1992. Whoops!
– Paul tells all and sundry of Jesus as Lord and Saviour – Phil.2:6-11; Col.2:9. Then he says that in coming again as King forever, He will be like a burglar in the night! Such a daring image was used by Christ first – Matt.24:42-44; Luke 12:39.
- Know what the world does not.
– 5:3. In the Old Testament the false prophets had a false message of ‘peace and security’ – Jer.6:14; Ezej,13:10; Micah 3:5. But Paul probably had the whole Roman culture in mind. Roman coins had ‘The peace of Augustus’ on one side.
– To Christians, this is the blessed hope (Tit.2:13); to those ambling along in peace and security, it will be sudden destruction.
- Know the light of the Day.
-5:4. The darkness is both moral and intellectual. Look at Jesus’ words – John 5:28-29. The coming of Christ brings light to darkness – Isa.60:1-3. Calvin: ‘There is no darkness greater than ignorance of God.’