The Book of First Thessalonians is one of my favorite books in the Holy Word of GOD, because by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul writes about a future time when the Lord Jesus Christ suddenly appears in the air to catch up (known as the Rapture) all believers who are asleep (have died in Christ) and who are alive and remain on the earth watching for His return.
Now, I understand that some in the church don’t believe that the Rapture will occur until after the Tribulation begins and others believe that it will not happen until after the tribulation ends and others believe that it will occur before the tribulation begins, but the WORD OF GOD gives us clues when to be watching for this event to happen. It all depends on whether or not, the readers is taking GOD by his Word or are reading other things into this message of hope and redemption from outside sources made be the traditions of men.
The Book of 1 Thessalonians beginning in chapter 4 verse 13, we are given a hint of what to be watching for in the future.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 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.
16 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:
17 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
In a future article of the “The Truth” series, we will do a more in-depth Bible Study regarding the Rapture of the Church in Christ Jesus. The above scriptures is but just one clue in a series of clues that point to Jesus Christ sudden appearing in the air to catch up all born-again believers in Him, so to protect them from the wrath to come upon the whole earth in the latter times. To do a complete comprehensive study on this topic we will need to begin in The Book of Genesis and examine the Noah’s Ark history, and then follow the clues revealed at this starting point to wherever the clues lead us.
(NOTE: Below, I will share a link to a Bible Study that I had done, written and published awhile ago on the Rapture of the Church in Christ Jesus, and will be referring to this Bible Study in the next Bible Study that I will be putting together for the next more in-depth study of this series.)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians instructs and teaches the followers of Jesus Christ other valuable lessons in regarding how to live and treat other members of the Body of Christ (the Church in Christ Jesus) and how we should be treating all people regardless of who they are or what they believe. There are couple of teachings that I am inspired to share with anyone willing to listen to what I have learned this time around from The Book of 1 Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-9
1 “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
The main lessons which I have learned from the Holy Spirit in the Holy Scriptures above are how to possess my vessel (this fleshly body) and subdue it from being in control of me, but me over it. Listening and honoring GOD by doing as GOD has taught me before to abstain from fornication (pre-martial) and other kinds of lusts of the flesh. Also, as to how that I conduct my business with my brothers and with all men, is to be honest and truthful in all of my business affairs. These are just a couple of things that have been reinforced in me by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit speaking to me through these Holy Scriptures.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-24
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 salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
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 feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
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.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
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.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
The lessons above speak for themselves. How we as followers of Jesus Christ should always give GOD thanks for everything, because everything good comes from GOD. This teaching also instructs us to how we should treat each other and those who are among us who are laboring to spread the WORD OF GOD and who have been appointed to teach us and instruct us by the WORD OF GOD, and not by the words of men, but in/ through the WORD OF GOD. And, I believe that the lesson that is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 explains best what has been already shared up above.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
11 “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”
The lessons that has been reinforced in my soul, heart and mind in the Holy Scriptures of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, is that we are to be content and thankful for what GOD has given us each individually, and that we should not envy what others have or insert ourselves into other men’s business or personal affairs, because we each have our own work to do and that is enough to bare.
As to business to earn a living is concerned, then we are instructed to work with our own hands and to earn our own living without just taking what is not ours to have from some other person who has earned what they have working with their own hands. We are to not be envious of what others have and we do not have. If you want to have a better life in this world, then we are instructed to work for it using our own hands, but always thanking GOD for everything, because GOD gives us every good thing and opportunity.
This is an especially good lesson to learn and to live out in life in this present day, because we are living at a time when politicians and special interest groups are purposely pitting the poor against the rich, the rich against the poor and trying to create as much division as possible for their own personal gain whether it be money, power, control or all of the above. Instead, of following in these wicked men’s steps, we who are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ should separate ourselves from among them and out of their systems of control – government food assistance, government unemployment assistance and yes, any kind of government program that allows the government to take care of us.
Romans 13:7-9
7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
Remember, who we follow! The Lord Jesus Christ will provide for us. He will open new opportunities for us to work and to obtain everything that we need. Yes, I said need. Nine times out of ten, we get ourselves in trouble financially because we buy things that we want to have now, but really don’t need nor have the extra income to have in the first place. Think about how many times we have purchased something that we really wanted but in reality could not afford to purchase with the cash that we had saved up, so we went on to buy it anyway using credit cards, and then did not have the means to pay the balance off, so we found ourselves owing the credit card companies more than what the actual value of the item is. That is debt my friend and debt is not a friend that we want to have. The Word of GOD teaches us to “Owe no man any thing “, because when we find ourselves in debt, then we focus more on the things of this world and less on our relationship with GOD.
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (King James Version – English Language)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (Somali Language)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (Arabic Language)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (Spanish Language)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (Afrikaans Language)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (Russian Language)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (Hebrew Language)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (French Language)
The Book of 1 Thessalonians (Chinese Mandarin)
Read and study “The Book of 1 Thessalonians” at your own pace by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and a special thank you for the tools and resources from the BibleGateway.com
Other Bible Study Lessons to Learn:
The Truth: The Book of Second Thessalonians
The Truth: The Book of Colossians
Old Testament Reveals From Noah’s Ark to the Future Ark From GOD’S Wrath
You must be a very good teacher or preacher, if it’s okay that I used that last word. So many today say minister, really every Christian is meant to be a minister. You did a very good job, I agree with you on the timing of the coming of Jesus, I agree with you on all that you wrote. There are many types and shadows that help give us some clue of the timing of Lord’s coming and you mentioned one, Noah’s day. There are quite a few clues in the books of Thessalonians, I’m not trying to add to what you wrote, I just thoroughly enjoyed what you wrote…thanks my friend and brother in the Lord. God Bless You.
If we just tried to follow what Paul teaches, this would be a totally different world.
thanks for such a wonderful share..God bless