6: The Coming of the Lord (1Thess 4:13-5:11)

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

In the previous passage, Paul urged the believers to abstain from sexual immorality and to abound in love. Now, he continues his exhortation, turning to the topic of hope. The coming of the Lord must always be on the mind of believers, for that is the ultimate goal of our salvation. Expectation of the Lord’s return also has direct bearing on a Christian’s daily living. It brings comfort to the bereaved and demands a sober life.

II.    Key Verse

            “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (4:16-17).

III. Did You Know…?

1. “Archangel” (4:16): Michael is the only archangel named in the Bible.

2. “The times and the seasons” (5:1) “are well-known words describing the end times from two perspectives. The former conceives more of elapsed time and hence a particular date or dates when predictions will be fulfilled. The latter word, while including some reference to extent of time, gives more attention to the character or quality of a given period, i.e., what signs will accompany the consummating events” 5vol11/280 (cf. Acts 1:7; 3:19-21).

3. “The day of the Lord” (5:2): This is a biblical term for a period of time in the future in which God will pour out His wrath and exercise judgment (cf. Isa 3:16-24; 13:6-11; Jer 30:7; 46:10; Ezek 30:1-4; Joel 2:1-32; Amos 5:18-20; Obad 15-18; Zeph 1:7-18; 2:1-3; Zech 14:1-21; Mal 4:5; 1Thess 1:10; 2:16; 5:9; 2Pet 3:10).

4. “Not” (5:3): An emphatic double negative in the Greek, a construction Paul uses only four times in all his writings. ^6/1827

5. “Son of” (5:5): In Semitic languages (such as Hebrew) to be the “son of” a quality meant to be characterized by that quality. ^6/1827

IV.  Observation

A.     Outline

(4:13-18)

(5:1-5)

(5:6-11)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

V.     General Analysis

1. How are the endings of 4:13-18 and 5:1-11 similar?

2. Compare 5:1-6 with Matthew 24:36-44 and record the similarities.

VI.  Segment Analysis

A.     4:13-18

1. What is Paul’s purpose in writing this paragraph?

2. How do those who have no hope view death? What emotions result from such a view?

3. What does Paul call believers who have died in Christ? Why?

4. Record what this passage teaches about what will happen to those who sleep in Christ.

5. What will happen to believers who are alive when the Lord descends from heaven?

6. How can we be certain that the dead in Christ will rise?

7. This passage reveals in detail the events at the Lord’s descent. How does Paul know about these future events?

8. Paul tells the believers to comfort each other with these words. What aspects of this passage do you find comforting?

B.     5:1-11

9. In what sense is the coming of the day of the Lord like the coming of a thief in the night?

10. What contrasts does Paul make here?

11. What characterize those who are of the night?

12. According to Paul, what does it mean to be sober?

13a. How does verse 10 define salvation as mentioned in verses 8 and 9?

13b. What does it mean to live together with the Lord, whether we wake or sleep (10)?

14. What is the importance of Christian fellowship in light of the Lord’s coming?