Yup, JEW FIRST, then Gentile

After apostle Paul’s first letter to Thessalonica, we are left with hope and comfort of the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ - FOR US - so we will be with Him forever. Our loved ones ‘asleep in Jesus’ won’t miss the Rapture (harpazo) and we have not been ‘appointed to wrath’...  

Okay but what about that ‘Day of the Lord’? How much of it will we see? 

Before we go any further, here’s how Paul described himself... 

• “a Jew...brought up at the feet of Gamaliel” - a doctor of the law held in honour by all the people
• “taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers”
• “a Pharisee, son of a Pharisee” “...after the strictest sect of our religion”
• “an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin”
• “Are they Hebrews? So am I.   Are they Israelites? So am I...”

Even though now a Christian and the Lord’s ‘chosen vessel’ for the spread of the gospel, taking the good news to Europe for the very first time, this guy still clearly identifies as an Israelite and knows his Bible better than any of us! 

He has recently visited Thessalonica, beginning at the Jewish synagogue, and experienced persecution from fellow Jews first hand.   Yes, he makes it abundantly clear that the Jew always comes.... FIRST!                           

Whether for salvation... or tribulation for doing evil... or glory, honour and peace for doing good - it is always Jew first, then Gentile. In fact he clearly distinguishes between Jews, Gentiles & the Church of God.

Now Paul and his team have written another letter soon after the first!                                                            

Obviously the faith of these Thessalonians is ‘growing exceedingly’ (1:3) so that they are really copping heavy persecution (1:4), although a few are being lazy busy-bodies (3:11-15).

Paul sounds somewhat exasperated though:              

“Don’t you remember that when I was with you I told you these things?”  (2:5)                                                                                                                               

Where did we find the Day of the Lord?                       

In Old Testament Jewish prophecy – WHERE WE DO NOT FIND THE CHURCH!    

Keep all this in mind as we open this 2^nd letter further....NEXT

JUST LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT!

Apostle Paul’s team is writing to the new believers in Thessalonica about the coming (parousia) of the Lord Jesus Christ and they have just been given the stunning promise of the Rapture (harpazo) when all will be caught up to be with Christ forever.                                                         
When will this happen though? Let’s check 1 Thessalonians 5...

• The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night – no warning! After checking with Old Testament prophecy we notice that this is not just one day but an era when God finally shows His hand in fearsome judgment followed by overwhelming blessing on Israel and the rest of the world.
• It will begin when relative ‘peace & safety’ seems to be achieved
• In the meantime believers need to be sober and protected by faith, love and hope

Okay, the rapture will happen...but when??                                                                               

Paul offers comfort three times and we also read: “God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” – which tells us we will not suffer God’s wrath, but...                                                       

Will God somehow protect us?... or take us out of here first?

Yes, Jesus Christ is coming (parousia), those ‘asleep in Jesus’ will not miss out, and we will all be with Him forever... but when??                                                               

It might be obvious to you Paul, but so far it’s not obvious to us from your letter.  Maybe you are going to have to write them another letter!                                          

NEXT: That 2nd letter to Thessalonica!

Meantime, can we just sit back and wait?  No way!        

Warn, comfort, support, be patient, do good, rejoice, pray, be thankful, quench not the Spirit, prove all things, abstain from even the appearance of evil....  

THE SNATCH (the Rapture)

Many have trouble accepting that God could create the universe in just 6 days, just by speaking it to happen.   
Well, they’re sure going to get more indigestion over this one!...

We’re finding the focus of this first letter to Thessalonica is the coming again of Jesus Christ but… 
Now we come to the highlight!... 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

• This is ‘by the word of the Lord’!
• Believers who have died are ‘asleep in Jesus’ – not ‘soul sleep’
• The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise the bodies of all the saints!
• God will bring them with Christ as their changed bodies rise!
• We all get ‘caught up’ (raptured) together – it’s a snatch!
• We all get to meet the Lord in the clouds
• We will then be with the Lord forever!

We’re not meant to be ignorant about this, surrounded by people with no real hope found in their idols. In fact we are to comfort each other with this.

Yes, there are people alive today who could experience the rapture!

Notice this is a snatch (harpazo), not a gathering (episunagoge). There is no mention of Christ’s glorious appearing (epiphaneia) in either letter to Thessalonica – the Rapture will be a private affair.

What about this wrath business?....NEXT