1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

As Christians, we are unaware of when Christ will return, but neither will we be surprised when it happens. Apparently this church was deeply disturbed concerning when Christ would return. Paul hopes to direct that energy away from focusing on time and circumstances and into holy living. In this passage, Paul explodes with mixed metaphors, working toward the three key expressions of the Christian life. Here's a short list of the metaphors Paul uses for the second coming: thief, pregnancy and labor, light and darkness, sleep, drunkenness, and sobriety. In verse 11, Paul uses five different metaphors to describe the Lord's return or how we should react to it. Each of these carries a different ethical nuance.

Concerning the Second Coming, there are two extremes, both of which equally serve the enemy of our faith. The first, which may have been the problem at Thessalonica, is an obsession or panic about ‘when.’ They shouldn't have needed this refresher course or reminder; one of the fundamental teachings of our faith is that we don't know when Christ will return. The other extreme is expressed by a “peace and safety” denial that the end is coming. Paul's explosion of metaphors is to move from both extremes to the middle ground. “Christ is coming, so let's live accordingly”. All of Paul's teachings on the subject are either about the unknowable nature of when or the ethics of how to live.

He moves toward the three key characteristics of the Christian life: faith, love, and hope. In 1st Corinthians 13, in a congregation in deep conflict, love is listed last for emphasis’ sake. In this passage, in a congregation in the midst of a prophecy conference panic, he lists hope last for the emphasis of confidence over panic. There is one great conclusion with two applications for us. The conclusion is that God has not destined us for destruction but for salvation in Christ. The first application is this: the “when” of Christ’s return does not matter. If it happens while we live or after we die, we enjoy the same glorious future. That conclusion and the first application lead us naturally to the second application, “encourage, or strengthen, or comfort each other. The hope of Christ takes us through all circumstances.

“Lord, help me to live with boldness because I know that Jesus is coming. AMEN”