1 thessalonians 4:13-18. the churches in thessalonica were established by paul and silas during...

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18The churches in Thessalonica were established by Paul and Silas during Paul’s second missionary journey sometime around 50-52AD. (Acts 17:1-15).

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey c. 49AD

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18The churches in Thessalonica were established by Paul and Silas during Paul’s second missionary journey sometime around 50-52AD. (Acts 17:1-15).

Paul and his company had to leave abruptly due to riots and persecution.

The theme of both letters to the churches is encouragement in the face of persecution.

There is a strong second theme dealing with eschatology.

These letters were probably written shortly after Paul left (within a year or two).

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18The churches in Thessalonica were established by Paul, Timothy and Silas during Paul’s second missionary journey sometime around 50-52AD. (Acts 17:1-15).

Sadly, I don’t think we have access to all of the communication that took place between Paul and the churches in Thessalonica.

It’s like a jigsaw puzzle with a lot of the pieces missing.

We have to fill in the blanks the best we can.

We can’t be afraid to say, “ I DON’T KNOW”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18The churches in Thessalonica were established by Paul, Timothy and Silas during Paul’s second missionary journey sometime around 50-52AD. (Acts 17:1-15).

The text of the letters indicate that Paul had spoken with them about the “end of the age” and the return of Christ. The content of what he taught them is unknown.

It is apparent from the text of the letters that some misunderstanding has arisen. Some of their number had died – obviously before the return of the Lord. Did they suffer any disadvantage for having died before Christ’s return? Or did they miss the boat completely?

How Paul learned of their quandary is a mystery (messenger, smoke signals, fax, e-mail, ???)

These six verses form Paul’s response to their question.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.


The three-fold repetition of the ancient euphemism for death places an emphasis on the non-finality of death for believers.


Paul is urging grief through hope – hope in the resurrection.

Because we believe in the resurrection, we do not grieve as others (pagans).


This passage touches on the fact of a resurrection not how we will be resurrected or it what form (spiritually, bodily, etc.)

1 Thessalonians 4:16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Here Paul borrows an image from Exodus from the time when the people of Israel were consecrated before receiving the ten commandments:

Exodus 19:16 - On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.

1 Thessalonians 4:17. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Paul is merely making a distinction between the dead and the living. This is not a “left behind” image.



This is the ultimate concern of the passage – What will happen to those who have perished before Christ returns?

Once again Paul “borrows” imagery from the Old Testament.

Daniel 7:13a - I was gazing into the visions of the night, when I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, as it were a son of man.



This is the ultimate concern of the passage – What will happen to those who have perished before Christ returns?

Once again Paul “borrows” imagery from the Old Testament.

The verse concludes with the only thing that really matters anyway.

1 Thessalonians 4:18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Once more we see the purpose of this particular part of Paul’s letter.

Paul did not write to satisfy our intellectual curiosity concerning the Day of the Lord. Paul wrote to encourage those who had lost loved ones.

THIS IS HOPE NOT A THREAT!

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17The second letter to the churches in Thessalonica was written very soon after the first.

There seems to be some misunderstanding regarding the Day of the Lord.

There are two very central questions for which we have absolutely no information:

1. What was said to the church that caused the misunderstanding?2. How/by whom was this misinformation communicated?

Absence of the above makes trying to interpret this passage much farther than what is actually written very difficult.

It may have grown from a misunderstanding of 1 Thess. 5:1-11.

More than likely it has to do with someone or some group of people teaching that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.


Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17Our main concern is with the second chapter. Structurally it looks something like this:

vv. 1-2 The issue is presented

vv. 3-4 Statement that the day has not arrived

vv. 5-7 Man of lawlessness is being restrained

vv. 8-12 What will take place when the day does arrive

vv. 13-17 Thanksgiving, exhortation and prayer

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12The purpose of this part of the letter is to ally excitement or uncertainty caused by those who said that the Day of the Lord had already come.

Paul argues that certain things must take place before the Day of the Lord.

Paul’s argument here is a little difficult to follow since it is not presented in chronological order. Perhaps a better ordering would be:

vv. 5-7 This takes place before anything else

vv. 3-4 The man of lawlessness is revealed

vv. 9-12 What happens when the man of lawlessness is revealed

v. 8 The man of lawlessness is defeated

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

The issue at hand is whether or not the Day of the Lord has come.

These two verses form one very, very, very difficult sentence in Greek.

Paul’s concern is that the church is being misguided.

Supposedly the misinformation came from Paul and his friends.

The reality is we really don’t know the source.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

This is the only place in all of Scripture where we find this term - this is a truly singular moment.

A lot of ink has been spilled trying to identify this person/label.

We must bear in mind that Paul’s purpose in writing was to comfort, not to inform. Therefore we should not expect any new information.


The rebellion will probably come from outside the church.

Whatever form it takes, it will certainly be against God and his Son, Jesus.


However, the fact that the man of lawlessness is doomed should be of great comfort.


Paul draws on Daniel and Ezekiel to describe the ACTIVITIES of the man of lawlessness not his titles.

Daniel 11:36 - The king will do as he pleases, growing more and more arrogant, considering himself greater than all the gods; he will utter incredible blasphemies against the God of gods, and he will thrive until the wrath reaches bursting point; for what has been decreed will certainly be fulfilled.

Ezekiel 28:2 - "Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.

2 Thessalonians 2:5-75 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

As close as we come to pastoral frustration from Paul.


Here is one of those missing pieces of the puzzle.

Paul says the man of lawlessness is being restrained. But how or by whom?

The only honest answer is we really don’t know. We should probably just leave it at that.


One thing is certain –

A greater revelation of lawlessness remains in the future.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-128 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Once more, the purpose of this section is to reassure the readers that the Day of the Lord has yet to come and those who represent evil will get theirs.

Check out all the future tense verbs.


Once again, Jesus wins!


The activities of Satan.

The activities of God

Summary1 Thessalonians

Those who die before the second advent of Christ are at no disadvantage.

When Christ returns (second advent) we will all be gathered to him and live with him forever.

2 ThessaloniansThe day of the Lord has not come.

Those who persecute you now will ultimately get what’s coming to them.

Stand firm in the faith.

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