We are awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. Here are four things to help you get ready:-

1 – You can expect a surprising day (vs. 1-2)

A thief does not give you any warning of their coming. See Acts 1:6-8. We are not to know the day of the Lord’s return. We are to get people ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He came on time, he was born on time, he died on time, he rose in time and he is coming back on time. It may seem slow to us but God is not late. See 2 Peter 3:8-9. Yet, it will come. The raging waters of God’s wrath are being held back by the dam of God’s grace.

2 – You can escape a sudden destruction (vs. 3-4)

Those who know the Lord will escape the coming destruction. God will rapture His Church. The time of the Great Tribulation is coming. The Day of the Lord will not be a good day for those who don’t know Jesus. See Joel 2:1-2. There has never been a day as bad as this day. It is a solemn day. See Revelation 6. People will want the mountains to fall upon them! Hitler will seem like a boy scout compared to the Antichrist. The world will not heed God’s Word. Just like in the Days of Noah. See Matthew 24:36-39. The world is pregnant for judgment. It is like a woman who is ready to deliver. Like the Ark in the days of, God provides a way to escape God’s judgment.

3 – You must endure a surrounding darkness (vs. 4-8)

The world is in darkness. The world is asleep. It is in a drunken stupor. What should we do?

• We are to be aware and wise up (vs. 5). We are the only ones who can make sense of what is going on. Jesus is coming back.
• We are to be awake and get up (vs. 6-7). We are to be sober. We need to awake ourselves spiritually. The Second Coming is a truth to be lived.
• We are to be alert and dress up (vs. 8). We need to get our heart right – we need the breastplate of righteousness. We need our head right – we need the helmet of salvation. We are in a world of darkness.

4 – You will experience a sure deliverance (vs. 9-11)

The Church will not experience the wrath of God. The flood did not come until God put Noah into the Ark. Sodom and Gomorrah was not destroyed until Lot was safe.

Paul expected Jesus to return in his lifetime. We are to live on the edge of eternity. We are not to expect the Tribulation. We are to expect the immediate return of Jesus. These are words of edification to the Church. We are not waiting for Antichrist; we are waiting for Jesus Christ. The trumpet will sound and we will be delivered – if we are trusting in Jesus Christ. He is coming suddenly like a thief in the night. He could come tonight.

Categories: 1 Thessalonians