Welcome to the MOR-Bible website

January 2020 Printable 150 KB .pdf

Father, thank you for this glorious New Year. Thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for opening your Word to us, so we can know and do your will. Thank you for saving us from the wrath to come. Thank you for your grace and love. Thank you for giving us hope through your Word. Thank you as nothing shall be able to separate us from your love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Amen.

In the December 2019 teaching, we reviewed 1 Thessalonians 4 verse by verse. We learned the sequence of events of the first phase of Christ's second coming for his saints, in which he meets us in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4 is the only place in the Word of God where these sequences of events regarding Christ's return are documented. These events include:

• Christ Jesus shall descend from heaven with a shout.
• With the voice of the archangel Michael and with the trump of God Gabriel.
• And the dead in Christ shall rise first.
• Then the born-again alive believers are caught up together with the raised dead with Christ in the clouds.
• And then, we shall ever be like the Lord.
  

Now you have two choices: 1. You can believe God's Word, or 2. You can believe the traditions of man-made religion.

This month we continue working through the book of 1 Thessalonians. We will review 1 Thessalonians 5:1-14 and document the key points. 1 Thessalonians 5 is a big chapter with so much to learn from and do. We will tackle the first part of 1 Thessalonians 5 this month, and continue with the second part, verses 15-28, next month. My brothers and sisters, it is imperative to know God's Word regarding the hope of Christ's return! There are so many religious leaders who wrongly interpret this prophecy, and in doing so, do not prepare the born-again believers to daily walk and talk God's Word. Remember the return of Christ was the first revelation God gave to the Apostle Paul!

Let's start with 1 Thessalonians: 5:1:

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

Paul said there was no need to write about the exact times and the seasons of the return of Christ to gather us together with him. Why? Because the only one who knows when that time will be is God our Father. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus told his disciples:

But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Acts 1:6-7 tells us:

When they [the twelve Apostles] therefore were come together [on the day of ascension], they [the twelve Apostles] asked of him [Jesus Christ], saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

And he [Jesus Christ] said unto them [the twelve Apostles], it is not for you to know the [exact] times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Only God our Father knows the exact time His son will return! No one else knows. This is important to know as many religious leaders report to know when this time is coming. When someone says this to you, ask them to show you the chapter and verse. Then show them the teachings in Matthew 24:36 and Acts 1:6-7.

Let's continue with 1 Thessalonians: 5:2:

For yourselves know [oida the Greek word meaning clear perception] the perfectly [exactly] that the day of the Lord [the return of Christ] so cometh as a thief in the night.

The believers during this time were taught accurately and exactly that the return of Christ "comes as a thief in the night." God's Word used a simile which is a figure of speech to compare Christ's return "as a thief in the night." A thief does not inform you when he or she is coming! It's going to happen fast and before anyone knows anything about it, it's finished!

This second coming of Christ has two phases: 1. In the first phase, Christ comes for his saints in the air and, 2. In second phase, Christ comes with his saints to earth. Christ's coming with his saints on earth is called "the day of the Lord" in the Bible

The day of the Lord or the Lord's day signifies not the Sabbath or Christian Sunday, but the day the Lord arrives with his saints upon the earth and all the judgements start. This is when the first resurrection and finally the second resurrection occurs. The first resurrection in the Scriptures is called "the resurrection of the just." The second one is "the resurrection of the unjust" (see Revelation chapter 20).

The Book of Revelation describes the Lord's day (Revelation 1:10) of judgement and is an account of the proceedings which will take place throughout the time in which the Lord will judge the earth. What a wonderful relief it is in my heart to know that the rejecters of God and unbelievers, who say there is no God and used God's name in vain, will one day get up (1 Corinthians 15: 22) and face the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will find out then, there is a God!

1 Thessalonians: 5:3:

For when they [the unbelievers] shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Who is "they"? They, in this verse, are the unbelievers not born-again of God's Spirit. God's Word used another simile in this verse to compare a woman giving birth to "sudden destruction coming" on the unbelievers. They are not going to know when it's coming!

Romans 8:8-9 tells us:

So, then they that are in the flesh [body and soul only] cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

To receive the "Spirit of God" you must confess with your mouth the Lord (master) Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, and you shall be saved (Romans 10:9). Remember Romans 10:10 says:

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Let's continue with 1 Thessalonians: 5:4:

But ye, brethren [the born-again believers], are not in darkness, that that day [the return of Christ] should overtake you as a thief [because you are a believer].

In contrast, we, the brethren, are not in darkness. The return of Christ will not overtake us as a thief in the night. Why? The next verse tells us.

1 Thessalonians: 5:5:

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 John 1:5 tells us:

This then is the message which we have heard of him [God], and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

We are children of light and the children of the day because God our Father is light and in Him is no darkness at all!

Ephesians 5:8 repeats by stating:

For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

Once we were born-again of God's Spirit, we are children of the light! 1 Thessalonians: 5:6 continues with:

Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch [be awake, be vigilant] and be sober [the Greek word nepho].

Remember I taught you in the past, when the word "therefore" is used we must re-read the verse above it to understand the reference. This would be 1 Thessalonians: 5:5.

Because we are "children of light, and the children of the day," we don't go to sleep on God's Word! We must be awake, and vigilant, and sober. We must know what God's Word says about the return of Christ and the day of the Lord! How do we do this? We study God's word, to show ourselves approved to God. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We are to put on God's Word in our daily walk and talk.

1 Thessalonians: 5:7 tells us what happens when we are not awake and vigilant:

For they that sleep; sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

The word sleep in this verse means to "lie down to sleep." The Word "drunken" means "to be drunk with wine."

1 Thessalonians: 5:8:

But let us, who are of the day, be sober [nepho], putting on the breastplate of faith [believing] and love [the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation]; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation [the Greek word soteeria which means safety, preservation from danger or destruction].

The Greek word for "be sober" in verses 6 and 8 is nepho. It means to be temperate (moderate, not extreme or excessive), to be circumspect. As born-again believers we are be temperate, we are to walk circumspect (see Ephesians 5:15). We are to put on the breastplate of believing, and we are to show the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. We are to put on the helmet and the hope of salvation. These are all actions we are to take as born-again believers. This is how we daily walk and talk in the light as sons and daughters of God.

1 Peter 5:8 says:

Be sober [nepho], be vigilant [watch, be awake]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

We must always remember what Ephesians 6:12 tells us:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Thessalonians: 5:9: continues with:

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation [the Greek word soteeria which means safety, preservation from danger or destruction] by our Lord Jesus Christ.

God's Word clearly tells us that God our father has not appointed the born-again believers to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church of the Body (born-again believers) do not go through the wrath because we will already be gathered with Christ.

In second phase of Christ's return, he comes with his saints to earth. Christ's coming with his saints on earth is called "the day of the Lord" and this starts the wrath period! Praise the Lord we will not endure the wrath that will rain down on those who refused God's salvation through His son the Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Thessalonians: 5:10:

Who [Jesus] died for us [the born-again believers], that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Galatians 2:20 helps us understand this verse more:

I [the born again believer] am [was] crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith [believing] of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This is a magnificent verse to quote in times of trouble or adversity. It helps me when I am feeling down or life's burdens seem to be too great. It brightens my day to know that "Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith [believing] of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." And that "we should live together with him." It also reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 4:17:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so, [houtos, the Greek word which means, in this manner, by his return] shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians: 5:11 gives us a commandment and action to share with other born-again believers:

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

The verbs "comfort" and "edify" in this verse are in the imperative mood and present tense. The imperative mood means it's a command, and the present tense implies constant actions. Consequently, this verse is a commandment to us to constantly comfort and edify one another that, whether we wake or sleep, as we should live together with him, Christ Jesus! 1 John 5:3 reminds us:

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1 Thessalonians: 5:12:

And we beseech you, brethren [the born-again believers], to know [to have a clear mental picture of] them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish [to put in mind, to instruct, warn] you.

The born-again believers are to have a clear mental picture of "them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord." Our ministers that labor among us are to remind, instruct, and warn us, the brothers and sisters in the household of God, using God's Word. We are to spend time with other born-again believers to comfort and edify and grow in God's Word. We are to teach others so they can have a clear mental picture of God's Word.

1 Thessalonians: 5:13:

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

I am so thankful to God for those men and women who rightly divide God's Word and act upon it by teaching others. I have the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation towards them always!

1 Thessalonians: 5:14 provides an exhortation or call to action:

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient [the Greek word makrothumeo] toward all men.

This verse exhorts the brethren to work together to "warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak," and not to lose heart toward all men and women. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament defines the Greek Word makrothumeo as "patient" or "not to lose heart." We must have the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This month we have reviewed some keys points of 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-14. We learned:

• Only God our Father knows the exact time and the season His son will return. No one else knows!
• The second coming of Christ has two phases: 1. The first phase Christ comes for his saint in the air and, 2. In the second phase, Christ comes with his saints to earth. Christ coming with his saints on earth is "the day of the Lord."
• Christ's second return is like a thief in the night. It's going to occur fast, before anyone knows anything about it!
• To receive the spirit of God, we must follow the instructions in Romans 10:9-10.
• The brethren are not in darkness, that, the return of Christ should overtake us as a thief in the night. Why? Because we are the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
• God, our Father, has not appointed the born-again believers to wrath but to obtain salvation (wholeness by our Lord Jesus Christ).
• We are to comforted and edify one another with 1 Thessalonians: 5:10 which tells us "Jesus died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."
  

Father, thank you for your Word that shows us these tremendous truths regarding what you have already done for us, your sons and daughters in Christ! Father, I thank you for all my brothers and sisters this New Year. I pray that they may prosper and be in health, even as their soul prospers. Father, I pray that we might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of your Word. May we be strengthened with all might, according to your glorious power. In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

Next's month teaching subject: 1 Thessalonians: 5:15-28.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

Back to Top