Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
The book of 1 Thessalonians holds a special place in the decree of Scripture, as this was the first epistle the apostle Paul wrote and it contains a significant amount of Church-age doctrine, including much notable information about the Rapture of the Church and Christ’s Second Coming to set up His Kingdom. Unlike many of his other epistles, there are no controversies to correct or false teachings to refute in this book. It is characterised by its simple, yet clear biblical teaching, together with instructions which attest to Paul’s obvious love for these believers and tenderness towards them. The first eleven verses of this chapter give important information about the prophesied ‘Day of the Lord’ which will come upon the inhabitants of the earth like a thief in the night. ‘The Day of the Lord’ starts with the seven-year long Tribulation Period, and the return of Christ at the end of the seven years, and it stretches forward for a further 1000 years when Jesus will rule and reign on earth with a rod of iron. The bodies of Christians who have died in Christ will be resurrected before any believers who are still alive. After the resurrection, those believers who are still living and remain on earth will be caught up into the clouds together with the resurrected saints, where we will all meet the Lord Jesus in the air. Indeed, Paul exhorts us to comfort one another with these reassuring words. However, Paul reminds us that God has told His children the end from the beginning. We are not in darkness like the rest of the unbelieving world. We are not going to be overtaken by this terrible time of trouble, when God pours out His wrath on a God-hating, Christ rejecting, sinful world. What a comfort to hear Paul explain that God has not destined us for His wrath during the first part of the Day of the Lord, because we have obtained salvation by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The punishment for our sin has already been paid in full. ‘It is finished’ and He did it on our account. Because we are already saved, and we will be with the Lord, forever. Jesus died for us. He paid the price for our sins. The wrath of God was poured out on Him in our stead so that whether we are still alive on earth when He comes in the clouds, or cold in our graves, we are not appointed to wrath. We are not appointed to go through the Great Tribulation. Instead, we will be with Him, at the Rapture of the saints. No wonder Paul exhorted the Thessalonians, and us…to “encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Spiritual Steve 