End Times Study – Thessalonians

by | Oct 7, 2021 | Bible Study, End Times - Eschatology

End Times Study – Thessalonians 

 

Scripture Referenced:

1 Thessalonians 1:10

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

 

Read Scriptures together as a flow of statements:

 

and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

(1Th 1:10, 1Th 2:19-20, 1Th 3:12-13, 1Th 4:13-18, 1Th 5:1-11, 2Th 1:5-10, 2Th 2:1-12 NASB)

 

Study Scriptures with Key Greek words expounded:

 

and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. (1Th 1:10 NASB)

 

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.

(1Th 2:19-20 NASB)

 

and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints (G40 – hagios – Original Greek Meaning – sacred, physically pure, morally blameless, holy) .

(1Th 3:12-13 NASB)

 

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (G2837 – koimaō – Original Greek Meaning – Those who have already died), so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep G2837 – koimaō – Original Greek Meaning – Those who have already died) in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep (G2837 – koimaō – Original Greek Meaning – Those who have already died). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

(1Th 4:13-18 NASB)

 

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace (G1515 – eirēnē – Original Greek Meaning – peace, prosperity, quietness, rest) and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep (G2518 – katheudō – Original Greek Meaning – to rest, to be asleep) as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep (G2518 – katheudō – Original Greek Meaning – to rest, to be asleep) do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep (G2837 – koimaō – Original Greek Meaning – Those who have already died), we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (1Th 5:1-11 NASB)

 

This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

(2Th 1:5-10 NASB)

 

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy (G646 – apostasia – Original Greek Meaning – defection from the truth, falling away, forsake) comes first, and the man (G444 – anthrōpos – Original Greek Meaning – human being, a man) of lawlessness (G458 – anomia – Original Greek Meaning – violation of the law, wickedness, unrighteousness) is revealed, the son of destruction (G684 – apōleia – Original Greek Meaning – damnation, damnable, perdition, waste), who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

(2Th 2:1-12 NASB)

 

These facts, events, circumstances, judgements and happenings are described when Jesus Christ returns for the 2nd time:

 

  1. Jesus will return a 2nd time from Heaven. (1Th 1:10) (1Th 4:13-18) (2Th 1:5-10)
  2. Wrath is coming and only Faith in Jesus can rescue us from it. (1Th 2:19-20)
  3. We will receive joy when we see the salvation of those who are saved by us sharing the gospel. (1Th 2:19-20)
  4. At the 2nd coming of Jesus, all His Saved Christians will be present (Saints – Saved Christians who have already died and Saved Christians who are still alive at that time of His 2nd Return). (1Th 3:12-13)
  5. Jesus brings with Him those Saved Christians who have already died. (1Th 4:13-18)
  6. Paul the Author says that some Saved Christians will still be alive on earth when Jesus returns the 2nd time.  (1Th 4:13-18)
  7. Those Saved Christians who have already died will be resurrected first. (1Th 4:13-18)
  8. The Saved Christians who have already died and have been resurrected first (Please take careful note of the word “first” which means will happen first before something else), then (Please take careful note of the word “then” which means directly after) the Saved Christians who are still alive at that time will be caught up together (at the same 2nd coming event) in the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus in the air when Jesus returns the 2nd time. (1Th 4:13-18)
  9. When Jesus returns the 2nd time, only then at the very same 2nd coming event are Saved Christians caught up in the clouds (the air) to meet Him (Some Christians call this the rapture). (1Th 4:13-18)
  10. Jesus returns the 2nd time with a shout (a cry of incitement). (1Th 4:13-18)
  11. Jesus returns the 2nd time with the voice of the archangel (a chief angel). (1Th 4:13-18)
  12. Jesus returns the 2nd time with the sound of the trumpet of God. (1Th 4:13-18)
  13. After the 2nd coming of Jesus all Saved Christians will always be with the Lord for eternity. (1Th 4:13-18)
  14. While the Unsaved People (those of the night, darkness, asleep and drunkards) are saying, “Peace and safety!”, sudden destruction will come upon them like a thief in the night and there will be no escape. (1Th 5:1-11)
  15. Saved Christians are not in the darkness but are in the light (know the truth and are awake), and will not be surprised that day as they would be expecting it, so it won’t come like a thief in the night to them. (1Th 5:1-11)
  16. Saved Christians are not destined for Gods wrath on this day (destruction) like the Unsaved People. (1Th 5:1-11)
  17. Saved Christians, are not destined for Gods wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ at the 2nd coming of Jesus, whether we are still alive at that time of the 2nd coming of Jesus or have previously died before the 2nd coming of Jesus. (1Th 5:1-11)
  18. God will repay Unsaved People who persecute and afflict Saved Christians with affliction, retribution and eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord. (2Th 1:5-10)
  19. God will give relief to Saved Christians from their affliction done to them by Unsaved People. (2Th 1:5-10)
  20. Jesus returns the 2nd time and will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire. (2Th 1:5-10)
  21. Jesus returns the 2nd time and comes to be glorified in His saints, and marvelled at by His saints on that same day. (2Th 1:5-10)
  22. Don’t be deceived, the 2nd coming of Jesus won’t come until the great apostasy comes first, meaning many Christians will turn from the truth, falling away from their faith and forsake Jesus. God will send upon the Unsaved People a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2Th 2:1-12)
  23. Don’t be deceived, the 2nd coming of Jesus won’t come until the Actual Human Antichrist (man of lawlessness, the son of destruction) is revealed to Saved Christians. (2Th 2:1-12)
  24. Jesus will destroy the Actual Human Antichrist with the breath of His mouth in the 2nd coming of Jesus and bring the Actual Human Antichrist reign to an end. (2Th 2:1-12)
  25. God is allowing a he (maybe and Angel, maybe Jesus Himself or the Holy Spirit) to stop or restrain the Actual Human Antichrist from being revealed, and he, the one who restrains will be taken out of the way so the Actual Human Antichrist can be revealed, this will happen before the 2nd coming of Jesus. (2Th 2:1-12)

 

The 2nd coming of Jesus Christ is also referred to as:

 

  1. The wrath to come. (1Th 2:19-20)
  2. His coming.  (1Th 2:19-20)
  3. The coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. (1Th 3:12-13)
  4. Coming of the Lord. (1Th 4:13-18)
  5. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. (1Th 4:13-18)
  6. Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire. (2Th 1:5-10)
  7. Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him. (2Th 2:1-12)
  8. The day of the Lord. (2Th 2:1-12)
  9. Appearance of His coming. (2Th 2:1-12)

 

What is the Rapture referred to as in Scripture:

 

  1. Caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1Th 4:13-18)
  2. Our gathering together to Him. (2Th 2:1-12)

 

What the Actual Human Antichrist will do and say before Jesus comes again:

 

  1. The Actual Human Antichrist opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2Th 2:1-12)
  2. The Actual Human Antichrist the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, and will be revealed with all power and signs and false wonders. (2Th 2:1-12)
  3. The Actual Human Antichrist will deceive those who perish with all the deception of wickedness, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (2Th 2:1-12)

 

 

End Times Study – Definitions and Lexicon

 

Definitions:

 

Saved Christians – His saints (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13) (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10), sons of light and sons of day (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). True Born Again Believers who have fruit and know the Real Jesus of the Bible. Those who know they are guilty of sin, who have humbled themselves before God, who have repented and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Those who continue to abide in Jesus till they die or His 2nd coming.

Unsaved People – Unbelievers (those who do not know God, those who follow any other religions apart from True Biblical Christianity, atheists, agnostics, new age, humanism, naturalism, universalism, cults or any other form of belief against the Christian Bible). Those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). This also includes False Christians (Matthew 7:21-23), those who do not obey Jesus, those who claim to be Christian but are not and who follow a false Jesus (A false Jesus made up to suite their own selfish beliefs to satisfy their selfish earthly lusts).

Actual Human Antichrist – A Human Being, a Man. The man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. The one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness who deceives the Unsaved People (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

 

Greek Dictionary:

  

saints G40 – Original Greek Meaning – sacred, physically pure, morally blameless, holy

ἅγιος

hagios

hag’-ee-os

From ἅγος hagos (an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): – (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

 

asleep G2837 – Original Greek Meaning – Those who have already died

κοιμάω

koimaō

koy-mah’-o

to put to sleep, that is, (passively or reflexively) to slumber; figuratively to decease: – (be a-, fall a-, fall on) sleep, be dead.

 

Peace G1515 – Original Greek Meaning – peace, prosperity, quietness, rest

εἰρήνη

eirēnē

i-rah’-nay

Probably from a primary verb εἴρω eirō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: – one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

 

sleep G2518 – Original Greek Meaning – to rest, to be asleep

καθεύδω

katheudō

kath-yoo’-do

From G2596 and εὕδω heudō (to sleep); to lie down to rest, that is, (by implication) to fall asleep (literally or figuratively): – (be a-) sleep.

 

apostasy G646 – Original Greek Meaning – defection from the truth, falling away, forsake

ἀποστασία

apostasia

ap-os-tas-ee’-ah

Feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the state), (“apostasy”): – falling away, forsake.

 

man G444 – Original Greek Meaning – human being, a man

ἄνθρωπος

anthrōpos

anth’-ro-pos

From G435 and ὤψ ōps (the countenance; from G3700); man faced, that is, a human being: – certain, man.

 

lawlessness G458 – Original Greek Meaning – violation of the law, wickedness, unrighteousness

ἀνομία

anomia

an-om-ee’-ah

From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: – iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

 

destruction G684 – Original Greek Meaning – damnation, damnable, perdition, waste

ἀπώλεια

apōleia

ap-o’-li-a

From a presumed derivative of G622; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): – damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.

 

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