1 Thessalonians chapter 5
Paul informs us about the End of Days. He calls us to be holy. He tells us God’s will for us. And he concludes this great Letter.
THE END OF DAYS
VERSE 1. But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
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you have no need that anything be written to you. Paul often strengthened the faith of believers by the “ministry of reminding.” He told them the essential truths of the faith, over and over again. Read more »
VERSE 2. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
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the day of the Lord. There’s an event that Paul calls the day of the Lord. That means the End of Days, the moment when Jesus Christ returns in triumphal glory. In the movies, they call it Armageddon.
like a thief in the night. The date of the return of the Lord Jesus is unknown. It will be unexpected. However, some Christians claim to know when it will happen. They are false prophets. Read more »
VERSE 3. For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they will in no way escape.
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Peace and safety. Many people think the time just before the Return of Christ will be an era of cataclysm. However, Paul says it will be when everything is peaceful and secure. Read more »
sudden destruction. The End of Days will happen suddenly. People won’t be able to hide from it.
in no way escape. There will be no escape. There will be no coming back from this one. Fleeing will be futile. It will be a one-way ticket to eternity.
VERSE 4. But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
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aren’t in darkness. Even though we believers don’t know when these events will happen, we are not in the dark. We can be prepared for it by living in a state of perpetual readiness. We can prepare for it by reading what the Bible has to say about the End of Days. It boils down to how much we care to inform ourselves about it.
VERSE 5. You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness,
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children of the light. By God’s grace, we have been illumined. The light of Christ resides within us. The more we dig into the Bible to inform ourselves about these important issues, the less our own fears and misinformation will occlude that light.
We don’t belong to the night. We are not of the night or of darkness. The Prince of Darkness does not reside within us. We are not captives of the evil one. And we don’t let ourselves persist in biblical ignorance.
VERSE 6. so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
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let’s not sleep. We are not to be indifferent about the End of Days. Paul puts it this way: let us not sleep. Many Christians have a lethargy when it comes to investigating the biblical teachings about the End of Days.
let’s watch and be sober. When it comes to biblical prophecy, let us stay alert and sober. Let’s look into it. Let’s inform ourselves of the truths that God has freely given us. After all, it is the truth that sets us free!
John 8:32. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
VERSE 7. For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.
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VERSE 8. But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
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VERSE 9. For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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wrath. The Greek word is orgé. It means anger, wrath, passion, punishment, vengeance. God has not called us to receive that.
salvation. The Greek word is sōtēris. It means welfare, prosperity, deliverance, preservation, salvation, safety. This is our calling.
VERSE 10. who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
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who died for us. This is telling us exactly why Christ died. He died FOR US. This is a very, very useful verse.
VERSE 11. Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
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exhort one another. The Greek word is παρακαλεῖτε (“parakaleite”). It means to comfort, to encourage, to exhort.
build each other up. The Greek word is οἰκοδομεῖτε (“oikodomeite”). It means to build a house. In this context it means to build someone up, to help them stand.
BE HOLY
VERSE 12. But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
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The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »
VERSE 13. and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
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VERSE 14. We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.
NLT translation. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
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Don’t waste your words. Say things that will minister to the people around you. But say those things according to the specific needs of each person. Read more »
VERSE 15. See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.
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THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU
VERSE 16. Always rejoice.
NLT translation. Always be joyful.
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Rejoice always. The Bible commands us to always be joyful. Being joyful is not something we feel. Rather, it is something we do. Read more »
VERSE 17. Pray without ceasing.
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Pray without ceasing. Many Christians have dedicated a special time of day when they pray. But the Bible calls us to pray continually. Read more »
VERSE 18. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
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In everything give thanks. To be thankful is itself a sacrifice that pleases God. It is God’s will that we give thanks in all circumstances. Read more »
We are commanded to always be thankful. In every situation, there is always something we can thank God for.
In this verse, the Greek word for “give thanks” is εὐχαριστεῖτε (“eucharisteite”).
It means to thank, to give thanks, to sing, to receive with thanks. lt literally means “thankful for God’s good grace.”
Hence it is an oxymoron that someone could be grumpy yet thankful.
this is the will of God … toward you. This is the only verse we are aware of in the New Testament that tells us the will of God. It is God’s will that we are thankful.
CONCLUSION
VERSE 19. Don’t quench the Spirit.
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When the Holy Spirit is in your life, you will have FIRE. Are you on fire for the LORD God? If not, how can you get on fire? Read more »
This verse is referred to in a famous book on continuous prayer called The Way of a Pilgrim.
VERSE 20. Don’t despise prophecies.
New Living Translation. Do not scoff at prophecies,
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Ezekiel 24:14. I, the LORD, have spoken it. It will happen, and I will do it. I won’t go back. I won’t spare. I won’t repent. According to your ways, and according to your doings, they will judge you,” says the Lord GOD.’ ”
VERSE 21. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
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Amos 5:14. Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you say.
VERSE 22. Abstain from every form of evil.
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Amos 5:14. Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you say.
VERSE 23. May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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VERSE 24. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.
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Ezekiel 17:24. All the trees of the field will know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree flourish. “ ‘I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it.’ ”
VERSE 25. Brothers, pray for us.
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VERSE 26. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
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VERSE 27. I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
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VERSE 28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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(2 Thessalonians chapter 1)
1 THESSALONIANS
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.