The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Living in Light of Christ's Return by Warren W. Wiersbe

Author:Warren W. Wiersbe
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Bible Study, Weirsbe, Thessalonians
Publisher: David C. Cook
Published: 2014-01-31T17:00:00+00:00

2. Choose one verse or phrase from 1 Thessalonians 5 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here.

Going Deeper

From the Commentary

Three phrases in 5:1–2 need careful consideration.

(1) “Times and seasons.” This phrase is found only three times in the Bible, and refers primarily to God’s plans for Israel. This is the way Daniel stated it when God gave him understanding of the king’s dream (Dan. 2:21). Our Lord’s use of the phrase in Acts 1:7 indicates that times and seasons relate primarily to Israel. God has a definite plan for the nations of the world (Acts 17:26), and Israel is the key nation.

(2) “The day of the Lord.” In the Bible, the word day can refer to a twenty-four-hour period or to a longer time during which God accomplishes some special purpose. In Genesis 2:3 the word means twenty-four hours, but in Genesis 2:4 it describes the entire week of Creation.

The day of the Lord is that time when God will judge the world and punish the nations. At the same time, God will prepare Israel for the return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His kingdom. Read Amos 5:18ff.; Joel 2:1ff.; Zephaniah 1:14–18; and Isaiah 2:12–21 for a description of this great period.

(3) “Thief in the night.” Our Lord used this image in His own teaching (Matt. 24:42–43; Luke 12:35–40). It describes the suddenness and the surprise involved in the coming of the day of the Lord. In Revelation 3:3; 16:15, He used this image to warn believers not to be caught napping. Since we do not know when the Lord will return for His people, we must live in a constant attitude of watching and waiting, while we are busy working and witnessing.

—Be Ready, pages 103–104

3. What does each of these phrases reveal about the Thessalonian church’s challenges and obstacles? How is each of these phrases important to us today? How does the “day of the Lord” potentially relate to Revelation 6—19?

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