1 Thessalonians 5 • Perspective on Shining God’s Light Now

Are you so disgusted with what is going on in our culture that you want Jesus to just come and take you away from it all? I do look forward to His coming with joyful anticipation. But we have work to do right now while waiting that fits with God’s purpose for us now. In the last blog, we gained the biblical perspective on death and the Rapture. This is post #9 in the Thessalonians series.In this article, we will gain the biblical perspective on what it means to shine God’s light in how you live your life now.

Listen to this blog as a similar podcast from the Perspective Bible Study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians:

Deceptive Predictions

Driving between Austin and Waco several years ago, the words on one particular billboard captivated me. It said, “Christ will stand on Mt. Olivet at noon on August 2, 2027-Amos 8:9.” Say what?

Someone is always predicting the date of Christ’s return based on blood moons, high tides, whatever. But this billboard caught my attention. So I went to the website named on the sign and looked up the verse referenced.

“In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.” (Amos 8:9)

These words from the Lord could describe a total solar eclipse. I guessed that the billboard’s creator was predicting Jesus’ actual presence on earth because there is supposed to be a solar eclipse over Jerusalem on that date. But in the context of that Amos verse, I did not see any reference to the Messiah standing on Mount Olivet. And the total solar eclipse on that date (August 2, 2027) is not expected to be directly over Jerusalem, but south of it. Jerusalem will see a partial eclipse, not a total one. The stark statements on the website are a jumble of puzzle pieces forcefully being fit together to make a picture.

As mentioned in the last post about the Rapture, trying to understand all the prophecies about the end times is like having similar puzzle pieces without the picture on the box top to tell you how to arrange them. We can recognize the border pieces and put the four sides of the puzzle together. Those are events we know will definitely happen but not when or how the rest of the pieces fit inside the border. They are introduced to us in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

1. The Rapture takes place. One day, Jesus Christ will appear as Savior to gather His own together in the clouds. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
2. The Great Tribulation begins. Known as “the day of the Lord,” it is a time during which God’s wrath against sin is directed toward earth. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)
3. The Antichrist is revealed. The man of lawlessness or Antichrist takes over the world with force and deception. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)
4. Christ’s Second Coming. Christ is coming to exact justice against unbelievers and set up His kingdom on earth. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

Those are the 4 sides to our puzzle. We have covered 1 so far. In this post, we will look more closely at 2 as introduced in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5.

The Day of the Lord

What it is

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul introduced the event known as “the day of the Lord.”

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

The day of the Lord” refers to a future time in which God will be more directly and dramatically involved in world affairs than He has been since the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. That day begins after the Rapture of the church. It includes the Lord’s judgment against sin in what is called the Great Tribulation (Revelation chapters 6-18) and Christ’s Second Coming in blazing fire (Revelation chapter 19). It ends with the conclusion of the “Millennial Kingdom” and final judgments of those who reject Christ (Revelation chapter 20). The graphic below is by H. Wayne House.

Concerning the Great Tribulation, the book of Revelation describes in awful detail what this time of God’s wrath directed against sin on earth looks like.

We believers will not be on earth at that time. We are promised salvation and rescue from God’s wrath in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 5:9.

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. … For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9)

That is how God worked in His other times of judgment.

• In Genesis chapter 7, God told Noah and his family when to get in the Ark for their safety. After they were safely out of the way, He brought the judgment of the Flood.
• In Genesis chapter 19, God sent angels to rescue Lot and his family out of Sodom. As soon as they were safely out of the way, He brought the judgment of fire.
• Jesus confirmed that pattern in Luke chapter 17 and said that God’s plan for us is the same.

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.  It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:26-30)

A warning to unbelievers

So, if we will not be here to witness it, and we have no actual control over what will happen, then why did the Lord give us so much detail about that time?

All Scripture has purpose. We read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that all Scripture is useful for teaching and rebuking. To rebuke is to express sharp disapproval of behavior. God hates sin and will judge it severely. All the verses describing what will happen during the Great Tribulation are a warning to all those who reject the Gospel message now. There are future consequences so repent now and be saved from that.

God spoke through Paul to tell us this,

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)

A caution for believers

Another purpose for the warning is to teach Christians how to live now in order to draw unbelievers to Jesus so they will believe and be saved. The purpose is not so we will spend our lives trying to figure out how all the puzzle pieces fit together. Only God knows that picture.

The Lord does not come to gather His own like a thief in the night. We are supposed to be waiting for Him, ready for His appearing.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. … For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. (1 Thessalonians 5:4,6)

Yet, only God knows when the Rapture will happen and when “the day of the Lord” will begin. It has not happened yet.

When it comes to predicting the time of the Lord’s return, Pastor Chuck Swindoll has a great reminder for us,

God doesn’t work on our timetable. He has a plan that He will execute perfectly and for the highest, greatest good of all, and for His ultimate glory. (Chuck Swindoll)

Preparing ahead of time

While I do not hold to the date set by the creator of that billboard I mentioned at the beginning of this article, it did get me to thinking. What if Jesus was on earth by then? That means the seven-year Great Tribulation was over. That means the Rapture of believers would have already occurred.

I saw that billboard in 2014. I thought to myself at that time, “What if we as Christian women had only 6 more years to share Christ with everyone we know? Would that make a difference in how I lived my life?”

Well, it is now 2023. The six more years have passed. Other than extending my outreach through my website, I really have not changed much in my outreach to unbelievers in my sphere of influence. It is so easy to just put that off. I am quite discouraged about that.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. (2 Corinthians 5:14)

We all have good intentions to share our faith with others, IF they ask us. Paul wrote that love compelled him to share the gospel.

Where is the “love compelling us” to share the truth? Where is the compassion for the unbeliever that should drive us to not wait until later to share the life we have in Christ with women in our neighborhood, PTA, workplace, or Bunco group?

I am just as guilty as anyone else for putting it off until later. One sweet neighbor lived next door for more than two years. She was on my prayer list for almost a year. I was thinking about getting together with her to talk about life and maybe find out about her spiritual needs. Then, she suddenly died! Too late! Thankfully, I read in her obituary that she was a Christian. Isn’t it sad when you do not find out that someone who lives right next door is a sister in Christ until you read her obituary?

If we are God’s messengers, we need to be living as light-bearers to the lost. What does it look like to live as someone who shines light in the darkness? Paul addressed that in the rest of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5.

Living as Someone Who Shines Light in the Darkness

Children of light

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6)

You, believers in Jesus Christ, are children of the light, children of the day.

In both Jewish and Greek thought, to be described as a “son” of something was to be characterized by that thing. In this case, what characterized the Thessalonians was the “light” and “day” (in contrast to “darkness” and “night”). They belonged to the day of God’s grace. They were no longer in the kingdom of darkness because God had removed them from there and placed them into Jesus’ kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13).

The same is true of you, dear believer. You are no longer in the kingdom of darkness. You are in the kingdom of light. It is a new identity. Live as children of the light.

Children who please their Father

Paul had already taught them to “live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12).” Live lives worthy of God representing God as children of Him. Live in order to please God. Let your daily life win the respect of outsiders. That is from 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

Your faith and love for God is a breastplate protecting your heart from corrupting influences. Your hope in your salvation and belief in Christ’s promise to come for you is like a helmet protecting your mind from doubt and despair. Those flow from your identity as children of the light.

Shining the light

Your identity as children of the light is visible to others. Most of the rest of chapter 5 describes all the ways you can live your life as children of the light. Each one of these provides light to watching unbelievers.

Look at the list from 1 Thessalonians 5:11-22:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (verses 11-13)

• Encourage and build each other up. Christians building up other Christians, not tearing them down, not letting them stay discouraged.
• Esteem and love your spiritual leaders. Respect them because of their hard work. We live in an anti-authority world, one that spirals toward anarchy if left unchecked. How would talking respectfully about your spiritual leaders enhance your light-bearing to the unbelievers around you?
• Live in peace with each other. This is in every one of the letters of Paul, Peter, James, and John. We have the peace of God. God enables us to live in peace with each other. You care more about the harmony of all than your rights. If this is true in your life, how would that draw unbelievers to Christ?

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (verse 14)

• Warn those who are idle and disruptive. Paul mentioned these types of people three times in the two letters to the Thessalonians. To the watching world, Christians should never appear as having no purpose. Having too much time on your hand is a symptom that you are not living according to your identity as light-bearers to the world.
• Encourage those who are disheartened. This is an act of love.
• Help the weak. Another act of love that definitely draws the attention of the non-Christian who is watching.
• Be patient with everyone. God enables you to do this. How does having patience with everyone fit with your role as a light-bearer?

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. (verse 15)

• Do not pay back wrong for wrong. Jesus said this. Paul said this. Peter said this. Universal truth of God. It is not karma, either. Believers should never be seeking revenge. Justice, yes. Revenge, no.
• Strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Doing good within the church family as well as to those who are outside. This is being proactive because it means you are watching to see what needs to be done and trusting the Holy Spirit to show you what to do.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (verses 16-18)

• Rejoice always. Psalm 16:9 says that when your heart is glad, your tongue rejoices. I love that word picture. How does your heart get glad? The next verse says the Lord fills you with joy in His presence. You can rejoice always because you always have God. So, how do you do this in such a way that draws attention to Christ rather than yourself?
• Pray continually. This means you are trusting in the Holy Spirit to show you how to be a better light-bearer to believers and to unbelievers.
• Give thanks in all circumstances. How do you do this in such a way that does not sound sappy but like you really mean it? That will certainly draw attention to the light of Christ in you.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. (verses 19-22)

• Do not quench the Spirit. That means to stop fighting God. Any behavior opposite to what is in this list will stifle the Spirit’s work in you as a light-bearer. Anger, impatience, selfishness, seeking revenge, whining, griping, tearing down other Christians, discouraging people, and disrespect for those in authority. That will do it.
• Test all teachings to hold onto what is good and reject what is evil. What goes into your brain will influence your heart and come out in your actions. A light-bearer only bears truth. Otherwise, you are quenching the light others see when watching your life.

Recommended: Read the “Colossians” series of blogs dealing with healthy spiritual living based on God’s truth that counters the false teaching of the world.

All of these are God’s will for your life. But the best news is that He does not expect you to do this on your own. Who can? Nobody! Not one of us—not you, not me—can ever do everything on this list 24/7. That is why the end of this chapter is so wonderful.

God Enable You to Shine the Light

God sanctifies

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

God Himself, the God of peace, will sanctify you through and through. He will do it. What does that mean?

The word sanctify means to be set apart from sin and to God. That is the same thing as being made holy. By faith in Jesus Christ, God declares us holy in His sight. We are clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27). When God looks on you and me, He sees Jesus and His righteousness, not all of our faults. His love chooses to do that for us. You have been set apart as God’s special, beloved possession for His exclusive use.

You are also being made holy in your thoughts, words, and actions by the work of the Holy Spirit. This is ongoing from the moment of salvation until the Lord comes or you die, when your “being made holy” is complete. The one who calls you to be sanctified, to be holy, to live as described by that above. He will do the work to make you that way. It is His power in you that enables you to build each other up, to respect your leaders, to do what is good for each other and for everyone else, to rejoice always, and to be thankful in all circumstances. It is Christ in you through His Spirit.

Through Christ in you

Paul wrote about this,

I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:29)

It is Christ at work in you through His Spirit that enables you to do anything good in His name—whether for yourself or for anyone else. We are to live dependently on Him to do this. Although we can resist His work, that does not stop His work to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Bible promises this…

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

What God started in us, He will complete. We can cooperate with the Spirit by yielding to His work and letting Him transform us (Romans 12:1-2).

You can always pray to the Lord like this: “Lord Jesus, I can’t do this on my own. I trust you to do this in me and through me.” Then, watch what He does! He wants you to be the best light-bearer you can be for Him.

Conclusion

The New Testament teaches that Jesus’ return for us could be at any time. Yes, it has been just shy of 2000 years of waiting. But if we lived as though we believed that to be true, and asked Jesus to give us His heart’s compassion for the unbelievers around us, how would that affect our lives today? Would we be more interested in shining the light rather than those who contentedly just dance in the light with our friends?

The next article will take a look at God’s justice and mercy as we anticipate the future.

Let Jesus satisfy your heart with His perspective on life in the present and in the future. Then, live securely in Him during this time of waiting.

The above information is covered in our Perspective Bible Study of 1 & 2 Thessalonians.

Related Resources:

• Satisfied Series 13 Podcasts on 1 and 2 Thessalonians
• Healthy Living Bible Study
• Healthy Living blog series

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