Why is First Thessalonians important?
This letter provides the clearest Biblical passage on the coming rapture of believers, an event that will begin the 7-year tribulation. At the rapture, Christ will return for his people. The dead in Christ shall rise first, while those still living will follow close behind. All believers will meet Jesus in the air to spend eternity with the Lord. The hope of Christ’s return provides comfort, as well as motivation for godly living.
Paul offers practical instruction for the process of sanctification in our lives when we avoid sexual promiscuity and when we refuse to defraud others, when we refuse to repay evil for evil, by rejoicing always, praying without ceasing and giving thanks in all things.
In Second Thessalonians, false teachers claimed that the day of the Lord had already come, so Paul explains that this future time of tribulation has not yet come because the Antichrist, a man of lawlessness, has not yet been revealed. The Antichrist is also mentioned in Daniel, Matthew and Revelation. So, when the believers leave the earth in the rapture, the Spirit of God will stop restraining the Antichrist, who will present himself, and all who remain will experience the wrath of the tribulation. Like the Thessalonians, our hope in Christ should encourage us in our times of suffering and motivate us to use our time wisely in living responsibly for God.
I have seen in my own life times when my daily life came into conflict with God’s desire for me to mature in Christ and serve others as He patiently nudges me along.
Grace and peace,
Bob