Friday July 12, 2013

Read 1 Thessalonians 5: 1– 3

To be able to uphold the Premillennial view, it is necessary to believe that 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 is talking about a different time frame than 4:13-18. But again, we need to ask if such a view is warranted by reading the text and without incorporating any extraneous information or events.

 

The text of 5:1 flows naturally from 4:13-18 and could more correctly be read as a continuation of the same theme. The day of the Lord (5:1) or the coming of the Lord (4:15) are able to be read as synonyms rather than as different time frames or different events. There is nothing in the connecting flow of the text that suggests that the believers are raptured to be with the Lord and a new time frame on earth starts. The wording,  ‘Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates…’ most naturally refers to the preceding discussion about the coming of the Lord to gather the believers.

 

Verse 4 of chapter 5 also suggests that it’s possible that the believers Paul originally wrote to could possibly be alive at this second coming of the Lord that brings judgement. With the classical “rapture” taking place, this would not be possible for the current believers would have all been raptured  and only  the new generation of believers converted after the rapture would be present. To talk about those future believers and the current believers who would all be raptured before the second coming  as “we” and “us” is somewhat confusing.

 

Reading the passage from 4:13-5:11 seems to suggest that those who are ‘raptured’ in 4:17 are the same group of people in 5:1-11.  It seems forced to add another time period between 4:13-18 and  5:1-11.

 

Prayer:

Use the space provided to add your own prayer points.

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Pray that we would gather together joyously around the throne of God and worship because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Pray that we would stand in unity , in oneness and proclaim from our hearts the greatness and awe of our God. Pray that our adoration and praise tomorrow would be acceptable in His sight.

¥ Pray that our Kings Kids ministry would continue to train up and equip the children to live in the Lord and to do the work He’s created for them to be doing. Pray that they would grow in knowledge, in depth of insight and in willingness to put that knowledge and depth into daily practice.