FIRST THESSALONIANS CHAPTER FIVE
OBSERVATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand in accordance with the framework in which it was written: a framework which is defined by the normative rules of language, context and logic - rules which do not impose undue, unintended meanings to the text , and which largely limit observer to the content offered by Paul's epistle to the Thessalonians and his other writings. In order for any passage from elsewhere to be considered, it must have a relationship with the context at hand, such as a Scriptural quotation or a specific cross reference in the passage at hand by the author. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

Note that information on manuscript evidence is from "THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXT AND TRANSLATION COMMENTARY," by Philip W. Comfort, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, Carol Stream, IL.

****** EXCERPT FROM 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 4 ******
OR MOVE TO FIRST VERSE OF CHAPTER FIVE 

1) [(1 Thes 4:13-18) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 4:13-18]:

a) [(1 Thes 4:13) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 4:13]:

b) [(1 Thes 4:16) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 4:16]:

c) [(1 Thes 4:17) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 4:17]:

d) [(1 Thes 4:18) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 4:18]:

2) [(1 Thes 4:13-18) Commentary On 1 Thes 4:13-18]:

a) [(1 Thes 4:13) Commentary On 1 Thes 4:13]:

i) FELLOW BELIEVERS ARE BEING ADDRESSED

i_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:1, 7; 4:14]:

ii) THE PHRASE "FALL ASLEEP" IS ADDRESSING BELIEVERS WHO HAVE PHYSICALLY DIED WHO ARE FURTHER DESCRIBED AS 'ASLEEP IN JESUS' AND 'DEAD IN CHRIST'

ii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 4:14-16]:

iii) PAUL INDICATES THAT THE REST OF MEN, I.E., THOSE HE IS NOT ADDRESSING IN THIS EPISTLE = UNBELIEVERS, HAVE NO HOPE AS OPPOSED TO BELIEVERS WHO DO HAVE THE SURE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

iii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:3-5]:

iv) PAUL ADDRESSES AN ISSUE STEMMING FROM THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS UNDERGOING SEVERE PERSECUTION AND DEATHS. THEY MISTOOK THIS PERSECUTION FOR THE FUTURE WRATH OF GOD, AND SINCE THEY HAD NOT BEEN RESCUED FROM THIS PERSECUTION BY THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, THEY GRIEVED LIKE THE REST OF MEN WHO HAVE NO SURE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

v) THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS WHO WERE GOING THROUGH SEVERE PERSECUTION WERE TOLD BY PAUL THAT THEIR HOPE IS IN JESUS, THAT HE WOULD RESCUE ALIVE BELIEVERS FROM THE COMING WRATH, AND ALL BELIEVERS WILL ACCOMPANY THE LORD AT HIS COMING - SO THEY SHOULD NOT GRIEVE LIKE UNBELIEVERS WHO HAVE NO SUCH HOPE

v_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:3-5]:

v_b) [Compare 1 Thes 1:6-10]:

v_c) [Compare 1 Thes 2:14-15]:

v_d) [Compare 1 Thes 2:19 KJV with 1 Thes 4:13]:

v_e) [Compare Renald E. Showers, 'MARANATHA, OUR LORD, COME!, Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Bellmawr, N.J., 1995, p. 198]:

vi) BELIEVERS WHO ARE ALIVE ON THE EARTH WILL BE RESCUED FROM GOD'S FINAL WORLDWIDE EARTHLY WRATH BY PHYSICAL REMOVAL FROM THE EARTH AND INTO CHRIST'S PRESENCE. GOD'S ETERNAL WRATH IS NOT IN VIEW

vi_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:8-10]:

vii) TWO DIFFERENT APPEARANCES OF OUR LORD ARE INCLUDED IN THE SURE HOPE: (1) JESUS CHRIST WILL APPEAR IN THE CLOUDS ABOVE THE EARTH TO RESCUE BELIEVERS FROM GOD'S FINAL WRATH ON THE EARTH BY PHYSICAL REMOVAL TO REMAIN WITH HIM FOREVER. (2) JESUS CHRIST IN HIS SECOND COMING WILL THEREAFTER ARRIVE WITH THE RESCUED BELIEVERS ONTO THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH TO END THE WRATH AND BEGIN THE REIGN OF HIS KINGDOM

vii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:10]:

vii_b) [Compare 1 Thes 2:19 KJV]:

vii_c) [Compare 1 Thes 3:13]:

vii_d) [Compare 2 Thes 1:10]:

viii) THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS ARE REMINDED OF THE SURE HOPE OF RESCUE FROM THE COMING WRATH IN ORDER NOT TO MISCONSTRUE THE SEVERE PERSECUTION THEY WERE UNDER FOR GOD'S FINAL WRATH. THEY HAD CONCLUDED THAT THEY HAD MISSED BEING RESCUED FROM THE COMING WRATH

b) [(1 Thes 4:13-14) Commentary On 1 Thes 4:13-14]:

i) PAUL TELLS THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS NOT TO GRIEVE LIKE THE REST OF MEN WHO HAVE NO HOPE. BELIEVERS WILL ACCOMPANY THE LORD AT HIS SECOND COMING AND THUS HAVE ETERNAL LIFE: THOSE WHO ARE ASLEEP AND THOSE WHO REMAIN ALIVE

c) [(1 Thes 4:13-18) Commentary On 1 Thes 4:13-18]:

i) THE LORD SPOKE OF BELIEVERS BEING CAUGHT UP TO HIM

ii) PAUL ASSURES THAT BELIEVERS ALIVE AND ASLEEP IN CHRIST WILL TAKE PART IN EVENTS AT THE PARTICULAR APPEARANCE OF OUR LORD TO RESCUE THEM WHO ARE ALIVE AT THE TIME FROM THE COMING WRATH ON THE EARTH

ii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:10]:

iii) COMMENCING WITH THE ARCHANGEL'S LOUD COMMAND AND THE TRUMPET CALL OF GOD THE COMING OF THE LORD TO RESCUE BELIEVERS IS TO COMMENCE FROM HEAVEN, WHEREUPON THE DEAD IN CHRIST RISE FIRST, THEN ALIVE BELIEVERS WITH THEM WILL BE CAUGHT UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE CLOUDS IN THE AIR TO BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER

iii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:10]:

iv) BELIEVERS WHO ARE ALIVE ON THE EARTH AND THOSE WHO ARE ASLEEP WILL BE CAUGHT UP FROM THE EARTH INTO CHRIST'S PRESENCE INTO THE CLOUDS IN THE AIR - EVIDENTLY AS A RESCUE FROM THE COMING WRATH - THIS IS NOT THE SECOND COMING

iv_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:8-10]:

iv_b) [Compare 1 Thes 2:19 KJV]:

iv_c) [Compare 1 Thes 3:13]:

****** EXCERPT FROM STUDY ON THE RAPTURE ******

(biblestudymanuals.net/1thes4v18.htm)

I) [1 Thes 4:13]:

H) "LIKE THE REST OF MEN WHO HAVE NO HOPE" = "HOPE" = "ELIPDA" = REFERS TO THE SURE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE AND THE ACCOMPANYING RESURRECTION WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO THE WRATH OF GOD

1) [Compare 1 Pet 1:3-4]:

2) [Compare 1 Jn 5:13]:

3) [Compare Titus 2:11-13]:

4) [Compare 1 Thes 5:9]:

5) [Compare Rev 3:9-10]:

I) THE SURE HOPE OF THE BELIEVER INCLUDES THE FACT THAT HE WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WRATH OF THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD, I.E., THE TRIBULATION PERIOD

1) INTRODUCTION

2) THE BLESSED HOPE OF THE BELIEVER IS THAT HE WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE WRATH OF THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD

a) THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD IN GENERAL

b) THE DAY OF THE LORD IN THE FUTURE

i) INTRODUCTION

[2 Thes 2:1-2]:

ii) THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD: WRATH THEN BLESSING

[Joel 2:1-2]:

[Amos 5:18-20]:

[Zech 1:14-15]:

[1 Thes 5:1-11]:

[Joel 3:9-21]:

iii) THE BACKGROUND OF THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD

[Gen 1:5]:

[Compare Mt 24:29-30]:

[Compare Zep 1:14-18]:

[Compare Zech 14:1-9]:

v) EVIDENCE FOR THE NARROW SENSE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD

[Rev 16:12-16]:

[Joel 3:9-16]:

[Compare Zech 14:1-5]:

vi) THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD = THE NARROW DAY OF THE LORD

vii) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NARROW VS THE BROAD DAY OF THE LORD

b) THE DAY OF THE LORD IN THE FUTURE, cont.

viii) [Compare 2 Thes 2:1-4]:

viii_1) THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE 'APOSTASIA' OCCURS

viii_1_a) DERIVATION & AVAILABLE MEANINGS OF APOSTASIA, APOSTASION

viii_1_b) BIBLICAL USAGE OF APOSTASIA, APOSTASION

[Acts 21:21]:

[Compare Mt 5:31, 19:7]:

[Compare Mk 10:4]:

viii_1_c) ANCIENT USAGE OF APOSTASIA, APOSTASION SUPPORTS THE POSSIBILITY APOSTASIA POINTING TO THE RAPTURE

viii_1_d) CONTEXT IN 2 THES CHAPTER 2 POINTS TO THE RAPTURE

[1 Thes 1:10]:

[1 Thes 2:19]:

[1 Thes 3:13]:

[1 Thes 4:13-5:10]:

[1 Thes 5:23]:

viii_1_e) APOSTASY = DEPARTURE FROM A RELIGIOUS FAITH IS NOT IN VIEW

[Compare 1 Tim 4:1-4]:

[Compare 2 Timothy 3:1-6]:

viii_1_f) PAUL REFERS TO HAVING TAUGHT THE APOSTASIA PREVIOUSLY - WHICH SCRIPTURE POINTS MOST POWERFULLY TO THE RAPTURE

[Compare 2 Thes 2:1-5]:

[Compare 1 Tim 4:1-4]:

[Compare 2 Timothy 3:1-6]:

viii_1_g) THE APOSTASY OF MANKIND TO WORSHIP THE DEVIL IS PROPHESIED IN SCRIPTURE BUT IT DOES NOT FIT THE CONTEXT OF 2 THES 2:3

[Compare 2 Thes 2:1-5]:

[Compare Rev 13:4-8]:

[Compare Rev 13:11-15]:

[Compare Dan 11:31; 12:11]:

[Compare Mt 24:15-16]:

ix) THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE REVELATION OF THE MAN OF SIN OCCURS

[2 Thes 2:1-4]:

x) THE MAN OF SIN WILL NOT BE REVEALED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 70TH WEEK, RATHER HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF KNOWN AT ITS BEGINNING

xi) THE DAY OF THE LORD IS REFERRED TO AS FUTURE DUE TO PAUL'S COMFORTING MESSAGE TO THE  THESSALONIANS

[Compare 2 Thes 2:1-5]:

xii) SINCE MOST CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS HAVE ALREADY DIED & ARE "PRESENT WITH THE LORD" AND WERE NOT SUBJECT TO PURIFICATION REFINING, I.E., THE KIND OF WRATH AS REVEALED IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD PASSAGES, THEN TO PROPOSE THAT THE REMAINING FEW IN THE LAST DAYS WILL BE PUT THROUGH A PURIFICATION REFINING IN THE TRIBULATION WRATH OF GOD IS NOT CONSISTENT

3) OTHER PASSAGES WHICH INDICATE THAT THE CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS WILL NOT BE PRESENT IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD

i) [Rev 19:8]:

ii) [2 Cor 5:10]:

b) THE "RESTRAINER OF SIN," THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY NECESSITATING THE CHURCH TO GO LIKEWISE SINCE IT WAS INDWELT WITH HIM

[Compare Gen 6:3]:

[Compare John 16:7-8]:

[Compare 1 Jn 4:3-4]:

[Compare 1 Thes 1:6]:

c) THE 24 ELDERS REPRESENTING THE CHURCH ARE IN HEAVEN BEFORE THE TRIBULATION AND SECOND COMING

d) THE WEDDING IN REV 19:7-10 OF OUR LORD & THE CHURCH OCCURS IN HEAVEN BEFORE THE TRIBULATION

e) THE RAPTURE CANNOT INVOLVE TRIBULATION SAINTS FOR THAT WOULD LEAVE NO MORTALS TO LIVE IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM AS GOD PROPHESIED THERE WOULD BE:

i) [Isa 65:20-25]:

f) A RAPTURE OF SURVIVING TRIBULATION BELIEVERS SERVES NO PURPOSE & DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF GOD'S JUDGMENT ON THE EARTH

g) A RAPTURE AT THE SECOND COMING OF THE CHURCH WOULD RESULT IN THE CHURCH IMMEDIATELY COMING BACK TO EARTH SERVING NO PURPOSE EITHER

II) [1 Thes 4:14]:

A) THE BELIEVER'S BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT WILL BE REJOINED IN A PERFECT & RIGHTEOUS RESURRECTED BODY & BE BROUGHT BACK TO HEAVEN WITH OUR LORD

III) [1 Thes 4:15]:

A) THIS IS THE COMING OF OUR LORD FOR HIS CHURCH AND NOT THE SECOND COMING TO THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH TO BEGIN HIS REIGN

1) [Compare Jn 14:2-3]:

IV) [1 Thes 4:16-18]:

A) FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO MEET HIS CHURCH IN THE AIR, (NOT ON THE EARTH AS IN THE SECOND COMING), & TO BRING HIS CHURCH BACK TO HEAVEN WITH HIM

B) THE TRUMPET CALL OF THE RAPTURE VS THE TRUMPET CALL OF THE SECOND COMING

1) [Compare 1 Cor 15:51-53]:

2) [Compare the trumpet which announces the Second Coming]:

i) [Mt 24:30-31]:

i) [Mt 24:36]:

4) THE LAST TRUMP = THE LAST TRUMP OF A PARTICULAR SERIES OF TRUMPETS

IV) [1 Thes 4:16-18 cont.]:

C) "WE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE AND ARE LEFT WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR"

D) "SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR." = TO BE RESCUED BY GOD FROM THE DANGER OF THE ENTIRE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD

1) [1 Thes 1:8-10]:

2) [Compare 1 Thes 5:9-10]:

3) [Compare Rev 3:9-10]:

V) [1 Thes 4:17-18]:

A) THE COMING OF THE LORD TO CATCH UP HIS SAINTS IS IMMINENT

1) INTRODUCTION

2) THE NEW TESTAMENT SUPPORTS THE IMMINENT COMING OF CHRIST

a) [1 Cor 1:7]:

b) [1 Cor 4:5]:

c) [1 Cor 15:51-52]:

d) [1 Cor 16:22]:

e) [Compare 1 Cor 11:26]:

f) [Compare Phil 3:20]:

g) [Compare Phil 4:5]:

h) [1 Thes 1:9b-10]:

i) [Titus 2:13]:

j) [Compare Jas 5:7-9]:

k) [1 John 2:28]:

l) [Rev 3:20; 22:7, 12, 20]:

VI) CONCLUSION

A) A PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE WAS HELD TO BY AT LEAST SOME BELIEVERS DURING THE EARLY CHURCH AGE

B) SUMMARY CHART OF RAPTURE VS THE SECOND COMING

C) THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE IS PICTURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1) [Mt 24:36]:

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM STUDY ON THE RAPTURE ******

I) [1 Thes 5:1-28]:

A) [1 Thes 4:13-18 through 5:1-3]:

1) [(1 Thes 5:1-3) Commentary On 1 Thes 4:13-18 through 5:1-3]:

PAUL ADDRESSES AN ISSUE STEMMING FROM THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS UNDERGOING SEVERE PERSECUTION AND DEATHS. THEY MISTOOK THIS PERSECUTION FOR THE FUTURE WRATH OF GOD - THE DAY OF THE LORD - AND SINCE THEY HAD NOT BEEN RESCUED FROM THIS PERSECUTION BY THE COMING APPEARANCE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE CLOUDS TO RESCUE THEM BY TAKING THEM OFF THE PLANET, THEY GRIEVED LIKE THE REST OF MEN WHO HAVE NO SURE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY PAUL THAT THEIR HOPE IS INDEED IN JESUS, THAT HE WOULD RESCUE ALIVE BELIEVERS FROM THE COMING WRATH - FROM THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD, I.E., THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. AND ALL BELIEVERS OF THE CHURCH AGE, DEAD AND ALIVE WILL ACCOMPANY THE LORD AT HIS SECOND COMING FROM HEAVEN - SO THEY SHOULD NOT GRIEVE LIKE UNBELIEVERS WHO HAVE NO SUCH HOPE

COMMENCING WITH THE ARCHANGEL'S LOUD COMMAND AND THE TRUMPET CALL OF GOD THE COMING OF THE LORD TO RESCUE BELIEVERS IS TO COMMENCE FROM HEAVEN, WHEREUPON THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST, THEN ALIVE BELIEVERS WITH THEM WILL BE CAUGHT UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE CLOUDS IN THE AIR THEREAFTER THEY WILL BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER - EVIDENTLY TO BE RESCUED FROM THE COMING WRATH OF GOD OF THE DAY OF THE LORD. THIS IS NOT THE SECOND COMING

a) [(1 Thes 5:1-3) Bible Knowledge Commentary]:

B) [1 Thes 5:4-11]:

1) [Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 5:4-11]:

a) (1 Thes 5:4) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 5:4]:

b) [(1 Thes 5:9) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 5:9]:

2) [(1 Thes 5:1-11) Commentary On 1 Thes 5:1-11]:

a) [Commentary on 1 Thes 5:1-6]:

i) [Compare Jn 12:36]:

ii) [Compare Col 1:13-15]:

iii) [Compare Jn 1:1-12]:

b) [Compare Bible Knowledge Commentary From 1 Thes 4:4-6]:

c) [Commentary on 1 Thes 5:7-11]:

****** EXCERPT FROM EPHESIANS CHAPTER SIX STUDY ******

[Compare (Eph 6:10-18) Commentary]:

[(Eph 6:19-20) Commentary]:

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM EPHESIANS CHAPTER SIX STUDY ******

c cont) [Commentary on 1 Thes 5:7-11, (cont.)]:

[Review 1 Thes 5:4-6]:

d) [Compare Bible Knowledge Commentary From 1 Thes 4:11]:

C) [1 Thes 5:12-28]:

1) [(1 Thes 5:12-28) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 5:12-28]:

a) [(1 Thes 5:13) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 5:13]:

b) [(1 Thes 5:25) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 5:25]:

c) [(1 Thes 5:27) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 5:27]:

d) [(1 Thes 5:28) Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes 5:28]:

2) [(1 Thes 5:12-28) Commentary On 1 Thes 5:12-28)]:

a) [(1 Thes 5:12-15) Commentary On 1 Thes 5:12-15]:

b) [(1 Thes 5:16-24) Commentary On 1 Thes 5:16-24]:

i) [Compare Phil 4:4]:

ii) [Compare 2 Thes 2:1-5]:

iii) [Compare Eph 1:4]: Author And Apostle Paul Praises / Blesses The God And Father Of Our Lord Jesus Christ On Behalf Of All The Saints For Having Bestowed Every Spiritual Blessing In The Heavenly Places Upon The Saints - The Ones Believing In Christ Jesus, For He Chose Us In Him Before The Foundation Of The World, To Be Holy And Blameless In His Sight In Love

iii_a) [Compare Eph 1:11]:

c) [Commentary On 1 Thes 5:25-28]: