1st Thessalonians
Matthew chapter 24, these are the words of Jesus, and this is verses 36 through 41, and let’s read that this morning. Here’s what Jesus said, but about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be in the field and one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill, one will be taken and the other one left. We’re going to dive into the second coming of Christ this morning.
We finished the book of Philippians a couple weeks ago and we’re going to jump into another book study. I’m going to be doing some topical messages here in the days coming, graduation Sunday next week, Father’s Day the following week, but I’m most comfortable in a book of the Bible. And so, I’m going to give an introductory message this morning on the book of 1st Thessalonians.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with Dr. Warren Wiersbe. Dr. Warren Wiersbe was a wonderful pastor. He died about three or four years ago at the age of 89.
He authored over 150 books and he was the voice of Back to the Bible Hour, a broadcast out of Lincoln, Nebraska. And part of Dr. Wiersbe’s prolific writing was that he wrote a commentary on every book in the Bible. And it’s called the B Series because every title is a two-word title of the books and it starts with the letter, the word B. And so, he wrote over 50 of these and some of the books he’s combined.
I’ve got a number of them in my library just to kind of illustrate this. Here’s his commentary on Daniel, it’s called Be Resolute. His commentary on Joshua, it’s entitled Be Strong.
First and Second Timothy and Titus, Be Faithful. But here’s his commentary on the book we’re going to look at, 1st Thessalonians, and he entitled it Be Ready. And what he’s telling us is that we need to be ready for what? The second coming of Christ.
And that’s all through the book of 1st Thessalonians. Now Dr. Wiersbe had a prolific library. I read his biography and it said that later in life when they were moving, his wife Betty said they were looking for a library with a house attached to it.
That’s how many books he had. When he passed away, he gave his library to my alma mater, Cedarville University and he had 13,000 books. Last time I was there I was going through one of their new buildings and there’s this whole little section and it’s the Warren Wiersbe Library and there he gave to Cedarville University his entire library to advance the studies of those that are on the campus.
We’re going to think about this book and think about being ready for the second coming of Christ. So just an introductory message this morning, when I start a book, I like to ask five questions like a good investigative reporter. They all start with the letter W. Who wrote the book? When was it written? To whom is it written? Why did he write the book? Why is the letter written? And then what are some of the main themes that are in the book of 1st Thessalonians? So that’s what we’re going to just look at this morning in just an overview of 1st Thessalonians and then in a few weeks we’ll get into the text for sure.
1. who wrote the letter? The Apostle Paul wrote the letter
So, who wrote the letter or who wrote the book? And the answer to that is in the very first words of 1st Thessalonians chapter 1. Now when we write letters, we put our name at the end. In the Bible they did it at the beginning. And so, here’s 1st Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silas and Timothy.
So, this was written by the Apostle Paul. He includes his traveling companions in this greeting, but most commentators agree that this was written by the Apostle Paul. In fact, when we look at 1st Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 18, we read, for we wanted to come to you, certainly I, Paul, did again and again.
So, Paul identifies himself as the author of this letter. One of 13 books that he authored in the New Testament. Perhaps he wrote the book of Hebrews.
I’ll defer to those in the Hebrews Bible study. Some think he did. Some think it was authored by somebody else.
And so, by number of books, the Apostle Paul is by far the most prolific author in the New Testament. But did you know when you begin to look at the content and then the volume of who wrote most of the New Testament, Dr. Luke wrote more than Paul did, if you count the volume and the words. Because the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are really long books.
2. when was the letter written? 51 a.d.
And so, by volume, Dr. Luke is the most prolific author in the New Testament. So, this is written by Paul, the Apostle Paul. When was the letter written? It’s one of the earliest books.
Perhaps there might be two other books in the New Testament with earlier dates, maybe Galatians and James, but this is certainly one of the earliest books written in the entire New Testament. Most believe it was written in 51 A.D., shortly after Paul’s second missionary journey to Thessalonica. And so, this is written 18 years after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
3. To whom is the letter written to? to a church in Thessalonica
So, it’s one of the earliest books that is found in our New Testament. And again, to whom was it written? So, reading the rest of verse 1, Paul, Silas, and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonica in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. So, this was written to a church that was established in Thessalonica.
And I think you have in your bulletin a little insert, a little map that kind of traces Paul’s second missionary journey. And this is recorded, his missionary journey is recorded in Acts chapter 17. And so, let’s just go to Acts 17 just to get a little bit of background to the book of 1st Thessalonians and think about the place and the people, Acts chapter 17.
And we’re going to read some of the verses there that gives us some context here. But Thessalonica was in a strategic location situated at the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea. It was the capital of the Roman Providence, Macedonia.
The city was at a crucial crossroads of land and sea trade. The most important Roman road, the east-west highway called the Ignatian Way, went right through Thessalonica. It was also a sea trade port so that trade and ships often came and were at the dock there in Thessalonica.
Its population back in the first century was about 200,000. Think of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I looked up the population of Grand Rapids, Michigan census 2024, 196,000 people.
This is a rather large metropolitan city and Paul ministered there in answering the call to Macedonia. He had a vision and it was a man saying, we need some help. And so, he made his way to Macedonia and then eventually to Thessalonica.
And here’s the record that Dr. Luke writes about Paul’s visit there. This is Acts 17 verse 1, when Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the scriptures.
So, this was always Paul’s mode of ministry. He would always go to the Jewish synagogue. Now in order to have a synagogue in a city, you had to have at least ten Jewish families to form a synagogue.
So obviously there was a large Jewish, larger Jewish population in Thessalonica. And so, Paul’s there and he’s teaching and preaching in the synagogue for three Sabbaths. He’s explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead.
This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah, he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. And so, Paul’s preaching in the synagogue.
He’s preaching about the Messiah. He’s preaching from the Old Testament and saying that Isaiah 53, that the Messiah was to be the suffering, Savior. He was wounded for our transgressions.
He was bruised for our iniquity. And so, he preaches the gospel from the Old Testament and a large number of people come to faith in Christ. Now there’s a certain principle in scripture and I think it’s true today that when God begins to work, so does somebody else.
If Paul were to have a motto in his ministry and his missionary journeys, it might be expect opposition. And wherever he went, there was opposition. And so, Paul runs into some opposition here in Thessalonica, and let’s continue to read through the text here, beginning in verse 5, but other Jews were jealous.
So, they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials shouting, these men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here.
And Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decree, saying there is another king, one called Jesus. When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.
Then they made Jason and the others postpone and let them go. And verse 10 says, as soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. And so, the gospel made inroads there, but there was extreme opposition and they were looking for Paul and Silas.
And so, for their own safety, they made a nighttime escape to Berea for their own safety’s sake. And they had to leave Thessalonica very quickly under cover of night. So, Paul writes this letter then, a little bit later on, and now he’s in Corinth and he’s writing this letter back to the Thessalonians to encourage them, this new church there, these new believers, Paul wants to encourage them by writing this letter.
4. Why was the letter written? To answer some questions and encourage the church
So, why was the letter written? That’s question number four. Why was the letter written? And here’s what Paul did, he wasn’t able to go back and visit, but he sends Timothy back to Thessalonica to visit and to encourage those believers. And Timothy comes back and he gives a report to the Apostle Paul about how the church is doing and perhaps some questions that they have.
And so, 1st Thessalonians 3 verse 6, Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought us good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us just as we also long to see you. So, Paul couldn’t go back, maybe he felt like he was still in danger, but he sends his right-hand man Timothy and Timothy visits and he encourages the church.
And now he brings a report back to Paul and now Paul wants to write this letter to encourage those Thessalonian believers. And the Thessalonian believers had some questions for Paul. I mean, Paul had to leave quickly.
Paul had to leave under cover at night. And some of the questions Paul answers and some of the questions that those believers had at that church in Thessalonica is like, well, if Jesus is coming back, what happens because my grandfather died a year or two ago? And is he going to miss the second coming of Jesus? You see, they didn’t have the New Testament like we did, like we do rather. They have all these questions and so Paul’s writing to answer those questions and to encourage the church.
5. what are some of the main themes in the letter?
a. the second coming
Now, let’s look at our last question this morning. We’ll spend a little bit longer on this one. So, what are some of the major themes that are found in this letter we call First Thessalonians? What you find interesting is that every chapter in these five chapters in First Thessalonians ends with talking about and referring to the second coming of Jesus.
It’s like Paul wants to keep that at the forefront of our minds. Let me just read these verses that are all at the end of every chapter. First Thessalonians 1:10, let me start in the second part of verse 9, they tell how you turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Chapter 2, verse 19, for what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes? Jesus is coming again. Chapter 3, verse 13, may he strengthen your heart so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. Jesus is coming again.
Chapter 4, verse 16, for what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes? Jesus is coming again. Chapter 5, verse 23, for what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes? Jesus is coming again. Chapter 5, verse 23, as Paul closes the book, 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. Reference number 5. And so, every chapter, as Paul closes the chapters, and of course those chapters were man-made, but in the flow of our text, he refers to the second coming of Jesus. So, there’s lots about the second coming in 1st Thessalonians chapter 1 through 5.
b. be ready
Well, what are some other main themes? It’s not only the second coming of Christ, but the apostle Paul writes this to the Thessalonian believers and to us so that we can be ready for the second coming.
And there’s many sections here. It’s just practical Christian living of what we need to be doing until Jesus comes. The late Dr. Francis Schaeffer wrote the book entitled How Should We Then Live? What should we be doing? And when we come to faith in Christ, Jesus doesn’t just take us straight to heaven.
Oh, he could do that, but he leaves us here for a purpose, and we need to be ready for the second coming of Jesus. And Paul helps us with that subject in the letter. There’s a third main theme, and there’s several others, but we’ll just mention one other.
c. the wrath of God
It’s not only the second coming, it’s not only being ready, but the apostle Paul talks a lot about the wrath of God. The wrath of God. We read 1st Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 10 that those believers in Thessalonica are to be warned waiting for the Son from heaven, Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath, the coming wrath of God.
1st Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 16, he’s talking about those who are opposed to the gospel, and then Paul says the wrath of God has come upon them. We talk a lot about God’s love, but God is also holy. God is a God who will judge sin someday.
So, Paul’s talking about the wrath of God. 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 9, for God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, Paul’s reminding us we need to be thankful for our salvation.
Why? Because who took the wrath of God in our place? Jesus did. God, when Jesus was on the cross, poured his wrath on the Son of God. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21 says, he who knew no sin became sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God, the sons of God.
When we sing these songs of worship and praise, we need to sing them eternally grateful from our heart because Jesus took the wrath of God, he took the hit, he took the punishment in our place. Paul’s reminding people and he’s reminding those in the Thessalonican church that there is a day coming when God’s wrath will be poured out on planet earth. We like to sing occasionally the song In Christ Alone.
It’s a great song. Here’s the second stanza. In Christ alone who took on flesh, fullness of God and helpless babe, this gift of love and righteousness scorned by the ones he came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied. That’s the theological term, propitiation. In 1st John it says Jesus became the propitiation for our sins.
That means that he suffered God’s wrath in our place and God was fully satisfied with that sacrifice. The rest of the stanza goes, for every sin on him was laid here in the death of Christ I, well, Jesus took our place on the cross. But there’s a day coming when his wrath is going to be poured out on planet earth.
Read the book of Revelation if you haven’t read it recently. It’s the one book where there’s a promise in Revelation 1:3 of blessing to everybody who reads these words. You’ll discover in the outline of the book; chapters 4 through 22 is all future.
It’s all about the wrath of God. And this is the age of grace, but there’s a day coming when God will judge the planet. And so, in the book of Revelation, there’s seven seal judgments that the apostle John writes about.
And then there’s seven trumpet judgments that God is going to pour out on the earth. And then there’s seven bowl judgments, and each series of judgments gets progressively worse. So, we read in Revelation chapter 16:1, the beginning of the bowl judgments, the apostle John writes, then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, go pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.
That’s going to be a horrific time. And so that’s why it’s all the more important and why Paul emphasizes this, that we need to be ready. How are you ready? Well, first of all, you need to know that you’re saved, that you’ve put your trust in Jesus and Jesus alone, that we’re saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and then you won’t have to suffer God’s wrath.
We also need to be proactive in sharing the gospel of Christ with others. Because we don’t want our friends and we don’t want our loved ones and we don’t want our neighbors experiencing the wrath of God, we want them to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well, Paul’s main theme is that Jesus is coming again.
It’s called the blessed hope in Titus chapter 2 verse 13. And let me close with just reading some verses from Revelation chapter 22 and then we’re going to listen to a song that basically says, come Jesus, come. Because the return of Christ, we believe, is imminent, means it can happen at any moment, any time.
And Revelation chapter 22, four verses say, Jesus come. Revelation 22:7, look, I’m coming soon. Revelation 22:12, look, I’m coming soon.
It literally means quickly, he will come quickly. Revelation chapter 22, verse 17, the first part, the spirit and the bride say, come and let the one who hears say, come. Verse 20, who testifies to these things says, yes, I am coming soon.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus. So, the Bible closes with this invitation and this desire, Lord, would you come soon? And he is coming soon.
If you know Jesus as your Savior, I want to remind you this morning, the best is yet to come.