I think that the first thing that we need to understand is that CAN state that the wrath of God has come upon a man in measure, but not in time.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Now let us look at:
1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
1 Thessalonians 2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
Consider this: Nowhere is a NATION of Israel MENTIONED in this text. There has always been a group of unsaved Jews that God hated. In fact, that is why it mentions in the previous verse that they have killed the prophets. This could not have the setting aside of Israel in view without reading into it, I fear. The wrath of God abides on these individuals. And what is the wrath of God? It is only death. But in THIS epistle it is death SPECIFICALLY given at the Second Coming.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
That wrath was NOT a 7 year period, but the day of Armageddon.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
When you look at the phrase "for THEE wrath is come upon them" (my version LOL) then to me it is very specific. That is why I have to make it the wrath from heaven as all other references in this epistle will clarify.
When you take
1 Thessalonians 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
And put it together with:
1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
Then to me it is evident that it is a reference to kingdom prophetic gifts. They were enriched in their speaking. They had the gift of prophecy.
This is also similar to:
1 Corinthians 1:5-7 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
I do not believe that the canon order is important especially. I think that if you know what was written BEFORE Acts 28:28 vs. AFTER Acts 28:28 then you have what you need. You have divided the word. Also, I accept what Paul says in Acts as being truth for the epistles written during that period.
"4. As to the "mystery" in 1st Cor. 15:51 compared with 1st Thes. 4:17, perhaps my point didn't come through. I will put it as a question. Based upon "behold I show you," in 1st Cor. 15:51, which of these two passages appears to have been written first? "
The answer is not there as far as I am concerned. Can we conclusively PROVE the Thessalonians had the COrinthian epistles and vice versa?
Let us consider this now...
When were you chosen as far as thee mystery is concerned?
When I say THEE mystery, remember that there were mysteries that Paul preached before Acts 28, but only one that he preached afterwards.
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Here is where the Thessalonians choosing stands:
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Their choosing stands IN TIME (Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.)vs.
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
The choosing of the Ephesians lies in a program that is BEFORE the foundation of the world, and could never be said to be FROM THE BEGINNING. You can not be chosen from before the foundation of the world and from the beginning at the same time. I realize that there are ways to make this election stand in time, but to do so would violate the truth for the One New Man. Our gospel may have born fruit the day that we heard it, but we (as the New Man) were CHOSEN in him before the foundation of the world.
I would also argue that the Thess. epistles are early Acts because of their references to the kingdom of God. In These epistles ONLY the earth is in view. You hope lies far above all. Not just HEAVEN, but far above all (a phrase and a concept not found till after Acts 28). There is only One hope for the New Man. If you accept Thess as being truth directed at today, then you have 2 hopes.
1&2 Thess. does mention a kingdom of God, but in this book ONLY THE EARTH is in view...clouds, etc... That means that this book can't fit into Paul's post Acts 28 ministry.
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
"and so shall we ever be with the Lord." This means "and that is how we will ever be with the Lord." They will be with the Lord in the world. In this case, because they are of the bride of Christ, they will be with the Lord in Mt.Zion!
Christ is COMING in this book where a Kingdom is in view. THeir hope is IN THE CLOUDS. It never says that they leave heavenly places and come down. The picture begins in the air with Christ coming with his saints. To say that this is him traveling from glory is difficult, for the text does not supply that information and we are dealing only with 1&2 Thess. It is THIS heaven (the clouds) that Christ both comes and snatches up his people. You do not read that he leaves the world in 1&2 Thess.
But the kingdom of GOd that I am going to, Christ is said to appear. He makes me appear before him, I don't wait for him to come down. I don't mind these earthly things because my conversation is literally IN heaven, so I have no reason to look to the clouds.
Philippians 3:19-21 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
In every epistle that Paul writes after Acts 28 when Christ is made manifest to his people, he is NEVER said to leave Heaven, rather WE appear before HIM. But just the opposite is true in Paul's early writings (such as Thess.)
Grace,
Mike Holt |
