August 20 Daily Discovery - Read 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4

Scroll down this page to read this passage from the King James Version (ekjv.org).

Words for Comfort and Contemporary Confusion

One of the prevailing questions of Jesus's disciples was "Is it time yet?" it becomes so obvious as you read through the Gospels that his disciples were really anticipating that the rabbi that they were following was going to bring in their promise Kingdom, not only as it had been promised but also as they had imagined it was going to be or how they interpreted the prophecies that they were given.

The last time they asked this question of Him was following His crucifixion, burial and resurrection as He was teaching them about the kingdom before he ascended into heaven.

Is it time yet?

Jesus had told them before that all of the events that he prophesied about his second coming would be fulfilled within one generation. they were not content with that they wanted to know how about now? he had also told them that the gospel would be preached among all nations before he would return (Matt. 24:14). In this passage below He's telling them to "focus on what I've told you to do now and don't worry about the exact time or season!"

Read the passage below carefully.

Acts 1: 1-7

[1] The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
[2] Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
[3] To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
[4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
[5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
[6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
[8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Once you're endued with My power from on high by My Holy Spirit, focus on preaching the gospel everywhere, to the whole earth!  

This gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all nations first, so get after it! (By the way this was accomplished during the days of the apostles.)

• For a more complete treatment of "Is it time yet?" visit this page: https://www.itsgodstory.com/christ_promised_to_return_within_one_generation.php 

Be Ready for Jesus's Return!

The saints in this local assembly were ready for Jesus to return. It seems that some of them surmise that there wasn't even any reason to work anymore because Jesus was about to return. Paul had some instruction for them.

2 Thess.3:5-12

[5] And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
[6] Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
[7] For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
[8] Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
[9] Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
[10] For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
[11] For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
[12] Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

As you read through the letters that were written by the New Testament Apostles and Prophets, it is evident that they were all expecting Jesus to return soon.

Please allow me a moment to refocus your attention upon the Now! I understand that the majority of Evangelical Christians today are hoping for Jesus to return soon, looking for The Rapture of the Church. However, Jesus did return within one generation just as He promised, so this era is now behind us, as well as the physical kingdom (1,000 years) era on the earth. If our calendar is correct it's been 2,000 years since the New Testament Biblical times. Focus upon now!

A Hope that Encourages Holiness

Paul encouraged these saints as he always did encourage all saints: to walk in love and to walk in holiness. This is how to be ready to meet Jesus at any moment. It is appointed for each of us to die and after this there is a judgment. We need to be ready to meet God at any moment. To be walking in love and holiness is the way to be ready to meet Him!

1 John 3:1-3

[1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
[3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Why was there an "Any Day Now!" Expectation?

Because they were living THEN and NOT now!  

They were alive and were still within one generation of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We are living 2000 years later (?) so we need to live in the now.

When Are We Now?

I think we are beyond the millennium, and therefore the devil is no longer bound in the bottomless pit. This reality explains why there is so much deception today.

• Learn what I think about the great deception.

Scripture provided from ekjv.org. 

[1] Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
[2] For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
[3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
[4] That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
[5] Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
[6] That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
[7] For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
[8] He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
[9] But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
[10] And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
[11] And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
[12] That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
[13] 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.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] 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.
[16] 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:
[17] 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.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

--------------

Continue Your Search

Do you see any: Commands to Obey, Warnings to Heed, Promises to Claim, Examples to Follow, Vices to Avoid, Praises to Emulate, Prayers to Use, Principles by which to Live, Questions to Ask or Actions to Take?

See: Berean Fellowship Bible Study Method