OVERVIEW: A model church (1 Thess. 1); a model of discipleship (1 Thess. 2); a model of faith (1 Thess. 3); a model walk (1 Thess. 4-5); comfort in tribulation (2 Thess. 1); clarification in teaching (2 Thess. 2); content on various topics (2 Thess. 3).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS: As we noted yesterday, there is a definite connection between the seven letters our Lord wrote to the seven churches in Revelation 2–3, and the seven letters to the seven churches to whom Paul wrote. The most obvious, of course, is the connection between Paul’s letter to the church of Colossae, and our Lord’s letter to the church of Laodicea. We saw that the things Paul addressed in his letter to the church in Colossae, have a very relevant and pertinent application to the church of Jesus Christ during the Laodicean church period (from approximately 1901 until the Rapture).
What is obviously more than a coincidence is the fact that immediately following the Book of Colossians (again, the letter with specific application to the church in the last days), God placed into the canon of Scripture the two letters to the Thessalonians. Do you know what these two letters “just happen” to specifically address? The two key events of the last days: the Rapture and the Second Coming! It is the exact sequence that is followed in the Book of Revelation! Because in the Book of Revelation, as soon as our Lord concludes His letter to the Laodiceans in chapter 3, immediately in chapter 4, heaven opens, there is a sound of a trumpet, a voice saying, “Come up hither,” and John is catapulted forward in time to experience the Rapture. As he is caught up into heaven, in chapters 4 and 5 he describes the scene of the raptured church in heaven, and then in chapters 6 through 19, he describes the events on the earth following the Rapture, and provides us with four accounts of the Second Coming of Christ!
As we put together all of these details, what becomes apparent is that the Books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians are the letters the Holy Spirit inspired to teach the church about HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR THE LORD’S COMING. In fact, notice that each of the five chapters of 1 Thessalonians end with a reference to the coming of the Lord! (1:10; 2:19; 3:13: 4:13-17; 5:23)
But what also becomes very clear as we read through the content of these letters is that though they deal with the PROPHETIC EVENTS concerning the last days, Paul wants to be sure that we don’t approach the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ as mere doctrines to contemplate or to discuss in a Bible Study, or truths that we simply allow to tantalize our intellect or imagination, but as biblical realities that affect the way we LIVE! He wants to be sure that we allow these PROPHETIC events to be translated into PRACTICAL spiritual living! Based on the content of the letters of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, we could actually refer to these Books as a “How-To Manual” for how we’re to live our lives in the last days. They provide us the practical things we need to make sure we’re emphasizing in these last days, as well as how we’re approaching the Lord’s work, so that we can be as effective as possible.
It’s also worth noting that whereas each chapter of 1 Thessalonians ends with a reference concerning the Lord’s coming, each chapter of 2 Thessalonians ends with a reference concerning grace. (1:12; 2:16; 3:18) Obviously, the practical point Paul is making is that as we labor in these dark last days prior to our Lord’s coming, we need to be sure that we both apply and rely upon the grace of God that He promised would be “sufficient” through “infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, [and] in distresses.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
Two other things worth noting from the biblical CONTEXT and CONTENT of these two Books have to do with:
- Our Philosophy of Leadership.
It is interesting to note that the letters written to teach the church about effective ministry in the last days as we prepare for the Lord’s coming just happen to be the only letters in the New Testament that were written as a TEAM EFFORT. Did you realize that the Books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians were actually written by three human authors: Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timotheous (Timothy)? (1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1) In Paul’s other letters to the churches, he will mention those who are with him in his greeting, but he will immediately kick into the first person singular, and use the personal pronoun “I” throughout the remainder of the letter. As we read through 1 and 2 Thessalonians, there’s certainly no getting around the fact that it is the obvious writing style of Paul.
These Books definitely reflect his personality and vocabulary, but what’s unique about these two Books is that after mentioning that Silas and Timothy are with him in the greeting, as he gets into the body of the letters, he consistently writes in the first-person plural, using the plural pronouns “we” and “us”. There are a few places in the midst of these two letters where his apostolic authority surfaces and he uses the word “I”, but by and large, all throughout 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul models for us what is the most effective PHILOSOPHY of LEADERSHIP in the last days, and that is, LEADING as a part of a TEAM! Paul, Silas, and Timothy were a unit. Paul was definitely the leader of the leaders, but they were committed to teamwork. What we need to learn from their example is that if we’re going to be effective in carrying out the job the Lord has for us in the last days through our local churches, we must work together as a team, and that teamwork must flow out of the leadership. Not only does a team approach to ministry provide accountability (Pro. 11:14), it also provides wisdom and safety. (Pro. 15:22; 24:6)
- The Priority of Lordship.
It’s also interesting to note that 1 and 2 Thessalonians begin very similarly: “Paul and Silvanus, and Timotheous, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.” (1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1) Notice, he doesn’t simply say “in Jesus Christ”, but, “in the LORD Jesus Christ.” Now, certainly, the phrase “the LORD JESUS CHRIST” is not an unfamiliar phrase, or a phrase that is unique to 1 and 2 Thessalonians. In fact, the phrase is actually used 81 times in the New Testament. What is noteworthy, however, is that 20 out of the 81 times that this title is used, it is in the Books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians! 20 times! Far more than any other Book of the New Testament, or pair of Books in the New Testament. Interestingly enough, almost 25% of the time the phrase is found, it is found in the eight chapters of these two little Books!
Now, from the HISTORICAL context, Acts 17:7 makes clear why Paul so emphasizes this phrase. Jesus being presented as the “Lord”, or “King” was the very issue that got the city of Thessalonica so stirred up when Paul, Silas, and Timothy came there to present Christ and His gospel in the first place! It would only stand to reason that when they wrote back to them, they would continue to emphasize that theme.
But in the BIBLICAL context, remembering that these are the Books that the Spirit of God inspired to teach us about how to be the most effective in the last days, it becomes obvious that God is trying to let us know that it is now more important than ever that people understand WHO Jesus Christ is, and the position He wants to have in His church collectively and in our lives personally, as LORD! Revelation 3:14-22 lets us know that Christ’s Lordship in the church in the last days is so far from a reality that He is actually standing on the outside of the church knocking, waiting for us to open the door.
As we read these two incredible Books today, two questions we may need to consider asking ourselves:
- Does my life reflect the fact that I am submitted to Christ’s LORDSHIP?
Am I a part of the ministry TEAM of my local church?