IN WHAT TIME ARE WE IN?
As we stated last week our desire is to have a better understanding of the age which we are currently living in, and what we as believers in Jesus Christ are to do.
It is vital that we understand what time frame we are living in, without such knowledge we are left speculating. Most Christians today will fall into three camps. The first group is clueless of the times we are living in and have decided to place their head in the sand. The second group believes we have entered the Tribulation and are preparing for the struggle against the Antichrist. The final group recognizes the lateness of the hour of the Church age and knows the Tribulation is coming, but is not yet here. I believe this third and final group is the Biblically sound group. You might have noticed that I did not say the most popular group. Indeed this third group is ridiculed, harassed, and verbally abused by the first two as well as the world for their holding to scriptural integrity.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must look at scripture to see what we are to do in the days, times, and seasons we live in. 1 Thessalonians 4 helps highlight this. Verse 1, “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.” The word “exhort” here is the Greek word Parakaleo, which means “to call to or for”. The word actually comes from combining two Greek words, Para which means “to be beside or together”, while the second word is Kaleo means “to call and invite them in as a guest”. Paul, through action, is representing to us what we should be doing. He is charging us, commissioning us, and bestowing a responsibility upon us to follow in the instructions that have been given.
What are these instructions? Verses 2-12, “For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord [is] the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects [this] does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. 9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and [that] you may lack nothing.” Paul is wanting us to live a life according to the commandments that have been given. He wants us to live Godly lives, without turmoil with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Many people have misinterpreted verses 10-11 and believe that it means that Christians need to live in peace with the outside world. However, if we as believers are living in peace with the outside world than we have a huge problem. Jesus Christ said Himself that if you are of Him you would be hated by the World, John 15:18-25.
By now you might be asking, “Why do we need to know this?” Or, “What does this have to do with the time we are living in?” The significance of this is that Paul is describing to Timothy and fellow believers what they ought to be doing. No where do you see Paul describe preparation in dealing with the Antichrist or the False Prophet, but rather Paul prepares the reader to deal with issues within the Church itself. This is vital for us to understand as we look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, we will understand Paul’s reasoning for writing to them about living holy lives rather than fighting off the Antichrist. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul brings about one of the most precious portions of scripture for those of us who are alive today. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” What an encouragement! What exciting news we have! One day be it dead or alive, we who are believers in Jesus Christ will be a part of the Rapture! You might be wondering where the word RAPTURE is found. You would have to read a Latin Bible to find the actual word in scripture, in English we translate the word into “being caught up”.
Now why is this important for us to know? Paul wants the believers to know that the Rapture has not yet happened, he wants them to know that they are to encourage one another with these words and live according to verses 2-12. At the current time of me writing this post, the Rapture has not happened and we are still living during the Church Age. If that is still true by the time you read this than you should not be prepping to fight the Antichrist, but rather seeking to live peaceful lives with our fellow brothers and sisters and proclaim the Good News of Christ to anyone who is willing to listen.
This in no way signifies that we are going to live in peaceful days with no tribulation. Our Lord Jesus warned us of tribulation in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” While on the island of Patmos, John was instructed by Jesus Christ, through His revelation, to write down guidance to those who are living in the end times. The times that we are currently living in and the times to come. Yet, before we can understand Jesus Christ’s instruction to us given in the Book of Revelation, we need to understand the foundation of which the revelation is structured. Revelation Chapter 1, describes the power and importance of Jesus Christ. However, we are interested in analyzing verse 19. “Therefore write the things which you have seen. And the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.” This verse outlines what the entire book is written in. First, John is describing what he had seen in verses 1-18, than he writes the letters that he is instructed to write to the Churches. This is where we are now, and after the letters John writes about what will happen. Just like in any book, if you start reading halfway through you are destined to assume something that is inherently wrong because you do not have all the information.
Nevertheless, we are not done. In 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4, Paul has shown us that we are to live for Christ with holiness. He tells us to expect the rapture, he tells us to exhort one another, and to continue the pursuance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For us to understand this guidance in our current age within the Book of Revelation, we had to understand the outline that it was written in. We can now go deeper in His Word and see what else we can understand during our present age. Revelation chapter 1 has so much more to offer those who are willing to study it. REMEMBER the Book of Revelation is the only book that the reader is told they will receive a blessing for reading.
For next week please read 1 Thessalonians 5 and Revelation 3:14-22. Our study is only beginning, this series is designed to be done in accordance with the homework as well as consecutively. Remember, a painting is made with many brush strokes, and a Bible series will likewise take hours of study and meditation on the Word of God for us to understand what Jesus is wanting to teach us.
While we might be seeing the Tribulation starting to take shape, it has not yet started. Imagine being on the Super bowl field. You see the crowds start to take their seats, you see the lights turning on, and you see the teams stretching. But has the game started? Of course not! Not until kick off, not until the whistle is blown and the football is launched to the other side. In the same way the Tribulation has not started yet, we are still here and that means we need to know the season we live in so that we can act accordingly.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming
JL