Peter Carruthers
This is a ‘festive’ time of year in both Jewish and Christian calendars. Hannukah and Advent are underway, and Christmas and Epiphany are soon to come. Along with the other festivals of both calendars, these, in different ways, mark out the astronomical, agricultural and liturgical year. They also have much historical, messianic and eschatological significance; at the same time, they reference past, present and future.
Observing days and seasons is not to everyone’s taste, and Paul does seem to suggest that doing so is optional (Romans 14:5-6). But, I would argue, doing so prompts us to set time aside to turn Godwards, to remember His great deeds in history, thank Him for His material and spiritual provision, and look forward to the unfolding of His plan and purposes for us and for His whole creation.
Advent marks both Jesus’ first coming and His return and one tradition is to focus on the latter on the first two Sundays of Advent and the former on the second two. In addition, Anglicans traditionally observe today, the Second Sunday in Advent, as ‘Bible Sunday’.
So, in keeping with both traditions, below I offer a brief, eschatological bible study!
‘Thessalonians now’
Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonians are generally regarded as the earliest of the New Testament documents. After Jesus own words recorded in the gospels (eg Matthew 23:36-26:46; Mark 13:3-37; Luke 21:5-38), they provide the earliest data on the ‘end times’ and the ‘last things’. And they speak incisively into our present troubled and perplexing times.
Suffering and persecution
Suffering and persecution were the norm for most NT believers, as Jesus warned (eg Luke 21:17), and were central to the Thessalonians’ experience (1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:4). Yet they remained full of faith, love and hope (1:1-5).
Similarly, today, the majority of Christian believers across the world suffer some form of discrimination or persecution for their faith. In many countries, this can mean imprisonment, torture and death. But even in the Western world, as it transitions from a ‘Christian’, to a ‘post-Christian’, to an increasingly ‘anti-Christian’, society and culture, there is a rising tide of hostility to Christian believers,
So Paul's words to the Thessalonians are particularly poignant now. When we suffer for the sake of Christ we share in the suffering of all our fellow believers and with Christ Himself (1 Thessalonians 2:14-15; see also 2 Corinthians 1:5-7; Philippians 1:29, 3:10). We are not to seek vengeance on those who cause us to suffer, because the Lord is “long-suffering .. not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Nevertheless, He will deal with those who oppose Him and His followers when He returns (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).
In the meantime, we are to wait patiently for His coming and our resurrection and salvation, and comfort and build up one another with this assurance (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:18, 5:11).
Death and resurrection
The Thessalonians were particularly concerned about those who had died. It seems that they were expecting Jesus to come back imminently, and were distressed that many of their brethren had already died (some perhaps even martyred for their faith).
Paul assures them that not only will these departed believers rise again, but also that they will rise before those who are “alive and remain” and will be in the front of the procession to meet Jesus when He returns in glory and power (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
For many people in the West, Covid brought the reality of our own frailty and finitude to the fore, and the subsequent outbreak of war in Europe and the Middle East only served to heighten our sense of fragility. Paul’s words speak to us today also. Death is not the end, but simply a transition to eternal life “with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). As Paul writes elsewhere, our focus is to be not on earthly, but eternal, things (Colossians 3:1-4); indeed, if our hope is only for this life, then “we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:19)
The end times
Jesus’ return is a central theme of both 1 and 2 Thessalonians. It is referred to at the end of every chapter of the first letter (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:19, 3:13; 4:13-17; 5:23), and both letters have major eschatological sections (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, 2:1-12).
In the first letter, Paul assures the Thessalonians of the resurrection for all who believe in Jesus when He returns, which he likens to the visit of a Roman Emperor - but on a cosmic scale (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). But they still had questions about the details of Jesus return - the parousia - which they thought might have already happened. Paul addresses these concerns in his second letter.
The parousia is certain, but, echoing Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:3-26:46; Mark 13:3-37; Luke 21:7-38), it will be preceded by certain signs, including the ‘falling away’ (apostasia), the removal of the ‘restrainer’, the coming of the ‘man of lawlessness’, and the God-ordained ‘strong delusion’ of those who do not love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).
As well as amplifying our sense of frailty, Covid prompted a new wave of interest in the ‘end times’. This arose not only from the pandemic itself, but the way it ushered in a new era (at least for the West) of surveillance and control, and greater moves towards global government (eg the ‘Great Reset’). And much else since, including Ukraine and especially Israel, has deepened the sense that we may well be heading for the ‘end of the end times’ or at least the “beginning of the birth pains” (Mark 13:8).
In such circumstances, it is all too easy to fall into the trap of becoming too occupied with the (very real) ‘signs of the times’ and neglecting our calling to be about the Master’s business until He returns (Matthew 24:45-51, 25:14-30).
Paul recognises this danger, and, while making clear the certainty both of Jesus’ return and of the cataclysmic events that will precede it, urges the Thessalonians, and us, to live sober, orderly and holy lives, work hard, do good to others, pray without ceasing, and rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances.
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10).
A very balanced and Biblical view! Thank you, Peter