The Thessalonians were starting to sway. Being shaken in mind - troubled- They-had received -it would seem- false prophecy, some false teaching, even a forged letter-alerting them to the false fact that they were in the throes of what Jesus referred to as the--great tribulation- that would come upon the whole world prior to His 2nd coming. -This-outpouring of God's wrath upon a rebellious - Christ rejecting world.-

The church in Thessalonica was certainly an amazing church. As we read through the brief letters that Paul penned to them, we see that they simply seemed to excel in every essential way. Their faith was growing, their love was abounding- but in some ways they were struggling.

Last week we were reminded- you - me, we are of a different order. As believers,-though we may be in the world, we are no longer of the world because Christ has called us-out of the world. Translation- we're not in the dark, asleep -spiritually- to the times --seasons to which we've been called. You -as a child of God- are sons of light, sons of the-day. You're sober, alert, active - aware- So, let's understand that by the very nature of-being made alive to God in Christ Jesus there is a certain responsibility, a certain-accountability that is incumbent upon us.

Who here today is rapture ready-- Paul has been speaking to the Thessalonian-believers in a manner that is so fantastic, so dramatic that if it weren't so painstakingly,-inescapably, unavoidably clear it would be hard to believe- That the day will come when-the Lord Himself will descend from heaven w-a shout, w-the voice of an archangel, --w-the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise 1st. Then we who are alive - remain will-be -caught up-, -snatched away violently, taken forcibly, suddenly we will literally fly-upward into the heavens- together w-them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And-thus we shall always, from that time forward, even forevermore, be w-the Lord-

A prominent theme throughout 1st Thessalonians is the coming again of J.C. It's-amazing, the amount of doctrine that Paul was able to communicate to them only being-w-them for a few weeks- - It would seem that one the main things Paul sought to anchor-new believers in was the reality that Jesus will come again - that He will establish His-kingdom upon the earth to rule reign for a thousand years.

We continue our journey through 1Thessalonians

Paul's experience in the city of Thessalonica was fruitful, yet frightful. Fruitful in the-sense that his evangelistic efforts seemed to be extremely successful. Acts 17 informs us-that some of Jews were persuaded, - -a great multitude- of the devout Greeks, -- not a few-of the leading women- joined Paul - Silas- There was quite simply a tremendous spiritual-awakening among the inhabitants of the city- People were responding to the gospel-