"Navigating a Hostile Culture: Courage, Composure and Commitment"
WAITING with COURAGE (1:3-12)
Encouragement (1:5-10)Prayer(1:11-12)WATCHING with COMPOSURE (2:1-17)
- Gathered to the Lord Jesus Christ (2:1-2)
— The “Day of the Lord”: NOT YET
Unalarmed by the Day of the Lord (2:3-12)
— The “Man of Lawlessness”: REVEALED
Saved through the Work of the Spirit (2:13-17)
— The “Gospel”: STAND FIRM
WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Command(3:6-10)Confrontation(3:11-13)Consequences(3:14)Caution(3:15)Chart: The Rapture and The Revelation
The Rapture The Revelation
Christ comes in the air Christ comes to the earth
(1Thess 4:16-17) (Zech 14:4)
Christ comes for His saints Christ comes with His saints
(1Thess 4:16-17) (1Thess 3:13; Jude 14)
Unknown in the Predicted in the
Old Testament Old Testament
(1Cor 15:51) (Psa 72; Isa 11; Zech 14)
Not preceded by any signs Proclaimed by signs
The Day of Christ The Day of the Lord
(1Cor 1:8; 2Cor 1:14; Phil 1:6, 10) (2Thess 2:1-12)
(1Thess 4:18) (2Thess 2:8-12)
In the twinkling of an eye Visible worldwide
(1Cor 15:52) (Zech 14:1-5; Matt 16:27; 24:30)
The Church Israel and the Nations
(John 14:1-4; 1Cor 15:51-58; (Matt 24:1-25:46)
Christ comes as the bright Christ comes as the sun
and morning star of righteousness with healing
* Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, William MacDonald; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN, 1995, page #2050.