1 Thessalonians 5:3-11 (Part A)

Initially, again they will be glad to be rid of the Christians whether they did it or not is irrelevant. They just won't have the conviction of the church anywhere around Judaism is next. They don't know that Satan knows that price will be determined to purge the world every last lingering trace of Christian influence that can then he will launch his final solution.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Thessalonians. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching.

Now here's Pastor Rick with today's edition of cross reference radio in first Thessalonians chapter 5 in our Bibles to the verse Thessalonian letter. Chapter 5.

We are continuing our analysis of biblical prophecy that is given to us as we go. Verse by verse last session we discussed the day of the Lord this morning we will turn more attention to the rapture of the universal church then great tribulation. Follows that back that kicks off the next seven years on earth will be known as the great tribulation. 3 1/2 years, relatively peaceful. But the last three are horrific and then the second coming of Christ. And so again last session, we considered the day of the Lord's wrath. That's with the day of the Lord involves the judgment of God on earth.

And now we return to the day of the Lord in rapture now what is holding up the rapture of the church.

What is holding up the snakes. On the prophetic calendar were waiting for the last person to get saved that can get saved in the church. If you hear this morning you get saved we all get out here. Romans chapter 11 verse 25 it says blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come that fullness of the Gentiles is the last Gentiles saved through the church and then that will bring the time were God again speaks to the world through Israel right now. God speaks to the world through the church and Israel will again take that position.

Now the fullness of the Gentiles.

A little different from the time of the Gentiles that ends when Christ comes back to earth and sets up his kingdom and so if you're prophecy buff you know you need to make the distinction between the fullness of the Gentiles.

When the last one gets say the church is out here in the times of the Gentiles ending when Christ returns that time of the Gentiles began with Nebuchadnezzar when he conquered Jerusalem so that's why Paul the apostle said Maren offer.

Even so, Lord, come back first Corinthians chapter 16 verse 22. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed is powerful. Let them be anathema. They don't love them.

That's the way they are, that's their choice and then he adds in the Aramaic overlord matter not come home again.

Well, we pick up now verse five with a brief introduction on what were talking about.

First Thessalonians chapter 5 verse three for when they say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, they shall not escape. We talked about between verses one through 11. The pronouns that have to do with us versus them in here is the survey and the them who are outside of Christ to refuse his Lordship. This distinguishes unbelievers from believers. They will be here.

We will not be here whenever you come across someone who believes that the church will go to this great tribulation. To me immediately.

My understanding of their understanding of Scripture is that they don't understand it so clearly stated what you have to do is what someone believe that all these special names are you a millennial premolar post-millennial calyx conflicts.

Who cares you believe are going to go to the true relation. When the Scripture say that's all I care about. I do get tired of all these fluffy names auctions have to have the apostles that use anyway. I don't want to go on a rant I do, but I'm not going to hear you're glad it's never fun to see someone going to rent his peace and safety, then sudden destruction. How awful to feel safe and secure. Then suddenly horrifically without remedy the rudest awakening in history hits you that is going to be the mood that is what is going to happen. That is what is coming on precedented phenomena distress far exceeding what was experienced by those who drowned in the flood of Noah and those who perished in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is what Jesus has to say about that.

They wanted so many things he had to say. He said there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars, and on earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on earth the powers of heaven will be shaken.

Revelation chapter 6 begins with Jesus opening the first of seven seals in each seal issues in another wave of judgment. The seventh seal then issues in seven trumpets and seven bowls. The judgment just intensifies will go over some of that as we move through this, but what is coming to earth will make what Europe suffered through the Nazi occupation appear as nothing especially in those last 3 1/2 years. The terror that Antichrist and his armies will unleash along with the cataclysmic bombardment of God's wrath using earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, everything, and that's not all other things will be happening to again I'll get to that momentarily. Now you may be saying where's us in the Bible is in several places here in Thessalonians is in Joel.

It's in Isaiah is Ezekiel 3839 Daniel nine chapter 12 Matthews gospel 24. The book of Revelation is in the Scripture what I'm simply trying to give you is a can dance and concise overview of what the Scripture says is coming. God does not lie. First off, he is too holy to live. Secondly, he's too big to live does nothing to fear is no motive for him to tell us what's not true is telling us this is coming your way says it comes upon them.

Here in verse three that is sudden but not without 1900 years of warning. God is been warning the church God has been warning mankind through the church that this is what is going to happen so they are those who thought they had peace without Jesus church is going to be gone going to be celebrating its absence strong delusion of second Thessalonians chapter 2 will include this false sense of peace that will also be short-lived.

Initially again they will be glad to be rid of the Christians whether they did it or not is irrelevant. They just won't have the conviction of the church anywhere around Judaism is next. They don't know that Satan knows that Antichrist will be determined to purge the world every last lingering trace of Christian influence that he can then he will launch his final solution. Israel will become a bloodbath fact, it will be Earth's last killing field. God himself Lord Jesus Christ will come and put an end to it. What he craves is unfettered un-interfered worship because he will be the consummate demon possessed leader such as the world has never known. It will look like his coffee boy technology will certainly be a big asset to him in the destruction that he unleashes. This is Daniel's 70th year that Daniel spoke about 70th week part. He said there 70 weeks determined each week is a seven year.

After messiahs cut off and stops in between the crucifixion of Christ and the rapture of the church there is that break.

Then comes the rapture and the 70th week begins and one that 3 1/2 year period kicks in after Antichrist makes peace with Israel rebuild their temple marks the Islam destroys the Russo Islamic alliance, then the time of Jacob's trouble that Jeremiah spoke about in Jeremiah chapter 30 understand when Scripture makes statements.

I say this all the time that God has this flare for understatement.

It is on our side, not his side.

This no pre-variance in his and he's not withholding anything when he says I am going to pour out wrath we read into well I did hear the tone I didn't see his eyes and so you know this is just not going to be a good day. God is saying when I say there's going to be wrath. I mean it. You can even measure it. The amount of carnage that will take place. Now I know some of you who are ignorant of Scripture may be still fussing to yourself.

What about the love of God while recover that all the time were not at that place. This time in history. That's why the church is remove the love of God has been rejected, it can go no further.

No one else can get saved through the church. Things have come to a head.

This is all these people out here trying to get rid of the name Jesus. When you pray crosses on cemeteries crosses you can try to get rid of this is laying the launchpad for Antichrist. He will find a global agreement just waiting for him. The citizens of Earth will be waiting for him wanting him craving him and God is going to give it to them so it will burst upon Israel what Daniel prophesied a set time of Jacob's trouble talked about a Jesus did.

He ratified it in Matthew's gospel chapter 24 aces when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken to you by Daniel the prophet, and you better get out of Israel and what is talking about in that is the prophecy that Israel will have rebuilt their third place of worship. The third Jewish temple there been to in history. Both of them have been destroyed. There is now no Jewish temple. Hosea said you're going to go for a time, without sacrifice, to be no place for you to bring your offerings and that is because their temple is destroyed Antichrist going to rebuild it, and they'll be able to.

Of course, was he wipes out completely wipes out the Russian army. Ezekiel 38 list the nations coming into Israel with Russia and their Islamic entity enclosed the risky's no slight on the people. I believe during the great tribulation.

Hordes of onetime Muslims will be coming to Christ also never heard the gospel and so the church as we know it, which did not exist in the days that Christ walked the earth. He systematically introduced the teaching of the church and he gave it to the apostles to develop John chapter 16 verse 12 Jesus that I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. That's an exact quote verbatim, the apostles were Jews and they were not ready to receive the concept of Gentiles achieving salvation without first becoming a Jew there whole understanding of you going to be right with Jehovah God, you better be circumcise honor the Sabbath and all of these are the rules the Mosaic law gave them. That was their understanding Jesus slept all away and he told the apostles I want you to develop this teaching on several occasions. It almost cost the apostle Paul.

His life when he began to define and point out the identity of the New Testament church to this day you have churches that don't know who they are. One of them thinks that God wants them to be financially wealthy. It is such a failed project. You think people would look around your prosperity teaching did pop up yesterday is been here and the only people in their prospering are the drivetime punk no good apostate pastors that belong to it. I tell them that their face because the leading people to help.

I have a family member who I believe died because some of that poison teaching got into his head. Don't call the doctor. God wants you rich much healthy gold teeth. Okay I'm back it is not fun watching Satan tricked someone in Jesus name is not fun watching them do it anywhere, but especially to use the Scripture to twisted this and you can go on the Internet you can find any subject you want in Scripture and somebody is twisted to the point that you cannot twisted.

I just on the site the other day I stumbled onto that I don't go looking for these things talking about the flood you.

Here's why. The global flood never happened. And if you listen to what this guy is saying is you know, if you don't know better he sounds like he's got you what is wrong and he's lying. They lie about climate change. What makes you think they're going to be honest about a global flood. But back to this case is as labor pains upon a pregnant woman once the seals are open once the Lord pops up in that first seal. Nothing in heaven or earth is going to stop that process.

I remember when my eldest daughter was being born. We were living in New York City and my wife said was in the morning during rush hour. New York City Russia in the place she had to go was in Manhattan and it's like was timeless go and I said I commend you on your husband not to have that child and she waited and so that's I was coming and there was nothing anybody could do to stop it. And this is what the expression. Paul is talking about, he says, and they shall not escape the target of the day of wrath.

There's no place to go.

There's nowhere to hide from these things. Isaiah 13 again we read. Behold, the day of the Lord comes cool with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate, he will destroy its sinners from it. That is the day of the Lord.

Now most of the time we go to the Scripture we talk about salvation and the Holy Spirit gives the spirit will now it's all about wrath.

That is our assignment from the Lord.

Now I also mentioned this morning that there are those who mock this is not coming in all Scripture. Well Peter the apostle addresses this in his second letter. Aces knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.

They do continue as they have from creation. On the surface, but if you look a little bit you find out. Things are moving to a conclusion that has been prophesied. We are seeing prophecy being fulfilled. Verse four.

He continues, but you now is that disjunctive conjunction makes the distinction between the believer and unbelievers is what you brethren are not in darkness so that this day should not overtake you as a thief and emphatic difference is established throughout Scripture between the nature and the destiny of believers and the nature and doom of unbelievers darkness here in the verse four refers to the world's ignorance of God's person and purposes, and plans because they wanted that way Peter pointed out, he says, walking according to their own lusts, they want to satisfy themselves on whatever it is that they enjoy now. Unbelievers may be listening to this and they are saying either 121 or two things may be 1/3 is happening either. They're saying to themselves. You know I don't like the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the ready to to go out turn it off or they're responding to him.

I sensed God calling me saying wake up this is happening. You are not made for this. You deserve better than this. Why be judged. Ezekiel put it this way, turn, turn. Why should you perish. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 18 having their understanding dark in being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. The apostles had to deal with the same things we do, and people will believe it.

Don't want it have no evidence the premises wrong. Therefore, there conclusion the outcome is wrong. Their way of thinking is like a broken compass is going to point in the wrong direction. So long as it isn't broken, it will never give them true direction. He continues in verse forces so that this day should overtake you as a thief's against sudden but not without warning.

Attempts to pinpoint the precise time of the Lord's coming for his church are wrong. Scripture prohibits that it is dubbed as I said.

Thus, I commend you not to do what he says in a different way. But it's the same result. Matthew 2513 watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming and we know we know when the second coming is going to happen. He's told us that the time. The events that will be taking place. Israel, the Army will be getting wiped out. We know that we won't be here for that part of it is talking about the rapture and I don't know why I oh I do some of them just get excited. So many Christians really love the Lord so much to get carried away by the feelings and the big ideas coming back and is in Gus's don't do that is no soda like you know the parents buy gifts with will hide them from behind him will will you hide the means don't touch them won't child natures going to recon mission and try to locate and an open once when I was a kid I did.

I feel so bad that I do that I never did it again but anyway Lord says, don't go looking for this. I've hidden this from and is not wrong to recognize the stage is being set. The props are being put in place. You know what act is coming. Nothing wrong with seeing that happening is just something wrong in saying the curtain will go up in 30 seconds. We don't have that privilege.

Matthew 24 verse 32 Matthew 24 that section of Scripture with Jesus is teaching the disciples about the end times you cannot get a chronological outline just from that section of Scripture you have to do detective work in bringing other things that he has said about that time, he gives them a condensed class there, but he says this he says now learn this parable from the fig tree is learn this parallel story this thing that runs right beside what's going to happen. This microcosm of truth is going to have a greater fulfillment. That's what he saying he says learn this parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know, the summer is near. So you also, when you see these things, know that it is near at the doors. The fig tree is Israel we know that wealth every time we see the fig tree in parable in old and New Testament speaks of Israel and so we know this is when you see Israel begin to come to life and have fruit while the leaves of the trees of the fig tree says they have got fruit and we say that Israel became a nation again in 1948 and two very fruitful we know the stage is being set.

We are in the last of the last days, unlike ever before.

I don't think the world can sustain the technological advances that we are seeing a lot.

I think the blessing from the Tower of Babel teaches that God's is listen. We leave them with one language. They are going to destroy everything. Now the world against rebuilding the Tower of Babel, they once again have a common language and a common goal, and God is on the outside of it. That is the definition of the world is not what we have or have not in common with the world. It makes them different from us. It's cool, we have not in common that is Jesus Christ. And so when he says that they will not overtake believers when he said that they should not overtake you because you're in the light, saying, because the Lord comes for his church as a thief in the night just like in the parable of the 12 virgins with their lamps. Those that were ready at the midnight call went out to meet him now if you're struggling Christian.

You said I love the Lord Jesus. I know he is my Savior. There is no other worship none other but him but I'm not ready because I fail too much.

I trip up by sin. I just can't seem to get get ahead.

God replies to that is already put the answer in the lifeboat is in the Scripture says there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus you would have to say that if we were perfect we'd say you're the tell is that we know that the department perfect mate perfect with pronounced perfect by what Jesus is done for us. You have to remember, Jesus died for only one kind of person that one and for no other type of person did he died. Now you're foolish enough to go comparing yourself next your neighbor all the people in jail you have added God's uncle. These going to convey to his son Jesus Christ. As a result, a good man competitor who compared to you know Jesus but your neighbor you say there to my neighbor you dirty you say that Jesus under this whole move. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of first Thessalonians cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe, you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio in your favorite podcast app as well. That's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of first Thessalonians, right here on cross reference rate