Introduction to 1 & 2 Thessalonians Title: Belong to the Day What is the day of the Lord? The day of the Lord in Zephaniah Zephaniah 1:14 “The great day of the Lord is near...15 That day is a day of anger...trouble and distress...destruction and desolation...darkness and gloom...clouds and thick darkness...17 I will bring distress on mankind… Because they have sinned against the Lord.” Zephaniah 3:14 “Shout for joy, daughter of Zion!...15 The Lord has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You will no longer fear disaster.” The day of the Lord in Joel Joel 1:15 “...the day of the Lord is near, And it will come as destruction from the Almighty.” Joel 2:13 “The sun will be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” Joel 3:18 “And on that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, And the hills will flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; And a spring will go out from the house of the Lord… 20 But Judah will be inhabited forever, And Jerusalem for all generations. 21 ...For the Lord dwells in Zion.” The day of the Lord in Isaiah Isaiah 13:6 “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty… 8 They will writhe like a woman in labor… 9 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger.” Isaiah 2:17 “And the pride of humanity will be humbled and the arrogance of people will be brought low; And the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.” What is the Day of the LORD? “The day of the Lord is used for any period of time when God intervenes in history. The day of the Lord is described in two phases: God’s wrath against sinful people and God’s reign over His people.” - Nelson’s Bible Commentary How do we live in light of that day? 1 Thessalonians 5:1, “Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.3 While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;” Belonging to the day is NOT: • Being anxious. • Being complacent. • Being speculative. • Being fooled. • Being surprised. Belonging to the day IS: • Being awake, alert, and sober. • Enduring affliction. • Being encouraged and comforted. • Obtaining final salvation when His kingdom comes and His will is done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) How do we live in light of that day? 1 Thessalonians 5:6, “...so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” CONCLUSION • Belong to the Day is our theme in Thessalonians. • The day of the Lord refers to the Day of Christ - that future date when Christ returns to earth. It has two phases. First, judging and removing Christ’s enemies. Second, Christ rescues and dwells with His people as King in His millennial reign. • We belong to the day when we are defined by it, pray for it, work for it, plan for it, are alert and sober for it, when we endure for it. John 16:33 - In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.