I Thessalonians
Chapter
5
1~~
But of the times {various Dispensations} . . .
and
the seasons {specific Dispensation - the Church Age},
brethren
{believers}, you have no need that I write unto you.
{Note: Paul had already taught the Thessalonians about dispensations and he did not need to go into detail again.}
2~~For
yourselves knew in the past,
with
results that go on forever,
accurately
that
the day of the Lord
comes
as a thief in the night.
{Note: This refers to the Rapture of the Church. When Christ returns and we meet him in the Air it will be very quickly and suddenly - like a thief of the time strikes in the night.}
3~~For
when they shall say,
"Peace
{made by man}
and
safety {human security apart from the cross} . . .
then
shall come sudden destruction upon them . . .
as
the labor pangs of a woman . . .
they
shall not escape."
{Note: When unbelieving humanity least expects it. Humans will continue to be working for world wide peace and safety - but Christ said there will be wars and rumors of wars until I come.}
4~~But
you, brethren, are not 'in darkness'/deceived . . .
that
. . . that day should overtake you as a thief.
{Note: Darkness here has two meanings. Darkness means to be without bible doctrine in the soul. Walking without light so 'in darkness'. The Church Age is also 'light/day' and the tribulation is 'dark/night'. This indicates also that the believers belong to the light and will be removed BEFORE the night begins.}
5~~You
all {believers} are the children of light
and
the children of the day {the Church Age}.
We
are not of the night {the tribulation to come}
nor
of darkness {the cosmic system}.
{Note: As believers we are secure in knowing we will not be part of the tribulation. And, in the Church Age, we should take in doctrine (light), so we do not walk in darkness.}
6~~Therefore
let us not sleep {implies lack of awareness}
as
the rest,
but
let us watch
and
be sober {not drunk - to have a stabilized mental attitude}.
{Note: Analogy continues. If you are a child of the light, you do not sleep in the day. Keep taking in doctrine, apply it to experience, and do not be oblivious to your surroundings - as you are when you sleep. Second analogy is 'sober'. When you are intoxicated, you do not think clearly. To be sober is a picture of a clear thinking person with a stabilized mental attitude.}
7~~For
they that sleep, sleep in the night.
And
they that are drunken are drunk in the night {usual condition}.
{Note: As children of the light we are mixed up in the analogy when we sleep or are not sober of mental attitude.}
8~~But
let us, who are of the day,
keep
on being sober . . . {in contrast}
putting
on the breastplate of faith {faith rest technique} . . .
and
love {agape love - divine love from the Filling of the Spirit}.
And
for a helmet.
the
confidence of salvation/deliverance.
{Note: Though it is true we have confidence in our eternal salvation, in this context, we are talking about the Church Age (light) and the Tribulation (darkness). Therefore, this is the confidence of deliverance from being on Earth during the Tribulation.}
9~~For
God has not even begun
to
appoint us to wrath
{Church Age believers are not associated with the tribulation},
but
to the keeping of our deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10~~Who
{Jesus}
having
died for us
that,
whether if we wake or sleep
-
maybe we will maybe we won't -
we
should live together with Him.
{Note: again, this deliverance here is the Rapture of the Church. The Thessalonians thought that if you died before the Rapture that you would miss the rapture. So here we are talking about being alive or in Christian sleep (death) at the time of the Rapture, we will all be part of the Rapture.}
11~~Therefore,
comfort one another of the same kind,
and
keep on edifying {an order}
one
another of the same kind . . .
even
as you already do.
{Now
words for the leaders of the Churches}
12~~And
we keep on asking you, brethren, to know them who:
labor
to exhaustion among you,
and
are 'over you' in the Lord
{leaders in the church - military term - means to lead from the front
of the army instead of the rear},
and
admonish you
{No real good translation - in the Greek means 'to put good sense in
a head where there is already bad sense'}.
13~~And
to have HIGH REGARD for them . . .
super
abundantly . . .
in
love . . .
because
of their work
{not because of their personality, but because of their study
and teaching, study and teaching}.
And
be at peace among yourselves to your advantage.
14~~Now
we keep on exhorting you, brethren:
put
sense into those that break ranks
{unruly - don't obey authority in Church},
comfort
the 'small souled/ faint of heart' {the hysterical type,
weeping and wailing - threaten suicide etc.},
exercise
zealous care of the weak {two types - baby believers and
believers who have not grown spiritually},
{and}
be patient {exercise long suffering - take the digs patiently}
toward all men.
15~~Keep
on seeing that none pay back
evil
for evil unto any man . . .
but
keep on pursuing always the 'good of intrinsic value' . . .
both
among yourselves {among believers} . . .
and
to all men {also to the unbelievers}.
{Note:
The Devil's Man repays good with evil,
The earthly man repays evil with evil,
The Lord's Man repays evil with good.}
{Results
of above}
16~~Keep
on having inner happiness at all times.
17~~Keep
on praying habitually
{with the rapidity of a hacking cough}
-
maybe you will maybe you won't.
18~~In
ALL THINGS give thanks
for
this is the will of God
in
Christ Jesus
concerning
you.
{Note: Give thanks for the good AND the bad for all things work together for good!}
19~~'Quench
not'/'Stop Quenching' the Spirit!
{a command - means to damper or thwart the Spirit}
{Note: This means to stay out of God's way! Don't hinder Him! And, use rebound and be filled with the Holy Spirit.}
20~~Despise not prophesyings.
{Note: The entire Bible is important. It is as important to learn about the Tribulation and the Millennium, and Eternity Future as anything else in the Bible.}
21~~
Prove/'test for the purpose of approval' {as through fire}
all
things.
Hold
fast to that which is THE good {doctrine}.
{Note: Study and discern for yourself the truth. Rightly divide the word of God.}
22~~Abstain from every category of evil.
{Note: The three categories are mental attitude sins, sins of the tongue and overt sins.}
23~~And
the Very God
Who
provides Peace {reconciliation between God and Mankind} . . . shall
set apart {sanctify}
the
whole of each of you {body, soul and spirit}.
And
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be
preserved blameless
unto
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ {Rapture}.
24~~
Faithful is He
Who
keeps on calling you {salvation} . . .
Who
also will do it {in the Future}.
{Note: God provided for us in Eternity Past. This covers in Time and in Eternity Future.}
{TEAMWORK
VERSE}
25~~
Brethren {believers},
keep
on praying {this is an order - and it is for your benefit}
for
us.
{Note: Paul says that Apostles/Pastor-teachers need the prayers of their congregations and vice versa. And, it indicates when you pray for others, both them and you are benefited!}
26~~Greet
all the brethren
with
an holy kiss
{today we would say shake their hands - men greeted other men
with kisses in this day, same with women}.
27~~I
command you by the Lord
that
this epistle be analyzed/taught to all the holy brethren
to
their advantage.
{Note: When they are praying, they are called brethren. But when they are being taught doctrine, the are called HOLY BRETHERN! That is how to be separated unto God!}
28~~The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
'I
BELIEVE IT'/Amen.
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