You don’t want to be the “They” or “Them”

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 the apostle Paul delineates the difference between unbelievers “They” and “Them”  and believers “Us”, “We” and “You”.

These passages and others make it so clear that the Lord is coming for His Church which is His Body prior to the tribulation. So plain a six grader can see it. It is the “Us”, “We” and “You” (believers) that will meet the Lord in the clouds and the “they” and “them” (unbelievers) that will face the Wrath of God and be destroyed.

In the passage below believers are identified by “we” and “you”.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Contrast the above passage where the apostle Paul makes it crystal clear that the Lord Jesus Christ will come for His Church. With the passage below where the emphasis turns to the unbelievers identified as “They” and “Them”. Where God makes it clear they will go through the tribulation and face destruction.  

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you, yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

I Thessalonians 5:1-3

The text below is the apostle Paul reassuring believers that they will not go through the tribulation. Believers will not experience the wrath of God, because God DID NOT APPOINT US TO WRATH. Is that so hard to understand? Or Believe?

Believers are identified as “We”, “Us” and “You”.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. I Thessalonians 5:4-11

It is so clear that those that believed that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day. (1 Thessalonians 4:14) Will meet the Lord Jesus in the clouds and not face the Wrath of God.

But to those who reject the gospel in unbelief, they will be destroyed.

Don’t let anyone discourage you about our blessed hope which is the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)

Amen.

Thank you for reading.

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Mesa Bible Study

Faith, Sine Qua Non