Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. What admonition does the apostle Paul give us regarding the last days of human history?
The apostle Paul urged the believers at Thessaloniki to “watch” and “be sober” in the context of the second coming of Christ. And if Paul would say that to believers then, what would he say to us today?
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He also declared that they were “children of the light” (1 Thessalonians 5:5, NIV) and that they were not in “darkness so that this day” [the return of Christ] (1 Thessalonians 5:4, NIV) should overtake them “as a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4, NKJV). Jesus used the expression to “watch” in connection with earnest, heartfelt prayer (Matthew 24:42, Matthew 26:40-41). To watch is to be spiritually alert. To be sober minded is to be serious about the times that we are living in and focused on the things that really matter.
Ellen G. White adds: “We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 28.
And while it might be a surprise to the world, it should not be a surprise for us. Though we don’t know when it will happen, we can see enough to know that it is coming, and that now, today, is the day to be ready.
Review Daniel 2:1-49, and note the sequence of kingdoms that came and went, exactly as predicted. What should this teach us about how we can trust that what God says will indeed happen?
Christ has given us these last-day messages so that, knowing what is coming, we can prepare for it. The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, combined with the modern gift of prophecy, give us divine insight into what is coming upon this world. The prophetic Word of God outlines salvation history in advance, and Daniel 2:1-49 provides powerful, rational evidence that we can trust God.
| Paul says not “to sleep” as others do. What does that mean, and how can we know if we are, indeed, sleeping and, if we are, what will it take to wake us? |
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