prompt # 4

Prompt:

In 400-500 words discuss what Paul taught about preparing for the Second Coming and how we apply his teachings today


Response:

In Thessalonians, Paul teaches about the Second Coming. He teaches to build for the short haul while preparing for the long haul. He also teaches not to be paralyzed by the idea of the Second Coming soon, yet still keep up hope and live for today. In 1st Thessalonians chapter four, Paul describes how some people have stopped working in preparation for the Second Coming, and some people are knowingly sinning as they believe Christ can cleanse them of their sins when he returns.
One sign of the Second Coming which Paul mentions is that described in Acts 20:28-31. Paul is Melitas and he doesn’t have a lot of time, but he is teaching them.
“ 28 ¶ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the aflock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you boverseers, to feed the cchurch of God, which he hath purchased with his own dblood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall agrievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking aperverse things, to bdraw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to awarn every one night and day with tears.”

Paul tells them the flock will not be spared. Paul teaches the apostasy is happening now, and it’s not new information. He has been preaching the Apostasy for three years now.

Another topic that can be found in Thessalonians is that many of the members of the first century church think that the end of the world is happening now, not realizing that it is just the end of the first century church.

Also, thanks to Constantine, the first century church is now the favorite religion. This brings an interesting perspective to the church as before you had to be nuts to join the church and forsake everything and be persecuted. Now, there are different motives for joining the church and it becomes very difficult to tell who the “good guys” are.

As we move to Second Thessalonians, they begin to better understand they were living the last days of the first century church.

The best part is the Restoration. This shows the love of God for His children. Just a short time after Christ left the Jews and Gentiles in the Jerusalem area they were already asking when He would come again. God did not hide himself away forever, he reached out again with the Restoration because he love us.