Chapter XI. - Epistles to the Thessalonians.
While Paul was still at Corinth, labouring in word and
doctrine, and also in the work-shop, Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. The
pleasure of meeting these two faithful co-labourers gave him fresh zeal and
courage to withstand the continually increasing opposition, which had greatly
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hindered his labours. The apostle himself acknowledged that
he was in Corinth "in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling;" but God,
"who comforteth those that are cast down," comforted him by the arrival of his
friends. God designs that fellow-labourers in the gospel shall have their hearts
knit closely together in the bonds of Christian love, so that their presence
shall greatly cheer and encourage one another. {LP 109.2}
Paul had sent Timothy to revisit the places of his former
labours, and to confirm and establish the church at Thessalonica. Timothy's
report was encouraging, and refreshed the spirit of Paul. He was thus prompted
to write to these beloved brethren. His first and second epistles to the church
are given us. His heart was drawn out in love to those who had embraced the
doctrine of Christ, which subjected them to reproach and persecution heretofore
unknown to them. {LP 110.1}
There was still another reason for Paul's communication to
these brethren. Some who were newly brought into the faith had fallen into
errors in regard to those who had died since their conversion. They had hoped
that all would witness the second coming of Christ; but they were in great
sorrow as one after another of the believers fell under the power of death,
making it impossible for them to behold that desirable event,--the coming of
Christ in the clouds of heaven. {LP 110.2}
Some, who had fallen into the error that Christ was to come
in their day, imbibed the fanatical idea that it was praiseworthy to show their
faith by giving up all business, and resigning themselves to idle waiting for
the great event which they thought was near. Others despised the gift of
prophecy, exalting all other gifts above that.
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{LP 110.3}
Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, greeting them, and
invoking in their behalf the blessing of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He
reminded them of his own labours among them, and their acceptance of the word,
turning away from idols "to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his
Son from Heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us
from the wrath to come." {LP 111.1}
He further referred to his work and that of his
fellow-labourers among them, reminding them of the boldness with which they had
preached the gospel unto them, in the midst of opposition, abuse, and
discouragement, "not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." {LP
111.2}
Paul then endeavoured to inform his Thessalonian brethren
concerning the true state of the dead. He speaks of them as asleep,--in a state
of unconsciousness: "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with him. . . . . For the Lord himself shall descend
from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of
God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with
these words." {LP 111.3}
The friends of the righteous dead should not sorrow as those
who lose their loved ones and have no hope in Jesus Christ, and who are not
cheered by the immortal future beyond the resurrection of the just. Paul
addressed the Thessalonians as
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those who had turned from the practices of heathen idolatry
to the service of Christ. Vague heathen ideas concerning the state of the dead
were more or less mingled with the new faith. But those who clearly saw the
truth of the resurrection from the dead, in the doctrine preached by Paul, were
greatly comforted. The cheering hope which they thus received, that the
righteous dead would rise from their graves to a holy, happy immortal life, was
in marked contrast with their former pagan ideas of death. For they had believed
that there was no future life, no happy meeting with those whom they had loved
and lost on earth. {LP 111.4}
The Thessalonians had eagerly grasped the idea that Christ
was coming to change the faithful who were alive, and take them to himself. They
had carefully guarded the lives of their friends, lest they should die, and lose
the blessing which they anticipated at the coming of their Lord. But, one after
another, death had laid their loved ones low; and they had buried them from
their sight with fear and trembling. All their ancestors had thus been buried,
and with anguish the Thessalonians looked upon the faces of their dead for the
last time, never expecting to meet them again in a future life. {LP 112.1}
The reception of Paul's epistle was to them a great event.
Written communications passing between friends were of very rare occurrence in
those times. There was great joy in the church as the epistle was opened and
read. What consolation was afforded them by those words which revealed the true
state of the dead. Paul therein showed them that those who should be alive when
Christ should come would not go to meet their Lord in advance of those who
should be asleep in Jesus.
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For the voice of the archangel and the trump of God should
reach the sleeping ones, and the dead in Christ should rise first, before the
touch of immortality should be given to the living. "Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another
with these words." {LP 112.2}
The hope and joy which this assurance gave to the young
church at Thessalonica can scarcely be understood by us. That letter, coming
from their father in the gospel, was believed and cherished by them, and their
hearts went out in love to him who had brought them the precious light of truth.
He had told them these things before; but at that time their minds were grasping
doctrines new and surpassingly strange to them, and it is not surprising that
the force of some points had not been vividly impressed upon their minds. But
they were hungering for truth, and Paul's epistle gave to their souls new hope
and strength, a firmer faith in, and a deeper affection for, the Redeemer who
had brought life and immortality to light through his death. {LP 113.1}
The darkness that had enshrouded the sepulchre of the dead
was dispelled; for they now knew that their believing friends would be
resurrected from the grave, and enjoy immortal life in the kingdom of God. A new
splendour now crowned the Christian faith, and they saw a new glory in the life,
sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ. {LP 113.2}
Paul wrote, "Even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him." Many interpret this passage to mean that the sleeping ones are
brought with Christ from Heaven; but Paul designed to be understood that in like
manner as
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Christ was raised from the dead, so will God bring up the
sleeping saints with him from their graves, and take them with him to Heaven.
Precious consolation! glorious hope! not only to the church of Thessalonica, but
to all true Christians who live upon the earth. {LP 113.3}
Paul had previously so fully canvassed the subject of the
signs of the times, showing what events would transpire prior to the revelation
of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven, that he did not consider it necessary
to enter largely upon those particulars again on this occasion. He, however,
pointedly referred to his former teachings on that subject: "But of the times
and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you; for yourselves
know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For
when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon
them." {LP 114.1}
The careless and unbelieving close their eyes to the evidence
which Christ has given to warn men of his coming. They seek to quiet all
apprehension, while, at the same time, the signs of the end are rapidly
fulfilling, and the world is hastening to the period of the revelation of the
Son of man in the clouds of heaven. But those who receive the light of truth as
it shines upon their pathway, are not in darkness that this great event should
come upon them unawares. Paul teaches that it would be sinful to be indifferent
to the signs which should precede the second coming of Christ. Those who should
be guilty of this neglect, he calls children of the night and of darkness. He
encourages the vigilant and watchful with these words: "But ye, brethren,
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are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not
of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let
us watch and be sober." {LP 114.2}
The teachings of the apostle upon this point are especially
important to the church in our time. Above all others, those who are living so
near to the great consummation, should be sober and watchful. The watchful
Christian is a working Christian, seeking zealously to purify his life, and to
do all in his power for the cause of God. As his love for his Redeemer
increases, so also does his love for his fellow-creatures increase. He has
severe trials, as did his Master; and, like him, he is to some extent a man of
sorrows, mourning because of the abominations done in the land. But this grief
does not sour his temper, nor destroy his peace of mind. His afflictions, if
well borne, refine and purify his nature. He is thus brought into closer
fellowship with Christ; and inasmuch as he, through fierce opposition, is a
partaker of the sufferings of Christ, he will also be a partaker of his
consolation, and finally a sharer of his glory. {LP 115.1}
Paul continued his admonition to the church: "We beseech you,
brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and
admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And
be at peace among yourselves." {LP 115.2}
The Thessalonians were greatly annoyed by persons coming
among them with fanatical ideas and doctrines. The church had been properly
organized, and officers had been appointed to act
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as ministers and deacons. But some would not be subordinate
to those who held authoritative positions in the church. Ardent, self-willed
persons claimed not only the right of private judgment, but to be heard publicly
in urging their views upon the church. Paul, therefore, earnestly called the
attention of his brethren to the respect and deference due those who had
authority in the church, and who had been intrusted with the responsibilities
connected with it. {LP 115.3}
He cautions the Thessalonians not to despise the gift of
prophecy, and enjoins a careful discrimination in distinguishing the false
manifestation from the true: "Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesyings;
prove all things; hold fast that which is good." He prays that God will sanctify
them wholly, that their "whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;" and in closing, adds the assurance,
"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." {LP 116.1}
In this First Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul's teachings
concerning the second coming of Christ were in perfect harmony with his former
instructions to the church. Yet his words were misapprehended by some of the
Thessalonian brethren. They understood him to express the hope that he himself
would live to witness the Saviour's advent. This belief served to increase their
enthusiasm and excitement. Those who had previously neglected their cares and
duties, now considered themselves sustained by the apostle; hence they became
more persistent than before in urging their erroneous views. {LP 116.2}
In his second letter to this church, Paul seeks to correct
their misapprehensions, and to set before
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them his true position. He expresses his confidence in their
Christian integrity, and his gratitude to God that their faith was not waning,
and that love abounded toward one another, and for the cause of their divine
Master. He also states that he presents them to other churches as furnishing a
sample of the patient and persevering faith which bravely withstands the
persecution and tribulation brought upon them by the opposition of the enemies
of God. He carries them forward to hope for rest from all their cares and
perplexities, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed, "in flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ." {LP 116.3}
He then showed that great events were to transpire in the
future, as foretold in prophecy, before Christ should come. Said the apostle:
"Be not soon shaken in mind, nor be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,
nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man
deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a
falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed." The papal power, so
clearly described by the prophet Daniel, was yet to rise, and wage war against
God's people, and trample upon his law. Until this power should have performed
its deadly and blasphemous work, it would be vain for the church to look for the
coming of their Lord. {LP 117.1}
Thus Paul put to naught the arguments of those who
represented him as teaching that the day of Christ was at hand. He charged his
brethren not to neglect their duties and resign themselves to idle waiting.
After their glowing anticipations of immediate deliverance, the round
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of daily life and the opposition which they must expect to
meet, would appear doubly forbidding. He therefore exhorted them to
steadfastness in the faith. Their work had been appointed them of God; by their
faithful adherence to the truth they were to communicate to others the light
which they had received. He bade them not to become weary in well-doing, and
pointed them to his own example of diligence in temporal matters while labouring
with untiring zeal in the cause of Christ. He reproved those who had given
themselves up to sloth and aimless excitement, and directed that "with quietness
they work, and eat their own bread." He also enjoined upon the church to
separate from their fellowship any who should persist in disregarding his
instructions. "Yet," he added, "count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a
brother." He concluded this epistle also with a prayer, that amid life's toils
and trials the peace of God and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ might be
their consolation and support. {LP 117.2}