The Future of God’s Revolution1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 (NASB) Now

as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

• Culminates: “Day of the Lord”• NOT Our Call Mt.24:36

• Upheaval: War (Mt.24:22)

• New King (Mt.24:27ff)• God’s Revolution:

Slow/Patient• Despite Scoffing: 2

Pet.3:3ff• Because: v.9 ‘Win

More’• Today’s problem: …

It IS ‘Revolution’

Never Compromise!While they are

saying, "Peace and safety!"

Counter-Revolutionary Pressures • “You People are CRAZY!”

(2Pt.3)• Why be radical? Be more

like us!• “We’ve got the answers!”

1Th.5:2• “Love..will grow cold” Mt.24

• Sex & Success• Violent Opposition (2

Tim.3:2f)• Cold: ‘lovers..money’• ‘haters of good, brutal!’

The Post-Modern Era: 2Ti.3:5

• Trading our Revolutionary Faith for ‘peace’

The Greatest Temptation

Don’t Be Surprised! 1 Thessalonians 5:4 (NASB)

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come…

• Israel (Lk.21:24)• Proud Wealth (2

Ti.3:2)• Love Breakdown ("

3:3)• E-Commerce

(Rev.13:17)• WWW/etc.

(Rev.11:9)• United World

(Rev.13:8)• HUGE Armies

(Rev.9:16)• Nuclear War (Is.13)

Signs Fulfilled NOW

BE a Revolutionary!1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 For you are

all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.

But since we are of the day, let us be sober…

A Whole New Identity

•2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts…

You are all sons of light

and sons of day.

•Ephesians 5:14 (NASB) For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."

We are not of

night nor of

darkness.

BE a Revolutionary! 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 For you

are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.

But since we are of the day, let us be sober…

A Whole New Identity

New Capabilities

•Ephesians 5:13 But all things become visible…

•Never get manipulated!

•Impacting others…

The ability to

see & reveal

•2 Corinthians 4:6 …to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God…

•Illumination from the Word

To know &

understand God.

BE a Revolutionary! 5:9-10 For God has not

destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

A Whole New Identity

New Capabilities Great HOPE!

“Wrath”– God steps back

2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

BE a Revolutionary! 5:9-10 For God has not

destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

A Whole New Identity New Capabilities Great HOPE!

“Wrath”– God steps back The job is done: we’re

gone!1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (NASB) Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

BE a Revolutionary! 1 Thessalonians

5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

A Whole New Identity New Capabilities Great HOPE! Great Fellowship Now! Not “Pie-in-the-Sky”