Title: Don't Get Drunk in the World
1 Thessalonians (16) Do not be drunk with the world (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6)
<The Second Coming of Jesus>
The term ‘rapture’ is used in eschatology, but does ‘rapture’ really exist? A representative passage supporting the rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first, and then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. will always be with you.”
In this verse, the dead in Christ rise first. These are the martyred saints who participated in the first resurrection, which will come when Jesus returns. The next survivors are also caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is called the 'air rapture'. After all, the second coming of the Lord and the rapture of the saints happen almost simultaneously.
When will Jesus return? The Lord comes like a thief (verse 2). This means that the time cannot be known. The Lord comes suddenly and without warning. You may come tomorrow, you may come in ten days, or you may come in a year, in 100 years, or in 200 years. Likewise, we do not know when the Lord will return, but when the date of conception and childbirth approaches, just as the belly of a pregnant woman is full, there will always be signs of the Lord's return (verse 3). Therefore, always live with the attitude that the second coming of the Lord is near and prepare for the end times. That faith will make a saintly life.
"Don't get drunk in the world"
The day of the Lord will come like a thief, but the Lord's return will not come like a thief for those who have faithfully prepared for the Lord's return (verse 4). So, what should we do to prepare for the Lord's Second Coming? The apostle Paul challenges us not to sleep like others, but to stay awake and sober (verse 6). It means not to be drunk with the world, and to live with a mission.
Some people are too addicted to money. Some people are too addicted to pleasure. Some people are too addicted to hobbies like fishing and Go. Some people live too intoxicated with work. So I miss worship. Some people are obsessed with computer entertainment and leave their families behind. Some people get drunk on poker or go-stop. These are the shameful ways of living drunk with the world without preparing for the Second Coming of the Lord.
Signs of the end are now appearing all over the world. The earth is suffering from severe extreme weather conditions. The war between countries for aid, water and food will only intensify. Sooner or later, the door of the abyss will open and Satan will come out to deceive people all over the world, and the prophecy of Revelation that gathers people to fight will become a reality. Now is the time to wake up.
It seems that the dreadful day of judgment is not far away. But many are feasting on pleasure on a river raft, unaware that the Falls of the End await ahead. Also, the person who should be warned about it is also indulging in such a feast. Don't be a secular eschatologist who only seeks too realistic benefits. You must wake up from the drunken state of the world as the waterfall approaches and the currents are accelerating.
Of course, there is no need to be too afraid of the end times. Because at the end of the day, sincere saints will meet the Lord who will return and become more glorious. What is the ultimate hope of the saints? On the day you meet the Lord, you will receive a crown and be praised.
Revelation 16:15 says this. “Behold, I am coming like a thief, and blessed is the man who watches and keeps his garments, and does not walk naked, and does not show his shame.” Who is blessed? A person who lives long and healthy in a large apartment is not said to be lucky. Such a blessing is a blessing to be enjoyed only for a short time on this earth. The true blessing is those who wear holy robes and attend the wedding feast of the Lamb when the Lord comes.
Who is given such a holy robe? It is given to those who live by looking at the reward of heaven rather than the glory of this earth and striving for the salvation of souls according to the purpose and mission of their life. You can be saved and attend the wedding feast, but what a shameful salvation if you don't have a holy robe and attend naked or wearing panties. If the Lord comes today, are you confident that you will be happy before Him? Be blessed spirits who always welcome the Lord with beautiful faith, devotion and deeds in holy robes.