1 Thessalonians 1:10

Text (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.

Translation and Paraphrase

10.

And (how you turned from idols with a new hope, that has caused you) to look confidently for his (God'S) son (to come) from heaven, (the very son) whom He raised up from the dead, (even) Jesus, who is delivering us from the wrath (of God's judgment) that is coming (upon this whole world).

Notes (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

1.

The Thessalonians turned to God to do two things:

(1)

To serve the living and true God; 1 Thessalonians 1:9.

(2)

To wait for Jesus to come from heaven; 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

2.

The verb wait indeed means to wait, but has the added sense of patience and trust. We should thus be waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus. Our Lord has promised most definitely that He will return. He cautioned us to be watching always. The apostles always taught their converts to watch for His return. Matthew 24:44; Titus 2:13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

3.

Some interpreters have said that Paul taught the people of his generation to expect the Lord to come within their lifetime. Then in the course of time, as the Lord delayed His coming, Paul changed his doctrine. If that were true, it would prove that Paul was NOT giving inspired teachings when he first told the people to wait for the Lord's return. We reject any such interpretation of Paul's teachings. Paul himself has given us abundant proof that he spoke by revelation of Jesus Christ, and not from men. See Paul's defense of his ministry in Galatians 1:11-24; Galatians 2:1-9. We believe that when correctly understood Paul's teachings about the Lord's return (and any other matter) are true and beyond challenge.

4.

Even while Paul was with the Thessalonians, he told them that some things would have to happen first before the Lord's coming. See 2 Thessalonians 2:5. Paul taught the same thing that Jesus himself taught, namely that the Lord MIGHT come at any time. Paul never said that Christ would definitely come within anyone's lifetime, including his own. We challenge anyone to produce a verse from Paul's writings that indicates that Paul said that Christ was going to come within his lifetime. Even today the teaching that Christ will surely come some time, and may come any time, is the true teaching. We must be watching always for the Lord's coming. The Lord says that He will come just when we think He is not coming. Matthew 24:44.

5.

We are sometimes told that waiting on the second coming tends to throttle Christian service. Supposedly, people become dreamers, But just the opposite is true. Those who believe the Lord is coming, and maybe very soon, are out winning souls, going to new foreign mission fields, translating the Scriptures into new languages that have never had the word of God, and broadcasting on the radio. They may not be in Washington, D.C., lobbying for a socialistic system of government and economics, but they will be doing what the Lord told them to dopreaching, baptizing, teaching. The socialistic schemers are not doing anything but running the country into bankruptcy and making its money worthless, even when they are doing it in the name of religion. Those who believe the Lord is coming again will be working to turn men to righteousness.

6.

The fact that God raised Jesus from the dead guarantees that Christ will return, and that there will be a judgment. Acts 17:31; 1 Corinthians 15:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:14.

7.

The word delivered is actually a present tense, indicating continuous action (and we have indicated this in our translation). Jesus is delivering us. Some interpreters feel that this present tense form is timeless, and refers to a single act of deliverance which Jesus will do for us at a given time in the future. We prefer to think of our deliverance as continual. For Jesus delivers us from evil every day. Matthew 6:13. What we are now doing determines whether or not we shall escape in the day of God's wrath. I am thankful that Jesus is now delivering us from the sins that would cause God's wrath to fall upon us in the day of wrath. Romans 5:9: Much more, then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. We are being delivered now from the future wrath that would come upon us for our present sins.

8.

The wrath to come is not a popular subject, but it is coming, regardless of men's unwilingness to face it. John the Baptist said, Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Matthew 3:7. Revelation 6:17 tells you of a fearful time when even kings will try to hide themselves, For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? God's wrath is described as a winepress, with the earth cast into it, and the earth, like grapes in a winepress, was stomped down, and blood came out of the winepress. Revelation 14:19-20. God has seven great vials (or bowls) of wrath to pour out on the earth. Revelation 15:7. Compare Romans 2:5.

Some people speculate that the wrath of God will be poured out during a period of tribulation after Christ has once come and taken the Christians out of the earth, leaving the sinners behind. It seems more probable to us that the wrath of God is to be poured out upon the nations in a series of wars and disasters before Christ comes, and then the terrors of the judgment and hell will consummate His righteous wrath against those who have flouted His laws and despised His mercy. (See Special Study II on page 242, A Secret Rapture Considered.) But however the wrath may come, the sure thing is that it IS coming, and that Jesus is delivering the saints from it.

9.

The wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

(1)

A sure thing. John 3:36; Romans 1:18; Ephesians 5:6.

(2)

A sure thing. Romans 2:5-6; Romans 9:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:12.

(3)

A terrible thing. Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 14:19-20.

(4)

An escapable thing. 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 5:9.