Mentioned in this article:
The dangers of presumption
The Great Falling Away
Watch out you are not deceived
What God’s people will be doing when the End Time starts
Before reading this article, we recommend that first of all you read our article entitled: “The Gospel goes to all the world.” This will give more insight to the following: The Gospel goes to all the world
When They Say Peace and Safety
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thess 5:3
Introduction.
This article looks first at who it is that says ‘peace and safety’.
There is a terrible consequence and lessons to be learned. All of this shows how essential it is to fully understand the correct details concerning the return of Christ before it commences.
To understand this verse, the first requirement is to establish the timing.
When, that is at what stage of the end time is this said, and by whom?
When?
If we look at the context of what Paul is saying, it is speaking directly about the coming of the day of the Lord and how it will not take the ‘brethren’ by surprise.
In the previous verse (1 Thess 5:2) Paul says “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night”. We should have a ‘perfect understanding’ that the end time has a very distinct start and it will begin without anyone knowing beforehand. This concept of no forewarning or ‘signs’ is mentioned sixteen times, which means from God’s perspective He is hammering home a point. See article: I Come As A Thief
On the one hand Paul is adamant that there will be no pre-warning, yet on the other hand we will ‘not be in darkness’ and caught flat-footed not knowing what to do. That is also the theme of the wise and foolish virgins. When the cry goes up ‘the Lord cometh’ they are ready for their next move.
The overall subject is the beginning of the day of the Lord. The ‘peace and safety’ quote is in this context and is a reaction by some as a result. It must be a substantial response or there would be no need to bring it to our attention.
In effect Paul is pointing out that when certain people say these things, the direct opposite of what they are expecting will take place.
However no ‘sudden destruction’ has occurred yet.
A little logic is all that is needed here. If a ‘sudden destruction’ is the shock surprise following on from saying ‘peace and safety’ then it follows that there had not been any equivalent of ‘destruction’ beforehand. The end time has not started yet in the terms of the first four seals of Revelation 6 where a quarter of the world’s population dies. Yet something has happened to cause them to say ‘peace and safety’.
By adding the context and the logic together it should be clear that ‘when they say peace and safety’ is at the very beginning of the end time, but what was the cause?
Who says ‘Peace and Safety’ and Why?
What event marks the very beginning of the end time? A full answer is in our article The Gospel Goes to all the World and should be read to have a full understanding of all that is taking place at this time.
The gospel going to the entire world is an event in its own right. It is the first seal, the rider on the white horse ‘going forth to conquer’ (Hab chapter 3). It is the moment the world is put on notice. This is the first event, but nothing has ‘happened’, – yet.
As a result of the gospel message going across the entire world via the actions of an angel, the world is certainly aware of something unusual.
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Rev 14:6
Most of the world will not understand the full implication of what is about to happen. The media will be alive with speculation; it will be a worldwide event.
However, if what we are talking about is the return of Christ to set up His kingdom, a message to ‘worship God because His hour of judgment is come’, who would rejoice?
It would not be atheist countries; it would not mean anything to them. That discounts China and Russia and the like.
It certainly would not be Arab nations. If anything, to say Christ was coming to rule them would be an insult.
Would the Jewish people rejoice? Not if it is anything to do with Christ.
It is logical then that the only people who would rejoice at the news that Christ is coming are Christians, more specifically one group of Christians in particular: Those expecting to be instantly ‘raptured’ at the onset of the day of the Lord. To them the news the day of the Lord is on the doorstep means only one thing: ‘all our worries are over, Jesus is coming for us’. They are certainly not expecting a whole set of problems to descend on them!
The gospel going to the world in spectacular fashion is when the cry is made ‘the Lord cometh’. At that moment it will be realized that ‘time is up’ and the day of the Lord has started.
But is the end time a time to rejoice?
Peace and safety is not what the end time is about.
Making a mistake is one thing, being presumptuous is another and both faults are in evidence.
Paul is very clear that the onset of the day of the Lord is sudden and unexpected, but he is equally clear (emphatic) that the resurrection will not be a surprise. This is because the resurrection occurs only after the end time is obviously well underway with the beast having committed the abomination of desolation first. That in turn must be after the beast and ten kings have become established in the first place. which includes taking the mark of the beast. Persecution follows for the Church members that refuse to submit. All that means some years have passed between the onset of the day of the Lord and the day of the resurrection. You cannot have all these events happen and the resurrection still be a surprise.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 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 son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2 Thess 2:1
Do Not Be Deceived
With the end time obviously underway but the resurrection nowhere in sight, two problems become evident.
The first one is the huge disappointment when the high hopes some had believed in failed to materialize. The second one is facing up to the events that are about to transpire.
Both involve having been misled by Christian leaders that were obviously totally unreliable in their ability to discern God’s instruction. This raises the obvious question, were they even Christian leaders in the first place? Christ was not leading them in what they taught.
Once the end time is underway, many more will claim to have an inside track to the kingdom. On top of all that the beast and the false prophet will step into the scene. These are very difficult times and all who grasp at a 'throwaway spiritual straw' will be disappointed. Once again being prepared in advance, understanding all the issues that are clearly spelled out in the bible is the only way not to be misled.
(Our Toolkit raises all the issues that do need to be dealt with).
The Great Falling away.
When Christians have been raised on expectations that do not transpire, faith and hope can fade away very quickly. Instead of a glorious resurrection ‘sudden destruction’ falls on them.
The nations that are involved will immediately ask the question, how could a loving God do or allow this?
The answer is: that is the wrong question.
The correct question should be: How can a nation not only refuse all that God offers them and wants for them, but then go and do and act as they do? That has been the history of all the nations that were, and still are God’s people. In the end they went so far astray, God had to act to punish and correct them.
The millions of ‘Christians’ that believe in a quick and easy exit prior to the ‘day of the Lord’ fall into the category of ‘he that finds his (own) life shall lose it’. Christ expects us to follow His example and ‘lose his (our) life for My sake’ and find eternal life.
They were unaware of what God expected of them in the end time. This is very much a case of ‘do not ask what your God can do for you, ask what can you do for your God’.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Peter 3:9
There is an ongoing purpose to the end time. Certain nations and the world as a whole are in God’s sights. He gave His life for them, He paid the ransom and now He is going to collect on His investment. This is not the end of the world; it much more closely aligned to the real beginning of it. God’s people have a lion’s share of the work to do. As always right through the history of the bible God’s people are at the forefront of the action, and that is never easy.
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. 26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake. Psalm 44:22
Redeem us He will, but not before time. There is a truism, ‘you get what you pay for’ to that we can add ‘there is no such thing as a free lunch’. Why is it that when God offers to the ‘them and us’ Paul speaks of in Heb 11:40 a position as a King or a Priest in His kingdom forever; and we do not think there is a cost involved? The people given as examples in Heb 11 gave everything they had acting on faith looking towards the ‘better resurrection’. The better resurrection is the wedding. (There is more than one resurrection Rev 20:5).
If we expect to be there, Paul exhorts us to be aware of the trials and tribulations that has been born by others before us.
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Heb 11:32
Heb 12 makes it clear, to be considered as part of ‘one of them’ we will be required to do our share:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Heb 12:1
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Heb 12:4
The chapter then goes on to encourage us through the difficulties that will be faced right up to the resurrection.
Back to the issue of those that say peace and safety, nowhere in the bible does God indicate an easy path for His followers. Yet when it is clear the end time has started, many think all there problems are over. They were expecting an instant ‘rapture’ away from all and any problems.
The reality is something quite different.
Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? Amos 5:18
Woe to them that look forward to it.
They have no idea what this reality will be like.
Making a mistake is one thing, but it goes deeper than that. Presumption is something else. In effect all those that are expecting to be instantly ‘taken away’ are telling God ‘I have made my election sure’. That, surely is God’s prerogative.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2 Peter 1:10
The message to all from within the Churches in Revelation is that only those that overcome shall ‘eat from the tree of life’ with Christ.
Paul even entertained the possibility he could fail to make the grade:
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1Cor 9:24
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. Phillip 3:10
Once the end time starts, we will then be expected to ‘press toward the mark for the prize’. Those who ‘overcome’ will be a ‘pillar in the temple of God’. Rev 3:12
Further reading:
One shall be taken, one shall be left
Who is Babylon
Who is Israel