p. 461 | The Sabbath-School

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Oct 18, 1883

The Sabbath-School.

Lesson for Pacific Coast.—October 27.

1 THESS. CHAPTERS 4, 5.

LESSON NOTES.

"WE beseech you, brethren, . . . . to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you," &c. The Thessalonians had imbibed the idea that the Lord was coming in their day, and therefore some of them at least deemed it unnecessary to labor, and were leading dilatory and negligent lives. The apostle cautions them against this gross error, and gives as a reason "that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." This advice is specially applicable to believers in the Lord's soon coming at the present time. The time has now indeed come for us to look for him in this generation; but instead of slacking our diligence in business or our efforts for the truth, the reasons for greater energy are apparent. Presumptive acts to show faith in the near advent of the Lord only show a fanaticism which is readily detected by the world. We want now to show our faith by our works, and not by our indolence. We have not yet passed the time of needing food and clothing, and we have need to work with our own hands for this purpose, besides supplying the urgent demand for means to send the last message of warning to the world. We have not only a duty to "walk honestly toward them that are without," but an honest conversion will lead to an earnest regard for the welfare of our fellow-beings. This was the example of our Lord and his followers.

"THE day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (chap. 5 : 2), is a text much abused by the opponents of the advent doctrine. They overlook the fact that this manner of coming is only upon a certain class—those who shall be suddenly destroyed, and for whom there will be no escape. Were the same attention paid to verse 4—"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief"—all would be plain; and there would be a more general application of verse 6—"Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober." In Amos 3 : 7 we find this comforting assurance: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets.

"REJOICE alway." If more heed were given to this injunction, much long-faced Christianity might be dispensed with. Emphasis is laid upon this idea in Phil. 4 : 4: "Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice." When the Christian has come to the point where he can, after cruel scourging and imprisonment, rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ, he will find little to murmur or complain about, and causes for rejoicing will be ever rising before him. Acts 5 : 41. Paul not only rejoiced "in hope of the glory of God," but he says, in Rom. 5 : 3, "we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience." Brethren, how is it with you? Do your trials work patience, or do they beget murmurings.

DESPISE not prophesyings. This is an inspired warning that applies to us as well as to the Thessalonians. But prophesyings are despised in the church to-day. And why? Because it is alleged that we are liable to be imposed upon by false prophets. But there have been false prophets ever since there were true ones, but this was never a reason for despising prophesyings. The duty to "prove all things, hold fast that which is good," did not originate, nor end with Paul's letter to the Thessalonian church. It was always a duty, and there was always the means of testing whether the teaching was of God. Every judgment, as well as all the darkness that has ever befallen the human race, has resulted from the despising of prophesyings or teachings of God's servants. If we "quench not the spirit," there will be little danger of our despising prophesyings.

W. N G..

THE brethren were evidently looking for the coming of Christ, and their own translation, but did not understand the hope for those who had fallen asleep. Paul would remove their ignorance, and give them the true ground of hope. "Which have no hope." Not that others were not hopeful of something, but, as he wrote to the Ephesians, "There is one hope," and they who have not that hope have no hope at all. Verse 13.

"Them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." Not bring them with him from Heaven when he comes. There are no saints sleeping in Heaven. But as he rose from the dead; they will be brought with him from the dead. The expression, "with him," denotes manner, not time. In Rom. 6 we are said to be "buried with Christ," not at the time when he was buried, but "in the likeness" of his death and burial. There are two resurrections. They who are brought from the dead (cf. Heb. 13 : 20) "with him," are raised "in the likeness of his resurrection."

WHAT he taught concerning the hope for the sleeping saints, and their salvation at the second advent, he said "by the word of the Lord." This is not a matter of conjecture or mere inference. Other theories of meeting the Lord and being with him may be more pleasing to those who live by theories and personal sympathy, but they who love the truth, and wish to abide by the word of the Lord, will accept this saying of Paul, who also said to the Colossians, "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Col. 3 : 4.

"SHALL not prevent." Shall not precede, or go before. We which are alive at Christ's coming shall have no precedence over those who are then sleeping. At the sounding of the last trump they will be raised incorruptible, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. First: that is, before we are translated; this has no reference to the first of the two resurrections. And as we shall not go before them, neither shall they precede us. Of the ancient faithful ones Paul wrote: "And all, having received a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Heb. 11 : 39, 40. We shall not go before them, and they will not receive the promise or be perfected before us. All the faithful shall be glorified together when "our life shall appear." So, in this manner, shall we ever be with the Lord. The Scriptures give no other time or manner of being glorified, perfected, or being with the Lord. These are words of comfort, because they are truth; they are the word of the Lord. They shut out all doubt; remove ignorance, and give the true ground of hope.