1 st Thessalonians The Second Coming 1 Thessalonians

1 st Thessalonians The Second Coming

1 Thessalonians The Saints in Thessalonica were some of the earliest European converts to the Church. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had first preached there during Paul’s second missionary journey but were driven out of the city by some of the Jewish leaders. Thessalonian Saints continued to be persecuted even after Paul and his companions left. Paul later wrote his epistle to the Saints to encourage them as they faced persecution. The Apostle Paul desired to strengthen the faith of Thessalonian Church members. He taught them about the Resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and taught them how to prepare for the Second Coming. the Thessalonian Saints misunderstood certain aspects of the Second Coming. They worried that Church members in Thessalonica who had died would not be able to experience the blessings of the Second Coming.

1 Thessalonians If you could be anywhere when the second coming happened, where would you be and why? (Graveyard) 1 Thess 4: 13 -18. (See D&C 88: 96 -102) What comfort do you find in these doctrines about the Second Coming?

Wicked Destroyed Satan Bound Millennium Begins Signs of the Times Adam Ondi Ahman Armageddon Appearance in Jerusalem Righteous Caught Up Appearance to the World 1000 years Resurrection of the O. D. Final Battle Final Judgment Three Degrees of Glory (O. D. ) Resurrection of the Telestial Resurrection of the Terrestrial Timeline

1 Thessalonians 4: 17. “Caught up together” “The Joseph Smith Translation of 1 Thessalonians 4: 17 reads: ‘Then they who are alive, shall be caught up together into the clouds with them who remain, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord’ (in 1 Thessalonians 4: 17, footnote a). Many Christians use the word rapture (from a Latin term meaning ‘caught up’) when referring to the time when the righteous will be caught up to meet the Savior at His coming” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 450).

1 Thessalonians What analogies are there about the second coming? Ever had a mom go overdue or underdue in delivery? Why is it difficult to determine the exact moment a baby will be born? 1 Thessalonians 5: 1‑‑ 3 Read 1 Thessalonians 5: 4– 8 and look for who will be surprised and who won't. What does it mean to be “children of light”?

1 Thessalonians Would any of you like to know the exact time of the Second Coming? Why?

1 Thessalonians Thessalonian Saints misunderstood Paul's teachings about the Second Coming. Paul wrote a second letter to clear up misunderstandings Read 2 Thessalonians 1: 4‑‑ 10 looking for key words or phrases that showed the Second Coming was still in the future.

1 Thessalonians Brigham Young: "Are you prepared for the day of vengeance to come, when the Lord will consume the wicked by the brightness of his coming? Let our anxiety be centered upon this one thing, the sanctification of our own hearts, the purifying of our own affections, the preparing of ourselves for the approach of the events that are hastening upon us. Seek to have the Spirit of Christ, that we may wait patiently the time of the Lord, and prepare ourselves for the times that are coming. This is our duty" (in Journal of Discourses, 9: 3).

Signs of the Times Based on commentary made by Elder Bruce R. Mc. Conkie (Bruce R. Mc. Conkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2 d ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], 734. )

Signs of the times • • • • DISCOVERY AND USE OF PRINTING • PROTESTANT REFORMATION AND AGE • OF RENAISSANCE DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION OF • AMERICA • ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AMERICAN • NATION. TRANSLATION AND PRINTING OF BIBLE. • ESTABLISHMENT OF U. S. CONSTITUTION • LATTER-DAY REVELATION COMING FORTH OF THE BOOK OF • MORMON • OPPOSITION TO THE BOOK OF MORMON RESTORATION OF KEYS AND • PRIESTHOOD • RESTORATION OF THE GOSPEL • CHURCH AND KINGDOM SET UP AGAIN GROWTH OF THE CHURCH • BUILDING OF LATTER-DAY TEMPLES • LORD TO COME SUDDENLY TO TEMPLE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH AND GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH PERSECUTION OF THE SAINTS PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS TRUE GOSPEL TO BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLDLY KNOWLEDGE TO INCREASE; SCIENTIFIC AND INVENTIVE PROGRESS DISEASE, PLAGUE, PESTILENCE TO SWEEP EARTH ELEMENTS IN COMMOTION DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES TO ABOUND STRIKES, ANARCHY, VIOLENCE, TO INCREASE LATTER-DAY WICKEDNESS SPIRIT CEASING TO STRIVE WITH WICKED FAMINES, DEPRESSIONS, AND ECONOMIC TURMOIL MANY FALSE CHURCHES IN LATTER-DAYS LAMANITES TO BLOSSOM AS THE ROSE

1 Thessalonians Is it a GREAT or a DREADFUL day? What are you most excited about regarding the second coming?

Elder David A. Bednar: “‘If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us. Because we estrange the Spirit of the Lord when we engage in activities we know we should shun, then such things definitely are not for us. “‘… As we become ever more immersed in the Spirit of the Lord, we should strive to recognize impressions when they come and the influences or events that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost’ (‘That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us, ’ Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 30)” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 451).

President James E. Faust taught: ‘I strongly urge you that if there is any question in your minds or hearts about whether your personal conduct is right or wrong, don’t do it. It is the responsibility of the prophets of God to teach the word of God, not to spell out every jot and tittle of human conduct. If we are conscientiously trying to avoid not only evil but the very appearance of evil, we will act for ourselves and not be acted upon’ (‘The Devil’s Throat, ’ Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 51).

Preparing for The Second Coming ü ü ü Never stop praying Rejoice always In everything give thanks Quench not the spirit Hold fast to that which is good Abstain from all appearance of evil

1 st Thessalonians The Second Coming