First Epistle
It is a happy fact that every chapter of both epistles to the Thessalonians contains a reference to the second coming of Jesus, each one bringing out some important feature or features of that great and glorious event.
I. i Thess. 1:10. "To wait for his Son from heaven." This brings to view the attitude that all true Christians should attain toward the Second Advent. (Titus 2:11-13; Heb. 9:28; Isa. 25:8, 9.)
II. i Thess. 2:19. "In the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming." We shall be in His literal bodily presence. He will come personally. (Acts 1:10, 11.)
III. i Thess. 3:13- "At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." He will come accompanied. The "saints" are the angels. (Jude 14; Deut. 33:2; Rev. 5:11.)
IV. I Thess. 4:16, 17. Pictures the manner of His coming, and outlines the sequence of events. Since the living righteous are said to "remain" or "survive" (Wey- mouth and Moffatt) on the occasion of Christ's second coming, it is implied that the living wicked will not survive.
V. I Thess. 5:1-3. An impressive figure used to convey the catastrophic nature of the Lord's coming in respect to the un prepared and the certainty of the fate that will overtake them. By this figure is also conveyed the element of nearness combined with uncertainty as regards the exact day and hour. (Matt. 24:33-36.) Peace talks, propaganda, and promises also given as a sign.
VI. i Thess. 5:23. The type of preparation called for in view of the Lord's coming — sanctification of the whole man, body, soul, and spirit.
Second Epistle
VII. 2 Thess. 1:6-10. Jesus comes accompanied by the angels. Reward of the just, and punishment of the wicked. Fire, one of the elements of destruction. (Ps. 50: 3-5; 2 Thess. 2:8.)
VIII. 2 Thess. 2:1-4. The Lord's coming chronologically located in the briefest church history ever written—just three landmarks of church history, namely, the falling away, man of sin revealed, and second coming of Christ. Identical ground covered under same three headings, but more elaborately, first literally, in our Lord's prophecy in Matthew 24; and then figuratively, in prophecy of the seven seals, where white, red, and black horses represent falling away; pale horse and souls under the altar represent man of sin and his work; and seals six and seven represent signs of times and second coming.
IX. 2 Thess. 3:5, "Patient waiting for Christ." Other versions read, "patience of Christ," however, this is no doubt a reference to the Lord's Advent emphasizing "patience of the saints," which enables them to hold fast the profession of their faith, sustained by the "blessed hope."
