Open Bible College Course on Second Coming

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Course Title
Transcribed from Audio Lectures by Dr. Dave Reese
Table of Contents
LECTURE 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 3
LECTURE 2 ...................................................................................................................................... 12
LECTURE 3 ...................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 4 ...................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 5 ...................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 6 ...................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 7 ...................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 8 ...................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 9 ...................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 10 .................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 11 .................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 12 .................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 13 .................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 14 .................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 15 .................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 16 .................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 17 .................................................................................................................................... 25
LECTURE 18 .................................................................................................................................... 25
2|OpenBibleCollegeInternational
LECTURE 1
The letters to the Thessalonians have a peculiar characteristic about them. Something that is
not true of the other letters that Paul writes. These books have an emphasis on the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ. Both the first epistle of Thessalonians and the second epistle of
Thessalonians emphasize the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians emphasizes
the catching out of the church. We call it the “Rapture.” 2 Thessalonians emphasizes the coming
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, back to this earth.
We also notice something else about Thessalonians. Whenever God placed the book in the
Bible, God put the letters of Thessalonians (1 and 2 Thessalonians) right between Colossians
and 1 Timothy. This is unusual in one sense, because the letters to the Thessalonian church
were written during the Acts period. In other words, they were written while Paul was a free
man, as far as I can tell. He does not mention being a prisoner or being in bonds for Christ, as
he does in Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Timothy, Titus and Philemon. So you have an
unusual thing. First and Second Thessalonians in the King James Bible is put right in the middle
of what is called the prison epistles.
This gives the Bereans a problem. I am using the term “Bereans” as it is used in modern day.
There is a group known as the “Berean” Bible movement, lso known as the “Grace” movement.
Their churches are called “Bible churches These folks are saved, as far as we know. They
believe in salvation by grace. But their particular doctrine, and what they believe is this: they
believe that the Apostle Paul, in the Acts period, baptized his converts for the same reason he
circumcised his converts and kept Sabbath days. They believe that water baptism passed away
with the Acts ministry. Not only that, some of them believe (not all of them) that even the Lord's
Supper is not to be observed in this age. Not only water baptism is dropped, but also the Lord's
Supper. Some churches in the “Berean” movement, the “Bible” movement, or the “Grace”
movement (I call all three so you would recognize all three) will tell you that you are not to
observe any ordinance in this age.
One of the passages they would use is Colossians 2.
Remember that Paul’s Acts epistles are six. When Paul is ministering in the book of Acts, going
to the Jew first to get a remnant out of Israel who will be saved by grace, Paul writes six letters.
Those letters are: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, and 2
Thessalonians. Then when Paul goes into prison, he writes seven epistles. In prison, he writes
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. He writes six in his
Acts ministry, and seven in his prison ministry.
These folks go to the prison epistles. Going over to the prison epistles, they try to show you that
Paul did things in a different fashion from that in the Acts ministry. To a certain degree, that is
true, but these folks take it to an extreme, I believe.
One way they teach that there are no ordinances to be observed today is by teaching
Colossians 2:13,14 as being a command neither to baptize, nor to observe the Lord's Supper. If
you ever talked to a Berean, or the Grace movement, or the Bible movement, this is what they
believe.
Colossians 2:13 (KJV) ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to
us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
They will say, “Look, why do you observe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper?” In Colossians
2:14, it says that the Lord blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us. They
say, “Why do you observe the Lord's supper? Why do you baptize with water, since the Lord
blotted out the handwriting of ordinances according to Colossians 2:14? Why do you do that
which the Lord has blotted out?”
There is more than one kind of “ordinance” in the Word of God. First answer. Notice in
Colossians 2:14. The Lord blotted out “the handwriting of ordinances that was against us.”
Water baptism, after a person is saved, has never been against us. Observing the Lord's
Supper, after a person is saved, has never been “against us” are “contrary to” the gospel of
God's grace. These folks say, “It is against grace, and it is contrary to grace.” I do not find
anything in the Word of God where the Apostle Paul ever said that water baptism was contrary
to us and against us at any time, or that the Lord's Supper was contrary to us or against us at
any time. I do find him saying that the observance of certain feast days and holidays are against
us and contrary to us. I do find him saying in the prison epistles, that when you command to
abstain from certain meats, then that is against us. I do find him saying that when men
command others to observe the law, I find that contrary and against us. But as I look at Paul in
the book of Acts, and he teaches that men are saved by grace and kept by grace, he baptizes
and he also observes the Lord's Supper.
He circumcises his disciples, because circumcision is associated with Israel throughout the Old
Testament. He observes Sabbath days in the synagogue, not because he is under the Law, not
because he feels obligated to keep a holy day, but he does it to reach a Jew.
In fact, in the book of Romans, he says,
Romans 14:5 (KJV) One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every
day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
During the Acts Period, a man could keep it or not keep it. But after that period, he was not to
observe.
Colossians 2:16 (KJV) ¶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect
of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
You say, “Well, now water baptism was associated with Israel.” Water baptism was only
associated with Israel beginning with John the Baptist. The Lord has done an amazing thing in
the King James Bible. That is, He has kept baptism away from Israel, all the way from Abraham,
all the way in Exodus, all the way through Malachi. Until you get up to the John “the Baptist,”
you have no baptism mentioned in the King James Bible. Now God did that on purpose. And
even when you have a Greek word in the book of Hebrews, that generally is translated
“baptism,” even when you have that Greek word, God led those men to translate that word,
“washings.”
That gives the Bereans a problem. Anytime you talk to a Berean, he takes Colossians 2 and try
to convince you that water baptism is contrary and against the Age of Grace. He will also go to
the book of Hebrews and try to prove to you that Israel had diverse baptisms. Whenever the
Word of God says “diverse washings,” it does not say “baptisms.” The only way you can find
“baptism” or a “Baptist” is when you begin to get to Matthew 3.
Baptism is not just exclusively for Israel and to Israel. Paul never baptized “for the remission of
sins.” This water baptism, performed by man, pertaining to Israel, it is always for the remission
of sins. John baptized with the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Peter baptized
for the remission of sins. The apostle Paul, when he preached and baptized, he never said that
baptism was associated with the remission of sin. He always said it was the blood of Jesus
Christ; He shed his blood for the remission of sins.
Whenever I look at baptism, this ordinance is not against us. This is not contrary to us. Also,
another strange doctrine of the Bereans is the matter of the Lord's Supper being contrary to us.
Whenever I say things about these men, I am sure that some of them will probably get mad at
me. I was getting tapes from one man. He stopped sending me his tapes. I do not know why he
would stop. I hope he was not mad at me for some reason. It was strange he stopped after I
have put out an article in the Florida Fundamentalist on the “One Baptism of Water Dogs and
Dry Bones.” I suppose since I called them “dry bones,” in order to get folks’ attention to the
article, I suppose some of them got mad at me.
I am saying this. I believe that the folks in the Berean movement, just because they disagree
with me on baptism, that does not mean that they are unsaved people. Cornelius Stam is a man
who switched out the Berean spotlight. He is a Berean, and he denies water baptism is for this
age. I believe Brother Stam is a saved man. I believe he loves God. I believe he really wants to
serve the Lord. I believe the others are, but I disagree with him on the matter.
It is just like the Bible issue. I believe that there are professors at Tennessee Temple Schools
that are saved men. In fact, as far as I know, all of them are saved men. I believe teachers of
Bob Jones University, as far as I know, all of them are saved man. I do not believe Dr. Bob
Jones Jr. and Dr. Bob Jones III would have men teaching in the school if they thought there is a
question of their salvation. I believe they are men that are saved. At Lynchburg, the same way.
Hyles-Anderson, the same way. But now I disagree with them on the Bible issue. So whenever I
disagree with them, that does not mean I throw out everything they have done and all that they
are doing.
Listen. If I had been around Billy Sunday, there have been probably some things I disagree with
him. That is my right to do so. God called me to be a “disagree”. He did? He said, “Rebuke,
reprove, with all authority.” That does not mean anybody is exempt. God did not tell me that
anybody was exempt. When men get up and preach, they can do the same to me. Help
yourself.
,
So whenever I say these things, that does not mean that everything the Bereans are doing is
bad. A great majority of what they are doing is good. Thank God for them. That is one of the
problems that a young Christian will have, or a young preacher will have.
I am talking about young preachers now. Since I have passed the 20-year mark, since I have
been called a preacher for over 20 years now, I think I can start kind of giving advice. I say this.
One of my problems was throwing out the baby with the dishwasher; throwing away some good
things, and throwing them out altogether. The Lord did not tell us to do that. The Lord says we
are to judge.
1 Corinthians 2:15 (KJV) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is
judged of no man.
Some things are good. Some things are bad. I believe there are some things that Billy Graham
says that are good. I believe are some things he says that are not so good. I believe there are
some things he says that he ought not to say. One of the problems immaturity or inexperience is
this is learning how to judge between the things, get the good, and call the bad out.
There are some things that you do not want to be associated with men, even though they are
saved man. Although I agree with the majority of things the Bereans are doing, I would not want
to be identified as a “Berean.” Bro. Herb Evans several months ago tried to identify me as a
“hyperdispensationalist.” He just swore up and down that I was of the Berean crowd, while all
the time I knew I was not. I never said I was. He just heard some things that were a little more
dispensational than he was, and boy, he went off the deep end. He put out articles about me
with all those men. I wonder what in the world I do deserve this. All I did was just preach to a
King James meeting. Of course, I could not resist hitting on the local church only crowd. Bro.
Evans was in that crowd. I knew he was, after I had heard him speak. I did it deliberately on
purpose. I mean, it was premeditated preaching. I knew what I was doing, and I did it on
purpose. It rang his bell. He did not forget it, and still he has not. You will probably read some
articles again somewhere.
A man said to me one time, “I don’t believe you ought to observe baptism, and I don't believe
you ought to observe the Lord's Supper.” I took 1 Corinthians 11. He said, “That was written
during the Acts period.” I said, “Wait a minute. Let us see what was said during the Acts period.”
The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:2:
1 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV) Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things,
and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
I teach we are to observe baptism and the Lord’s Supper as Paul delivered them; not as John
the Baptist practiced it, not as Peter practiced it, and not even as the Lord Jesus practiced it in
His earthly ministry: for the Lord Jesus did have his disciples baptize, and they baptized for the
remission of sins. I recognize that Paul is following Christ from heaven. In that, Stam and others
are correct. They see that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and from his position as
“Head” of the “Body of Christ,” He gave to Paul the revelation of the doctrines of this age. They
are correct to see that the Acts Period is different from the Prison Ministry and the rest of the
Church Age. What they do not see or cannot see (or they will not see) is 1 Corinthians 11:26.
Paul gave these words of the Lord Jesus, the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:26 (KJV) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do
shew the Lord's death till he come.
To me, we are to observe the Lord's Supper “till He come.” He did not say, “Till the end of the
Acts Period.” We “show the Lord’s death till He come.” What has happened today is that the
church has all the pictures and films and everything else, and we have put aside God's pictures.
God's pictures are water baptism and the Lord's Supper. Just because men have misused and
abused them is no reason not to observe them.
Now, something else about this group. That is that there are some of them who hold …
By the way, some of the men the past. Bullinger. A man by the name of Bullinger from Englan.
A brilliant man, as far as intelligence goes, I am sure that I could not even come close to his
intelligence. Bullinger has a tremendous mind; but even a man of tremendous mind can miss
simple spiritual truths. Intellect is never again to your spirituality. In fact, it makes it much more
suspect. Anytime you get a hold of an intellectual person, somebody can remember things and
give you facts and figures, his spirituality is always suspect. He has read too much. He has seen
too much. He has come in contact with too much of the world for it not to affect him. Bullinger, a
tremendous man.
Another man by the name of Charles Welch.
These men majored on showing Paul's Acts Ministry and Prison Ministry, and the differences.
But they wound up fouled up in some areas. Bullinger taught soul sleep. As I understand his
teaching, he taught that whenever a person died, they were not conscious. They were asleep.
So he took a figure to determine the Bible, and just pushed it right on to the literal, and said they
are actually soul sleeping. I do not believe that for a minute. The reason I do not believe it is
because of 1 Thessalonians 4. The reason I do not believe it is because of Philippians 3.
Philippians 1:23 (KJV) …to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
I do not believe Christ is asleep.
I heard not long ago, one of these men make a reference to a saint who had died, and most
people sitting there would not even catch the thing, but I know what he was saying. He was
saying, “I believe she is asleep.” I thought he would say that. Whenever a believer dies in this
age, they are not asleep. They go to be with the Lord Jesus Christ. Their body sleeps; they go
to be with the Lord, and they will come back with Jesus, whenever He comes back to raise
those dead bodies out of the grave. 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us that.
What is God doing in the King James Bible? Here is what God did. Some of those in this crowd
believe that there is a “high calling” of God. If you do not know it, you are in the “low calling.”
The low calling is the 1 Thessalonians 4 rapture. Some of them teach it is going to occur in the
Tribulation period. They say that if you know the “body mystery” truth, then you have the high
calling of God, and you will go out before the others go. The others that do not know Paul's
ministry will go into the Tribulation period, at least a portion of it, and then they will experience
the 1 Thessalonians 4 Rapture. To get to all that foolishness, you got to go through a lot of
foolishness.
God did something in a King James Bible. Do you know what? I believe He put it there. I believe
it is a trap to catch rats. Just like God put that “compass” in the book of Acts (28:13), so we
catch a rat, Joe Smith. It caught him too, man. Nailed him. Joe Smith thought it was an
instrument. It was a way of travel any place in the Word of God. So that rat trap got him.
Do you know what God did to the Bereans, Bullinger, and others? God set a rat trap. 1 and 2
Thessalonians are stuck right in the middle of the Prison Epistles. In other words, the Berean
cannot believe the King James Bible is in the right order. I believe it is in the right order,
because the rapture of the church (I don't care what you know.), if you are saved child of God,
when God catches the Body of Christ out, you are going ready or not, knowing things or not.
Every saved child of God goes – Baptist, Methodist, Berean, whatever. Knowing it all, not
knowing it; doing it, not doing it; if they are a saved child God, they are going out. God is not
going to split the body up. There are not two bodies. There is one. So God put 1 Thessalonians
right in the prison epistles. Every chapter in 1 Thessalonians emphasizes that catching out of
the saints.
Look with me quickly now in 1 Thessalonians. In our next study, I am going to go to Acts 17 and
show you Paul's experience there in Thessalonica when he goes through his second missionary
journey. This church is a result of that missionary journey.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 (KJV) For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we
had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait …
They serve, and they wait. They are not just waiting, and they are not just serving. They are
serving, and they are waiting. In the first century, those believers were waiting for his Son from
heaven. They were waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ come back from heaven. While they were
waiting, they were serving. They were working. They were busy. Why? Because they did not
know when He was coming, but He could come at any moment.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 (KJV) …and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and
true God;
10 And to wait …
If there is something wrong with waiting on the Lord, if that meant that the Lord could not come,
then Paul would not have commended them for doing that in the first century. I believe that if we
serve and wait now, we can expect the Lord to come at any moment; but we are also to work,
and we are also to serve. He may not; but then again, He may. Both of them are true. I do not
think I am to stop pastoring. I do not think I am to stop teaching or think I am to slow my ministry
down. I think I am to serve. I am going to be busy. At the same time, keep in mind that God
could come back at any moment. I wish He would. I wish He would come back before I make
another sentence. I wish He would. There will be no more of my problems. There will be no
more of my troubles.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 (KJV) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not
even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
The apostle Paul is going to present the Body of Christ to the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul
presents the body of Christ, Paul will receive a reward according to his labor. His work will be
tried, just as everybody else. Paul had a tremendous responsibility. That responsibility was to
dispense the grace of God to the Gentiles that they might be save. He was to tell what Jesus
Christ had accomplished and had done. The Apostle Paul will present the Body of Christ, his
“work,” at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 (KJV) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? …
That tells me something. Those that I have had a part in their salvation in the sense of getting
the gospel to them, in witnessing and praying for him, then that will be my hope, that will be my
joy, and that will be my rejoicing at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Just as Paul was rejoicing with
believers, so ours will be.
I challenge you at the beginning of the beginning of this year, to be a church member that
produce fruit, and that you would be instrumental in being used of God to bring somebody to
salvation, or some saved person that got out of the will of God, not coming to church. You would
be instrumental in encouraging them and getting them in church and see them sitting there with
you. I will tell you this. It will not just be seeing them in this church this year, but it will be seeing
them standing at the Judgment Seat of Christ, when you stand there.
Now listen. You look at yourself. You look at what value you have. What kind of fruit do you?
Really lasting fruit? Listen. What one soul be worth more than the world? Would it be worth
more than all that you have done? Win one soul.
You Christian school teachers tell me something. Which is better? To teach Math every day, in
the proper way, and have prayer and never cuss, and never say anything wrong no matter
what? Which is better? To do that every day for 40 years, or to have one person standing at the
Judgment Seat of Christ, and that person is there because you witnessed to him and gave him
a gospel of Jesus Christ? I will tell you which one is. There is nothing wrong with teaching Math,
but it is far better to win one soul to Jesus Christ and have a whole life of honesty and hard
work.
Mark 8:36 (KJV) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul?
If you gain everything in this world, but you lose your own soul, you lost your most valuable
possession. I know that for me to gain the whole world and not witness to anybody or have any
part in their salvation, I know I have missed the greatest thing.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 (KJV) … Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ
at his coming?
Whoever you had a partner in their salvation and in their spiritual growth (I believe that is true
also.), they will stand with you at the Judgment Seat of Christ. That will be part of your work.
Sunday school teacher, you can study your lessons. You can keep the discipline right in your
class on Sunday. But if you are not a soulwinner, then you have missed the greatest thing.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 (KJV) To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in
holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his
saints.
Those saints who come or those who have died. He comes back with the saints. That has to do
with holiness. Just living right. Living right.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV) ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray
God your whole spirit and soul and body …
Man is three parts: spirit, soul, and body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 …be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Chapter 1 – Serving
Chapter 2 – Rejoicing
Chapter 3 – Holiness
Chapter 4 – Comfort
Chapter 5 – Goal
You can have a filthy spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) ¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
You can have a filthy spirit and still be saved. You can get your soul in a mess. You can get
your body in a mess too. Your body will be preserved blameless. What are you doing to your
body? Child of God, oh, do not be close to the liquor bottle. A child of God ought not participate
in what the world participates in. The body of the child of God ought to be different.
10 | O p e n B i b l e C o l l e g e I n t e r n a t i o n a l
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV) ¶ … I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless …
There is our goal “unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our goal is to be preserved
blameless in our spirit, our soul, and our body; so that there can be no blame at the Judgment
Seat of Christ.
There is a sense in which you are unblameable, and that is, you are saved and you are going to
heaven. But one day, in heaven, you will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, I will stand the
Judgment Seat of Christ, and the things we have done in this body will be judged, whether they
be good or bad. Every man, every woman, every young person will receive reward according to
his own labor, according to his own work.
1 Thessalonians emphasizes the Rapture of the Body of Christ, when we are caught out and we
meet him in the air.
LECTURE 2
We began our study last week, and we noted the particular placement of the book of
Thessalonians in your King James Bible.
The letters that Paul wrote during his Acts Ministry were Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and
Galatians, and also, 1 & 2 Thessalonians. However, whenever the Word of God put
Thessalonians in here, instead of Thessalonians being with Romans, Corinthians, and
Galatians, Thessalonians are being mingled into the Prison Epistles; so that you have
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Then, of course, you have
Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. That is an unusual thing. You have the other Acts Ministry
Epistles together at the beginning: Romans, Corinthians, Galatians. Then the Lord takes 1 & 2
Thessalonians, which evidently were written while Paul was a free man, and which are two of
his early epistles written during the Acts Period, and He puts them right in the middle of the
Prison Epistles. So you have Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, then 1 & 2 Thessalonians,
and then you have 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
This gives some folks some problems, because there are those who teach that Paul's Prison
Ministry is so radically different from his Acts Ministry, that some people even believe that there
are “two bodies;” and that one “body” existed during his Acts Ministry, another “body” in
existence in his Prison Ministry; one “calling” during his Acts Ministry, another “calling” during his
Prison Ministry. That gives them a problem because God has taken these books, and in the
King James Bible, in the order as you find them, you've got what is called an “Acts Ministry
Epistle” right in the middle of the “Prison Epistles”.
Of course, the order of the books in the King James Bible is put in a dispensational order. In
other words, I know that in the Word of God, Genesis to John is dealing with Law; the book of
Acts is a book of transition; Romans through Philemon, Church Age; Hebrews through
Revelation, Kingdom. You’ve got the Law running here. You got a transition book. You move to
Grace. Then you move right back in the Kingdom there. You'd have Law here. You'd have
Grace. You've got the Kingdom. The King James Bible is put in the right order. It is put in a
dispensation order, just as the events are going to occur doctrinally.
What I'm saying is this: there must not be that great a difference for the Thessalonians epistles
to be put right over toward the end of the Prison Epistles. In fact, as you as you look at it, I don't
believe there's any justification at all for saying that there are two “callings,” two “hopes,” and
“two bodies.” I believe there are many things Paul did in his Acts ministry that he still does in his
prison ministry. I believe many things, that he did in his prison ministry, he did in his Acts
ministry. There is no doubt about the fact the same gospel that he preached in the book of
Romans, he is still preaching in Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy and Titus, and Philemon. It
doesn't change his gospel.
Now he does change to whom he goes and given them an advantage. And he makes it very
clear those things in which he drops, he tells you he drops it, and makes it very plain, such as
we have mentioned last time (Sabbath days, circumcision, etc.).
The order of the books, from Romans through Philemon, all of those books (as far as I know) in
every group of manuscripts, remain in the same order. Now the other books don't. In different
manuscripts, they are in different order. But in all manuscripts and all groupings of manuscripts,
these books remain in the same order: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. There's no
doubt about the order which God has put these books in, and evidently preserved down through
the ages, providentially preserved by God in the proper order. They are not necessarily written
in that order, but they are in this order for a reason.
I believe these letters in the order that we have listed here are written to churches, groups of
believers in various locations. Paul writes the letter of Romans to the “saints” that are at Rome.
He writes the letters of 1 & 2 Corinthians to the “church of God which is at Corinth.” He writes
the book of Galatians to the “churches” of Galatia; the book of Ephesians, to the “saints” there at
Ephesus; Philippians, church of Philippi; Colossians, church of Colosse; and Thessalonians, to
the church at Thessalonica. Of course, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon are written to individuals.
But Romans through Thessalonians are written to churches, and they are in this order.
God writes to churches through the Apostle Paul, and then God preserves the order like this.
There is a reason for these books being in this order. The order, as I see it is this:
In the book of Romans, you have an emphasis upon justification. That is, that a man is justified
by the faith of Jesus Christ, totally apart from any work that he can do, or anyone else can do.
He is justified by faith. The Book of Romans was written to show that. That is the key theme that
runs throughout Romans – justification by the faith of Jesus Christ. Paul shows that a man is
absolutely lost. He is depraved. He is a sinner. He is wicked. His apart from God. The only way
he can be saved is by the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. A man is saved by
the faith of Jesus Christ. It is only when a man totally fully accepts Christ as his Savior, all in all,
a man is justified by faith.
The book of Romans is written to emphasize justification. That would be a natural beginning
point. You would not begin talking about sanctification to somebody that was unsaved. So, first
of all, the message to the churches is justification.
But then the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians are written to emphasize one thing to something else.
So whenever Paul writes to the church at Corinth, you will find the emphasis in those letters, if
not justification by faith, the emphasis in those letters is not on the body of Christ. The emphasis
in Romans is on the believers justified by the faith of Christ. Now, in 1 and 2 Corinthians, the
emphasis is on believer’s sanctification. He deals with particular sins, and names them, and tells
the believer what is going to happen if he does not get the things right.
So, right after justification, then the believer comes to sanctification (how to live right). He
mentions there the body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. He even brings up chapters dealing
with problems in a local church. He even tells them there in the book of Corinthians, why many
people get sick and why some die. It is because they are disobedient to the Word of God, out of
fellowship with each other, and out of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. So that
sanctification is the next doctrine you run into, as you go through just following the order here, if
this is an order of books, which God has given to the churches. If God has listed the doctrines in
order, then we ought to be able to follow and trace some kind of outline here. We can, I believe.
The book of Galatians comes and warns the believer about legalism. That is lapsing back, or
letting anyone beguile you, and get you into religious bondage. After you are justified by faith
and sanctified, then why should you go back and observe “weak and beggarly elements
whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage.” The book of Galatians is written to warn the
believer about and keep the church from legalism.
The book of Ephesians is written to emphasize the “body” (of Christ). That is that the church (not
the local church, but saved people) are members of the body of Christ. Naturally, it would begin
here. You wouldn't have a book at the very beginning of the preaching the Apostle Paul where
he emphasizes the body of Christ.
You have this here, because after the body of Christ understands justification by faith, after it
understands sanctification (which is absolutely necessary, if you're going to be anything or do
anything. You can know a lot of things; but if you don't live right, it doesn't do anything at all for
you, and it won't help anybody else. Like a man said, “What you are speaks so loudly, that I
can't hear what you say.” And so sanctification is the next thing.), and then, a warning about
legalism. The dangers that come with it. As soon as you get saved, somebody's going to come
after you. And when you really try to live for God, somebody's going to be after you. So the
warning on legalism – bondage.
Then the next thing would be to teach a believer what happened when he got into Christ. Paul
knew the doctrine of “one body” in the book of Romans. In Romans 12, he said he was a
member of that same body as the Romans. In 1 Corinthians 12, he was a member of the same
body as the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 12, that's the only place anybody can find a passage
where it tells you how you get into the body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body…” (1 Cor. 12:13) So Paul knew the “body” truth in the book of Corinthians, but he
didn't emphasize it there. It wasn't time to emphasize it. The time to emphasize it is after you
take care of more important matters – justification by faith, sanctification, legalism, and then the
teaching regarding the church, which is the body of Christ. And that's the emphasis in the book
of Ephesians. Paul likens the church to a blueprint, to a building. He likens it to a battalion. He
likens it to a bride over there in the book of Ephesians. All those are figures that he used to try
to teach the church as the body of Christ.
All right, then the book of Philippians. The book of Philippians is written to emphasize unity in
one body. That’s the emphasis throughout the book of Philippians. As he goes through there, he
doesn't have any great immoral matters with the Philippians he has to cover. Instead, he
emphasized the fact that they are in fellowship, and he mentions “fellowship in the Gospel,
fellowship, fellowship, fellowship, fellowship,” and he emphasizes “unity”. So, after you learn
about the body of Christ, and you know that you are in the body of Christ, then you got to
understand that there needs to be unity in that body. And you must strive together for unity in
the body of Christ. Try to make unity and keep it together. The Lord now positionally has us
one, but practically down here on this earth, we need to carry that thing out.
The book of Colossians, then is written to emphasize the Head of the body, and that is the Lord
Jesus Christ; and to emphasize the fact that he is the Head and the things that He's done for us,
the things that He has finished. You are complete in Him, Who is the Head. That is the
emphasis that he gives in Colossians 2, and all throughout the book.
What's left for the church? Well, I'll tell you what's left. There's a reason why God put 1 & 2
Thessalonians where He put them, because this order is more important than any other order. 1
& 2 Thessalonians are put in there, to give the church the doctrine regarding the coming of
Jesus Christ.
Now, since 1 Thessalonians deals with the Rapture, and 2 Thessalonians deals with the coming
of Christ back to the earth, this doesn't mean that there are going to be some people in the body
of Christ that is going to be here to take 2 Thessalonians doctrinally. The believer needs to
know these things, and so 2 Thessalonians is written to show how we relate to the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ back to this earth. It is very plain, as you look at 2 Thessalonians 2, if
you don't change the King James Bible, we go out first. And then the “man of sin” shows up, and
then all these other things happen.
So, the purpose of writing and giving 2 Thessalonians to the church and emphasizing the
Second Coming of Christ is to comfort us that we have been delivered from the wrath that is to
come, and to show us how we will not be in the Tribulation Period, how the coming of Christ is
going to affect the enemies of the gospel, who reject the gospel we preach today.
But when you come to 1 Thessalonians (which is what we're studying), that emphasis is own
comfort to the church. And not only comfort, but also, you're going to find a warning about your
faith, how faithful you are. In other words, every chapter in 1 Thessalonians ends with a
reference to Christ catching us out. We're going to meet him there. Every one of the chapters
ends with a reference to the Rapture. (I gave you some of those basic things last week. We are
not going to go over all those again, and but as we go to the chapters, we will cover them. But
every chapter ends with an emphasis upon the Rapture.)
So, what am I supposed to do in the light of the Rapture. I will tell you what I'm supposed to do.
Turn to 1 Thessalonians. As you would expect, you are not going to have deep doctrinal matters
discussed and practical things omitted. He is going to teach and state the doctrine of the
Rapture, and make it very plain and clear; but at the same time, there's going to be an emphasis
on practical living. And I'll tell you what, if the Lord were to come tonight, I believe this. I believe
more important than anything would be this: what you've done with what you got. In other
words, how am I living practically in the light of what I've got doctrinally. If you're not living right,
practically (and I mean, walking right with each other, and walking right with the Lord), if you're
not walking right practically, it makes no difference what great doctrines you know. At the
judgment seat of Christ it will not going to help you a bit. You're going to be ashamed when you
meet the Lord in the air, ecause you might know some things that are not going to help to
impress Him. And giving Him any Bible verses is not going to impress Him, for you to explain to
Him what you understand, and what you know about the Bible. The thing that's going to be
brought up at the judgment seat of Christ is every man's “work”, and not every man's “teaching”,
or every man's “doctrine”. It's his “work”. What are you doing with what you got?
So Paul's going to emphasize practical things in the book of 1 Thessalonians. The more I read
this book, I've been reading it over again as I'm preparing for the messages each week, as I
went through it this time, it is just like the Lord just stuck it out right there – the emphasis upon
our faith; not the “faith of Jesus Christ”, but how faithful we are. And the fact that if you have
faith, your faith must always have works with it. Do you have faith? Now, I'm not talking about
the faith of Jesus Christ. I'm saying this. I'm saying, if you say, “My brother, I've got faith in God,”
well, then, if you've got “faith in God”, you're talking about “your faith” and “your faithfulness”,
then you're talking about “works”. “Faith without works is dead.” Now that's true at any time. I'm
not referring to the faith of Jesus Christ. I am saved by the faith of Jesus Christ. But when you
start talking about the personal faith of Dave Reese, if I have strong faith, then there will be
works following. If I have weak faith, then there will be weak works following, or no works at all.
In other words, faith works. And when you're talking about personal faith, you're talking about
practical living.
Notice in 1 Thessalonians 1:8.
1 Thessalonians 1:8 (KJV) For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad;
so that we need not to speak any thing.
“Your faith to God-ward is spread abroad.” How do they spread their faith to God abroad? How
are they doing that? Well, because from them “sounded out the word of the Lord not only a
Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place.” He said, “in every play your faith to God-ward is
spread abroad; so that we need not speak anything.” He didn't have to give them a
commendation. He didn't have to give them a recommendation. He didn't have to send a letter
to anybody. Everybody knew of their faith. Why? Because folks knew that they are getting the
Word of God out.
In other words, when you talk about a person's faith, his personal faith, you see something with
it. If he didn’t got it, he got no works. And if he hadn’t gotten any works, then he didn’t got any
faith. That is just flat out right all there is to it. Somebody sits back and they sit at home, and
don't come to church, and claim that they've got faith. Why, they're full of baloney. Somebody
says, “Well, I've got faith, and I believe I just got faith in God's plan. Giving – I just bring that,”
and they don't ever give anything. They ain't got any faith in giving. Somebody says, “I believe
God wants us to get the gospel out. My faith is strong in that,” but if they don't ever get the
gospel out, they didn’t got any faith. Then he's got a lot of hot air.
“Faith without works is dead.” In James 2, that's what James is dealing with. He's dealing with
personal works. He's dealing with a man's works, and any man that doesn't have works with his
faith, he ain’t got no faith. He's got a dead faith.
So whenever Paul talks about these Thessalonians here, you know, the most important thing
just before the rapture of the church is how faithful you are. You are going to be found not
ashamed at His coming. It is a matter of doing right.
Look, please at 1 Thessalonians 2:19.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 (KJV) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? …
What is Paul’s joy? Is it that he can quote passages from the Old Testament? Is it that he can
teach the great doctrines of justification or sanctification are legalism, or teach about the body or
the its origin? No, Siree. What's his hope of rejoicing? I'll tell you what it is. It's his personal faith.
The fact that he's been faithful and getting the word of God out, and here are some people that
are going to stand with him at the judgment seat of Christ. People he has led to the Lord.
People that are fruit of his ministry.
at his coming?
Now, I realize this has caused some people to go off and get unbalanced. So, that you have
folks that all they talk about is soulwinning, and never study their Bible. But on the other hand,
you have folks who get unbalanced the other way. You got folks that all they do is talk about
studying the Bible, and don't ever live for God. You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically
and be just as empty as you can be. You ought not only be straight, but you ought to have
something to shoot, and shoot it.
at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
You will never find Paul saying that at the rapture, when he meets the Lord in the air, that his
glory and joy is going to be that he knows these great doctrines. Brother Paul is fearful, that
knowing what he knows, he doesn't do anything with it. That's what he's concerned with. He
says, “I've laid the foundation, and any man that builds on it, let him take heed how he builds.”
How he builds is what's going to be tried at the judgment seat of Christ – not what he knows, but
how he builds. And of course, what you know will affect sometimes, and it does affect, how you
build. The more you know, the more responsible you are to God.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 (KJV) And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our
fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning
your faith:
At the end of the verse, “to comfort you concerning your faith.” Their faith is to be comforted,
and their afflictions (v.3).
1 Thessalonians 3:5 (KJV) For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know
your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
So notice the tempter can tempt you and your faith be affected. It never affects the faith of
Jesus Christ. It never affects your salvation. Your salvation resides in the faith of Christ, not in
your personal faith. But here, Paul said, “I sent to know your faith.”
1 Thessalonians 3:6 (KJV) ¶ But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and
brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of
us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
Well, how did Timothy know about their faith? He didn't go up to them and say, “Now I want you
to recite to me the doctrines of justification and sanctification and adoption.” Do you know what
Timothy did? He went to see how they were acting, what they were doing, for Paul said, “He
brought us good tidings of your faith.”
1 Thessalonians 3:7 (KJV) Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our
affliction and distress by your faith:
Paul had affliction and distress, and he was comforted by somebody else living for God in the
midst of affliction, and showing it.
1 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV) Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your
face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Paul said, “I want to come and have a ministry, and perfect anything that's lacking in your faith.”
In other words, others, coming and teaching and preaching and encouraging, can perfect that
which is lacking in our faith. You see, you're talking about works. You're talking about works by
others. You're talking about work by yourself. All of this as you go through here, the emphasis is
upon personal work – what you do.
CHAPTER ONE
1 Thessalonians 1:1 (KJV) ¶ Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the
Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto
you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Books of 1 & 2 Thessalonians are the only letters Paul writes where he says, “Unto the church
of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.” He emphasized
emphasize the fact that they are in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. And the other
letters, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and so on, he
emphasized that they're in Christ, (all the saints which are in Christ Jesus), but not mention that
they are also in God the Father.
Now, does that mean that the other churches were not in God the Father, and only the
Thessalonians were? I suppose somebody come up with a wild doctrine like that. But I'd rather
believe this, I'd rather believe that in light of the second coming of Christ, and him dealing with
the personal faith, the strong, practical, daily walk he deals with, I'd rather think that what Paul is
doing here, by the inspiration of Spirit of God, he's emphasizing the fact that there is a double
security to the believer. Remember Lord Jesus Christ back when he told his disciples said that
they were in His hand, and in the Father's hand. It’s like a double assurance. And I believe this, I
believe, every saved child of God is in the Lord Jesus Christ. But I believe also this, you're also
in the Father. For anybody to get you out of Christ, they have to get you out of the Father.
They’d have to release the power of the Spirit of God upon you and then rip you out of Jesus
Christ, too. So I believe what Paul is doing here with the Thessalonians is that he is reminding
them of the fact that they're in the Godhead. The Spirit of God is in them. They've been sealed
by the Spirit of God. Their body is the temple of God. the Holy Spirit dwells within them. And
they're to possess that vessel in honor. And not only that, but they are in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And then they are, in turn, in God the Father.
In light of the rapture of the church, a part of the church is not going to be left. In light of the
second coming of Christ, none of the church will be left to go into the wrath or experience the
wrath of God. They've been delivered from the wrath to come, therefore, an emphasis upon the
security of being in Christ and in God the Father.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 (KJV) ¶ We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of
you in our prayers;
Notice we’re to pray for others, and make mention of people's names in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) Remembering without ceasing …
What does he remember? There are three things he remembers about these Thessalonians.
1. “…your work of faith,…” (1 Thess. 1:3)
Notice, “your” work of faith. You cannot separate personal faith from your work. If you're not
working, you don't have any personal faith. You may be saved but you don't have any faith. You
are faithless. Faith without works is dead. “Your work of faith.”
2. “…your labor of love,…” (1 Thess. 1:3)
There is no such thing as loving without laboring. Some folks sit back and say, “Well, I love you,”
but they never labor in anything. There is no such thing as real love without labor, a labor of
love. Just as it is written that there is no real faith without works, there is no real love without
labor.
Turn to 1 Corinthians 13. Look at this special love. The Bible says, “For God so loved the
world, that He gave…” (Jn. 3:16). You see, that's a labor – a labor of love. You cannot say, “I
love somebody,” or, “I love something,” and you don't labor in it. You say, “I love the church.” Let
me ask you. Do you labor in it? Or, do you just come sitting it? You don’t love it. You just sit.
You labor, you love it. Only those who love it, labor it.
1 Corinthians 13:1 (KJV) ¶ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and
have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be
burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
All right. Now what is this charity? Well, it's a special kind of love. Now does this charity require
labor? You better believe it does, and any man that doesn't labor in these things, does not have
it. Notice verse 4.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) ¶ Charity suffereth long, …
It puts up with things a long time.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) …and is kind; …
You got to work at being kind. It doesn't come automatically. Automatically, you’re sour. You got
to work at being kind. You got to labor at it.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) … charity envieth not; …
You very naturally envy other people. You have somebody else gets something you don't have,
you envy. You got to work at not doing it. It's a labor.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) … charity vaunteth not itself, …
Do you like to be puffed up? Do you like to be patted on the back? Do you like to be promoted?
All of us do. “No man ever yet hated his own flesh.” Charity “vaunteth not itself” though.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) … is not puffed up,
So, there is a labor that goes in this.
1 Corinthians 13:6 (KJV) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Brother, a labor of love is work. It is not just stepping back and saying, “Well, I love you.” It's a
labor in the thing. I told my wife, “I love you.” She said, “Prove it. Marry me.” She required a
labor. If I had said, “No.” She would have said, “You didn't mean it.” Do you whisper to your wife,
“I love you,” and you turn around and kick her out of the kitchen? I mean, literally kick her? Not
because you won't do the dishes, but because she didn't fix what you wanted? Do you think she
believes what you said? No. You’re a fool if you think that she does. You’re a first-class fool.
3. “…and patience of hope…” (1 Thess. 1:3)
He said, “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith.” These were things Paul knew
about the Thessalonians. He knew they had a work of faith, a labor of love, and a patience of
hope. You don't have any hope if you don't have any patience. Now, when you're hoping for
something, you don't have it yet, but you know what's coming. And so you patiently wait for it.
There is a patience in hope, just like there's a labor in love, and just like there is a work of faith.
Patience, you don't give up on it.
Do you know what these believers of Thessalonica were doing? They were waiting on Jesus
Christ from heaven. But of course, He didn't come back in one week, or two weeks, or a month,
or a few years, or thirty years. They didn't stop. They didn't lose their patience. They had a
patience of hope. Paul said, “Remembering without ceasing…your patience of hope.”
Well, I'll tell you what. The church tonight, we ought to have a patience of hope. Don’t ever lose
your patience. Don’t say, “Well, the Lord is not coming back. So I'm not gonna worry about it.”
Paul said,
1 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour
of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our
Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
Now do they have a “e’s” stamped on their heads? Did they have some particular way, or some
peculiar way they looked, that he knew that they were the elect? Did God open up the books of
heaven, and let Paul look in the books? I don't believe so. You know what Paul's talking about?
Brother, he saw some saints here at Thessalonica that were real saints. Do you know what they
were doing? Brother, they didn't just talk about faith. They did things. “Work of faith.” They didn’t
just say, “Paul, we love you, brother.” They “labored”, and they had a “patience” of hope. They
didn't set aside the Rapture. Look at verse 9:
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus,
which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Brethren, they were serving and waiting. They were laboring. They were working, and they had
patience at the same time on the Lord coming back.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 (KJV) Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
I've known some people in my lifetime, that as far as a man could know, I can't see a man's
heart, but I'll tell you what, I'd almost put my own salvation on the fact that people were saved.
I've seen some folks. Have you ever seen a godly saint? I'll tell you. You don't meet very many
of them, but there is no doubt at all about it in your mind that that person is a saved person. I
mean, no question about it. Man, you see a work of faith, you see a labor of love, and you see a
patience of hope. And Paul said,
1 Thessalonians 1:4 (KJV) Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
He knew their election because he saw something. There wasn't a fake thing. It wasn’t a “put
on” thing. It wasn’t a false smile and pretend. These folks did something.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (KJV) For our gospel came not unto you in word only, …
Of course, the gospel comes in word, but it ought not to come in word only. There are some
men that preach and never get anything done in their preaching. There are some men that
stand up and preach, and nobody ever gets saved. No Christians ever get encouraged. Nobody
ever grows in grace. Instead of a church growing and maturing, the thing just dies on the mind.
Well, that's whenever a man just stands up and preaches in word only. He stands up and just
quotes the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (KJV) For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in
power, …
A preacher has got to have power in his preaching. It is not enough just to quote the Word of
God. I realize God can take His Word and use it in spite of the instrument. But that's not enough
for the preacher. I can't say that. I'm not satisfied with that. I'm not happy with just saying, “Well,
God is going to use His Word, regardless of my condition.” I'm not happy with that. I know that
I'm to preach the Word of God in power.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (KJV) …and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; …
I know I'm going to preach the Word of God in the Holy Ghost. I know I'm to preach the Word of
God in much assurance. I know am to him to be certain manner of men among those I preach,
to those I preach. The preacher not only preaches the word, but he preaches in power. He
preaches in the Holy Ghost. He preaches in much assurance. You can't preach anything if you
don't know it. Unless you're assured of it yourself, you'll never convince anybody. You can't
preach what somebody else's convictions are. That's why a man has got to get in the Word of
God, know that book himself and preach what he knows, preach what he has assurance on,
leave everything else alone.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (KJV) … as ye know what manner of men we were among you for
your sake.
Paul said, “I have behaved myself a certain way for your sake. Not for my sake, but for your
sake.” A preacher has got to do all those things. And whenever he does, he’ll have some fruit.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV) ¶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having
received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
And of course, you know why he put himself first there? Because he's the Lord's direct
“mediator” down here upon this earth. The apostle Paul is between Jesus Christ and the
Gentiles. In order for the Gentiles to please God, they've got to follow the Apostle Paul. The
Lord Jesus Christ saved Paul, called him, gave him the doctrines of God's grace for this age.
And if any Gentile is going to learn what God wants him to do, he's got to listen to Paul. He's got
to follow the Apostle Paul in Romans through Philemon. So Paul said, “Ye became followers of
us,” not because he's more important than the Lord, but because he's God's spokesman. And of
course, in turn, they became “of the Lord,” because they were following the commandments of
the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven.
(1) So first of all, they were followers. (2) Secondly, they received the word.
I'll tell you what, some people seems like they're following, but then they never received the
Word of God. They receive other things, but they never received the word. Do you know how
long I've been preaching in this church? I've been preaching in this church seven years. I
wonder if folks that have been here have got anything from the Word of God. Now if you hadn't,
let's just face it. There is something wrong with me or you. If you hadn’t learned the Bible, and it
hasn't made a change in your life, and you haven't matured, something is wrong some place.
Something's wrong with me, or something is wrong with you. Now who is it? Would you think
that if it was the preaching that other people would be growing and maturing and getting saved,
and you would be left aside? Are you foolish enough to think that the preacher has been at fault
all those times? Oh, man, I realize I'm the first one to admit. You talk about some sorry
sermons. There is no false humility about saying this. I mean, I hate to hear myself preach, and I
am amazed that God does anything.
Let me ask you something. First of all, I don't know who in the world have stayed here seven
years and didn’t get anything. But if you haven’t got anything and others have, who do you think
had the problem? The preacher, or you? Now, I go into some meetings and preach in places
and folks get a blessing. People get saved. And then one or two hair brains take issue with a
meeting and criticize and find fault. Who do you think has got the problem? The hair brains, or
the preacher? Others got a blessing. That is one of the most vivid illustrations of the thing. Bro.
Howard knows what I'm talking about.
I was up in a church up yonder. They didn't have a pastor. Their preacher died, and I was there
preaching. After I preached the message, the deacon said to the church, “I make a motion that
we approve Bro. Reese to baptize a convert.” Bro. Howard’s brother was one of those who want
to get baptized that night. It was unanimous. The church unanimously approved me to baptize.
After I baptized, men came around. A man said, “Well, you made up our mind.” I said, “What did
I do?” He said, “You're either a heretic or a lunatic.” He was a teacher in the Christian school in
that church, and he's a member of that church; and he sat there when the church voted for me
to baptize, and didn't voice any opposition whatsoever, and then comes up there and says I'm a
lunatic and a heretic. Do you know what the man said? He said, “I'm know more than this whole
church knows. I know more than everybody else in this church knows. I know that you are
heretic and lunatic. This church was wrong when they approved you to baptize folks.” Do you
think that I was a heretic and a lunatic when the church approved me to baptize them in water?
You see, something is wrong whenever you miss it. If you don’t get it, something is wrong. So,
some people sit and I hear preaching, but they never received a word. There's a difference.
They are just sitting in here.
Notice, but the unusual thing about this is that these folks received the word in affliction. Not just
affliction, but in much affliction. Some people, whenever they were afflicted, never receive the
Word of God. They are too busy licking their wounds to look at the Book. And not only that they
had much affliction, but at the same time they had joy. Brother, I tell you, you would have grown
strong when you're afflicted and can still be joyful. Every child of God ought to try to be like that.
You ought to be where you can receive the Word of God when you are being afflicted. And
while you're being afflicted, brother, have joy in your soul…
Joy of the Holy Ghost. Brother, it’s yours. Received the Word of God. Do you know what the
order is here? Of course, being saved, and being followers, receiving the Word of God, and then
much affliction, and then joy, and have joy, and have joy, and have joy.
1 Thessalonians 1:7 (KJV) So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and
Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but
also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak
any thing.
Verse 8 is their faith. He was talking about their work of faith. Verse 9 is their labor of love.
I didn't just turn from idols to nothing. They turn “to God”, the purpose of what they were doing.
They turn to a Person. They turn to God from idols. They didn't turn from idols to the church.
They didn’t turned from idols to water baptism. They didn’t turn from idols to religion. They didn’t
turn from idols to a new profession. They turned to God from idols. Now did they just turned and
sit there and look at God and settle on the church pew all their life? No, siree. They turn to God
from idols to serve, “to serve the living and true God” and “to wait” (v.10). Serve and wait.
In verse 10 is their patience of hope.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (KJV) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from
the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Children do sweet things sometimes. Our little girl, I don't know where she got it, she turned her
eyes and sent a kiss toward heaven and said, “I love you, God.” She asked, “Do you think my
kiss went all the way up to Heaven to God?” I said, “I believe it did.” “Out of the mouths of
babes”
Psalm 2:12 (KJV) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his
wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
They turn to just to God from idols. They didn't just turn to God, just as if it is an impersonal
thing. They turned and they loved God. There's a labor of love. They turn to serve Him. And
they waited. They had a patience of hope. And Paul said, “Brethren, because of those three
things, I know your election of God.”
I would to God that I can have that kind of testimony. I would to God that when someone
thought about me, wrote about me, talked about me, or thought about me, that that's the kind of
testimony I'd have. Wouldn't that be something if somebody would say, “You know what? I know
you are God’s elect.”
You can see their work of faith. You can see their labor of love. You can see their patience of
hope at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a tremendous testimony!
LECTURE 3
LECTURE 4
LECTURE 5
LECTURE 6
LECTURE 7
LECTURE 8
LECTURE 9
LECTURE 10
LECTURE 11
LECTURE 12
LECTURE 13
LECTURE 14
LECTURE 15
LECTURE 16
LECTURE 17
LECTURE 18

Open Bible College Course on Second Coming

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Transcribed from Audio Lectures by Dr. Dave Reese

One of the passages they would use is Colossians 2.

In fact, in the book of Romans, he says,

Another man by the name of Charles Welch.

I do not believe Christ is asleep.

Man is three parts: spirit, soul, and body.

You can have a filthy spirit.

Notice in 1 Thessalonians 1:8.

Look, please at 1 Thessalonians 2:19.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) Remembering without ceasing …

1. “…your work of faith,…” (1 Thess. 1:3)

2. “…your labor of love,…” (1 Thess. 1:3)

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) ¶ Charity suffereth long, …

It puts up with things a long time.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) …and is kind; …

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) … charity envieth not; …

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) … charity vaunteth not itself, …

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) … is not puffed up,

So, there is a labor that goes in this.

3. “…and patience of hope…” (1 Thess. 1:3)

1 Thessalonians 1:4 (KJV) Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:4 (KJV) Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

In verse 10 is their patience of hope.

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