Lessons

The lesson on April 11, 2021 was part 11 of the “Acts – When and Why?” study.  Wayne jumped into the lesson by providing the context of when Paul wrote Thessalonians during the Acts period showing how it fits with the last days as described in scripture reading.  Thessalonians was written during the Paul’s second missionary journey in Acts 17.  Paul was addressing the Jews first and as his manor was, going into the Synagogue to address and persuade the Jews.  Paul would reason with them out of the Old Testament scriptures that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. As we see some believed and some believed not (just like in Acts 28). When Paul is teaching in 1 Thess 4:13 he says “13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”.  What a wonderful thing it is that our faith is taught without ignorance.  We are encouraged to learn and know the scriptures so our faith is built with knowledge instead of ignorance.  It also is true that Atheists are angry because they have no hope.  As Christians, when we die in Christ, we are asleep and will awake again in the resurrection.  Acts period believers had a hope of resurrection that was taught in the Old Testament scriptures. We continue to learn that the Mystery was not revealed to Paul in the two years of his imprisonment at the close of Acts.  The evidence continues to show that when Paul was preaching the Kingdom of God all the way to Acts 28:31 that it was the continuation of what his ministry was during Acts.  In reviewing the concordance of “Kingdom of God” there are seven places that the phrase is used to continue what Paul’s message was during Acts.  The eighth occurrence is in Colossians 4:11 when is when PAul updates the message with the Mystery.  The scripture reading was from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-6 KJV

“1 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. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.”