••• 'Whenever it is that they are saying: “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them'. . . •••
(1 Thessalonians 5:3)
(Written: December, 2022)

What could that scripture mean? Who do you think that scripture is referring to as being the individuals who are saying "peace and security"? Why are they being destroyed? Are we safe? Are YOU safe, or, "do you live in the dark"? Lots of very religious people have tried to focus the world's attention on this "sudden destruction" Bible verse. I have heard several among the varied religious sects use it to warn looming destruction is about to fall on everyone; except their own group, of course. Are the Religionists who are using that verse, as they imagine themselves "working for God" to convey that Bible warning to me and to you, are they safe themselves? I don't think the scripture means what most religious people think and assert it does... Paul was here writing his Christian brothers and sisters in Thessalonica. Let's try to understand what Paul really meant by first considering the above verse in Context:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 GW (1) Brothers and sisters, you don't need anyone to write to you about times and dates. (2) You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (3) When people say, "Everything is safe and sound (there is peace and security)!" destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won't be able to escape. (4) But, brothers and sisters, you don't live in the dark. That day won't take you by surprise as a thief would. (5) You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark. (6) Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober. (7) People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night. (8) Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (9) It was not God's intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (10) He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him. (11) Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing. •

Paul said those doing the works of God (by building faith in Christ), (John 6:28-29) then, are not among those who will experience "sudden destruction." Jesus reaffirmed that when he said his "followers" should "lift up their heads" when they recognize the tribulation of the lords day: Luke 21:25-28 "Also, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation, [cp. Isaiah 34:4; Joel 2:10; Joel 2:31] 26 while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud [hidden from those not recognizing the return of Christ is now being revealed in the Gospels] with power and great glory. [Dan 7:13-14] 28 But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift YOUR heads up, because YOUR deliverance is getting near." • What "ends" the tribulation in the "Lord's Day," is actually the war of God. (Rev 19:11-19; Rev 16:14-16) The "end" of this old system, including the end of the tribulation, is Armageddon as it brings relief to all those called to Christ by God. Please note: Being called to Christ by God's spirit is a very big deal. (John 6:44; John 6:65) Those individuals are "born again" by holy spirit. (John 3:1-8) They become a "new Creation" having waters of life within themselves. (2 Cor 5:16-21) That transformation comes from eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ. (John 6:45-59 and 66-68) Those illustrations confuse some people. Don't share their being in darkness. Simply listen to Christ! Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

So, then, it is those who are not called to Christ by our Father (John 17) who will undergo the "sudden destruction" Paul warned about. Why or how, though, are they saying there is "peace and security"? I had always imagined it was the godless governments of this world who would be claiming they have achieved peace and security. While that may be part of it; I don't think that is primarily what 1 Thes 5:3 means anymore... (What I am saying will seem foolishness to those not called by God, because they can't make sense of [have faith in] these Bible verses: John 6:65; John 6:44; Mark 9:7. Remember, those not called by his Father could not understand Jesus either. - John 8:25 of 21-32) While many of those not being called to Christ do "assert" they are Christians, the people Paul warned would be destroyed obviously don't know Jesus or his Father at all. (Pro 30:4; Luke 13:26-27) Many of them do use Christ's name, of course, but what they actually have is faith in some religious sect. (Mark 12:24; Mat 15:8-9) Putting faith in a group of men and their "doctrine" actually amounts to the choice "not" to take advantage of God's provision of life through personal faith in the real teachings of the Christ. (Luke 13:24-27; Mat 7:21-23) You can only get the teachings of Christ from Christ! Read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to hear and learn the words of Jesus. (John 8:31-32) Here is our point: Rather than absolute faith in the words of Christ, all Religionists believe their "chosen sect" is providing them necessary "spiritual food" and protection for life. That is how (the method by which) they are claiming they have peace and security. Put in other words, all the people about to be destroyed have faith some sect of mankind can solve the problems making up the tribulation, and/or, that the tribulation is not even happening at all... Religionists believe life will continue as it has and are not expecting or teaching others to recognize the tribulation, or to expect God's intervention by "sudden destruction" of the wicked. (2 Pet 3:3-7) So, they are failing to join Paul in warning people about the tribulation and about those people falsely saying "peace and security," and their "sudden destruction." Some of them may be sincere and mean well. (Luke 13:26-27) In trying to reassure each other (even in the face of so many problems) by telling them to just keep attending church meetings, or wherever they see to be their deliverance, it seems really just their way of saying "there is peace and security" when there is none. (Jer 6:13-14; Isa 57:20-21) In other words... It seems we are already hearing people say "peace and security" right now: They are saying if we join their political party, their religious sect, their race or gang, or whatever else they believe will help them, things will get better through our association with them. Religionists are the worst among those influencers, because they use Christ's name to spread their false hope. (Mark 13:21-23) Their hope is false because, even though they do use Jesus's name, they direct people to hope in a membership in their sect, (Mat 15:8-9) rather than simply encouraging everyone to hear God's command (Mark 9:7) to actually read the teachings of Christ as recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As for you, however, you should join Christ's family. (Mark 3:31-35)

As just one tiny part of our world wide tribulation: We had the COVID pandemic and many people showed what I consider good sense by masking up and staying away from unnecessary public meetings. While many people understandably wanted to get on with life, those protective measures did help. Most Religionists followed those guidelines by closing their churches and holding meetings remotely. Even though we are now in the midst of what they are calling the triple pandemic of COVID, Flu and RSV, and even though many people are getting all three at once, still, people are abandoning that safe lifestyle. They are tired of problems and want to try and return to normal. While that feeling is shared by us all, are those abandoning a safe lifestyle giving heed to Paul's warning about "sudden destruction"? Or, is that really their way of saying "peace and security"? The churches might be the worst offenders. Even though their claim of Christianity charges them with caring for their sheep, when the churches found out they couldn't keep the money flowing in by meeting remotely, most have called their parishioners back into the danger of public assemblies. The world thus seems to be saying there is "peace and security" by trying to return to an older "more normal" way of life. By failing to warn people about the tribulation, however, the Churches are taking personal faith in Christ out of the equation for those who are deceived to follow "them." Don't get me wrong, I do believe faith in Christ can protect you, but note this danger: I doubt faith in any religious sect or other group of people can help! Those who disregard Christ to follow religious doctrine are so very wrong! This world has so many problems, it is like a house of cards falling in on itself. People need to be warned: Only God can fix what is wrong. They also need to know He sent Christ to do exactly that. We must also understand: For God to fix all our problems, it does require He destroy all those who refuse to stop causing or adding to those problems. Please understand: That is what is happening! Jesus is teaching us how to stop being bad, and we are each one judging ourselves by how we respond to his words. (John 12:48; John 3:19) Faith in the words of Christ is the ark of salvation through the tribulation consuming the world. (Mat 24:37-39; 2 Pet 3:11-13) Those not climbing into the ark are not doing so because they think there will be "peace and security," without their having to put faith in the saving grace of God through Christ. They are being killed already, in all the world's wars and violence. Soon, just as Paul said, they will all die: Christ will come from heaven with the angels to destroy the last of those crying "peace and security." (Rev 19:11-21) No faith will be required to see that. It will be sudden destruction and none of the wicked will escape. Make no mistake about this: Refusing to put faith in Christ defines you as wicked... (John 3:19 of 16-21) [I am not saying all people killed are wicked. Some people being killed may be ignorant. If the righteous die, God can resurrect them. Then again, God may be protecting all righteous people already. I just don't know. I don't need to know. I'll know when God tells me!]

If what you are seeking is popularity, this website is not for you. If you are marked by God as being disgusted by what you see happening to this world, because you are searching for Good and for the true God, this Bible truth is for you. (Eze 9:3-4 of 1-7) Faith in the words of Christ will not make you popular with the world in general. (John 15:17-22) It will, however, make you happy. (John 15:11; John 16:24) In addition, many people will appreciate you because of the words of Christ you share with them. (John 17:20-21; Heb 12:1-3) The words of Christ will set you free of death dealing religious entanglements... (John 8:31-32) See you soon then, in paradise... (Psa 37:29; Psa 37:10-11; Isa 11:1-12)

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