(a) According to Paul, what are the signs of the parousia?
(b) State three lessons relevant to Christians in Paul's explanation.
Explanation
The signs of Parousia are: (i) Paul admonished the Thessalonians not to grieve for the deceased as people without hope do. (ii) Through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. (iii) Those who are alive will not precede those who are asleep. (iv) The Lord will come with a cry of command coupled with archangel's call and the sound of the trumpet. (v) Those who died in Christ will rise first. (vi) The living will join them in the clouds to meet Jesus. (vii) Paul advised them not to be quickly shaken in mind in respect of the coming of the Lord. (vii) The Day of the Lord will not come until a rebellion led by the man of lawlessness comes to pass. (viii) He who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. (ix) Then the lawless one will be revealed by the coming of the Lord. (x) The activity of Satan will be with power, pretension, signs, wonders and deception for those who are to perish. (xii) Those who refused to love the truth and be saved, are deluded. (xiii) He who does not believe the truth but has pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
(a) Lessons relevant to Christians in Paul's explanation: (i) Christians should avoid excessive grief for their dead. (ii) Christians should prepare themselves and be alert for the second coming rather than speculating on when the Day of the Lord would come. (iii) Death is only physical, life continues after death. Jesus will surely triumph over Satan. (iv) The power of Satan is real.