1 Thess. 5:1-11, Day of the Lord (2)

Before we work through this passage let us step back and see the big picture.  The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night (2) to those who are unbelievers and apostate (professing believers in Christ but not, in fact, true believers; v3).  They shall not escape.  But it will not surprise us like the thief in the night because we are not in darkness but in the light (v4-5).  Therefore, let us not sleep (v6-8).  In our overview in the last post we noted that there are events that the Bible says precede the day of the Lord.  I believe Jesus referred to these in the Olivet Discourse (Mt. 24:3-14 before the mid-point of the tribulation period in 24:15).  They are also spoken of in Rev. 6 in the first series of judgments.  These are events and happenings that begin before the tribulation and continue after the rapture and the start of the seven years.  In other words, the Church will see some of these things and need to be alert and not sleeping.  We are absent when the wrath-events begin because we are not appointed to wrath (1 Th. 5:9-10).  Using good rapture terminology (4:16-17) Paul says we will be gone whether we are asleep or awake.


When Paul begins by saying concerning the times and the seasons I don’t need to write to you we believe it is important to know he is not talking about the coming of the Lord but the day of the Lord.  As we have noted already, for unbelievers the day of the Lord is unexpected.  It comes as a thief in the night and as sudden destruction it comes upon them (v2-3).  But for believers the day of the Lord is unexperienced.  God has not appointed us to wrath (v9).  Whether we wake or sleep we will live with Him (v10).  


Having said that we need to note that there are, in fact, signs that the day of the Lord is coming.  He mentions one in v3: while they are saying peace and safety.  This false sense of security should not be a problem for believers who are children of light.  We should not be caught off guard.  The critical issue is who we ARE in Christ.  Why does Paul warn us?  It is because we live in this world where people will be complacent, lulled into a false sense of safety and peace.  This will even characterize the visible Church in that time as the letter to the Laodicean Church indicates (Rev. 3:14-22).  It will also characterize unbelieving Israel in that time (Isa. 32:9-14).


Notice that what Paul calls us to is what he always call the Church to: faith, love and hope (v8).  Those are words for the Church in every part of this age in which we live but they are most pertinent for the Church as the day of the Lord approaches.  These are words that truly can be of comfort to the Body of Christ and can build us up (v11).  Let us not let this passage be simply the source of eschatological argument.  We must hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.  We need this admonition.


In our next post we will key on the application subjects of being awake, watching and being disciplined (v6).