1 Thess. 5:1-11, The Day of the Lord

There is a chapter division from 4:18 to 5:1, and the chapter begins with “but.”  However 4:13-5:11 are one unit with two subjects.  The unit has to do with believer’s hope.  4:13-18 concerns our hope in the face of death; 5:1-11 concerns our hope in the face of the coming day of the Lord.  In the former Paul says do not be overcome with grief in the death of brothers and sisters; Christ will come for us whether we have died or live.  In the latter Paul says Christ will come; don’t be surprised when it happens.


In this post let us get an overview of the Day of the Lord.  We define it as a time when God set's things right, esp. respecting Israel.  He cleanses them, punishes those who oppress them, and then restores them.  There have been past times called "the day of the Lord" but they ultimately foretell THE future day of the Lord.  


We believe the Day of the Lord serves three purposes: first, to judge the sin of the world (Isa. 13:6-6); second, to cleanse Israel as God’s people (Isa. 14:1-3); and third, to establish Christ as Lord (Isa. 2:11-22).


The arena in which this day occurs is not in heaven but on earth, and especially in and around Israel.  The "day" is a typical Jewish day, running from sunset  to sunset.  There are some things that must happen before that "day"; then there are events of the darkness, dawn and daytime.  Consider the events related to the great Day of the Lord.

1.     Before the Great Day of the Lord.

a.     The rapture of the Church, I Thess. 5:1-11.

b.     The rise of world-wide apostasy, II Thess. 2:1-3a.

c.     The revelation of the man of sin, II Thess. 2:3b-4, 9-10.

d.     The coming of the prophet Elijah, Malachi 4:5.

e.     The disturbances in the sky.  Joel 2:30-31; Rev. 6:12-17 (the last event before the day of the Lord as these passages indicate.)

2.     The darkness of the Great Day of the Lord.

a.     God's wrath on a great northern power. Joel 2:20; Ezek 38-39; Dan 11:40-45.

b.     God's wrath on the nation Israel.  Zeph. 1:7-13, 14-18.

c.     God's wrath on Gentile nations.  Zeph. 2:1-15; Isa. 13:6-16

3.     The dawn of the Great Day of the Lord.

a.     The second coming of Christ.  Zech. 12:10-14

b.     The battle of Armageddon. Zech. 14:1-8,12-15; Joel 3:9-17; Ps110

c.     The doom of the man of sin.  II Thess.2:8

4.     The daytime of the Great Day of the Lord.

a.     Resurrection of saints.  Isa 26:19; Dan12:1-2; Rev. 20:4-6

b.     Regathering of Israel.  Amos 9:11-15

c.     Judgment of Israel.  Malachi 3:2-3,17

d.     Restoration of Israel. Isa 14:1-3; 52:6; Hos 2:14-23; Isa 12:1-6

e.     Judgment of the nations.  Mat. 25:31-46; Joel 3:9-17

f.      Reign of Jesus over all the earth.  Zech. 14:9,16; Isa. 9:6-7