Ever heard someone say something, that at the time, you didn’t find unsettling, but later you couldn’t get it out of your head? This is exactly what is happening in 1 Thessalonians, especially in chapter 4 leading into chapter 5. Paul is making clear the confusion of Jesus’ second coming and the separation of the events. The end-times in itself is a controversy today. Just bringing it up scares some people and excites others. I learned a long time ago if you offer any lesson topic, people usually pick the end times. Sometimes it’s specific like armageddon or the plagues. More often than not, people want to know about the supporting cast and not the main character. Such as ‘the anti-christ is this or that, and his minions will do this or that’, instead of what John was most impressed with in Revelation— Jesus. This is what Paul referenced in his final address to Timothy when he focused on the coming of Jesus in 2 Timothy 4.8— “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Isn’t that the main reason for end time prophecies and the like? Isn’t it more about who He is and what He is doing? I’ve found that most of the passages that explain the second coming explain it in the context of basically— ‘get up and get busy!’
Here in 1 Thessalonians 5 it is more for comfort and explanation. They were looking forward to Jesus’ return, but the subject itself was clouded with someone(s) muddying the water with fear tactics and suggestive doubt. By the way, when someone uses those methods, they are not from God! You cannot trust someone who leads in fear tactics, Jesus never did. He always led in faith and love. This is partially what Paul mentioned in chapter 4 and will again in this chapter. Paul is indicating a change of topics within the same general prophecy from chapter four leading into chapter five. The expression here points to a broader context of the coming of Jesus. The subject is changing from the “blessings of the rapture to the believer”, to the “judgment of unbelievers”.
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
First, notice the phrase “times and the seasons”. This is a ‘measurement’ of time and the ‘feel’ or ‘atmosphere’ of the times. Again, truth dispels not only confusion but fear. Someone has planted a fearful thought that Jesus has already come, and therefore these folks have been left behind. They have been told they are to suffer judgment, and that is why they are having persecution. There is no doubt that many of them were expecting Jesus to come back in their lifetime. They are the confused and grieved by the fellow believers, kill for the faith, and even their own loved ones being persecuted for the cause. We found this in verses 13-18 of chapter 4. They were, as we are today, concerned about the delay of Jesus returning. Is it really a delay? Or is it not God’s perfect timing! They cannot know the final judgment time frame, but they could know the environment they’re living in is like the time when Jesus will come back. Today we live in a much more volatile situation than they did. Maybe here in North American churches it is not personal persecution, or systematic persecution, but the environment is ripe for judgment.
Did you notice the phrase “day of the lord” in verse 2? This is a pivotal phrase in the Old and New Testament. It must be distinguished from some other phrases that are similar. Nineteen times it is used in the Old Testament and four times in the New Testament (Acts 2.20, 2 Thessalonians 2.2, 2 Peter 3.10). In the Old Testament it was used to describe God’s judgment. It was used by Isaiah, Joel, Amos, and Zephaniah. They all used it to describe ‘biblical proportioned’ judgement. God is coming with fierce wrath kind-of-stuff! In other cases it is used for more eschatology-type judgment. Six times it is referred to as the “day of doom” and four times as the “day of vengeance”. In our New Testament it’s called the “day of wrath” and “day of visitation”, and once as “The great day of God Almighty”. This all sounds terrifying! It’s written in terrifying language! I found one of the strangest, even funniest corrections of the Old Testament found in the King James Bible is the word we use today— “awesome”. It is in KJV as— “terrible”. That wouldn’t make a very good chorus line would it… “Our God is a terrible God”? The idea is the same though— that His awesome presence strikes instant terror within any human when you come face-to-face with the Almighty. You are instantly undone! This is what the language of God’s return looks like in the Old and New Testament. Because it will be an awesome sight for the believer and a terror-filled moment for the unbeliever. At this point there are no do-overs.
We live in an overwhelmingly sinful world. We have reached a point of no return. The news, papers, Facebook, cannot possibly understand this nor articulate it. Yet most of our believers get all of their information from these sources alone. We should trust truth over these human agendas and sources. Just as in the first century in Thessalonica, so it is today in North America, they walk by sight and not by faith.
To cover a lot of ground quickly, let me explain the “day of our Lord” in layman’s terms. I admit that this is insufficient, but my goal is the same as Paul’s into the text with this language. More comes as you read further, and we will in coming articles. The future “Day of the Lord”, which unleashes God’s wrath and falls into two parts: (A) The end of the seven-year tribulation (Revelation 19.11-21), and (B) The end of the millennium. These two events are, obviously, 1000 years apart; and Peter refers to the end of the thousand years in connection with “The final day of the Lord” (2 Peter 3.10, Revelation 20.7-15). Paul, in chapter five is referring to the second part (B) “The day of the Lord”, which concludes the tribulation and ushers in the millennium. This was the subject that was causing so much confusion and fear within the church. Someone had falsely taught that they were in the middle of the tribulation now. This is not true then, and not true now. Because of that, this chapter may be the most relevant chapter in the scripture for us today.
Because of this information the phrase “a thief in the night”, here in this passage, is not referring to the ‘rapture’ or “catching away” of believers, but the sudden coming of Jesus for judgement! This is a warning to unbelievers and Israel to repent now, before this event. This shows even more of God’s awesome mercy— that He would give a warning, a way out, to those who have rejected Him! This is distinct from the ‘rapture’ of the believers seven years earlier. Paul is explaining hope by dissecting the parts. I am personally astounded by those who are afraid of opposition, to the point that they would not want to give the details that Jesus, Paul, Peter and John all gave prolifically, in detail. Instead, all you hear is innuendos, suppositions, or hearsay. Why? Is this not truth? Is it up to private interpretation? Why would you not want to have hope? I understand there are different views and when we teach this subject in our church, we do so exposing all the views, and why they came to those conclusions. Some have very valid points, but we have to come to a decision. The decision is up to the individual, trusting Holy Spirit guidance for them, for they will face Jesus one day as I. But we do make it clear where we stand on eschatology. Why? This is exactly what was happening in Thessalonica, therefore they had division and fear brought to them by confusion. Leave a gap and the vacuum will be filled with falseness and fear every time!
Believe it or not, that is not the main reason for this text. The main point is found in verse three with: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety”. Just as the false prophets have always done— they forecast a ‘wonderful tomorrow’. They say things such as, ‘when this is all over and we go back to normal’. When in reality, the future is very bleak for the unbeliever. For the believer, we get eternity in glory with God, but this world which we live-in is headed on a crash course to judgement and we are along for the ride. You cannot possibly think that God is going to spare this world in all of its atrocities and murderous behavior. You cannot suppose that God would just ‘look the other way’ when we kill babies and make fun of Him and His sacrifice? This world desecrates the crucifixion and perverts Jesus on the screen. All the while, some believers actually participate and laugh. Wow! We are headed for it. Why? If He didn’t spare His own Son for sin, what do you think He will do with this? He is both righteous and faithful. If He says it’s wrong, then it is wrong. If He calls it evil, then it is evil. If He says He will exact judgment on it, then He will. We are facing imminent judgment. He’s coming back, and the history of this world will be over. Whose judgment will be inevitable, inescapable, and immediate.
This is truth for all those who do not believe. This should propel us to bring as many with us into the kingdom as possible while time lasts. It should also make us fall on our faces and raise our hands in praise to the One and Only who saved our souls and gave us a hope in Him.
Disciple of Jesus, I ask you: What is the Holy Spirit telling you? Is it time to play it normal and hope for better days? Or, is it time to serve, witness, disciple, and love with everything we have left? Is He revealing to you the time is short? What does He want you to do with these facts? I am praying for all the readers of this blog today. That you too will feel the unction of the Spirit and launch out now before the night comes and we cannot work.