1 Thessalonians Series7

Let’s recap: So far we’ve learned that Paul wrote the Thessalonians due to their concern about the death of loved ones. Were they in heaven? Had they slipped into some kind of soul sleep?

Paul responded with the beautiful revelation of the future rapture of the church where “the dead in Christ shall rise first” (4:16). After that, “we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (4:17). We are to therefore “encourage one another with these words” (v.18).

The overarching theme of 1 Thessalonians is the return of the Lord. Each chapter mentions this great and awesome event. We’ve learned that:

Chapter 1 deals with “The Lord’s Coming: A Saving Truth (1:3-10)

Chapter 2 looks at “The Lord’s Coming: A Stimulating Truth (2:1-20)

Chapter 3 touches on “The Lord’s Coming: A Stabilizing Truth (3:1-13)

Chapter 4 involves “The Lord’s Coming: A Strengthening Truth” (4:1-18)

Chapter 5 explores “The Lord’s Coming: A Sanctifying Truth” (5:1-22)

Since there are no chapter breaks in the original text, chapter 5 begins with the word “but,” which links us directly back to chapter 4. Chapter 4 closed with the assurance that those who participate in the Rapture will be delivered from the coming wrath of God.

The key to understanding this passage is to consider carefully the personal pronouns involved in Paul’s discussion. There are two classes. There are those addressed as I, ye, you, yourselves, we, and us. These pronouns refer to believers, those who are candidates for the Rapture. Paul uses these pronouns from the preceding description of the Rapture in 4:13-18.

In contrast with this group, Paul referred to another group by using the personal pronouns they and them. The message is simple: Saints and sinners alike are contrasted—the saints destined to be caught away from the coming wrath and sinners destined to be caught up in the destruction of the coming wrath.

Paul begins with three things about the Lord’s people. First, they are directed by scripture: 5:1 “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you.”

Clearly, Paul is referring to prior revelation as it was revealed in the Old Testament and in the Lord’s own prophetic teaching. The word “times” refers to the various time periods involved in God’s dealings with the human race. We call this “dispensations.” For instance, there was the Old Testament dispensation where the various sacrifices were made for the sins of man, etc.

And there is the New Testament dispensation where God has spoken once for all through His Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1). Christ’s death on the cross ended the O.T. dispensation—God’s former ways of dealing with humankind.

The word “seasons” refers to special characteristics, features, highlights, and signs that mark the end times. Many of these are becoming clearer to us now that we are approaching the end of time—the rebirth of the state of Israel, the rise of Russia, the impending revival of the Roman Empire, the dawn of the nuclear age, the persistence of malignant anti-Semitism, global catastrophes, the emergence of a pornographic and homosexual society, the apostasy of the professing church, the spread of terrorism, persecution, famine, and earthquakes are all features of the end times.

Paul next refers them to a perfect revelation: 5:2 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”

The Lord’s coming for His church is likened to a thief in the night. A thief comes unexpectedly, when people are asleep, or when the are busy and distracted.

The phrase “the day of the Lord” is found 4 times in the N.T. and 17 times in the O.T. From the Bible’s perspective we are now living in “man’s day.” In 1 Cor. 4:3 Paul wrote,

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.”

Right now, man exalts himself and tries to rule God out of His own world. But in “the day of the Lord,” the Lord will reassert His claim over this planet. The Day of the Lord is primarily a day of wrath and judgment. But it does also extend into the millennial age.

The focal point of “the day of the Lord” is the Book of Revelation and the terrible seven years of judgments that follow the Rapture. The Thessalonians, Paul says, knew “perfectly” about these things.

However, the judgment era called the Tribulation will not start out looking so bad. It will hold its years of promise, but they will be deceptive. Addressing himself now to the unsaved, Paul writes:

5:3 “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.”

A quick survey of the 7 year Tribulation period revealed in the Book of Revelation underlines this fact. First, the 7 seals are poured out, resulting in a world ruined by man. There will be false Christs, wars, famines, pestilences, and persecutions dwarfing all of those throughout history.

Then the 7 trumpets are to be blown, resulting in a world ruled by Satan. The Antichrist will be revealed. He will bring order out of chaos. He will unite the European continent, and impose a false peace upon the world. The world will hail his power, policies, and his person.

They will look upon him as an economic and political genius. It will appear that peace has come to the world at last. Economic prosperity and world trade will flourish. The infamous mark of the beast—666—will be imposed upon the world. He will institute a one-world monetary system, a one-world government, and a one-world religion called the Harlot.

But just when men are shouting peace and safety, Paul says, “then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” A bloodbath of persecution against the Jewish people and tribulation saints (those saved during the Tribulation) will follow, the likes of which the world has never seen in all its long and violent history (Matt.24:15-22).

Notice the pronouns in the above verse. Paul does not include we or us, but instead uses they and them. While the Tribulation begins with a world ruined by man, resulting in a world ruled by Satan, it ends with a world rescued by God. The Tribulation ends with the appearance of Jesus Christ returning in great power and glory. The whole story of the Antichrist is further developed by Paul in 2 Thessalonians.

Paul next contrasts the essential differences between saints and sinners, calling them “children of the day” or “children of the night.” 5:4-5 “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.”

Twice the personal pronoun, once again, is emphatic. YOU are not in darkness. YOU are sons of light. The Holy Spirit points out emphatically the marked difference between the nature and destiny of Christians and the nature and doom of unbelievers.

The “darkness” Paul mentions refers to the world’s abysmal ignorance of God and His purposes. The word “darkness” is also used to describe Satan and his demon spirits as the unseen rulers of this present world (Eph.6:12). It is also used to describe the horrors of a lost eternity (Matt.8:12; 2 Pet.2:17).

When Christ returns the world will be in darkness. People will be listening to the deceptive voices of the humanists, the New Agers, the evolutionists, and the Antichrist. But we, the children of light, are not in the dark about these things.

Not only is our understanding different from the world’s, but also our conduct: 5:6-7 “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.”

We are not to live like those who are dead in trespasses and sins. We are not to “sleep” like a dead person appears to do. We are to be very much alive. We must be sober, in contrast with Lot, who was both drunk and dishonored even when the very world about him was a smoking ruin (Gen.19:30-38).

Jesus warned in Mark 13:35-37, “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

This is a clear call for pre-Rapture alertness. Now is no time to be careless and lethargic about spiritual things! Next, Paul exhorts the Lord’s people, the children of light: 5:8 “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”

In contrast with lost people, who are asleep to spiritual realities and drunkenly incapable of properly responding to them, incapacitated by their own wicked lifestyle, the Lord’s people are to have all their faculties about them and all of their spiritual nature alert.

Borrowing from a Roman soldier’s armor, he illustrates the fact that a war is on—light against darkness, day against night. The “breastplate” protects the heart; the helmet protects the head. Our affections and our thoughts are to be kept protected from the enemy. We are not to love the things this world has to offer. And we must be on guard against being seduced by its philosophies, attitudes, and attractions.

Next, a great promise: 5:9-10 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

First, Paul tells us what we shall escape. Note the use of the personal pronoun again—US and WE. There are people who will experience the wrath of God. But those he describes by the use of the pronouns US and WE are to escape the wrath. The “wrath” here is not the eternal wrath referred to by Paul in his letter to the Romans—“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Ro.1:18).

The “wrath” here is that same wrath mentioned at the end of the seal judgments. It is the end-times wrath; the same wrath described in the Revelation of John as being poured out with the opening of the 7 seals, the sounding of the 7 trumpets, and the pouring out of the 7 vials. It is that wrath specifically prepared for a Christ-rejecting world.

Blessed be God! He has promised to save His church from all of that. As Noah entered the ark before the floods rose on a godless world; and as Lot was delivered by angels from the fiery judgment of Sodom, so shall the church be “caught up” before the Tribulation wrath is poured out.

Paul closes with an exhortation not to worry: 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”