1 Thessalonians 5
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Last week we went over 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It was all about the second coming of Christ and how those who have passed before His return will also be a part of the Christ’s second coming. Those have passed will come down and receive their new bodies and meet Christ in the air and then we who are still alive at that time will follow in meeting Christ in the air. We’ll be snatched up, as the Bible puts it. Which is where we get the term that is commonly used, the rapture.
Now as we get into Chapter 5, Paul is continuing on the thought of the second coming of Christ but with a different point in mind. Here he will be talking about how it will impact the believer and unbelievers.
We’ll go through 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
These first few verses are talking about “The Day of the Lord.” I know my translation didn’t call it exactly that, but other translations do. The Day of the Lord is referenced multiple in times in scripture. And this is not one particular day as we typically think of a day. It’s actually about events that happen over the span of many years. Many believe references to “The Day of the Lord” includes events of God’s wrath and restoration. Events that many believe will happen in this time frame are the rapture, the great tribulation, and the millennial kingdom.
The millennial kingdom is when Christ reigns over the new earth for 1000 years following His second coming. Now let’s think about the timing of the great tribulation. Many believe it will go on for 7 years. We discussed that in the book of Daniel. So if this is correct and we put it all together, The Day of the Lord could mean events that happen over a 1007 year period.
We don’t know when The Day of the Lord will come, but we know it’ll be a surprise, like a thief in the night. And Paul is referencing what Jesus said about his second coming.
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
And then for the thief imagery.
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
We don’t know when Christ will come again but the message and command throughout scripture is to just “be ready”. And for believers, even though we can’t know the exact day, we can get an idea of the season we are in. There are events prophesied in the Bible to give us some indication. But in all that there’s still no way to know when. So although it will be a surprise ins some form to all, the unbelievers really will have the biggest surprise. For them they don’t believe Christ is who he said he was so they’re expecting nothing from Him. And it’s interesting that here it says that they will feel as though there is peace and security. And then Christ will come and there world will get flipped upside down.
Now you might say “I thought things were going to get worse up to the second coming of Christ”. You have to remember who’s perspective that things appear to be peaceful and secure. When Paul says people will feel peace and security, he’s talking about the unbelievers. Because Paul says then disaster will fall on them. God’s wrath is stored up for the wicked.
Now we don’t know exactly what this looks like in terms of peace and security. But we can use Noah’s time as an example.
37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.
Before the flood came, all those who didn’t believe Noah said “you’re crazy, everything is just great.” And sin was running rampant. Then disaster came on them as the earth began to flood. So keeping the perspective of the audience that’s being talked about is important.
4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Paul gets to the point about the fact that although we don’t know exactly when, the coming of the Lord is not a total surprise for believers, because we live in expectation for his arrival.
Paul talks about believers being children of “light and the day” and not “darkness and night.” Darkness is often used in the Bible to refer to spiritual blindness, disobedience, or separation. Which by God’s grace through our faith in Christ we have been set free from darkness.
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
As a Christian, everyone is a child of the light. And being a child of the light, we should live opposite of those who are in darkness. That’s what Paul is saying in verse 6 where he says “be on your guard, not asleep like the others.” Last week we used the term asleep to refer to those had passed away, in this case he’s using “asleep” to refer to people that living life like they are asleep. Completely blind to God and what’s going on around them. In other translations it says here we should be “sober minded.” Now some people think that when Paul says don’t be like the others who are asleep, that he’s referring to other Christians who are just going through the motions. And although I think Paul is saying don’t be like the nonbelievers, I think that idea still holds true about not being a believer that is just cruising. Idleness can get us into a life of looking like a nonbeliever slowly. You will very easily drift off spiritually if we’re just going through the motions, and we can wind up not being alert and sober-minded. We become distracted by what the world tries to offer us. And that path can lead to a life much like what Larry talked about last week with the prodigal son if we’re not careful. We can go one little step at a time. So Paul says be on your guard. Stay active and engaged with Lord and his Word.
12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
Paul always encouraged people saying Christ is coming soon. That’s what the day of salvation is referring to here.
And when ensuring you’re ready, Paul always like to use the metaphor of putting on the armor of God.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
In Thessalonians he referenced the Breastplate of faith and love and helmet of salvation.
This is also mentioned in the old testament in Isaiah.
17 He put on righteousness as his body armor
and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.
He clothed himself with a robe of vengeance
and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion.
Now you might wonder why he used slightly different verbiage for the Breastplate, it was Righteousness in Ephesians and in the old testament and then here in Thessalonians he said faith and love. It’s still accurate because you can’t have righteousness without faith. So he’s really saying the same thing.
And I think it makes sense that he references the helmet of salvation here as he’s been writing about being clearheaded, sober-minded, alert. You’ve gotta protect your mind and keep yours eyes on God to do that.
Verses 9 and 10 are really encouragement about our eternal security in Christ. There is no fear in Christ’s return, only joy. As a believer you’ve been chosen by God to have a relationship with Him and because of that we will be spared of His wrath to come that will fall upon unbelievers. And he ends this section very similar to how the previous section of the letter we went over last time, he says “Encourage each other and build each other up.”
The second coming of Christ and our eternal security encourages us to live for Christ even more and continue to surrender our life to Him. And it also encourages us by knowing our eternity is secure in Christ because of what He did and not us.
