The Day of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Introduction

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-19, we are encouraged with the prospect of the rapture of the church.

Chapter 5 begins with teaching concerning the day of the Lord.

This brings the question of exactly what is understood as the day of the Lord.

Many of the Old Testament prophets made reference to the day of the Lord such as Isaiah and Joel.

It should be noted that the day of the Lord is not a specific event such as the rapture of the church. Rather, the day of the Lord is a broad period of time that features primarily the judgement of God on the nations.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary defines the day of the Lord as, “a future period of time in which God will be at work in world affairs more directly and dramatically than He has been since the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Many believe the day of the Lord to be the time of Jacob’s trouble or, better known as, the tribulation period.

It is important to understand the manner in which Paul is writing and the main purpose for this passage.

Paul is drawing a comparison. He is comparing the believer who waits with expectation for the coming of the Lord to the unbeliever who is unaware that judgement is coming.

As Warren Wiersbe describes, “His purpose was to encourage the believers to live holy lives in the midst of their pagan surroundings. He did this by pointing out the contrasts between believers and unbelievers.”

As we consider this contrast, there are several things we should clarify and understand from this passage.

I. Times and Seasons (v. 1)

What did Paul mean by the phrase times and seasons?

This phrase is actually found elsewhere in the Bible, though only three other times.

We see it in Daniel 2:21 when he interpreted the king’s dream.

Jesus also used the phrase in Acts 1:7.

We see it again in Acts 17:26.

In every occurrence, the phrase is used in reference to God’s plan for Israel.

As the Bible Knowledge Commentary suggests, “God has a definite plan for the nations of the world (Acts 17:26), and Israel is the key nation.”

The Commentary goes on to say, “God has ordained times and seasons for the nations on earth, particularly Israel; and all of this will culminate in a terrible time called “the Day of the Lord.”

Paul tells the church at Thessalonica that there is no need for him to write to them concerning the times and the seasons.

It is something that they already know about and it is something that they should not be concerned about or fearful of.

II. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (v. 2-3)

Though the message for the believer is to have no fear, the message for the unbeliever is one of warning.

The day of the Lord will come as a surprise. It will come when you least expect it.

The day will come during a time of relative peace.

The unbeliever should beware and consider the destiny of their soul.

Now is the time to repent and trust in Christ as your Savior.

The day could come at any moment.

Your eternal destination is nothing to play around with.

You could take your last breath in the next few minutes.

The rapture could take place at any moment.

If you do not know Christ as your Savior, beware!

Judgement is coming!

Give your life to Jesus now before it is too late!

III. Children of the Light (v. 4-5)

We are not part of the darkness of this world.

We are not those who will experience the thief in the night.

For we are not of the night, but of the day.

We are not in darkness, but in the light of Christ.

Those in darkness without Christ should be very fearful of the coming day of the Lord.

Whereas, those who know Jesus have nothing to fear.

The day of the Lord will not overtake the believer, for they are in the light and not in darkness.

IV. Let us not Sleep (v. 6-7)

Verses 6-7 encourages the Thessalonian believers to not be idle.

As we anticipate the return of Christ, we should not be lazy or have a lazy attitude about life.

We should not just live carefree and wild as the world may do.

The unbelieving world has no idea what is coming. They do not understand the judgement they are soon to face.

They just go about their life with no real purpose for they having nothing to live for.

Not so with the believer.

We have a purpose.

We have something to live for.

We have something to look forward to.

Therefore, we press on. We watch and wait. We serve the Lord faithfully and fervently.

V. Be Sober (v. 8)

This means we are to take seriously the life God has given us and we are to live out our faith.

We are to put on the armor of God and stand strong.

The focus for the believer is not worrying over when Jesus will come.

We are to be about the Father’s business.

We are to be focused on reaching the lost world for Christ.

VI. Not Appointed to Wrath (v. 9)

Verse 9 really summarizes the point that Paul is trying to make with the believers at Thessalonica.

Based on the context of this passage, the wrath that Paul is speaking of is most certainly the tribulation period.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains, “The wrath of God referred to here, clearly refers to the Tribulation; the context makes this apparent. Deliverance from that wrath is God’s appointment for believers.”

The contrast we see here is that believers do not need to overly concern themselves or be anxious concerning the coming day of the Lord.

After all, believers will not be on earth during that time for they will already be with the Lord at the rapture of the church.

Therefore, believers should live as children of the light staying focused on their calling and mission to which God has commissioned them to.

In contrast, we are not to be like unbelievers who are living out their days in darkness, unaware of the judgement that is soon to come upon them.

VII. Be Comforted (v. 10-11)

Verses 10-11 is a challenge for the Thessalonian believers to remember their faith in Christ and to take comfort in one another.

Paul reminds them that they will not have to suffer the wrath that is to come during the great tribulation because of their salvation in Christ.

Therefore, whether the believer goes by death or by the rapture, their destination is the same: to be with Jesus.

It is in this truth that we should comfort one another.

It is in this that we should edify one another to be faithful to the cause of Christ.

We should not focus all our time and energy on things such as the coming tribulation from which we will be saved from anyways.

Instead, our devotion should be to our responsibility as ambassadors of Jesus Christ to this world.

We cannot effectively fulfill that mission if we are caught up in what is to come.

This is why Paul started chapter 5 by saying that they did not need him to write to them concerning these things, because there are other more important and pressing things that demand our attention than talking about what is to come.

The reason Paul challenges the church at Thessalonica in these matters is because they were so caught up in waiting for the return of Christ that they neglected Kingdom purposes.

Paul reminds us that Christ will return and call us home to be with Him and there is nothing that we should worry about as we will not be here when the day of the Lord begins.

Therefore, we should focus on the mission of reaching the lost rather than being consumed by the times and the seasons.

Conclusion

May we take comfort in the prospect of His coming and be edified for the work of the Kingdom.