1 Thess 5

Christ return is a surprising certainty.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–3 ESV

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 ESV

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

1 thes 5

Sudden - Surprising Event of Christ’s Return.

Matthew 24:36–44 ESV

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

36-

A false promise of peace and safety -

Jeremiah 6:14 ESV

They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.

God’s people are not surprised! We are not sleeping. We are not anesthetized by this world in to thinking there is no judgment day!

1 Thessalonians 5:3 ESV

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:4 ESV

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 5

But you. The Thessalonian Christians are not among the people who say “peace and security” and upon whom sudden destruction will come (v. 3).

To sleep is to be morally and spiritually disengaged, and/or living without a consciousness of the coming day.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 5

5:6 So then. Paul gives general exhortations based on the reassurances of v. 5. To sleep is to be morally and spiritually disengaged, and/or living without a consciousness of the coming day.