1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 The Day of the Lord
Good morning! Last week, in 4:13-18, we studied about “the coming of the Lord,” which was related to the rapture, i.e., snatching of believers from this world. They are taken by Jesus to be with him in his Father’s house. Today, we will study about an event called “the day of the Lord” in 5:1-11. Actually, 4:13 to 5:11 are connected as one passage with two related, but different topics. They are related because they are describing the events leading to the end times, when Jesus will return to this earth as king and conqueror. In theology, the study of the end times is called eschatology. As mentioned, 4:13-18, was part I of this story. Chapter 5 verses 1-11 are about part II of the story, when Jesus will return to earth to judge the world, including the living and the dead and to bind the devil, and to establish his messianic kingdom on earth. But we should not be confused with the phrase, “the day of the Lord,” because it is not one literal day, but a set of events culminating to the end of this world as we know it. In the end, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. In the meantime, as we wait patiently for these events to occur, we want to learn from Paul how believers ought to live. The title of the message today is:
The Day of the Lord
(Subtitle: How believers are to live while waiting for Jesus’ Return)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Key Verse: 2:
“…for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
Look at verses 1-3. “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” As we studied last week, the Thessalonian believers were concerned what would happen to the dead believers at the snatching—when Jesus would come to collect believers. They really wanted to know when Jesus would return for many believed it would be in their lifetimes. But the Apostle Paul wrote them not to worry about these things because no one knew when that time will be. Even Jesus himself had told his disciples that no one would know, not even him. Matthew 24:36 reads, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son but only the Father.” In verse 1, “times and dates” can be translated as “times and epochs (or seasons).” Jim had alluded to the meaning of this phrase in his message two weeks ago. In Greek, they are Chronos and Kairos, the former meaning chronological time and the latter, epochs, and events. Jim mentioned that Kairos is like when God intervenes in our earthly time with his heavenly events. So, Kairos can span not just one day, but many days, weeks, years, and even 1,000 years—depending on how long God’s intervention lasts. After the snatching, the next event Paul wrote about was Jesus’ return to earth.
Look at verse 2 again. “…for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” Perhaps, to the new believers in Thessalonica, who did not study the Old Testament thoroughly, this may have sounded like a new topic. But to the Hebrew people, the phrase “the day of the Lord” has had a long historical background starting from the Old Testament. To them, it meant the day when God himself will come to earth to pour out his wrath and judgment on sinners. Isaiah 13:6-11 reads, “Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. 7 Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear.8 Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.9 See, the day of the LORD is coming—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.10 The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.” There is also a slew of scriptures in the Old Testament, but we don’t have time to cover them all. Paul had done his best, given the limited time he had with the Thessalonian believers, to teach them that Jesus’ return would come swiftly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. As we know, a thief comes to a home or jewelry store to get all the valuables. Though Jesus’ return is compared to a thief, what valuable things is he coming to get? Yes, us! So, he is not really a thief because he is only coming to get what belongs to him. But his coming will be like a thief in the night because it will come when no one expects. No thief will call you ahead of time to tell you when he is coming to steal your belongings. Peter also described “the day of the Lord” in 2 Peter 3:10, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and all its will be burned up.” So, it was not only an event that the Thessalonians were looking forward to, but all believers throughout history. Jesus had come the first time as a humble servant, who was humiliated and killed by evil men. But he will return again no longer as a servant but a conquering king, who will judge and destroy his enemies. That is why those who had mocked and killed him, will be seized with terror and anguish when they see him again. Recently, I studied with my Bible student about Joseph, in Genesis 45, who had been sold as a slave by his brothers and pronounced dead by them, but he became the prime minister of Egypt. When he revealed himself as Joseph, the brother they had considered as dead, they were terrified because of their guilt of what they had done. They were afraid Joseph would punish them, and even worse, put them to death. This is the terror and horror upon those who had rejected and killed Jesus, but a billion times worse, for they had put to death the Son of God. However, before Jesus’ imminent return there has to be some events on earth that has to happen.
Look at verse 3 again. “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” Before Jesus’ return many people will be saying and promising many things, especially about peace and security. They will be carrying out business as usual because until Jesus’ return, we are living in man’s day. Though it may be called man’s day, it is really the day of the devil, the murderer and father of lies, who sows the seeds of evil in the hearts of mankind. We remember in history the false propaganda of the Roman Empire, which they called Pax Romana—Roman peace. The emperors and political leaders promised peace in the empire, but it was only absolute submission to Rome, otherwise, the Roman army would punish and kill those in opposition. Even the early Christians were killed in the Roman colosseum for sport if they did not deny Jesus and bow down to the emperor. Many of the early believers, including Peter, was crucified and Paul was beheaded by the emperor. It was a time of horrific persecution and threats to the early believers, including those in Thessalonica. But Paul writes that in “the day of the Lord” the tables will be turned. Those who opposed Jesus vehemently will receive destruction suddenly and suffer pains like that of a pregnant woman. It will be a day of cataclysmic judgment. The sudden destruction reminds us the times of Noah before the flood. Matthew 24:37-38 reads, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.” We must remember what was the motivating factor that pastor Paul was writing about “the day of the Lord” to the Thessalonian believers. As mentioned, Paul had taught them about the snatching that would happen before “the day of the Lord.” He had taught them about the Chronos and Kairos of God’s history and its subsequent events. He wanted to comfort them that they would not have to face the tribulation, the next eschatological event, when God pours out his wrath upon the earth. In order to understand these better, we would have to read through the book of Revelation and Matthew 24. But since we don’t have time to do this, I’ll just give you a quick summary. After the rapture of the church, there will be a seven-year period that is divided into two 3 and a half years. The first 3 and half years the Antichrist will arise—promising peace and security under his rulership. The last 3 and a half years is known as the great tribulation when God’s cataclysmic judgments are carried out causing the death of billions of people. Then right at the end of the 7-year period Jesus will return. [Pic 1—graph of 7-year period] Many other events would also occur, but that was not the main point of Paul’s writing to the Thessalonian believers. Rather, it was to encourage them to live as God’s people in the world with these future expectations. Just a caveat: there are still ongoing debates among Bible scholars about when and how these events will occur. But as Paul wrote and Jesus said don’t worry about the times and dates. So, if you heard about other eschatological view, it’s okay. It will not affect your eternal salvation. One thing is clear that all believers agree with—Jesus will come back again. Amen. The main point of Paul’s writing here is to encourage the Thessalonian believers to live faithful lives while waiting for Jesus’ return. How were they to live before Jesus’ return?
Look at verses 4-5. “4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” If we follow Paul’s analogy, a thief usually does his dirty work by the cover of night when people are sleeping and unaware of what is going on. Paul writes to the Thessalonians that they are not in darkness because they are aware of eschatological events Paul had taught them. Actually, they were not surprised of these coming events, but they were just curious when they will happen. Paul wanted them to know that “the coming of the Lord” was for them, but “the day of the Lord” was for the unbelievers. Like a thief comes at night, so Jesus will come to judge the people of darkness. Regardless of when they happen, the Thessalonian believers ought to live like children of light while they are still in the world. Light describes the character and nature of God and his children must live in the world with his characteristic traits. First John 1:5 reads, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” Light means that God has complete righteousness, complete holiness, complete purity, and darkness is a metaphor of everything else opposite to his nature. As children of light, we ought to follow the life examples that Jesus showed us while he lived in this world. He served people in his ministry not to please himself, but to please God. He lived to show the glory of God in his life and in the work, he was doing. He lived a selfless life, thinking not only about the physical needs of people, through healing and feeding them, but more importantly their spiritual needs. Jesus calls all believers to walk in his light. John 8:12 reads, “12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” As long as we have Jesus, we will always have the light of life in us. As long as we remain in Jesus, we will not be in the darkness morally. We will not be in the darkness mentally. Most of all, we will not be in the darkness eternally.
What about the children of darkness? No one wants to live in the darkness unless you are a night owl or bat. To live in darkness is to reject Jesus, who is the light of the world. There are many ways, but let’s look at three ways people can live in darkness. First, they can live in moral darkness. These are people who are in moral decay because they don’t want to live in purity and decency, but they want to participate in immoral behaviors. Second, mental darkness. These are people who find no hope in the world, but live in despair and can even have suicidal tendencies. Third is spiritual darkness. They are people who remain in their ignorance about God and spiritual matters. They don’t seek the truth. This is why God’s judgment on the children of darkness is just and right. Jesus said in John 3:19, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” We ought to live in the world like children of light, not children of darkness. This is only possible when there is a change in our nature. Because what is in our nature will be revealed in our outward behavior. Actually, God wants all men to live in the light of Jesus. This is why he sent Jesus, Paul, and all his servants to this dark and sinful world—in order to bring sinners out of darkness, into his wonderful light. The risen Jesus sent Paul to the Gentiles with this command in Acts 26:18, “…to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” It is only by faith in Jesus that we are saved. Last week, we were encouraged by the life testimony of Neh, the mother of Abinav. She was in the darkness because of worshipping idols, made by the hands of men. [Pic 2—idols] They could not answer her and give her comfort. But when one Christian man continued to visit her and give her the good news, she finally opened her spiritual eyes to see the light that Jesus is her Lord and Savior. Then she could be changed to a bright and shining daughter of God. Through her prayers and faith, her family could also come to faith in Jesus. [Pic 3] Children of darkness are really in the dark—they are ignorant of spiritual things. Of course, because they are created in the image of God, they can do good things and acts of kindness, but they cannot offer themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. However, there is a danger for children of light to be tempted to act or participate in the sinful activities of children of darkness. This is why Paul exhorted the Thessalonian believers and us to be spiritually awake and sober.
Look at verses 6-7. “6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.” As light and darkness cannot mix, for they cannot occupy the same space, so Paul exhorted the Thessalonian believers to live differently from spiritually sleepy people. Here spiritually sleepy people are not those who sleep during the preacher’s message. They are not students who are sleeping through their professor’s lecture. [Pic 4—students sleeping] I remember because I used to be one of them. Once, I was even sleep during my test. Later I couldn’t even read the scribbling I wrote. They are spiritually ignorant people who are indifferent to Jesus’ return. As it was prophesied in the Old Testament that the Messiah would come, Jesus did. As promised in the New Testament that Jesus will return, Jesus will. But spiritually sleepy people ignore this truth because they don’t want any limitations to their sinful lifestyles. Look at verse 7 again. “7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.” Here “get drunk” can be a metaphor, not just being inebriated by alcohol, but things of the world that fog our minds and distract us from God’s good purpose for our lives. This reminded me of the story of Lot who became spiritually sleepy because he became enamored with the thought of living in a rich and fun filled city like Sodom. He did not consider that God’s judgment would one day come upon the city, for they were sinning greatly against the Lord. Then one day fire and hailstorm came from heaven to burn down that wicked city. By God’s help Lot was saved by God’s fiery judgment by the skin of his teeth. We should not play Russian roulette with our faith. Instead, we must decide to wake up spiritually, for as Paul wrote in Romans our day of salvation is almost here. Romans 13:11-14, “11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Paul wrote that we should clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. In the next verses, he writes about what kind of protection we must use against the enemy.
Look at verses 8-9. “8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, Paul emphasized spiritual sobriety and again reminds them that they are children of light. Then he writes about the triune attributes all Christians need to have—faith, love, and hope. Paul used the illustrations of breastplate and helmet, which are used for defensive purposes. He didn’t write anything for attacking like a sword, spear, or bazooka. Though we are not part of the world, we still live in the world. Therefore, we must protect our minds and hearts from the corroding effects of our antichristian and corrupt culture. Again, in verse 9, Paul comforted the Thessalonian believers that as long as they live as children of light, they would not suffer God’s wrath prepared for the children of darkness. Instead, we will receive the gift of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ, our Lord. In the last two verses, we learn how the children of light should live together as a community. The center of the community must be Jesus Christ.
Look at verses 10-11. “10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Each member in the Christian community is very precious because Jesus laid down his life for that believer. As mentioned, the end of chapter four is connected to the beginning of this chapter. So, again Paul emphasized “whether we are awake or asleep,” i.e., whether we are alive or dead, we will live together with Jesus forever in the kingdom of God. How we live together on earth should reflect on how we will live together in heaven. We should do our best and prayerfully live with Christ in us in our close encounters with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. At the national staff conference, one believer said something funny about her interaction with fellow believers. She said this, “Sometimes martyrdom is easier than working together with fellow Christians.” There is no perfect church where believers get together perfectly with one another. But we should do our best to encourage and build each other up. Of course, in heaven we will be perfected and all our faults and weaknesses will be removed. In the meantime, we love and respect each other in Christ Jesus. As long as each believer is attached to Jesus, as ligaments and tendons are attached to muscles and bones, the body of Christ will grow up together. Ephesians 4:15-16, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” May God help each of us to remember daily and live every day as if “the day of the Lord” will soon come upon us. Maybe sooner than we may think. Amen.
In this passage, I thank God for calling me out of darkness into his wonderful light. I was in spiritual darkness as a UIC freshmen because I was ignorant about the gospel and what Jesus did on the cross for me. Consequently, I was in darkness mentally and morally, with thoughts of a meaningless life and lust. But I thank God through Bible study my spiritual eyes were opened and through the gospels study I could repent and accept Jesus as the light of my life. By God’s grace I can live in this dark world as a child of the light, looking forward to my Lord Jesus’ return. Amen.
Since, I mentioned students in my message we are going to have a little quiz. Parousia in Greek means “arrival.” So, it means the day when Jesus will arrive and judge the earth. I meant an acronym based on words I used in my message. Can you guess what words I was thinking in the word PAROUSIA?
Pray// Awake// Return// Old Testament// Understand// Sober// Inebriated// Abinav//
Let’s pray: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the hope of “the day of the Lord” when Jesus will come to judge the world for all the crimes and evil it has done against you. Thank you for saving us from being children of darkness to be children of light. We praise you that the children of light will be saved from your wrath and taken to be with Jesus and God’s people forever. We thank you for the grace and mercy we all have received through your Son, Jesus Christ. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Questions:
1.Read 1 Thess. 5:1-3. What were the times and dates the Thessalonian believers were considering? What is the day of the Lord? (Is. 13:9-11) Why do people give the false impression of peace and safety at that time? How does it remind you of Noah’s time before the flood? (Mt. 24:36-38)
2. Read 1 Thess. 5:4-5. Why are we not children of darkness, but children of light? What are the characteristics and behavior of children of darkness? Of light? Why are children of light not surprised by the coming judgment? Why can’t darkness overcome the light? (Jn. 1:5; Jn 3:19; Jn. 8:12)
3. Read 1 Thess. 5:6-7. What are some ways that Christians are prone to “get sleepy” with regards to the Lord’s coming? How can we stay alert? What kind of behavior do we show as children of the light?
4. Read 1 Thess. 5:8-9. Why must we stay sober and put on our spiritual military equipment? Why do we receive salvation, not wrath? In light of Paul’s teaching on the rapture, how are saved from wrath? (1 Thess. 1:10) Instead of wrath, what did God plan for us? (Ro. 8:29-30)
5. Read 1 Thess. 5:10-11. Why did Jesus have to die for us? (Rom. 6:23) How do we live together with Christ? How should our life reflect that we live with Christ? (Jn. 14:23) How can we encourage one another? (Eph. 2:8-9; Eph. 4:15-16)
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
