THE DAY OF THE LORD (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)
INTRODUCTION:
In chapter three of 1st Thessalonians, we learned that Paul was so concerned for the believers in Thessalonica that he sent Timothy to them. Timothy went to encourage the believers and then to report back to Paul about how they were doing. Some of the contents of chapters four and five seem to be in answer to some concerns that the Thessalonian believers were having that Timothy related to Paul on his return. One concern they had was what would happen to those who died before the Rapture, would they miss out on the blessing of those who lived until Christ returned. Paul eased their fears and reassured them that those who died in Jesus would not miss out on any of the blessings associated with the Rapture because when Jesus returns the dead in Christ will be resurrected first and be rejoined with their spirits which descend from heaven with the Lord Jesus, then we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will be caught up together with the resurrected saints to meet the Lord in the air and to never be separated from Him again.
Another concern that the Thessalonian believers had was brought about by someone telling them that the resurrection and the Rapture had already occurred, and the Day of the Lord had come. They were concerned that they would have to live through the Day of the Lord, and they wanted to know when it would be. Paul assures them again that the Day of the Lord is still future and that as believers they will be with the Lord Jesus Christ on that day. I have divided chapter 5, verses 1-11 into two parts because Paul in this passage covers two topics. This morning we will look at the first topic in verses 1-3 which concerns the Day of the Lord. Two weeks from now we will look at verses 4-11 where Paul will contrast night people and day people and show us that those two groups of people have different end time results. Let’s pray and then get into our verses for this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles to 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3, our passage for this morning. Please stand, if you are able, in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
1st Thessalonians 5:1-3,
“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–3, NASB95)[1]
WHEN IS THE DAY OF THE LORD? (1st Thessalonians 5:1)
When we talk about history, the Christian view of history is very different from the world’s views on history. We understand from God’s Word that history moves along according to the purposeful plan of God, it is in all truth, His story, He is the sovereign creator and will bring about His plan for this world that He has created. Job confessed in Job 42:2, “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2, NASB95)[2] The sovereign God speaking through the prophet Isaiah declared in Isaiah 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;” (Isaiah 46:10, NASB95)[3] When we look at history from a biblical point of view we understand that Jesus Christ is the central figure in history; the Old Testament points repeatedly to His coming; the New Testaments describes and explains His life, death, resurrection, and second coming.
As the history of this world continues to unfold the eternal plan and purpose of God, one of the events that is yet future is the Day of the Lord. This event when it occurs will mark the end of man’s day as God acts in judgment to take back direct control of the earth from its usurpers, Satan and those under his control, both humans and demons, who presently rule it. The Day of the Lord will be an unprecedented time of cataclysmic judgment on all unrepentant sinners. I would not be declaring the whole purpose of God if I were not willing to talk about the wrath of God that will be poured out on the earth with the coming of the Day of the Lord. Both the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles warned repeatedly of God’s judgment and the eternal punishment of those sinners who refuse to believe and reject the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul taught the Thessalonian believers the sobering truth of the Day of the Lord during the time that he was ministering among them before he was forced to leave the city. After he left questions and concerns arose about the Rapture and the Day of the Lord, and as I said at the beginning of my message, Timothy when he returned to Paul related these concerns to him. Over the past two weeks we looked at what Paul had to say about the Rapture. As we come into chapter five Paul now turns his attention to the concern the Thessalonians have about the Day of the Lord. From writing about the blessed hope of believers, the Resurrection and Rapture of the church, Paul now turns to the horrible event that follows the Rapture, the destruction of those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul begins this passage on the Day of the Lord with the words, “Now as to…,” this is a transitional phrase letting us know that Paul is moving onto a new subject. Paul also in this first verse addresses his readers as “brethren” as if calling them to renewed attention as he begins to write on this new subject. Paul turns from the Rapture to the new topic of the Day of the Lord.
Paul begins with “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren…” (1 Thessalonians 5:1a, NASB95)[4] These two words translated “times” and “epochs” refer in a general sense to the end times. Though the two words can overlap, there is a difference in meaning between them. The term translated “the times” refers to chronological time, to clock time or calendar time. The term “the epochs” views time in terms of events, eras, seasons such as the times of the Gentiles. Using the two terms together as Paul does here suggests that the Thessalonian believers were curious about the end time events and wanted Paul to give them some dates if possible. The fact that Paul uses the plural of both terms shows us that many different time periods and events make up the end times.
The Thessalonians wanted to know when the Rapture and the Day of the Lord would take place. They were concerned that they had missed the Rapture and were in the Day of the Lord because some false teachers had said the Day of the Lord had come. In verse 4-11 Paul will assure the Thessalonian believers that they would not experience the Day of the Lord.
But as to their question as to when the Day of the Lord would come, Paul responded by telling the Thessalonians, “…you have no need of anything to be written to you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1b, NASB95)[5] Jesus had a similar reply in Acts 1:6-7 where we read, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;’ ” (Acts 1:6–7, NASB95)[6] The Thessalonians did not need to know when the Day of the Lord would come; they already knew all that God intended them to know. To know the date or even the approximate time that the Day of the Lord would come would only foster indifference if it were still a long way off, or panic if it were near. Being spiritually prepared for the return of Christ does not involve date setting, clock-watching, or sign seeking. God has chosen not to reveal the specific time of end time events so that believers will live in constant anticipation of them. Paul goes on in the next two verses and answers three questions: First, what is the Day of the Lord; second, for whom is the Day of the Lord; and third, how complete is the Day of the Lord?
WHAT IS THE DAY OF THE LORD? (1st Thessalonians 5:2)
Paul begins by reminding the Thessalonians what he had taught them about the Day of the Lord when he was with them. He writes in verse two, “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2, NASB95)[7] A thief comes suddenly, unexpectedly, unwelcomed, and with intent to do harm. The Day of the Lord will be a terrifying shock to those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul had taught the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord would arrive unexpectedly. The time will not be revealed, any more than a thief would announce in advance what time of night he plans to rob someone. The Lord Jesus Christ used this same metaphor in His own sermon on His second coming in Matthew 24:42-44, He said, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” (Matthew 24:42–44, NASB95)[8] This metaphor of a thief coming is never used to refer to the Rapture of the church. It is used to describe the Lord coming in judgment at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period, and the judgment at the end of the thousand-year kingdom of Christ on earth. A thief coming is not a hopeful, joyful event of deliverance, but an unexpected catastrophe.
This phrase the Day of the Lord is an important biblical phrase that describes God’s devastating future judgment on the wicked. The Old Testament mentions it specifically nineteen times mostly in the writing of the prophets. It is mentioned four times in the New Testament. It will be a time when God pours out His wrath on those who rejected Jesus Christ and refused God’s gift of salvation. In the Old Testament passages dealing with the Day of the Lord there is often a near fulfillment and a future fulfillment as is often seen in Old Testament prophecy. Unlike the Rapture which will not be preceded by any signs, there are several signs that will herald the arrival of the Day of the Lord. They do not reveal the specific time that it will come but that it is getting near. The first sign that the Day of the Lord is drawing near will be the appearance of Elijah as a forerunner as described in Malachi 4:5. Second, a world-wide rebellion against God and His Word will precede the Day of the Lord, we will look at this in more detail in 2nd Thessalonians 2. Third, the Day of the Lord will not come until the “man of lawlessness” is revealed, this too will be examined more in 2nd Thessalonians 2. Fourth, the nations will begin to assemble in the valley of decision for the battle of Armageddon. Fifth, dramatic signs in the heavens will precede the coming of the Day of the Lord. All this and many more things must take place before the coming of the Day of the Lord.
FOR WHOM IS THE DAY OF THE LORD? (1st Thessalonians 5:3a)
As Paul continues to describe the Day of the Lord in verse three it is important to notice that he now switches to plural third-person pronouns. Instead of saying “you” in reference to the Thessalonian believers, he switches to “they.” This is very important as he writes about the Day of the Lord. He writes, “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3a, NASB95)[9] As I already stated, there are many events recorded in both the Old and the New Testaments that must take place before the terrible outpouring of God’s wrath in judgment, many unmistakable events, but most people on the earth will be listening to those who are saying, “peace and safety!” and believing that what they are saying will be true. Then Paul writes that destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child. Pregnant women do not know when they will start having contractions, they have a general timeframe, it will be somewhere around nine months after becoming pregnant. But they do not know the hour or the day, it will come unexpectedly and suddenly one day. This will be like the Day of the Lord, even though events point to a general time, it will come suddenly at a time not expected and destruction will come.
By using the plural pronouns “they” and “them” which refers to unbelievers, Paul reassured the Thessalonian believers that they would not face destruction. They will not face the wrath of God at the Day of the Lord because they will be raptured before the Day of the Lord comes. The word translated “destruction” does not refer to annihilation, but separation from God. It does not mean destruction of being, but of well-being. It does not mean the end of existence, but destruction of the purpose for existence. God will accomplish the destruction of unbelievers by casting them into the eternal torment of hell.
HOW COMPLETE IS THE DAY OF THE LORD? (1st Thessalonians 5:3b)
The tragic result of unbelievers listening and believing those who are saying “peace and safety” is that they will be totally unprepared for the Day of the Lord. Paul ends verse three by stating, “and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3b, NASB95)[10] Those who refused to put their faith in the Lord Jesus and rejected God’s gracious offer of salvation will not escape the divine judgment that will define the Day of the Lord. In the Greek, Paul uses a double negative which stresses in Greek the comprehensiveness of the Day of the Lord. It will bring destruction on every unbeliever alive when it comes.
Our Scripture reading this morning from the prophet Zephaniah described the destruction and terror of the Day of the Lord. Let me read Zephaniah’s words again. Zephaniah 1:14-18, “Near is the great day of the Lord, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of trumpet and battle cry Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers. I will bring distress on men So that they will walk like the blind, Because they have sinned against the Lord; And their blood will be poured out like dust And their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the Lord’s wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.” (Zephaniah 1:14–18, NASB95)[11] A horrifying, devastating day for those who have turned their back on God.
CONCLUSION:
You who have put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should be comforted by the reality that you will be raptured before the coming of the Day of the Lord. You will not experience its horrors, its destruction. Yet knowing that this event is coming in God’s perfect timing should also motivate us to be a witness to those around us. The tragic reality is that those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will experience God’s wrath both temporally and eternally.
If you are here today and you have not put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you are not sure that you will be saved from the wrath to come, you can know today. One of two possible destinies awaits every member of the human race. You must decide which will be your destiny. If you decide to stubbornly remain in spiritual darkness and reject God’s offer of salvation, then you will suffer God’s wrath and be cast out into the outer darkness of eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. But if you decide to come in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, agreeing with God that you are a sinner, and believing that Jesus Christ died as your substitute, suffering the wrath of God against sin on your behalf, believing that He was buried proving that He died the death you deserve for your sin, but that on the third day rose from the dead to never die again, proving that the sin penalty was paid, and conquering death as the guarantee that we will conquer it as well, and that one day we will have a glorified body like Christ’s own glorified body and we will live in God’s presence for eternity. You can know today where you will spend eternity, I made that decision 50 years ago and I have never regretted my decision. I have learned that God is faithful, and only wants what is best for me which is to walk faithfully in His will for my life and I know without a doubt that I will spend eternity in His presence enjoying His goodness. You can know that today as well, I promise you it will be the most important decision that you will ever make, and it will change your life forever. The sobering words of the writer of Hebrews sums up this message, he wrote in Hebrews 2:3, “…how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3a, NASB95)[12]
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.