Free Bible Commentary
“1 Thessalonians 5:1-5”
Categories: 1 Thessalonians“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. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.”
--- End of Scripture verses ---
The Thessalonians needed more elaboration on the events that would take place at the Lord’s Second Coming so that they would not be grieved by the passing of their faithful brethren (4:13-18). But they needed no further instruction about the timing of the Lord’s return (verse 1). They knew it would happen at a time that the world least expected it. “The Lord will come just like a thief in the night” (verse 2).
A thief doesn’t announce beforehand the timing of his larceny. He uses the element of surprise to catch his target off guard. When the Lord returns it will be to the shock of the vast majority of the people who are not prepared for His arrival. And, no matter how long the Lord chooses to wait, in the end His coming will be sudden. Even though a woman in the 39th week of pregnancy knows for certain that her baby is coming soon, when the labor pains hit her, they hit her severely and swiftly.
The best that we can do is to live our lives each day as if it is the day that Jesus will descend, and to be spiritually prepared for His coming, no matter when that day might be. We take precautions and make preparations in advance to protect our homes against theft, and to be ready for our babies when they are born into the world. It is the height of foolishness to not make the necessary preparations for the most important inevitability in the life of every single human being—the certainty of the Final Judgment.
“We must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus came to the world the first time to be our Savior. When He returns the second time He will be our Judge. Please do what you need to do to be ready for “the day of the Lord” (verse 2). By the way, anytime that phrase is used in the Old Testament, it refers to Yahweh God as LORD (Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:7; etc.). Jesus is the great God of heaven. He is our Almighty Creator, our Blessed Savior and our Righteous Judge.
Take the time to learn of Him and get to know Him. There is no good reason for the day of the Lord to “overtake you like a thief” (verse 4). There is no good reason for any of us to remain in the “darkness” when it comes to knowing the Lord’s will for us and what pleases Him. Learn the truth and obey the Gospel and live your life in all righteousness and goodness as “sons of the light and sons of day” (verse 5).
“The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
BE READY!
Please read 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 for tomorrow.
Please come study the Bible and worship God with us today at the Taylorsville Road church of Christ, and start learning what you need to do to make your life right with God in preparation for the Day of the Lord.
We are located at 3741 Taylorsville Road in Louisville Kentucky.
We have Bible study period at 9:30 AM on Sundays and 7:30 PM on Wednesdays.
We have worship services at 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM on Sundays.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
- Louie Taylor
Share
