1Th 5:2-4 | JFB | STEP | 2. as a thief in the night-- The apostles in this image follow the parable of their Lord, expressing how the Lord's coming shall take men by surprise ( ; ). "The night is wherever there is quiet unconcern" [Bengel]. "At midnight" (perhaps figurative: to some parts of the earth it will be literal night), . The thief not only gives no notice of his approach but takes all precaution to prevent the household knowing of it. So the Lord ( ). Signs will precede the coming, to confirm the patient hope of the watchful believer; but the coming itself shall be sudden at last ( ; Lu 21:25-32, 35).

‏ 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4

2. as a thief in the night--The apostles in this image follow the parable of their Lord, expressing how the Lord's coming shall take men by surprise (Mt 24:43; 2Pe 3:10). "The night is wherever there is quiet unconcern" [Bengel]. "At midnight" (perhaps figurative: to some parts of the earth it will be literal night), Mt 25:6. The thief not only gives no notice of his approach but takes all precaution to prevent the household knowing of it. So the Lord (Re 16:15). Signs will precede the coming, to confirm the patient hope of the watchful believer; but the coming itself shall be sudden at last (Mt 24:32-36; Lu 21:25-32, 35).

3. they--the men of the world. 1Th 5:5, 6; 1Th 4:13, "others," all the rest of the world save Christians.

Peace--(Jud 18:7, 9, 27, 28; Jr 6:14; Eze 13:10).

then--at the very moment when they least expect it. Compare the case of Belshazzar, Da 5:1-5, 6, 9, 26-28; Herod, Ac 12:21-23.

sudden--"unawares" (Lu 21:34).

as travail--"As the labor pang" comes in an instant on the woman when otherwise engaged (Psa 48:6; Is 13:8).

shall not escape--Greek, "shall not at all escape." Another awful feature of their ruin: there shall be then no possibility of shunning it however they desire it (Am 9:2, 3; Re 6:15, 16).

4. not in darkness--not in darkness of understanding (that is, spiritual ignorance) or of the moral nature (that is, a state of sin), Ep 4:18.

that--Greek, "in order that"; with God results are all purposed.

that day--Greek, "THE day"; the day of the Lord (He 10:25, "the day"), in contrast to "darkness."

overtake--unexpectedly (compare Joh 12:35).

as a thief--The two oldest manuscripts read, "as (the daylight overtakes) thieves" (Job 24:17). Old manuscripts and Vulgate read as English Version.