1Th 5:4-7 | KingComments | STEP | The believers in Thessalonica now know that the believers who are fallen asleep will also be present when the Lord Jesus will come to earth to reign. They know also that the Lord Jesus will come first Himself, that He will take up all the believers at the same time, that there will be a special encounter in the air and that He will take up all His own to His dwelling place, heaven. From that union in the air on, His own will be with Him forever. . After this is determined, Paul can continue his teaching on the coming of the Lord to the earth. In that respect, there was really no need for him to write them. They had received the teaching on “the times and the epochs” and enough has been written about that in the Old Testament. ‘Times and epochs’ refer to the earth. The first reference to that is written in Genesis 1 ( ), where it clearly appears that it has to do with the earth. The earth is the territory where all prophetic foretelling will be fulfilled. The church and its rapture is nowhere a subject of prophecy. That is because the church belongs to heaven. With both ‘times’ and ‘epochs’ a certain period of time is meant. They also are mentioned together in Acts 1 ( ; cf. ; ). They are synonyms that complement one another. However, there is a remarkable difference. Concerning ‘times’ it is about duration of time, about something that happens after a course of time. In Greek, the word chronos is used. You recognize the word in our word ‘chronometer’, a device to measure how long something has taken. You read in Galatians 4 that when “the fullness of the time” ( chronos ) had come, God sent forth His Son ( ). That means that the Lord Jesus came to earth after the termination of a certain period of time and God had considered it the time to send forth His Son. Concerning ‘epochs’ it is not about the duration of time, but about what exactly characterizes a certain period of time, about the character of that time. In Greek, the word kairos is used here. There was a time in which man lived without law ( ). After a course of time God gave through Moses the law to His people and they lived under the law ( ). In “the times of the Gentiles” ( ) He allowed the nations to go their own way. Those different periods of time, that sometimes follow each other and sometimes occur at the same time, have their own characteristic. Each time has made clear who man is and that he fully fails in serving God. All of these different times end up in “the fullness of the times” (the plural form of kairos ) ( ). That is the time of the millennial kingdom which will be characterized by peace because then the Prince of peace will reign. Then “times (plural form of ‘kairos’) of refreshing” will come ( ). . They were not left in uncertainty about the time that the Lord Jesus will come to the earth. They knew “full well” about that. In the same sense Luke uses the word ‘careful’ or ‘accurate’ for his investigation into the history of the Lord Jesus ( ). Matthew uses it to indicate how urgently Herod wants to know from the wise men about the star they had seen ( ). The Holy Spirit uses it to describe how Apollos taught “the things concerning Jesus” and that Priscilla and Aquila explained to Apollos “the way of God more accurately” ( ). This is how Paul uses it for his teaching to the Thessalonians. Finally the word ‘careful’ is also used by Paul for the conduct of the believer ( ). Summarized you may say that you ought to examine the Scriptures accurately or carefully, teach the Scriptures accurately and need to be accurate in your obedience to what you have learnt from the Scriptures. “The day of the Lord” is not only the moment that He comes to judge, but the whole period in which He is in charge in contrast to the time in which man is in charge. That time begins when the church has been caught up. Then He will first pour out His judgments over the earth. An exhaustive and impressive description you find in Revelation 6-18. Then the Lord Jesus Himself will come, as you read in Revelation 19, with all His saints to the earth to judge the remainders of the evil ( ). Afterward He will establish His kingdom of peace. If you are looking forward to His coming for the church, He will not come for you “as a thief in the night”. A thief always comes suddenly, unexpected and undesired. The world does not look forward to Him. The unbelievers absolutely do not want to look forward to Him. You notice it if you tell about Him to be coming to judge the world. Then they start to mock ( ). . In their audacity they speak about “peace and safety” (cf. ; ). They perform this sham because in their arrogance they trust in their technological achievements and improvement. They think to have everything under control. But behind their tough language – they “are saying”, to encourage themselves – they hide an enormous fear for the future ( ). This fear will appear to be not unfounded. However, when people who are being honest about that, are told about the only way for hope, they suddenly prefer to believe that it is altogether not that bad at all. Then they rather scream over their feelings of fear with their imagination of peace that they have made their own. The destruction will suddenly overtake them. They will lose everything what life meant to them. This sudden destruction will come down from heaven, when the Lord Jesus appears to judge all evil, but also earlier all the introductory judgments after the rapture of the church. There will be no way of escape from this judgment. concludes with a threat regarding that. Nobody will escape from his or her judgment. God knows perfectly and detailed what each person has thought and done. He will deliver the convincing proof of it, so that everyone who falls under His judgment will have to acknowledge the righteousness of it. Every injustice that has been done will be punished righteously. You, and every other believer, may know that Christ bore the judgment over the injustice that has been done. The unrepentant sinners will have to bear the judgment themselves because they have refused to choose the way that would lead them to salvation. The comparison with “the labor pains upon a woman with child” indicates that it is about a time of sorrow and pain. That’s what will happen to the unbelievers when the Lord Jesus starts with His judgments. There will be no way of escape for them, just like a pregnant woman does not escape the labor pains. For the sorely afflicted believers at that time the encouraging prospect of new life after sorrows is attached to that (cf. ). Faith may know that God is sending these labor pains, so that fruit will appear for Him from the earth. . With this verse a series of sharp contrasts starts, introduced by the words “but you”. They clarify the difference between the believers who will be caught up and the unbelievers who will be left behind on earth. The believers are sons of the light and sons of the day opposite to the night and the darkness; believers are alert and are sober opposite to sleeping and being drunk; the believers are destined for salvation and not for wrath. In the word “brethren” again the hearty bond of the apostle with the Thessalonians resonates. He desires to reach their heart. After picturing the coming ‘day of the Lord’ to them and the terrors that will accompany this day regarding the unbelievers, he now encourages them. They are not in darkness in which sphere every kind of light is missing. The light of God had irradiated them and therefore they were informed of His plans. Owing to that they were prepared and that day was not going to overtake them like a thief. Because of the teaching that they have received, first orally and now through this letter, they knew that they would have been taken away from the earth when that day comes. Now read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 again. Reflection: What can you already tell about God’s act toward the world? Have you already been occupied with exploring this ‘accurately’?

‏ 1 Thessalonians 5:4-7

The Day of the Lord

The believers in Thessalonica now know that the believers who are fallen asleep will also be present when the Lord Jesus will come to earth to reign. They know also that the Lord Jesus will come first Himself, that He will take up all the believers at the same time, that there will be a special encounter in the air and that He will take up all His own to His dwelling place, heaven. From that union in the air on, His own will be with Him forever.

1Thes 5:1. After this is determined, Paul can continue his teaching on the coming of the Lord to the earth. In that respect, there was really no need for him to write them. They had received the teaching on “the times and the epochs” and enough has been written about that in the Old Testament. ‘Times and epochs’ refer to the earth. The first reference to that is written in Genesis 1 (Gen 1:14), where it clearly appears that it has to do with the earth. The earth is the territory where all prophetic foretelling will be fulfilled.

The church and its rapture is nowhere a subject of prophecy. That is because the church belongs to heaven. With both ‘times’ and ‘epochs’ a certain period of time is meant. They also are mentioned together in Acts 1 (Acts 1:7; cf. Dan 2:21; Ecc 3:1). They are synonyms that complement one another. However, there is a remarkable difference.

Concerning ‘times’ it is about duration of time, about something that happens after a course of time. In Greek, the word chronos is used. You recognize the word in our word ‘chronometer’, a device to measure how long something has taken. You read in Galatians 4 that when “the fullness of the time” (chronos) had come, God sent forth His Son (Gal 4:4). That means that the Lord Jesus came to earth after the termination of a certain period of time and God had considered it the time to send forth His Son.

Concerning ‘epochs’ it is not about the duration of time, but about what exactly characterizes a certain period of time, about the character of that time. In Greek, the word kairos is used here. There was a time in which man lived without law (Rom 5:13). After a course of time God gave through Moses the law to His people and they lived under the law (Jn 7:19). In “the times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24) He allowed the nations to go their own way.

Those different periods of time, that sometimes follow each other and sometimes occur at the same time, have their own characteristic. Each time has made clear who man is and that he fully fails in serving God. All of these different times end up in “the fullness of the times” (the plural form of kairos) (Eph 1:10). That is the time of the millennial kingdom which will be characterized by peace because then the Prince of peace will reign. Then “times (plural form of ‘kairos’) of refreshing” will come (Acts 3:19).

1Thes 5:2. They were not left in uncertainty about the time that the Lord Jesus will come to the earth. They knew “full well” about that. In the same sense Luke uses the word ‘careful’ or ‘accurate’ for his investigation into the history of the Lord Jesus (Lk 1:3). Matthew uses it to indicate how urgently Herod wants to know from the wise men about the star they had seen (Mt 2:7). The Holy Spirit uses it to describe how Apollos taught “the things concerning Jesus” and that Priscilla and Aquila explained to Apollos “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:25-26). This is how Paul uses it for his teaching to the Thessalonians. Finally the word ‘careful’ is also used by Paul for the conduct of the believer (Eph 5:15).

Summarized you may say that you ought to examine the Scriptures accurately or carefully, teach the Scriptures accurately and need to be accurate in your obedience to what you have learnt from the Scriptures.

“The day of the Lord” is not only the moment that He comes to judge, but the whole period in which He is in charge in contrast to the time in which man is in charge. That time begins when the church has been caught up. Then He will first pour out His judgments over the earth. An exhaustive and impressive description you find in Revelation 6-18. Then the Lord Jesus Himself will come, as you read in Revelation 19, with all His saints to the earth to judge the remainders of the evil (Rev 19:11-21). Afterward He will establish His kingdom of peace.

If you are looking forward to His coming for the church, He will not come for you “as a thief in the night”. A thief always comes suddenly, unexpected and undesired. The world does not look forward to Him. The unbelievers absolutely do not want to look forward to Him. You notice it if you tell about Him to be coming to judge the world. Then they start to mock (2Pet 3:3-4).

1Thes 5:3. In their audacity they speak about “peace and safety” (cf. Jer 6:14 ; Jer 8:10-11 ; Jer 14:13; Eze 13:10 ; 16). They perform this sham because in their arrogance they trust in their technological achievements and improvement. They think to have everything under control. But behind their tough language – they “are saying”, to encourage themselves – they hide an enormous fear for the future (Lk 21:25-26).

This fear will appear to be not unfounded. However, when people who are being honest about that, are told about the only way for hope, they suddenly prefer to believe that it is altogether not that bad at all. Then they rather scream over their feelings of fear with their imagination of peace that they have made their own. The destruction will suddenly overtake them. They will lose everything what life meant to them. This sudden destruction will come down from heaven, when the Lord Jesus appears to judge all evil, but also earlier all the introductory judgments after the rapture of the church.

There will be no way of escape from this judgment. 1Thes 5:3 concludes with a threat regarding that. Nobody will escape from his or her judgment. God knows perfectly and detailed what each person has thought and done. He will deliver the convincing proof of it, so that everyone who falls under His judgment will have to acknowledge the righteousness of it. Every injustice that has been done will be punished righteously. You, and every other believer, may know that Christ bore the judgment over the injustice that has been done. The unrepentant sinners will have to bear the judgment themselves because they have refused to choose the way that would lead them to salvation.

The comparison with “the labor pains upon a woman with child” indicates that it is about a time of sorrow and pain. That’s what will happen to the unbelievers when the Lord Jesus starts with His judgments. There will be no way of escape for them, just like a pregnant woman does not escape the labor pains. For the sorely afflicted believers at that time the encouraging prospect of new life after sorrows is attached to that (cf. Mic 4:9-10). Faith may know that God is sending these labor pains, so that fruit will appear for Him from the earth.

1Thes 5:4. With this verse a series of sharp contrasts starts, introduced by the words “but you”. They clarify the difference between the believers who will be caught up and the unbelievers who will be left behind on earth. The believers are sons of the light and sons of the day opposite to the night and the darkness; believers are alert and are sober opposite to sleeping and being drunk; the believers are destined for salvation and not for wrath.

In the word “brethren” again the hearty bond of the apostle with the Thessalonians resonates. He desires to reach their heart. After picturing the coming ‘day of the Lord’ to them and the terrors that will accompany this day regarding the unbelievers, he now encourages them.

They are not in darkness in which sphere every kind of light is missing. The light of God had irradiated them and therefore they were informed of His plans. Owing to that they were prepared and that day was not going to overtake them like a thief. Because of the teaching that they have received, first orally and now through this letter, they knew that they would have been taken away from the earth when that day comes.

Now read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 again.

Reflection: What can you already tell about God’s act toward the world? Have you already been occupied with exploring this ‘accurately’?

Be Alert and Sober

1Thes 5:5. The day of the Lord was not going to overtake them. That does not mean that they are ready for the moment when that day comes, but that they would not be on earth anymore when it comes. You also may know that you will not have to go through the great tribulation. This is the conclusion that the Thessalonians (including you) are allowed to draw because they are all, without exception, “sons of light and sons of day”. In the Bible, a person is a son when he or she bears the character of something or when that very thing characterizes him or her. In that way the Bible speaks of “Sons of Thunder” (Mk 3:17) and “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36).

Here Paul speaks about your position as a believer. It is really encouraging when you think about that. Just think about it: for the sake of the gospel you have been drawn from an atmosphere of darkness and brought into God’s marvelous atmosphere of light (1Pet 2:9). You came into God’s light as a sinner. That light convicted you (2Cor 4:6). That brought you to conversion. Now you are walking in the light (1Jn 1:7) and therefore the light is within you yourself. You became a son of light, which means that the light is now visible in your life. A son radiates the features of his Father. Isn’t this relation with the Father an awesome thing? Although you live in the world that lies in the darkness, you yourself are not in the darkness, but you are “light in the Lord” (Eph 5:7-8).

For the world, the day of the Lord means judgment, but for you it means a period of unprecedented peace. That peace is not to be seen yet around you, but it has been given to you already in your heart. You know what is awaiting you, what is going to happen. Night is the counterpart of day, just as darkness is opposite light. You are not of night. You do not belong to a lifestyle anymore in which there is no room for God. The ‘nightlife’ is over for you. You can also apply that to all kinds of activities that you were doing secretly. Your whole life is now transparent to everyone. You have nothing to hide anymore, right?

1Thes 5:6. By the transition from “you” to “we” Paul tactfully identifies himself with his readers. What applies to them, also applies to him. He involves himself in the admonition not to sleep, like others do. With “the others” he refers to the unbelievers (cf. 1Thes 4:13). After having determined the position, he now speaks about the practice of the believer. If you are a son of day and of light, you ought to walk accordingly. Believers ought to clearly distinguish themselves from unbelievers by their character and conduct.

The unbelievers “are sleeping”. In that way Paul indicates that these people are totally indifferent toward the spiritual realities. The opposite of that is “be alert”. That is a condition of spiritual alertness which makes a person not to be caught by surprise at a sudden attack. You find yourself in an alert state. You also ought to be “sober”, which means to be free from intoxicating substances that causes one to have a wrong picture of reality. You should not let yourself be deceived by impressive arguments, which may cause you to be enthusiastic for a wrong case. Judge a phenomenon soberly, on the basis of the Bible, and don’t let yourself be fooled by deceptions of the enemy.

1Thes 5:7. He who is sleeping is not aware of any approaching disaster. He who is alert, does not only watch for the moves of the enemy, but also looks forward to the coming of the Lord. To sleep and getting drunk belong to the night and are works of the darkness. Sleepers have no idea of the morning star and those who are drunk have no attention for it, as intoxicated and numb as they are. Neither can distinguish the time wherein they live. The world is drunk, intoxicated by influences that come from the bottomless pit, where demons live.

Due to modern communication methods, society is drilled with ideas, influences and lifestyles in an enormously cunning way. People who are glued to their television night after night are stealthily subjected to brainwashing. Just only think about the word ‘evolution’. That has entered into the mind of man with great power. Without repentance it cannot be removed from the mind anymore.

1Thes 5:8. The believer is in great danger of falling prey to this development. Yet you are not delivered to this development. You are able to cope with it. You cannot do that by your own power. In this 1Thes 5:8 you read which means are at your disposal. First you are pointed again at your position. You are of the “day”. Then you are reminded that you have to be “sober”. In that way you are spiritually balanced and able to judge the danger rightly.

Then an armor is offered to you. The description of the armor is derived from Isaiah 59, where the Messiah is represented in an armor (Isa 59:17; cf. Rom 13:12; Eph 6:13-18). It regards therefore an armor tested by the Lord Himself.

The Christian is presented as a soldier, not as one in the place of the parade, but in active service. You find yourself in a warfare. Satan will do his utmost to undermine your trust in God’s love by targeting your heart with doubt about the love of God regarding the way that He goes with you. Therefore check whether your “breastplate” is still on the right place. If you have put on your breastplate, which is made of “faith and love”, the attempts of satan will not be successful.

The breastplate protects your heart, from which the springs of life flow (Pro 4:23). You must decide in your heart not to allow the enemy to change your faith, in other words your trust in God, and His love for you into distrust. When he attacks you, you should quote bible verses, e.g. Hebrews 11:1 (Heb 11:1) and 1 John 4:8,16 (1Jn 4:8 ; 16).

The “helmet” protects your head, your mind. The helmet is made of “the hope of salvation”. Satan will try everything to make you think only of here and now, of your job and your holidays, as if everything is okay on earth. His aim is that you do not look forward to the future, to the time that the Lord Jesus comes to bring the full salvation to earth. Just check also if your helmet is still on the right place. Keep showing the enemy that your life is focused on the coming of the Lord Jesus and that you are decided to see all your activities in that light.

You see that your armor consists of three expressions of the Christian life – faith, love and hope – which we also have seen in chapter 1 (1Thes 1:3). There they are the characteristics of everyday life. Here they are the weapons that keep the enemy at a distance if he approaches you with his schemes and attacks.

1Thes 5:9. God’s wrath is not destined for you because God has not destined you for His wrath. God’s wrath will therefore not strike you. You can be sure about that. Instead you are destined to obtain salvation. It regards a salvation of which you do not partake yet. Are you still not saved yet then? You are saved by grace (Eph 2:8). There is no need for you to be unsure about the possibility of still getting perished. Once a person is a child of God, he will remain to be that forever.

The salvation that Paul is talking about here, deals with another aspect. Here he is talking about the moment that all believers will partake of the full result of the work of the Lord Jesus. In that particular result we will partake when He has caught up the church and comes back together with the church to the earth in order to reign. We then will have glorified bodies in which sin is absent.

1Thes 5:10. In order to make us able to partake of that the Lord Jesus died as our substitute. He freely gave His life willingly, making His death the means for us to obtain these things. Through His death you may know that you live with Him, not only soon, but now already.

The “awake” and “asleep” that is being dealt with in this context is to be understood spiritually and refers only to believers. With ‘awake’ you can think of the believers who are alive and with ‘asleep’ of the believers who have fallen asleep. Whatever the case, the “living together with Him” is the part of each believer. Death has in no way influence on it.

1Thes 5:11. With a view to the threatening dangers, the attitude of Cain, who said: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9) is not fitting. They had to admonish one another and through the teaching from God’s Word build up one another. Nobody was to withdraw himself from that. They need one another. This is one of the expressions of fellowship which today we also need. They did that. Are we doing that too?

Now read 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 again.

Reflection: Do you recognize certain dangers in your environment? How does your armor fit?