1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

 

1 Th 5:1 (KJB)

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

 

Times - Chronology of time or events, or a duration

Seasons - A fixed time

Need - Necessity

 

The Thessalonians had probably wanted to know what would happen to them if they died before the Lord returned and Paul had answered that question in the previous verses. Here Paul is stating that in regards to the return of Christ, he does not need to write to them concerning the return of Christ and the chronology of events leading up to the second coming. There is no need for them to look for the time of the Lord’s return. (Acts 1:7 KJV) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Just as Jesus told the disciples that they did not need to know the times and seasons, the Thessalonians did not need to know either. In God’s wisdom, He has withheld the exact day of the return of Christ because if we did know, then it could cause an upheaval in society and also in Christianity. Many Christians would stop working and then take it easy and laziness is not condoned by God. The Bible tells us that God has appointed a day when the Lord is going to return. (Acts 17:31 KJV) Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  The responsibility of the believer is not to look for dates but to occupy the time till the Lord returns and always be ready. A person is ready for the return of Christ the moment they become saved. We continue to do the work of an evangelist till the Lord returns.

 

1 Th 5:2 (KJB)

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

 

Perfectly - Exactly, carefully, or accurately

Cometh - Appear

 

Since Paul had explained to them that the return of the Lord is going to be a very quick event, he likens it to a thief who enters a home to rob something and quickly leaves so he will not be caught. It is the same principle with the return of Christ. When the Lord returns, He is going to rapture all the believers into Heaven and then raise the unbelievers to take them to judgment. (John 5:28-29 KJV) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, {29} And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. The return of the Lord is not going to be a series of events like the first coming was which took a period of about 30 years. This time the return of the Lord is going to be extremely fast. The thief does not break into a house and then sit down and have a cup of coffee. He is in the house and then out as fast and this is what is in view here, that the Lord is coming for people and that is it. There will be events which take place after the return of Christ such as judgment of the unbelievers and the creation of the new heavens and new earth but the return of Christ is going to be a very rapid event.

 

1 Th 5:3 (KJB)

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

 

Sudden - Unexpected

Safety - Security or stability

Travail - Birth pains

Escape - Flee or run away

 

One of the signs of the return of Christ is going to be those who claim peace and safety. They will think that they have permanent security in a temporal setting. One of the things which causes this type of mindset is when people set dates for the Lord’s return and they do not come to pass, so the scoffers proclaim peace and security because in their mind there is no God. Man creates systems of belief which lulls him into a stupor. (Jer 6:13-14 KJV) For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. {14} They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Jeremiah faced this situation in his time. The prophets and the priests were dealing in deceit and at the same time claiming peace, when there was no peace. Their peace came to an abrupt end when Babylon invaded Judah and carried it away captive.

 

In today’s world we see people speaking of political peace and security. False radio and TV ministries teaching the goodness of man and world peace being the reason of existence. Religions which are man-centered teaching if they do certain works then they are secured a place in Heaven. There are many aspects to the false peace and safety which pervades this world. Many just consider peace and safety as the world going along as it is, that is, business as usual. Get up for work, go to work, come home and enjoy the evening, and then start all over at the break of day. Routines can be mistakenly categorized as peace and safety. The Lord states that one day, which has already been determined, He is going to return and every system is going to be uprooted because that day will signal the end of the world and the human race. Once that happens there is no return, just as a woman giving birth, the baby does not go back in but continues down the birth channel until it is born. The last day will be like that, once it begins there is no return. No second time to repent, no second time to receive salvation because time will be no more. (Rev 10:6 KJV) And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: No unbeliever is going to escape the judgment of God. The unbelievers will go on in this world as if nothing has happened nor will happen. The problem is that the end of the world is going to be at an unexpected time and it will be sudden, just like that thief who enters the house quickly.

 

Probably the most ominous understanding of peace and safety are those who think they are truly saved and are not. (Rom 5:1 KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: When we become saved, we have peace with God and then we are safe and secure in Him. Those who have followed a false salvation plan may think they are saved and safe in the Lord. The sudden destruction which will come upon them will be Judgment Day. All along they were doing religious things and thinking they were pleasing the Lord but in a moment they find themselves at the Great White Throne Judgment standing for their sins. Their false salvation plan was void of the Lord Jesus Christ and He is the only way of salvation. This is why it is so important for us to make sure that we are in the true salvation of the Lord because our eternal souls are at stake.

 

1 Th 5:4 (KJB)

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

 

Here Paul makes a distinction between the believers and the unbelievers. As we stated before, the believer is readied for Heaven as soon as they become saved and their study of Scripture will yield many teachings on the promised second coming of Christ. Darkness here is speaking about unbelievers. Those who are not saved are considered to be walking in darkness. As long as one is saved, they are not in darkness and the day of Christ’s return will not overtake them as a thief overtakes a house. The true Christian is ready from the moment of salvation. Those who are unbelievers walk in darkness and have no desire for the things of God and that is why the second coming of Christ is going to overtake them. The Christian studies the Bible and finds much about the second coming and anticipates eagerly their home going. The unbeliever does not care about studying the Bible, so they will know nothing about the Lord’s return, until it happens.

 

1 Th 5:5 (KJB)

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

 

(1 Pet 2:9 KJV) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter 2:9 sheds much light on the fact that the true child of God has been called from darkness, that is, unbelief, to light, that is, salvation. (John 11:9-10 KJV) Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. {10} But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.  Jesus likened the day to those who are saved and those of the night are the unsaved. In the last verse, we saw that thief comes in the night and those who are unsaved are of the night. Therefore, the thief comes to the unbeliever who is unprepared. The thief does not come in the day because the day represents the light of the Gospel and those who are saved by it. This means that those who are saved are prepared for the second coming.

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