1 Thessalonians - The Day of The Lord - Part 1

It's going to be a sudden event because it's going to be like a woman whose birth pains come upon her all of a sudden, and there's going to be the coming of the Day of the Lord. And the big question is, are you ready to meet the Lord?

Father, help us to examine our lives, to rearrange our priorities. Help us to live for the things that really count. Remind us that life is short and we want to make the most of it. And so I pray that You will help us in our study of the Word of God today for Jesus' sake and in His name, Amen.

God expects us His children to be different from those who don't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul has been pointing out these differences in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Thessalonians 5. Christians are human. Christians are tempted. Christians go through pressures that some unsaved people know nothing about. And Paul tells us that God is able to help us through all of these emergencies and pressures of life. In 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, he reminded us to walk in purity, to take God at His word: "Be ye holy, for I am holy." So many people in the world walk in impurity, immorality; they joke about things that are very sacred and very special. And yet Paul reminds us that we should walk in purity.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, he tells us to walk in love, concerning brotherly love and helping one another and encouraging one another. Then in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, he focuses on the future hope of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Unsaved people have no hope. Not just a little bit of hope—they have no hope. Peter tells us we have been born again to a living hope in 1 Peter 1:3. Now, a living hope is one that grows; it takes root, it bears fruit—it’s a practical thing. When you have a living hope, it affects your living. Just like a young lady who gets engaged, and now she's looking forward to a marriage. And what does she do? Well, that future hope, that future plan, guides her whole life: how she spends her time, how she spends her money, the books that she reads, the things that she does—all of these things are affected by her future plans. Well, we plan to be in heaven. We plan to see the Lord Jesus Christ. And Paul focuses on that in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 of First Thessalonians. 

Now, you've noticed, I'm sure, in your own Bible study that in 1 Thessalonians 4, he comforts the believers. He's talking to the saved in particular there, talking about the saved. And in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, he writes a word of comfort and assurance because they were concerned about their Christian dead. Had the dead in Christ been abandoned? And the Lord said through Paul, "No, they've not been abandoned." When the Lord Jesus comes back, there's going to be resurrection and reunion, and we're going to be forever with the Lord. That phrase amazes me: "forever with the Lord," always with the Lord.

Now, in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul gives us the other side of the coming of the Lord as it relates to the unsaved world. And he gives to us here a series of five contrasts. You'll notice when you read these verses that he says "we, they; we, they; you, they." You see, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, the contrast was between the living saints and the dead saints. Now the contrast is between believers and unbelievers. How is the coming of the Lord going to affect the world? That's an interesting study, isn't it? You'll notice that Paul presents a series of five contrasts in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. Let me give them to you now. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, he contrasts knowledge with ignorance. "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly, accurately, that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they—notice that word they—for when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape." There's a contrast here between knowledge and ignorance. God's people know what is going on. The crowd on the outside does not know. Paul calls them "the outsiders" in 1 Thessalonians 4:12, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, he calls them "others," others who have no hope. So the outsider is ignorant of these things, but the believer has knowledge.

Then in 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5, there's a contrast between light and darkness. "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness." So there's a contrast between light and darkness. Now, that being the case, in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 you have a third contrast between watching and sleeping. "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do—those are the outsiders—but let us watch and be sober." Knowledge, ignorance; light, darkness; watching, sleeping. 

Now he picks up this idea of soberness and carries it on in 1 Thessalonians 5:7-8, and here we have the fourth contrast between soberness and drunkenness. "For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night." Now let me pause to say that sad to say, this is not always true. There are lots of people who can hardly wait to get their first drink in the morning. It's tragic the way alcohol takes over in so many homes. "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." So in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, watching and sleeping; 1 Thessalonians 5:7-8, the contrast between soberness and drunkenness. 

And of course, the consequence of all of this, in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, the contrast between salvation and wrath. "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore—and here's the practical result of this—therefore comfort each other—that means encourage each other—and edify one another—build each other up—just as you also are doing." Paul was not scolding them because of what they were not doing; he was encouraging them to keep on doing it. It's hard to keep on keeping on sometimes. 

ow let's begin with 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, the contrast between knowledge and ignorance. Have you ever noticed in your Bible that the people of God know what is going on? God keeps His people up to date on what is going on. That's why He gave us the Bible. Paul did not want these people to be ignorant concerning these things. They're very important. Therefore, when he was with them in Thessalonica, he taught them. Now he had to remind them about it. So we have knowledge versus ignorance. Now there are four terms in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 that demand our attention. We must know what they mean: "the Day of the Lord" in verse 2; "times and seasons" in verse 1; "thief in the night" in verse 2, and it's referred to again in verse 4; and then "travail" or "labor pains" in verse 3. Now these four terms are very important in the study of Bible prophecy. 

Let's begin with "Day of the Lord." "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night." That phrase "Day of the Lord" is used 18 times in the Prophets in the Old Testament, and there are some synonymous phrases: it's called "the day of trouble," "that day," "the day of vengeance," "the day of wrath." It refers to that time—and here I'm borrowing a definition from Dr. D. Edmond Hiebert—Dr. Hiebert says the Day of the Lord is that time when God intervenes in history to judge His enemies, to deliver His people, and to establish His kingdom.

I mentioned to you that eight of the Old Testament prophets mention the Day of the Lord or the day of trouble, and Joel is perhaps the most important. So let me invite you to turn back to the book of Joel. Now this is important because Joel is quoted by Peter in his Pentecostal sermon. Now in Joel 1:1 through Joel 2:27, we find the Day of the Lord typified. That is, he's talking about the locust plague. He's talking about this awful thing that's happened to the land. When you read this, he talks about how the animals can't find anything to eat and how all the vines have dried up and the farmers are repenting. And he calls upon everyone to lament and to repent that God might take away this awful plague. Now this goes from Joel 1:1 through Joel 2:27—the Day of the Lord is typified. 

Now the Prophet uses this experience to talk about the Day of the Lord prophesied, Joel 2:28 through Joel 3:21. And he uses this as an object lesson. Notice Joel 2:28: "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days."

Now before the Day of the Lord, certain things are going to happen. And we have them listed in Joel 2:28-32. Number one, he talks about the Spirit. He says the Holy Spirit will be given not just to Jewish people but to Gentiles as well; sons and daughters, not just to men but to women; not just to the old elders but to the young men. Then there are going to be some signs. After talking about the Spirit, he talks about the signs in Joel 2:30: "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord." You see, before the Day of the Lord, you're going to have the Spirit being poured out, you're going to have certain signs that are going to be given, and of course it's going to end in salvation. Joel 2:32: "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance." 

Now this is before the Day of the Lord. Peter quoted this, but you'll notice at Pentecost there were no wonders in the heavens or on the earth. They didn't see any blood or fire or pillars of smoke; the sun didn't turn into darkness, the moon didn't turn into blood, and these awful judgments did not come. Why? Because Peter did not say that Pentecost was a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. All that Peter said was, "This is that which was spoken by Joel the prophet." Now what was Joel speaking about? The Holy Spirit of God. "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." What is "that"? The Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that Joel said would be poured out now has been poured out. But the great and terrible Day of the Lord has not yet come. 

Now in Joel 3:1-17, he tells us not what's going to happen before the Day of the Lord, but during the Day of the Lord. Talks about the judgment that is coming. Then after the Day of the Lord, Joel 3:18-21, He's going to set up the kingdom and there's going to be peace and forgiveness for God's people Israel. 

Now the Day of the Lord is that period of time when God is going to intervene in history. He's going to judge His enemies, He's going to deliver His people, and He's going to establish His kingdom. The Day of the Lord is a day of judgment. It is a day when the wrath of God will be poured out upon this world. You'll find it described, I think, in Revelation 6-20 when God intervenes in history and when God brings about judgments on this world. 

Now the people in Thessalonica thought that they were already in the Day of the Lord. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:1 of Second Thessalonians. "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit—somebody got up in the meeting and said we're now in the Day of the Lord; well, they weren't led by the Holy Spirit—or by word—someone gave them some word of knowledge—or by letter, as if from us—there was a forgery apparently; somebody forged a letter in the name of Paul and said that we are now in the Day of the Lord—as though the Day of the Lord had come." They thought because of all the persecution they were going through that they were already in the Day of the Lord. He said, "No, you're not in the Day of the Lord," and then he goes on to explain certain things have to happen before the Day of the Lord can come. And of course, first I think on that schedule is we must be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. That's what Paul dealt with in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. He explained what will happen when Jesus comes. Now he's going to explain in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 what will happen afterward, you see. I do not believe I am going to be here; I base it on 1 Thessalonians 5:9: "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Now let me hasten to say that good and godly people disagree on prophetic matters. Nobody will ever be kept out of heaven because he disagreed about prophecy. We don't make prophecy a test of fellowship or spirituality. But I do believe God is encouraging these people through Paul and encouraging us by saying the Day of the Lord deals with them, not with you. It's going to be a day of judgment. 

Now the little phrase "times and seasons," verse 1: "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write unto you." The Day of the Lord is a specific event, and the Day of the Lord is a sure event. God has His plan. God has His times and His seasons; we don't always understand these things. In Acts 1:7, you recall they asked the Lord about the establishing of the kingdom. The reply was given: "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." Now, we don't know all these details. Our job is to witness, not to be spectators or speculators. But God has His times and His seasons; He's working His plan. The Day of the Lord is a specific event, and the Day of the Lord is a sure event, and the Day of the Lord is a secret event—like a thief in the night. When people have a false sense of security, then this is going to happen. Finally, it's going to be a sudden event because it's going to be like a woman whose birth pains come upon her all of a sudden and there's going to be the coming of the Day of the Lord. 

Now the Lord Jesus used a similar kind of language when He talked about future events. And in fact, this phrase "travail," a woman in travail, is often used in the Old Testament as a picture of sudden judgment coming. Travail—a sudden event. Matthew 24, the Lord Jesus talks about that, and you'll find that in Matthew 24:8 He talks about this: "All these are the beginning of sorrows." Now the word sorrows in the Greek is the word birth pangs. He talks about the birth pangs that are going to come, the pain that's suddenly going to come to society when the Day of the Lord arrives—a sudden event. Now it's also a secret event. He talks about the thief, verse 2: "For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night." By the way, the Lord Jesus used that same phrase in His Olivet Discourse. He talked about the thief coming—if the man had known when the thief was coming, then he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. And so the Day of the Lord, the times and the seasons, the thief in the night, and the travail—these four terms tell us what the Day of the Lord is like. It is a specific event, it is a sure event, it's a sudden event, and it is a secret event. When people are in false security, then they are going to say, "Peace and safety!" and then sudden destruction is going to come. 

You might want to turn in your Bible to Matthew 24:36. The Lord compares this time of judgment to the days of Noah. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man." Knowledge in contrast to ignorance.

Now what's He saying? Simply this: life was going on normally. People were getting engaged and married, they were having parties and banquets, they were eating and drinking in their everyday activities. And Noah had ministered and witnessed, and they wouldn't believe him. They did not really believe that a flood was coming. And then it came. It came like a thief in the night; all of a sudden, bang, there it was—a secret event. And when it suddenly appeared, they were caught unprepared.

Our Lord also tells us in Luke 17:26-30 it will be like the days of Lot. Lot was living in Sodom, and Sodom was going to be destroyed along with Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain where there was such awful wickedness. And the people got up that morning, the sun rose like it had for years, and they went about their business. The paperboys were delivering the newspapers, and the baker was baking bread, and the storekeeper opened his store, and then all of a sudden, bang, the judgment came. False security. It's going to be a secret event; it's going to catch people by surprise. Now he says it's not going to catch believers by surprise because we know that these events are coming. We don't know when, but we're going to be prepared for them.