Times and Seasons
1 Thess 5:1-11
Last week I said that this chapter division in 1 Thess Chapter 5 is
another unfortunate one. It breaks up not only the train of thought, but an
important contrast. The contrast is between what the Thessalonians did not know
about the second coming of Christ and what they should known in some way.
Look back at 1 Thess 4:13. The writers put that they did not want the
believers to be ignorant. Somehow Paul, Timothy and Silas came to know what the
Thessalonians didn't. They deferred to the Apostle Paul to answer the question
about the dead and those who were alive at the time of Christ's returns.
Couching it in the language of comfort, Paul says he would not have them to be
ignorant--then he gives them instruction--not about every eschatological
detail, but enough to put their hearts and minds at rest. All believers
throughout the ages and all believers of all ages will get the same basic
treatment. They will be raised and so be forever with the Lord.
Look at 1 Thess 5:1. Concerning the times and seasons, brethren, you have
no need that I should write to you. He adds, you, yourselves, know perfectly….
Do you see the contrast? At the end of Chapter Four, Paul addresses what
they did not know. At the beginning of Chapter Five he addresses some things
they know perfectly, or in a complete way. That means he is addressing the same
topic of the return of the Lord as he was writing about in Chapter Four. This
is not a new topic, but another side of what has already been introduced, but
not completely addressed.
Since the Thessalonians knew these additional things perfectly, the
answer is not as pointed and direct as we would like. I say that because we do
not necessarily know these things perfectly. We know enough to have an idea of how
the day of the Lord and the Second coming go together. With additional
scriptures to fill in the gaps, my hope is that we find comfort in this passage
and that we are built up in the faith. Those are the two purposes for this
section as stated in verse 11. That is more evidence that this paragraph is
intimately connected to what came before it. Whether it be something they knew
or not, there was comfort to be taken from the words of the Apostolic Band.
Let's read the text:
1. The Day is Coming as a Thief
1 Thess 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you
have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
comes as a thief in the night.
2. The Day is Coming as Labor Pains
3 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.
3. The Day will Overtake Some
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should
overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light
and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be
sober. 7 For those who sleep,
sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
4. The Day requires Preparation
8 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.
5. The Day is the Means of our Final
Salvation
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each
other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Let's
take a closer look at the words before us:
1. The Day is Coming as a Thief
1 Thess 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you
have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
comes as a thief in the night.
This does not mean Jesus is going to
return at night. When he comes, he will come quickly and immediately before He
comes, there may not be anything that points to his return.
When thieves strike, they do it when
people are most vulnerable. That is usually while they are asleep, even the wee
hours of the morning when people are likely to be in deep sleep. That is when
many thieves are active--especially in the homes and businesses where they have
observed nobody to be there or active on the premises.
Thieves do not advertise their arrival.
They arrive at their appointed time to do what they anticipate doing. So too,
Jesus will return when it is his time to come back to earth.
While on the earth,
Jesus did not even know the time of his return. He chose to not know it. Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Towards the end of his ministry Jesus
reminded the disciples of this reality--after the parable of the Ten Virgins
Jesus said, Matt 25:13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day
nor the hour[b] in which the Son of Man is coming." It is an
important doctrine and about which we have been left to trust in God to bring
the details to pass.
2. The Day is Coming as Labor Pains
3 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.
Most people have no idea what is coming on
that grand day--the day that will usher in the end of this age.
On that Day, the work of God sanctifying
us will cease--Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…. That
is the last day upon which the processes of growth in grace will be active in
those who alive and remain.
People in the world will
be awestruck by the sounds and sights, especially in a place where the gospel
has had some affect throughout this age. Rev 1:7 tells us every eye will see
Him.
Think about this for a
moment. People who have refused to believe, surrounded by technology and the
modern world getting more modern all the time, will hear God's trumpet blow,
then see the Lord Jesus Christ as he comes for his saints from all the ages and
of all ages. They will be raised up to be with Him in the air and then taken
off to be with him forever--there is something very final about that. This is
something the Thessalonians already know.
While people are telling
others to not worry about the future, the coming will be unexpected. It will be
a powerful demonstration of God's mighty power. Others will have no idea what
is going on. This grand display will contradict their false religions of all
sorts and the lack of true faith.
Many have said it, but I
think we will be surprised at some who are caught up in air and at others who
are not. That is if we have any carnality left to look around at those who are
with us. One that day, the religious hypocrites who have patted themselves on
the back telling themselves that all is well, will be exposed for what they
really are. The text says they will not escape. The Lord knows who are His and
he will make no mistakes. He will take his own to peace and safety, but the
rest--left for the judgment--the most awesome manifestation of God's justice in
the world besides the crucifixion.
3. The Day will Overtake Some
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should
overtake you as a thief.
The believers will be different than those
who have not believed. They are not of the darkness left to their sinful
misunderstandings and perversions of what God has said. In our preparations we
can be ready for what comes to pass. Our preparation takes place every day for
that one great day.
For those who believe, the words peace and
safety are always appropriate for those resting in the Lord Jesus Christ. Even
the return of Jesus cannot separate us from the love of God--not even his
judgment wherein He is the judge. He will vindicate his people. The text
continues:
5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the
night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not
sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be
sober. 7 For those who sleep,
sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
The believer lives in the light of God's
revelation. They have understanding because of the Holy Spirit illumining the
Word to the mind giving understanding. And, as Jesus told his disciples, it has
been given unto us to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God (Matt 13).
In John Chapter 3, we read these blessed
words of Jesus or commentary about Him: 18 “He who
believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God. 19 And this
is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For
everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest
his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he
who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that
they have been done in God.”
To have God's light is a very important
matter. People don't have just a little of it and that makes them alright. If
these words are understood correctly, either a person has the truth or they do
not. Some love darkness. They enjoy living in the murky places of life. They do
this because their deeds are evil. They are like the thief who comes at night.
Sinners refuse to come to the light. When
it shines on them they are exposed and do not like it. I'm sure the text is
speaking in metaphors about righteousness and holiness. When people have their
sin exposed by the light of God's Word, they claim to not understand or they
think they are being attacked. When what they ought to do is ask, Is it me? And
if it is, repent and forsake the sin and live unto the gospel. It is God's
light that alone can expose the sin in our hearts and make us ready for that
great day.
Those who come to the light demonstrate
that their deeds have been done with a proper motivation even if they are
tainted by sin. We are not perfect, Yet. But on that great day, we shall be
changed.
1Cor 15: 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery:
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the
dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible
has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up
in victory.”[g]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of
sin is the law.57 But
thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Victory over Death--the great enemy]
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
On that great day, we shall also be freed
from sin--we will be glorified. We will be vastly different than we are at
present. We will willingly put away our pet sins in order to fully follow the
Lord. Are you ready for a work of God that is that thorough?
4. The Day requires Preparation
8 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.
The armor of God. The absolute necessity
of saving faith. It is not enough to believe things about God and the Lord
Jesus, demons believe and tremble. What is needed is a fully resolved trust in
the Lord Jesus Christ for our soul's salvation--no matter what. I am sometimes
amazed at how shaken people become during difficult times. The doctrine of the
Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Final Judgment are two of the
most comforting teachings for God's true saints. God will vindicate his word,
his ways and his people.
We will be pronounced not guilty at God's
bar of judgment because of the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in him
wholeheartedly while you still can. After Jesus returns it will be too late to
save your soul, but God will still force you to humble yourself before his
Christ--remember Phil 2 where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess
Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father? That is what he is going to do. Give
yourself to Jesus now--He will keep you safe not only through the judgment, but
forever in his presence.
5. The Day is the Means of our Final
Salvation
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
I spoke prefactorlly in the last point,
but I got a head of myself.
It's worth repeating. We escape the wrath
of God because the one who will vent his wrath is the one who loved us and
saved us. And, all acts will be righteous acts. Some get justice, others get
mercy, but in the final judgment nobody will suffer any injustice. Some will
get what they deserve due to their unbelief. Others will get what they don't
deserve, but based on the faith that is present--they get grace and mercy. In
the judgment these will be no injustice. There will not even be one
crazed-looking character crying out to accuse God the Father of any sin--they
will all be on their knees paying honor, respect and worship to the one with
the name above all names, the Lord Jesus Christ.
What glories await those who patiently
lived for Him at anytime in this age. What blessedness there will be for all
the people of God wherever they are from and whenever and wherever they have
lived.
11 Therefore comfort each
other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Don't let the scoffers take away your joy in these things. Be
unpreturbable with contentment even as you wait for the consummation of all
things.
Some will look at the date and ask why
Jesus has waited so long to return. They will intimate that we must have
misunderstood what the scriptures say. Well be encouraged, this is what the
scriptures say about those scoffers: 2Peter 3:1 3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both
ofwhich I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that
you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
and of the commandment of us,[a] the
apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this
first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own
lusts,4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from
the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they
willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the
earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by
which the worldthat then existed perished, being flooded with
water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are
now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment
and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But,
beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The
Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count
slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[b] not
willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The Day of the Lord
10 But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent
heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c] 11 Therefore,
since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking
for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens
will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent
heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Be Steadfast
14 Therefore,
beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in
peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and
consider that the longsuffering of our Lord issalvation—as
also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has
written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand,
which untaught and unstablepeople twist to their own destruction,
as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You
therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand,
beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the
error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To
Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
What do we do as we wait for the Yom Yahweh, the Day of the Lord?
We grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ--the same as
always, and we put on the armor of God as we prepare for spiritual battles. SO
that…there is something you may have missed…. that whether we wake or sleep, we
should live together with Him. Whether we live or die we should live together
with him. Even the possibility of that is blessing, the reality of it is beyond
all we could ask or think--that in this life we are in some sense together with
the Lord. Amen!
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