Up to this point in Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica, he has been talking about the second coming of the Lord. We went into that in great detail last Sunday. Paul refers to that event at the end of chapter 4 as the coming of the Lord. Now as we begin to look at chapter 5, we need to recognize that he is still speaking of this same event. Chapter 5 does not introduce a new topic, but is a continuation of what he was saying about the coming of the Lord. The chapter designations are not original to the letter, but editors added those later. Sometimes it would seem to indicate a new topic, but that is not always the case. In this case, he is still talking about the same subject.
And as he continues to speak about this event, he calls it by another name in 5:2, which is the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord is the same event as the coming of the Lord. Jesus spoke often of the day of His coming, and Matthew 24 was obviously what Paul was thinking of when he wrote this passage. In Matthew 24:42-44 Jesus said, "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think [He will.]”
We also find Peter speaking of the coming of the Lord as the day of the Lord in 2Peter chapter 3 vs 4 and then speaking of it by another term in vs 10. He says in vs4 “[they will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For [ever] since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’” And then in vs 10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”
So the coming of the Lord is His second coming, in which He comes to claim His church, and to judge the unrighteous, and to make a new heavens and a new earth, which begins the eternal reign of Christ on earth with His people. It’s also referred to as the day of wrath. It all depends on your perspective. As a Christian, it’s a day of deliverance, a day of resurrection from the dead, a day when we will be glorified in a new body, in a new heaven and new earth, and so we shall ever be with the Lord.
But for the unbeliever, those who have not received Jesus as their Savior and Lord, it will be a day of judgement, it will be a day of wrath, a day that ushers in the second death, which lasts forever.
Now it’s understood by reading between the lines that the Thessalonians had some questions or concerns about this event. First, they had questions concerning their loved ones, who had been believers, but had since passed away. They wanted to know what was going to happen to them at the second coming. Perhaps they were looking for Christ to come back soon, in their lifetime. But some had passed away and Christ had not yet returned, and so they wanted to know what was going to happen to those who had died in the Lord.
The answer to those concerns is found in chapter 4:13-18. Paul says, don’t worry about the state of your saved loved ones who have passed on. Those who are alive will not precede those who are asleep, but actually the dead will be resurrected first and join Christ in the air and then those who are still alive will also be raised up to meet them in the clouds.
Paul then briefly describes the second coming of Christ, and then closes that question by saying, “therefore comfort one another with these words.” They could be comforted knowing that their loved ones were not going to some how be left out because they had passed away before Christ’s coming.
The other question that they presumably had asked Timothy to convey to Paul concerning the second coming, was when was this going to happen? It’s the same question the disciples had asked Jesus back in Matthew 24, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” I think it’s the same question that many people ask today. Peter said it would be a point of disbelief for many in the latter part of the church age. 2Peter 3:3-4 “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with [their] mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For [ever] since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
So everyone, both believers and skeptics, want to know when these things are going to happen. Many false prophets have suggested dates when they thought that Jesus would appear. One of the first was a man by the name of William Miller, who began a sect or cult known as the Millerites that eventually morphed into the Seventh Day Adventists. He taught that Jesus was going to come again sometime in 1843-1844. His views became quite popular and a number of newspapers began to publicize their immediate expectation of Christ’s coming. But Jesus didn’t come on the first date set, and then He didn’t come on the second date set. The movement became known as the Great Disappointment. But nevertheless, it set the stage for a host of false views concerning eschatology, many of which are still predominantly held in mainstream churches even today.
The late radio teacher Harold Camping of Family Radio, which had an international audience, was one of the latest to make such claims. His organization even put up bill boards in many major cities in the US and even around the world, proclaiming that May 21, 2011 would be the day of judgment. A lot of people who had believed his programing and prophesies were greatly disappointed on May 22, 2011. People actually sold things, and made final arrangements for their pets and businesses and so forth, all because they believed in what Jesus said we should not pay attention to. That is, no man knows the day nor the hour.
There is still in the church and in the culture an almost rabid fascination with end time prophecy. Every major event is considered by some to be a final piece of the eschatology puzzle that shows conclusively that the end is right around the corner. Covid 19 was a big one for end time conspiracy buffs. I remember even reading a very long dissertation that someone sent me a few years ago about 5G. There was all kinds of Bible verses and mathematical computations and scientific research that had me going there for a while. Y2K was another one that caused much fear and confusion. And people are afraid. People start to almost panic in their preparations for the end of the world. And unfortunately, I think Christians are likely to be some of the most hard core preppers out there, hoarding guns and ammo and food and water in underground bunkers, so that they can survive the end of the world.
So what does Paul have to say about the date setters? About the signs of the times? Paul answers those questions in vs 1, saying, “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.” He is speaking of the signs of the end times which usher in the second coming of the Lord. And I don’t think that Paul is saying here that they already know everything about it and so there isn’t any need to add anything to it. But what I think he’s saying is, “you don’t need to worry about it.” “You shouldn’t be fixated on figuring out the time.” While they are to be living in expectation for the Lord to return at any time, on the other hand, they are not to be concerned about coming up with all kinds of mathematical equations and calendars and so forth in an effort to pin it down to a certain date. Date setting is not something they should be focused on.
Paul says that what they should know very well by now is that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Jesus used that same metaphor to describe His coming in Matthew 24. Peter uses that same expression about a thief in 2 Peter 3. And now Paul uses it. So they should already know that you can’t predict when a thief is coming to your house. Therefore it’s foolish for them to be concerned about a date or time.
What Jesus taught by using that metaphor was that you need to be prepared. Jesus said you must be ready. Now how are we to be ready for this sudden appearing? First of all, we have trusted in Jesus as our Savior, applying His substitution as the sacrifice for our sins, and receiving the gift of His righteousness. Secondly, we are making sure we will be found faithful when He comes. Jesus said "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.” When Jesus comes, the faithful servant is found doing the Lord’s business. Being a good steward of the grace given to him.
But for the unbeliever, he will not be prepared when Jesus comes. Paul says in vs 3, “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.” Notice that he emphasizes the suddenness of destruction. When He comes, there will not be a chance to prepare. You must prepare ahead of time because it will be sudden, and you will be judged by what you are at that moment.
According to Jesus, the world in general will be acting as they did in the days of Noah. Eating and drinking, buying and selling, building and planting, marrying and giving in marriage. Their preparation for Christ’s coming is non existent. They are more concerned about the physical than the spiritual. I read in the news yesterday that environmental activists were marching this weekend in Washington DC, demanding that Biden declares a climate emergency. They somehow think that they can prevent the end of the world by physical means. That’s going to be the next big crisis by the way. Covid showed them what was possible. If politicians can declare something an emergency, then they can do anything they want, make any laws, spend any amount of money. Environmental groups are worried that man is destroying the earth, and that there will be ocean rising, causing floods which will wipe out mankind. But Peter said the day of the Lord will bring about destruction of the heavens and earth by fire, not by water. And that fire will come from the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes in the clouds. Jesus is going to destroy the earth and there is nothing man can do to prevent that.
But while they are focusing on peace and safety, on material things, on physical things, the day of destruction is creeping upon them, coming closer and closer, and they are completely blind to it. They can see the physical, but not the spiritual. Just like the pregnant woman who lays down to sleep and suddenly awakens in the middle of the night with birth pangs, there is no putting it off. There is no escaping it. It’s coming, and it will catch them unawares and unprepared.
But for the Christian, we are already prepared for that day. The Christians are like the ten virgins in Jesus’ parable that had light in their lamps and oil for their lamps when the bridegroom returns. Paul says in vs 4, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”
Paul’s repeated use of the term brothers indicates he is talking to believers. He goes on to say, you are sons of light, not in the darkness. The world is in darkness, that is why they can’t see the truth. But we know the truth, we are sons of God, we are in the light as He is in the light. We know the truth of the gospel. We have believed in Jesus Christ unto salvation. We don’t need to be afraid of His coming, or shrink back in fear at His coming. He is coming for us as a bridegroom comes for His bride, having made ready a home for her.
Jesus said in John 14:1-3 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, [there] you may be also.” Jesus is coming for the church as His bride.
But Jesus will come to the world as the King of kings, and Lord of lords, as the Judge of the earth. He will judge all unrighteousness and ungodliness in that day. And so the world should fear the day of the Lord. But His church should look forward to that day, as a bride looks forward to and prepares for her wedding day.
So since we should be looking for His return, let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. Vs 7 “For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of [the] day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”
Notice three times in those three verses, Paul says be sober. Now we could explain sober as being serious, or solemn. And that might be appropriate. But notice Paul compares being sober with drinking and being drunk. So we know from the context he is not talking about being serious, but he is talking about not being intoxicated.
I read an article the other day about the mega church founder of Hillsong that just had to resign because of inappropriate behavior towards certain women. And he blamed it on at least two occasions with being intoxicated on medicine and alcohol. Maybe his problem started by thinking it was ok to drink. I used to try to live what I thought was an acceptable Christian life as a husband and father, and yet still have my six pack every night. I did that for years and thought I was able to walk the line between drunkeness and soberness. God had to let me go through some pretty heavy trials in my life in order for me to give that up. I can tell you that if I continued drinking like that I doubt I would still be married today, and I don’t believe I would have ever become a pastor either. Drinking is a precursor to indulging the lusts of the flesh, and indulging the lusts of the flesh is not compatible with living in the spirit.
Paul says in light of who we are in Christ, in light of the certain, soon return of the Lord, be sober, don’t walk according to the lusts of the world. But since we are of the day, put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. Now we all recognize this metaphor of spiritual armor from Ephesians 6, don’t we? But there are some differences.
First, in Ephesians 6 Paul says the breastplate of righteousness, here he says the breastplate of faith and love. Did he get confused? Why the change? Well, first of all, we should recognize that his urging us to be watchful, to be ready is the mission of the sentry. And a sentry should be dressed in his armor. The difference though between righteousness and faith and love is no difference at all, really.
Our righteousness is acquired by faith; faith in Christ’s death and resurrection, the transfer of my sins to Christ, and His righteousness to me, affects my atonement, and my salvation. I am made righteous by faith. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.
And love is the outpouring of what has been put in. If we love Christ, we will keep His commandments. We are to love God and love our neighbor, which is the fulfillment of the law. So Paul is saying that our faith and love are the righteous living that is our breastplate. It protects our heart, our life.
What’s important to see is that Paul says put it on. He calls active faith and love a vital element of defensive spiritual armor. As the believer lives out his faith and love it works to protect him and keep him. We are not told to simply have faith, but to walk in faith. Faith and love are active, and vital to our defense. They guard our heart. So we are to be actively engaged in spiritual warfare for the kingdom of God. Not biding our time, focused on figuring out dates and times, but actively working to win souls to the kingdom of God.
Then to faith and love, Paul adds hope. That formula is one he often uses. Faith, hope and love. But notice he describes hope as another piece of armor, the hope of salvation which is our helmet. First let’s be sure we understand what is meant here by salvation. As I’ve said before, there are three phases of our salvation; justification, sanctification, and glorification. I believe the context of Paul’s statement indicates this use of salvation is eschatological. That is, it speaks of the final phase of our salvation which is glorification. When Christ comes again, we shall all be changed, from mortal to immortal. From corruptible to incorruptible. Saved from wrath, saved from destruction.
So in light of that he says, the hope of salvation. We hope for what we do not yet see, but which has been promised to us by God. A more certain hope, for God is not a man, that He should lie. But the word of God promises us that Christ will return for us. And as Christ was the first fruits of the resurrection, we have a further assurance that we also we be raised.
I think that this helmet of the hope of salvation is there to guard our mind. The breastplate guards our hearts, the helmet guards our mind. Our minds are under increasing, never ending attack from the Devil, the flesh, and the world. Our minds are the source of our fears, our doubts. Sin starts in the mind before it finds fulfillment in the body. Our minds are the battlefield. And our best defense on that battlefield is in the certain hope of Jesus’ return.
This world is so uncertain right now. Watching the news these days is like watching a train wreck. It seems that everything that can go wrong is going wrong, and yet our political leaders are trying to convince us that wrong is right, and down is up, and everything is going just grand. Don’t worry, the smartest people in the world, according to their own pundits, are in charge and doing what is good for us. But for a lot of us, it is insane times. I am afraid for my kids future, I’m afraid for the immediate future. After seeing what has happened in the last couple of years, I am scared to death to think of what they have in store for the next three years.
But my hope is not in the mid term elections. My hope is not in politics. My hope is not in America somehow becoming great again. My hope is not in world peace, or creating a safe space for everyone, or in stopping climate change. My hope is in the return of Jesus Christ my King. My hope is in the day of the Lord. My firm hope is that whether I live or die, I will be with the Lord. You may kill this body, but you cannot harm my soul. It belongs to the Lord, and He has given me eternal life, and promises me a glorified body, in a glorified new world in which righteousness dwells, and where Jesus reigns. That is my hope, and the reason I can face what is coming without fear. Psalm 56:11 “In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Paul expands this idea of the hope of salvation by the following two verses. Vs 9,10, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”
Christians aren’t destined for the wrath of God. But rather Christ has rescued us from wrath. Paul said that back in chapter one vs ten, [we are] “to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, [that is] Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” We don’t get wrath, we get salvation. Instead of dread, we have hope. Instead of unbelief, we have faith. The unbeliever is destined for wrath. How that should break our hearts for our unsaved friends and loved ones.
But in opposition to wrath, Paul spells out the basis for our hope, which is salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. Listen, make sure you understand this, and you can help your unsaved friends understand this; that salvation is only through Jesus Christ. You will not escape wrath because you believe in God, and God manifests Himself in various deities, various religions. Salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. Peter said in Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” The whole basis of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. There is no hope without Him. It is only by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ that we can be accepted by God. It is only because Jesus took the wrath of God upon Himself in my place, can I stand before God as righteous and be accepted by Him.
So make sure your friends and family don’t have a false hope in a god of any other name, and think names don’t matter. That we all need to coexist. I’m sorry, but when Christ returns we are not all going to coexist. He will separate the sheep from the goats. And those who have rejected Christ will be judged and suffer the wrath of God.
But here is the hope of our salvation as stated by Paul in vs 10 the Lord Jesus Christ,
“who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” Whether we die in this life before Christ’s return or whether Christ returns in my lifetime, whether I am dead or alive, I will live together with Him. If I die, I go to be with the Lord. And Paul said that is very much better, to be with the Lord. And if I die and am with the Lord in spirit, when He returns to the earth, I will rise up to meet Him and receive a glorified body. And if I live until He returns, then I will be with the Lord and receive a glorified body. Either way, I cannot die. I do not die the second death. But I will live with the Lord forever because I have even now received everlasting life.
Paul ends this section the same way he ended the last section in chapter 4. He says in vs 11 “Therefore comfort one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” That has the idea of continued fellowship in the church. The fellowship of the church is where we encourage one another and build up one another in the faith. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as we see the day drawing near. But encourage one another, and strengthen one another and comfort one another with these words.
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