Ready For His Return Series

1 Thess 5:1-11 Ready for His Return

Two things often fascinate people, if they do not know what God says in His Word.

• One is regarding the end of life and the other, is the end of the world. What happens when we die, and what happens at the end of the world?

• Paul addresses these issues as he concludes his letter to the Thessalonians, assuring them that as Christians our lives are secured in Christ, in life and death, now and for eternity.

• We will be resurrected like Christ one day and Jesus Himself will return at the end.

Last week’s section addresses what happens after we die.

• Jesus will return for us and the dead in Christ will rise first, and those who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord (4:17).

• Whether we are dead or alive then, no one is at a disadvantage. We will all be transformed and raised to meet Jesus together.

As Christians, this is our end. Not a sad end but a glorious one.

• Paul says, “Do not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (4:13-14)

Paul went on to address what happens at the end of the world when Christ returns.

• Three things he highlighted in today’s text:

(1) Christ’s Return Is Certain, Its Timing Is Not

5:1-2 1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

• Paul has already taught them. He does not need to write again because they are fully aware, that Jesus Christ is returning.

• The only uncertain part is that we do not know what day or time, which is not so important. He will “come like a thief in the night”, meaning unexpected and sudden.

The truth is, no one knows the day except God the Father; not even Jesus Himself.

• He said in Mark 13:32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

• He told His disciples in Acts 1:7 “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.”

• So if someone comes and says Jesus is coming back on this day and time, or worse, that he is the Christ who has returned, don’t believe him.

The Thessalonians knew that Jesus would return for them.

• So the concern is not “Will He Come?” but “Are they READY for His return?”

Paul went on to explain:

5:3-5 3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

Both illustrations point to the coming of Christ as being unexpected.

• For the thief that comes, it is unexpected and sudden. He does not announce his coming. “You wake up and find your house broken into.”

• For the labour pains that come to a pregnant woman, it is unexpected but unavoidable. It will surely come.

• For the thief, there is no warning. For the labour pains, there is no escape.

Paul went on to illustrate the TWO REACTIONS of different people.

• One will be those who say there is “peace and security” and do not believe in Christ. Paul describes them as being in darkness and of the night.

• Christ’s return will come as a shock. “Sudden destruction will come upon them like labour pains upon a pregnant woman.” (5:3)

• It would be devastating because they did not believe in Christ.

Jesus illustrated the same in Matt 24:37-39.

“37For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

• The people were enjoying life oblivious to His coming. They refused to heed the call of Noah. The signs were there but the people ignored him.

But Paul says there is ANOTHER GROUP who are willing to believe in Jesus.