The "Day Of The Lord” Study In The Scriptures - New Testament Part 10 – (1 And 2thessalonians) Series

THE “DAY OF THE LORD” STUDY IN THE SCRIPTURES - NEW TESTAMENT PART 10 – (1 AND 2THESSALONIANS)

THE NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO THE DAY OF THE LORD

The DAY OF THE LORD is “The Day of Jehovah” and its usage is always associated with something dire, with judgement, and with events outside the implementation of man. In other words, it is the intervention of God with the power of God in the affairs of this world. It has a primary application to Israel, but that is always extended often to a wider field, and that involves the world. Its main focus is in the Tribulation that is coming. Part 9 completed the references in the Old Testament we looked at, and now we move to the New Testament references. These New Testament references add to what the Old Testament teaches us. We continue -

NUMBER 1

[1]. {{1Thessalonians 5:2–4 “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you 1Thess 5:2 for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 1Thess 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child and they shall not escape, 1Thess 5:4 but you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.”}}

This is a vital passage and one we must understand so as not to be overtaken by error and disquiet. Most conservative scholars of bible prophecy, will understand this passage, but careless preachers and teachers, and those who read superficially, are misleading people. Why even in Paul’s time the Thessalonians were misled in their thinking.

Because the Thessalonian Christians had entered into persecution, they thought they were in the Tribulation (Day of the LORD) and were so worried about it they contacted Paul who wrote this letter to them to explain why they were not in the Tribulation. In the three weeks (actually from 2 to 4 weeks) among these new converts from paganism, Paul taught all about the Christian faith and also, all about eschatology (Rapture, Tribulation, Second Coming), yet there are some today who say bible prophecy ought to be downgraded because it is not properly understood or it will confuse the people. They are false teachers who deny their churches the great promises of the bible. Many of them are wolves of confusion. The second letter to this church also takes up that theme.

In verse 2 Paul says firstly that the Day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night. We know the Day of the LORD does not commence until AFTER the Rapture so this “thief in the night” term has nothing to do with the Rapture, only with the Day of the LORD. It upsets me greatly that people go on using this term for the Rapture. It is absolutely wrong. The Lord DOES NOT come as a thief for His Church. He comes in LIGHT and love to claim His bride, not prowl around like a thief in the night trying to steal something. Please, never use the “thief in the night” term for the Rapture. It is dishonouring. It is the misleading teacher, the one puffed up, who keeps insisting in using this term for the Rapture. They are promoters of confusion.

What “the thief in the night” expression means is that the great wrath of God comes on the world when it does not expect it, just like a thief who is unexpected. More particularly, this term will apply to the day of the Second Coming when the Lord appears in glory and great anger at Armageddon, but He is also coming as King over all the earth. The Lord used the reference idea – {{Matthew 24:42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming, Matt 24:43 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.”}} In the Olivet Discourse, He speaks to His Jewish disciples and it is the Jewish disciples to whom He says, “For you do not know which day your Lord is coming” and THAT is the Second Coming. The words, “thief in the night” refer to the Second Coming and NOT to the Rapture. None of Matthew 24 is connected with the Rapture. It is all about “the signs of Your Coming and the end of the age,” and is 100% Jewish orientated. Be careful how you apply the term! Again, it is the false teacher who keeps pushing Matthew 24 as the Rapture.