The Day of the Lord: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

From: The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

Narrator: Chris Genthree

1 Thessalonians 5:1‑3 • 3 min. read • grade level: 9

The Day of the Lord

Chapter 5:1-3—In closing the parenthesis, Paul returns to his remarks concerning the Revelation, or the Appearing of Christ, which he had been speaking of in chapter 4:14.

He mentions “the times and the seasons” which have to do with God’s dealings with the earth, and thus, this brings us into the realm of prophetic events that will occur after the Church has been called away to heaven. Paul is now going to speak of the judgment that will fall on unbelievers who will be left behind after the Rapture. This is indicated by a marked change in his use of pronouns—from “we” (Christians), in chapter 4:15-18, to “they” and “them” (unbelievers), in chapter 5:1-3. It is clear from this change that he is now referring to a different group of persons.

Paul says that there was “no need” of him writing to the Thessalonians in any great detail about that time to come because he had instructed them about it when he was with them (2 Thess. 2:5⁵Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (2 Thessalonians 2:5)). Timothy may also have touched on those things when he visited them (1 Thess. 3:1-2¹Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; ²And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlaborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: (1 Thessalonians 3:1‑2)). Hence, they knew “perfectly well” that “the day of the Lord” would come as “a thief in the night” on the unbelieving world.

“The day of the Lord” is a term used in both the New and the Old Testaments to indicate the time when the Lord will intervene upon the world in judgment, whereupon His Lordship authority will be publicly asserted on earth (1 Thess. 5:2, 4; 2²For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
⁴But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:4)
⁴But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4) Thess. 2:2-3 – J. N. Darby Trans.; Luke 21:34³⁴And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Luke 21:34)). (“The day of the Lord” is not “the Lord’s day,” the first day of the week – Rev. 1:10¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10)). It will begin at the Appearing of Christ and will continue throughout the Millennium (2 Peter 3:8-10⁸But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:8‑10)), and thus, it will last 1000 years. God has “appointed” this “day” when Christ will “judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31³¹Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)).

“The day of the Lord” should not be confused with “the day of Christ.” These terms both refer to the same period of time (the Millennium), but in different ways:

• “The day of the Lord” has to do with the exercise of Christ’s judgment on earth, whereby the world will be subjugated under His Lordship authority (2 Thess. 1:7-9⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, ⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑9)).

• “The day of Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8; 3:13; 5:5; 2⁸Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:8)
¹³Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians 3:13)
⁵To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:5)
⁵That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:5) Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16⁶Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6)
¹⁰That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; (Philippians 1:10)
¹⁶Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Philippians 2:16), etc.) has to do with the heavenly display of Christ’s glory through the Church (2 Thess. 1:10¹⁰When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)).

Paul says that the day of the Lord will take the men of the world off guard. It will come upon them when they think that they have “peace and safety.” This false sense of security that people in the West will have will result from the military presence of the ten-nation federation in western Europe (the beast) under its political leader (“the little horn” Dan. 7:9, 20-21, 24-25⁹I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (Daniel 7:9)
²⁰And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. ²¹I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; (Daniel 7:20‑21)
²⁴And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. ²⁵And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (Daniel 7:24‑25)). “Sudden destruction” will break in upon them at the Appearing of Christ “as travail upon a woman with child.” Those on earth at that time “shall not escape” the judgment (2 Thess. 1:7-9⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, ⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑9)).

Those in the coming Tribulation period who are instructed in the Word of God may understand that the day of the Lord will be signaled in by four things, and thus, they will know that that day is near “at hand.” These are:

• The “falling away [apostasy]” of Christendom to worship the Beast and its image (2 Thess. 2:3³Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)).

• The revelation of “the man of sin” (the Antichrist) (2 Thess. 2:3³Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)).

• The removal of the restraint on lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:6-7⁶And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:6‑7)).