I. Introduction
A. Read 1 Thess. 5:1-11
B. Paul had just unfolded the truth of the Rapture - "A time when the Lord rises from His seat beside His Father’s Throne; Descends in the air; and shouts, ‘Come Up Hither,’ and all of Christians rise to meet in the air to be with the Lord forever to be with Him."
C. Following the catching away of the saints will come the "Darkest Day" the world has ever known - "The Day of the Lord".
D. In the Scriptures this day is also known as "The Day of God’s Wrath".
E. In 1 Thess. 5:1-2 we have Three (3) Important Aspects that I would like to discuss concerning The Future WRATH of God upon this world:
1. "Times and Seasons"
2. "The Day of the Lord"
3. "A Thief in the Night"
II. What Are the "Times and Seasons"?
A. "But of the Times & Seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a Thief in the Night."
B. The "Times and Seasons" are NOT the property of the Church - They belong to this earth and to an earthly people - Both to Israel and the Gentiles that will be saved in that day.
C. The Church should be listening for a Sound, not looking for a Sign- The Church should be looking for a Person, not for "Times and Seasons.".
D. Today, many ministers "predict" or "set dates" for the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ - This only leads to confusion!
E. There have never been any "signs" which point to the "Imminent Return of Christ for His Bride - The Church"!
F. The Lord Jesus Christ does not come for His Church "Like a Thief in the Night!" - But to an UNBELIEVING WORLD His 2nd Coming will be Sudden & Without Warning - "Like a Thief in the Night."
G. Notice how that Paul changes Pronouns in the verses of this Chapter - He goes from talking to "Brethren" to discussing "They" (Those Outside of the Body of Christ).
H. Only 3 Times in Scriptures do we find this expression - "Times & Seasons" (Dan. 2:19-22; Acts:1:7-8; 1 Thess. 5:1)
I. Dan. 2:19-22 - Here we find that Daniel is given a vision of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar - He says that it is God who changes the way in which God chooses to deal with nations or individuals on earth.
J. Illustration - God withheld judgment upon Ninevah 200 years because they Repented after hearing the Word of God.
K. "Times and Seasons" have to do with how the Lord deals with mankind on this earth!
L. Acts 1:7-8 - Here in the N.T. we find that Jesus Himself told His disciples that it is not their business to KNOW the times and the seasons. They wanted to know when He would set up His earthly Kingdom, but He told them their business was to "preach the WORD" to a lost and dying world.
M. 1 Thess. 5:1-2 - Paul now reminds his readers that they should already KNOW this fact - The Lord’s Wrath will come upon this world as a "Thief in the Night!"
N. If this is true, and it is, Paul reminds them that it is impossible for the Day of the Lord to occur so long as the Church is still on earth. (1 Thess. 5:3-5; 9)
III. What Is the Day of the Lord?
A. The Day of the Lord refers to the events that occur between the Rapture & the End of the Millennial Kingdom.
B. There are many Old Testament passages that discuss this awesome day of judgment of God’s Wrath!
C. Isa. 13:9-11 (Time of God’s Wrath & Anger Upon Sinners)
D. Joel 1:15; 2:1-2; 30-31; 3:9-17 (Time of Judgment of Gentiles and Purging of the Nation of Israel)
E. Zeph. 1:14-18 (Time of Wrath & Judgment)
F. Amos 5:18-20 (Time NOT to Be Desired)
1. There were those who hoped to be out of persecution, captivity, and troubles by the Day of the Lord.
2. However, this is NOT a day desired for those that are YET in their SIN - There will not be a day when everything will just become a utopia upon the earth.
A. There are also many references to The Day of the Lord found in the New Testament:
B. Matt. 3:7 - "…O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the WRATH TO COME?"
C. Matt. 24:21-22 (Time of Tribulation)
D. Rev. 6:1-8 (4 Horsemen of the Apocolypse)
1. White Horseman - Antichrist Overthrows World Gov’t.
2. Red Horseman - Bring World-Wide War
3. Black Horsemen - Brings Famine
4. Pale Horsemen - Brings Death
J. Rev. 6:12-14 (Time of Natural Disasters)
K. Rev. 6:15-17 (Time of Tribulation for ALL Mankind) ***
IV. "Why Will It Come "Like a Thief in the Night"?
A. Paul uses the illustration of a "thief in the night" because to those who are not saved, it will come suddenly and unexpectantly!
B. To those who are "children of light and of the day - Christians" it will not be so. (1 Thess. 5:5)
C. Who SHOULD FEAR the Day of the Lord?
1. Those Who Refuse to Obey the Gospel - (Jn. 3:36; 2 Thess. 7-10)
2. Those Who Reject Light Revealed to Them by God - (Rom. 1:18-19)
3. Those Who Refuse to Admit Sin & Repent - (Rom. 2:5)
4. Those Who Are Religious But Lost - (Eph. 5:3-6; Js. 1:22)
5. Those Who Are Filled with Sinfulness - (Col. 3:5-6)
6. Those Who Do Not Know Obey the Gospel -(2 Thess. 1:7-12)
D. "The Day of the Lord" will bring eternal separation from God’s presence and the penalty of eternal torment! (2 Thess. 1:9-10)
E. Rev. 14:10-11 gives still an even greater commentary on torments!
F. Illustration - There was a man who went to Pittsburgh once a month, but could not sleep for the industry noise
G. Who Should NOT FEAR the Day of the Lord?(1 Thess. 5:9-10)
"Those Who OBEY the Gospel of Jesus Christ!"
H. 2 Thess. 1:7-10 - The Lord will return in a "flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that OBEY NOT the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!"
I. Rom. 5:9 - "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from Wrath through Him."
J. Read Eph. 2:4-7
V. Conclusion
A. Those who are saved should closely examine the remainder of the chapter - Paul outlines 22 Commandments (NOT 10 Commandments) which instruct Believers how we should live during this period of Grace.
B. The Lord is at Hand (Phil. 4:5) which also means that The Day of the Lord is ALSO "At Hand"!
C. 2 Other Important Days to Consider:
1. Prov. 27:1 - "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a DAY may bring forth."
2. 2 Cor. 6:2 - "Behold, NOW is the Accepted Time; Behold, NOW is the DAY OF SALVATION!"
C. Just as the Lord comforted the Church of Philadelphia (Rev. 3:10), "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth", YOU too can take comfort in knowing that YOU have been saved from the WRATH TO COME in that great day called the "Day of the Lord."
