“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 (ESV)
Even though today’s featured biblical text begins a new chapter, there were no chapter divisions when the Apostle Paul wrote this first letter to the Thessalonian believers. Therefore, what the apostle stated in I Thessalonians 5:1-11 is within the narrative and literary context of 4:13-18. Paul continued his treatise on Eschatology, the doctrine of last things, and the events leading up to the coming (Parousia) of Jesus Christ.
There have been numerous attempts by well-meaning, and perhaps others with ulterior motives, to specifically predict the timing of the “rapture” of the church. These declarations not only pertain to the nature of the rapture, but also the exact moment of the Lord’s Parousia. Paul dismissed these attempts, both within his current historical context and in the future as needless.
The apostle wrote, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.” Paul’s reference to times and seasons had nothing to do with the weather, but rather the events surrounding and preceding Christ’s return. He in effect said there was no point in making predictions and having speculations about Jesus’ second coming. All attempts to do so may sell books and excite individuals to follow prophetic teachers and self-appointed eschatological experts, but this will be to no avail. Why?
Paul answered this question by writing, “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” To be fully aware (οἴδατε; oidate) means to be historically, presently, actively and collectively knowledgeable and understanding of a truth. The truth these believers, and all such followers of Christ, are knowledgeable of is the nature of the Day of the Lord.
The Day of the Lord refers to the moment of Jesus Christ’s return. This event was well known from the Old Testament (OT) Scriptures (Joel 2; Amos 5; Zephaniah 1; Malachi 4). The Apostle Peter referred to it in his Day of Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:14-36).
The Day of the Lord is associated with God’s holy and righteous judgment of rewards and punishment (Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:1-16; 2 Cor. 1:14; 2 Peter 3:10-13). For believers in Christ, this day of judgment has already occurred by Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross (Rom. 3:21-26; Heb. 2:17; 9:27-28; I John 2:1-2; 4 :7-10). For unbelievers, the day of judgment of God’s holy wrath is coming (Rom. 1:18-23).
“It would seem that in addition to worry with respect to a possible disadvantage which departed believers might suffer at Christ’s return (4:13–18), there was also curiosity with respect to the exact time when this great event would take place. “How long” do the readers still have to wait? “Just when” is the Lord going to arrive? It was for them a question of times or duration-periods (χρόνοι) and appropriate seasons (καιροί).,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
“With an obvious reference to: a. a saying of the Lord spoken when he was about to ascend to heaven (“It is not for you to know duration-periods and appropriate seasons,” Acts 1:7); b. the truth, also clearly revealed by the Lord, that no man knows the day and the hour of the coming of the Son of man (Matt. 24:36), which, accordingly, will be as a thief in the night (cf. Matt. 24:43); and c. the fact that these facts had previously been made clear to the readers, Paul informs them—affectionately addressing them as “brothers” (see on 1:4)—“You have no need that anything be written to you.” Cf. 4:9.”
What Paul did confirm was the Day of the Lord would be like a thief in the night. What characteristics does a thief have with the Lord’s soon return? It is this question we will address when next we meet.
John Calvin comments, “Believers do not desire to know more than they are permitted to learn in God’s school. “
“One of the hardest things to do as a believer is to not try to figure out what God has not revealed. But when it comes to the timing of the end, we must not try to figure out exactly when Jesus will return. That is a matter God will not reveal before it happens, so let us not err by prying into what He has left hidden from us,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 