“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)
“While the prophets do not clearly distinguish a twofold coming of Christ, the Lord Himself and the apostles make it abundantly clear that the first coming will be followed by a second. Jesus referred to His return more than once towards the end of His public ministry (Matt. 24:30; 25:19,31; 26:64; John 14:3). At the time of His ascension, angels pointed to His future return (Acts 1:11). Moreover, the apostles speak of it in numerous passages (Acts 3:20,21; Phil. 3:20; I Thess. 4:15,16; II Thess. 1:7,10; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 9:28,” explains Dr. Louis Berkhof.
“Several terms are used to denote this great event, of which the following are the most important: (1) Apocalupsis (unveiling), which points to the removal of that which now obstructs our vision of Christ (I Cor. 1:7; II Thess. 1:7; I Pet. 1:7,13; 4:13); (2) Epiphania (appearance, manifestation), a term referring to Christ’s coming forth out of a hidden background with the rich blessings of salvation (II Thess. 2:8; I Tim. 6:14; II Tim. 4:1,8; Tit. 2:13); and (3) Parousia (lit. presence), which points to the coming that precedes the presence or results in the presence, (Matt. 24:3,27,37; I Cor. 15:23; I Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; II Thess. 2:1-9; Jas. 5:7,8; II Pet. 1:16; 3:4,12; I John 2:28).”
Another term the Scriptures use in referring to the coming of Christ is “the Day of the Lord.” Dr. John MacArthur writes, “The OT prophets used “day of the Lord” to describe near historical judgments (see Isa. 13:6–22; Ezek. 30:2–19; Joel 1:15; Amos 5:18–20; Zeph. 1:14–18) or far eschatological divine judgments ( Joel 2:30–32; 3:14; Zech. 14:1; Mal. 4:1, 5). It is also referred to as the “day of vengeance.” The NT calls it a day of “wrath,” day of “visitation,” and “the great day of God the Almighty” (Rev. 16:14). These are terrifying judgments from God (cf. Joel 2:30–31; 2 Thess. 1:7–10) for the overwhelming sinfulness of the world.” .
The Apostle Paul’s reference to the Day of the Lord in today’s text is one of four New Testament (NT) references of the same period of God’s divine judgment upon the unconverted. The other three are as follows.
- Acts 2:17–21 (ESV) – “27 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (ESV) – “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.”
- 2 Peter 3:10 (ESV) – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”
In all NT references to the Day of the Lord, the apostles Peter and Paul both indicated the event’s certainty. The Day of the Lord will come. It is only a question of when, and not if.
The Day of the Lord should be differentiated from the Day of Christ, the “Day of Christ” or “the Day of the Lord Jesus.” These phrases are unique to the Apostle Paul’s epistles (1 Corinthians 1.8, 3.13, 5.5; 2 Corinthians 1.14; Philippians 1.6, 10, 2.16; 2 Timothy 1.18, 4.8).
While there is some scholarly disagreement among evangelicals as to the exact meaning and nature of the Day of Christ, Scripture refers to it as being (1) for the Church (the Body of Christ); (2) a day of blessing and reward; (3) a heavenly hope; and (4) eagerly anticipated. In contrast, the Day of the Lord is (1) for all who have rejected Christ; (2) a day of judgment; (3) a time of earthly despair; and (4) is feared and dreaded.
Paul adds one more characteristic from today’s text. The Day of the Lord will come as a “thief in the night.” This phrase, found only in today’s text, never refers to the rapture of the church. Rather, it is used of Christ’s coming in judgment at a particular point in time. Like a thief who comes unexpectedly, without warning, and is dreaded, so also will be the Day of the Lord.
I know believers in Christ who become frightened and alarmed with the political and military conflicts in this world. This is especially true when these conflicts involve national Israel. How should believers react and respond to ongoing wars and rumors of wars in anticipation of the coming of the Lord?
“As Christians, we look forward to the return of Jesus with great anticipation, the day when our Prince will come and will set aright all of those things which are unjust and out of kilter in this world. We long for that day as a time of vindication, a time of healing for the nations, a time of the final realization of the fullness of our salvation,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“But what if our faith is a hypocritical faith? What if it’s not real? What will happen to us on that day? You see, when the New Testament speaks of the return of Christ, it speaks of it in two different dimensions. On the one hand, it is the day of final salvation for the people of God. On the other hand, it will be the day of final judgment, where God’s long-suffering and patience with wickedness will come to an end. And so, it will be a two-edged sword, won’t it? For those who are saved, it will be the time of exquisite delight. For those who are not, it will be the ultimate time of judgment and doom. What will it be for you?”
Dr. Sproul asks an excellent question. What is your answer? May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a God-honoring day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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