3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3–5 (ESV)
Prior to the coming of Jesus Christ, the unconverted will continually presume their lives to be one of peace (Εἰρήνη; Eirene) and security (ἀσφάλεια; asphaleia). Peace refers to tranquility and freedom from worry. Security means safety and certainty. The unsaved will consistently ignore the Scriptures warning of the Day of the Lord.
Given all the warning passages in Scripture concerning the Day of the Lord, why is it the unconverted will be taken by surprise by its occurring, like a thief who comes in the night (I Thess. 5:1-2)? The unconverted carelessly live as if their peace and security in this fallen world will never change. Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse, provided an insight into this situation parallel to the Apostles Paul and Peter.
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man,” (Matthew 24:36–39 (ESV).
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:18–21 (ESV)
“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 3:1–7 (ESV)
These biblical references do not speak just of the original fall, or of some generation in history, but of any period, including our own, when individuals knew the truth and revelation of God and deliberately turned away from it. The unconverted reject God, refuse to thank Him, and pursue false gods of their own making to worship in place of Him.
Seeking personal peace and affluence, the unconverted will experience sudden (αἰφνίδιος; aiphnidios) or immediate destruction (ὄλεθρος; olethros) or ruin. This will personally come upon each one of them. The suddenness of this event the Apostle Paul compares to an expectant mother’s labor pains. Finally, this ultimate destruction and judgment of sin is one of which there is no escape (ἐκφύγωσιν; ekphygosin) or avoidance.
“Note the combination of suddenness and unpreparedness. Note also the striking sentence-order, retained in our translation, making both the adjective sudden and the noun destruction very emphatic. The world in general will be eating and drinking, buying and selling, building and planting, marrying and giving into marriage, when Jesus comes again. Of course, in themselves not any of these things is wicked. What could be wrong with receiving physical nourishment, carrying on commerce and industry, being engaged in agriculture, or planning a wedding? By means of these things God can even be glorified (1 Cor. 10:31),” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
“But when the soul becomes entirely wrapped up in them, so that they become ends in themselves, and so that the higher, spiritual needs are neglected, they are a curse and no longer a blessing. “All for the body and its enjoyments, nothing for the soul,” was the slogan of the wicked contemporaries of Noah and of Lot; and that too will be the outstanding characteristic of the human race in the evil days to come (Cf. Ezek. 13:10; Amos 6:1; Matt. 24:37–44; Luke 17:26–30).”
“Meanwhile, like the artist on top of the ocean-rock, painting the beauty of the village upon the shore, and so completely absorbed in his painting that he sees no danger and pays no attention to the returning tide, though the waves lash higher and higher against the pedestal of his very temporary throne, so also these foolish and wicked people, fascinated with earthly charms, will not realize that judgment is creeping in upon them, coming closer and closer, until very suddenly it overtakes them, catching them wholly unprepared,” continues Dr. Hendriksen.
“They will be saying “Peace and Safety.” Some will even ridicule the very idea of Christ’s return (cf. 2 Peter 3:1–10). However, they will by no means escape, no more than the pregnant woman who is seized by a very sharp and sudden birth-pang while she is helpless. Cf. Ex. 15:14; Is. 13:8; Jer. 4:31; 6:24; 13:21; 22:23; 49:24; 50:43; Hos. 13:13; Mic. 4:9, 10; see also Matt. 24:8; Mark 13:8). The desperate attempt of the wicked to escape is also vividly portrayed in Rev. 6:12–17. No one escapes.”
The only hope for any sinner is found exclusively in the person and work of Jesus Christ. By grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, the born again and repentant sinner trusts in the substitutionary atoning death of Christ and His bodily resurrection for their deliverance from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin (Rom. 3:21-26; Eph. 2:1-9). Have you trusted cognitively, emotionally and volitionally in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and received His imputed righteousness as your own?
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 