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)
As previously studied, 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.
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 compared 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.
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). God commands each sinner to repent of their sin and trust cognitively, emotionally and volitionally in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to receive His imputed righteousness as their own (Rom 4; 5:1-10; 2 Cor. 5:21).
But what about believers in Christ? Will the Day of the Lord be a surprise to us who God justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone? The Apostle Paul wrote this would not be the case. Why?
The Day of the Lord will not surprise believers because we are presently, actively and collectively no longer in darkness. Darkness (σκότει; skotei) in this immediate context refers to the evil world, the abode of evil spirits, and the gloominess of hell. Paul spoke of this spiritual, lost condition of the unbeliever when writing to the Corinthian church.
3 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:3–6 (ESV)
“Paul pictures people apart from the miracle of this new creation as blind – not blind to physical things, but blind to the glory of Christ. This blindness is part of the deadness all of us were in until God gave us life,” states Dr. John Piper.
Consequently, because believers are no long in darkness the Day of the Lord will not surprise us like the arrival of a thief in the night. To surprise (καταλάβῃ; katalabe) means to suddenly attack, seize and overpower.
“What Paul desires is that the readers, instead of being filled with vain curiosity or getting all excited, shall be prepared. He again uses the term of affectionate address, brothers (see on 1:4). These brothers form a sharp antithesis with the people of the world,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“The latter are in darkness, surrounded by it and embedded in it. The darkness has penetrated their hearts and minds, their whole being. This is the darkness of sin and unbelief. It is on account of this darkness that unbelievers are not sober and watchful (hence, not prepared). It is because of this that they lack faith, love, and hope. The day is, of course, the day of Christ’s return unto judgment, as is clear from the entire preceding context, beginning at Ch. 4:13. That day, here personified, will seize unbelievers, catching them unprepared, just as a thief seizes the owner of the house. Believers, however, are not in darkness. They are not seized, for they are prepared.”
Are you prepared to meet the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes again? He is coming soon (Rev. 22:12, 20). Are you ready to meet Him as your Savior and Lord? If not, then you will face Him as your Judge.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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