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A Study in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5

Not Destined For Wrath

Chapter 5 is a continuation of the previous chapter of First Thessalonians. Paul informed the Thessalonians of the ones who have died in Christ and that they will be brought back with Jesus at the coming of the Lord. For review, please read "With a Shout."

In this series of our study, we will examine the Pre-trib claims:

  • The day of the Lord is the tribulation period;
  • The "thief in the night" is in reference to his "secret coming"
  • The church will not be here during the tribulation;
  • The church will not be persecuted during the tribulation because "we are not destined for wrath."
"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write you, for you know very well the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, While people are saying 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come upon them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so this day should not surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be on the alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and a hope of salvation as a  helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He did for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may be together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just in as fact you are doing."

First Thessalonians 5:1-11  NIV

The Thessalonians knew fully well about the day of the Lord and that will come like a thief in the night. During that time when the day of the Lord comes, people who are saying "peace and safety", destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman and they will not escape.

Paul tells the Thessalonians they are not in darkness so that day shouldn't surprise them "like a thief." Paul gives a comparison between those who are unaware and those who are (the Thessalonians). The Thessalonians are sons of light and sons of the day and they don't belong in darkness or in the night. He further tells them not to be like the others who are asleep and are unaware of that day. And they should be on the alert and self-controlled, unlike the sons of darkness.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus Says about his coming after the tribulation:

"Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

 

Matthew 25:13

As Paul tells to be on the alert for the day of the Lord, Jesus tells us to keep watch for His coming.

In order to be self-controlled we should put on faith and love as a breastplate and hope of salvation  as a helmet. In a letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells them further to put on the "full armor of God:" 

 
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything , to stand.

Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the spirit in all occasions with all kinds of prayer requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:10--18 NIV

In summation, we are not in darkness as those who are and asleep, we need to be on the alert for that day. We need to be self controlled and need to put on the full armor of God in order to be prepared for the devil's evil schemes.

As we see in this chapter, the coming of the Lord will come as a "thief in the night" and it will surprise those who are unaware and are in darkness. Since we as believers, we should be on the alert, so that day should not overtake us.  If we are to be on the alert, should we anticipate a "secret coming?" In  this part of first Thessalonians, does Paul say the day of the Lord is during the tribulation, or at the "pre-trib rapture?  Paul does say destruction will happen "suddenly" on that day on those who are unaware and they will not escape. This is not an indication of a secret pre-trib rapture. 

Will the Church be here at the day of the Lord? Paul said we should be on the alert so that day will not surprise us "like a thief." So if we are to be on the alert, then we must be prepared because we'll be here!

Paul tells us we are not destined for wrath but to receive salvation through Jesus. I must totally agree with him. This wrath is for those who live in darkness and it is not for the sons of light, for this is God's wrath. Does this mean that we're spared from persecution or the wrath of the Anti-christ? This wrath is different from God's wrath. The wrath of the Anti-christ is for those who will resist his demands to be worshiped as God.

As Paul said, "...God dod not appoint us to suffer wrath." And he continues to say "but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." He did for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may be together with Him.

As pre-tribbers, they insist the church must be removed before the tribulation because they believe the day of the Lord starts at the "pre-trib rapture" and ends when Jesus returns after the tribulation. They also believe God performs His wrath on His enemies during that time. As continuation of this study we will look into scripture references that describe the day of the Lord. We will look into "like a thief" scripture references. We will also examine scripture references on wrath. As a vital part of this study, since many pre-tribbers equate wrath with persecution, we will cover that topic as well.

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      Articles in this study

The Day of the Lord

Like A Thief

Wrath (of God)

Persecution

 

Twinkling of an Eye

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