1 Thessalonians 5:2 - The Day of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NIV) for you know very
well that the day of the Lord will come like a
thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NLT) For you know quite
well that the day of the Lords return will
come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
WORD STUDY
Day Of The Lord
OT phrase representing the last days.
[Andrews SB]
The time when God will come to judge
humanity and save his people. [NLT SB 2008]
Is common in the OT Prophets. It refers to
the great and terrible day when Yahweh will
intervene to punish the disobedient and to save the
faithful. In Pauls letters it is equated with the
second coming. [ESV SB 2008]
The expression goes back to Am 5:18. In the
OT it is a time when God will come and
intervene with judgment and/or blessing. In the NT the
thought of judgment continues, but it is also the
day of redemption; the day of God or of
Christ; and the last day, the great Day
or simply the day. It is the consummation
of all things. There will be limited
preliminary signs, but the coming will be as unexpected
as that of a thief in the night. [NIV SB 2020]
INTRODUCTION
The "day of the Lord's return" is a future
time when God will intervene directly and
dramatically in world affairs. Predicted and discussed
often in the Old Testament, the day of the Lord
will include both punishment and blessing. Christ
will judge sin and set up his eternal Kingdom.
[Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
In the Scriptures, the exhortation to
prepare for the day of the Lord is usually given to
Gods people, rather than to unbelievers.
Christians must be prepared for Christs return, so
that they can properly respond to Him. The most
important thing about the day of the Lord is clear: it
comes unexpectedly.
In Scripture, there are several
references to the day of the Lord. Often this refers to
Jesus first coming or His second coming, but it
can also refer to any time God comes to His
people, either in salvation or judgment (Is 13:6;
Joe 2:11; Mal 3:2). Amos had predicted that the
day of the Lord would be far different from what
the people expected (Am 5:18). The people of his
day thought it would come with joy and singing,
yet Amos said there would be grieving and
judgment of sin. When Jesus came the first time, His
coming caught people by surprise. Because they were
expecting the Messiah to come in a different way, many
did not recognize Him.
The final day of the Lord will be at
Christs second coming. Meanwhile, there will be
times when God will come to you, your family, and
friends. You need to be watching for the signs of
Gods convicting work in your children, your
friends, and your coworkers. You must take notice
when God begins to do a special work in the lives
of the people in your church. It may be that
you have an unusual sense of Gods presence in
a worship service and you begin to intercede
for those who are present. Prepare yourself now
and pay attention to what is happening in the
lives of those around you. You may discover that
the day of the Lord is at hand. [Experiencing
God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby re
1Th. 5:2]
CLOSING PEARL
Triumph And Glory
Christians have no cause to go around
wringing their hands, wondering what they will do in
the face of the present world situation. The
Scripture says that in the midst of persecution,
confusion, wars, and rumors of wars, we are to comfort
one another with the knowledge that Jesus Christ
is coming back in triumph, glory, and majesty.
Many times when I go to bed at night, I think
that before I awaken, Christ may come. Sometimes
when I get up and look at the dawn, I think that
perhaps this is the day He will return.
But until that day, God is still working
- and so should we. In a world filled with
turmoil and hopelessness, we are to pray, and we are
to do all we can to alleviate suffering and
bring Christ's love to others. May Jesus' words
become true in your life: "Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). [Hope
for Each Day by Billy Graham]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC:
Matthew 5:14-16 - Shining for Jesus!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220113-0822.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Parable of the Sower - Open Heart Surgery by
Ralph Ringer: https://vimeo.com/666314378
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
