The Day Of The Lord

The reader may know that in the original Scriptures there were no chapter breaks and for this reason it is always helpful when beginning a new chapter in our reading to bear in mind how the previous chapter ended in order to preserve the continuity of thought. “But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” These times and seasons are in the sovereign control of God as the Lord Jesus reminded the apostles in Acts 1:7. Men may think to change or add to these time marks (Dan. 7:25) but all such attempts are futile. It is interesting to notice that in Gen. 1:14 the lights in the firmament of heaven were made “for seasons and for days and years.” It was not by accident that the wise men from the east saw the star of the King of the Jews and followed that star to Bethlehem right to where the King, as a little babe, lay. In the same way, God appointed the set feasts (holy days) for Israel to observe as outlined in Leviticus 23 for the purpose of denoting time marks. This is strikingly seen in the first verse of Acts 2 which can be more accurately rendered, “And when the day of Pentecost was being fully fulfilled ...” The appointment of Pentecost in Lev. 23:15–21 was a time mark which saw its fulfillment as recorded in Acts 2 and it was for this reason that the command of the Lord to His followers not to depart from Jerusalem (Acts 1:4) was urgent. We need to know these things in order that we may be kept from mere speculation as to the coming of the Lord. Acts 3:20, 21 is very clear where we read, “And He shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things.”

Paul’s teaching to the believers here as to the times and seasons center around the day of the Lord. What is meant by the day of the Lord and how and when is it to be introduced? First of all, it is apparent that since the day of the Lord is come, it is not here now and therefore this present time is the day of someone else. In 1 Cor. 4:3 you will notice if you have a Bible with marginal renderings that the word translated “judgment” is “day” in the Greek. What Paul is saying here, in effect, is that it is now man’s day when all judgment is imperfect, but that he was looking for the Lord’s perfect judgment which would be effectual at His coming, (v. 5) So the whole period of time prior to the Lord’s coming is viewed as man’s day when he seeks to rule independently of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a condition is in actual fact night and we are so reminded by the words of Rom. 13:12. It is essential that we get this distinction well into our minds as otherwise we may hope there will be daylight in the world situation before the Lord comes which will not be the case.

We read in 1 Thess. 5:3, 4 that this day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night which is explained by the word “sudden” in v. 3. We have written before of the masterpiece of deception which is to be a characteristic of the last days of this age which will culminate in people saying everywhere “peace and safety.” This will materialize during the time of the antichrist since the threat of war will be abolished by his absolute rule. On such a background, the day of the Lord comes in, the events happening in quick succession (this is the thought in Rev. 1:1 “things which must shortly — or with speed — come to pass” and 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly.”

It will profit us to observe in this context of 1 Thess. 5:1–11 the contrast presented by the use of the pronouns “you” and “we” on the one hand and “they” on the other. The lines were sharply drawn in the early days of the Church, between believers and unbelievers but in these days it is not so in the same degree for many pass as Christians who have never been born again. These verses would encourage us to expect a closer drawing of the lines as we draw nearer to the coming of the Lord with a consequent increase of spiritual power. It says in v. 3 “... and they shall not escape” but thanks be to God that “we” (v. 4) who have come to Christ who is the light have already escaped the darkness by the grace of God. “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken and we are escaped.” (Psa. 124:7) How praiseful and thankful we should be to the God of all grace for such a salvation and be concerned to walk in the light of His word day by day.

The day of the Lord will indeed overtake all, but the force of v. 4 is that it will not overtake the Lord’s people as a thief. Verse 5 goes on to say that we all (the redeemed) are sons of light and sons of the day and because of this we are, or should be, prepared for and enjoying by faith the prospect of the coming day of the Lord. The characteristics of the night and those who live for it are seen in v. 7 and vv. 6, 8 show us the contrast which we, as those who live for the day, are to be in watchfulness and sobriety. There is one final reference to the coming of the Lord found in this chapter and that is in v. 23 which reads, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What a contrast this is to the word of v. 3, “sudden destruction” and “they shall not escape” and what cause for rejoicing is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ that we have a salvation which takes in spirit, soul and body.

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