I Come as a Thief in the Night - Stay Alert, Watchful, and Sober

We proclaim the coming kingdom of God... like Jesus did, like the apostles did…  and the early Church did. We know the rule of God on earth  does not come about by human efforts or pretensions of progress... the rule of God on earth begins with the return of Christ preceded by clear signs and events foretold by Jesus and the prophets. Like the disciples we ask and wonder... when will it come?

A Thief in the Night

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 Paul says this after one of his most direct teachings on the return of Christ and the resurrection in chapter 4. Naturally, discussing these events lead to the question "how long till it comes? At what time?"

Paul says we need not speculate about dates and times since we know VERY WELL it will come suddenly and at a time not expected... "like a thief in the night".  Our inability to calculate the day of Christ's return is a well established, well known, teaching going back to the words of Jesus Himself.

Luke 12:39-40 Jesus teaches readiness and vigilance. Then He hints that it comes suddenly after a long long time [verses 45-46].

Matthew 25:1-13 the oil in the lamps symbolizes the holy spirit. The foolish virgins had allowed the holy spirit within them to sputter out... possible through lack of use. They were all taken by surprise... but some were prepared and some were not.

2 Peter 3:8-10 Peter also taught as Jesus taught... suddenly but after a long time... long enough for people to stop caring, stop taking it seriously, even stop preparing.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 the warning about false prophets who cry out "peace and safety" echoes the warnings true prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel delivered to Israel. Peace and safety was also a slogan of the imperial Roman government which loomed large over towns like Thessalonica…. Look at the sparkling cities, the technology, the abundant food, longer life spans… times have never been so good!

The labor pains of a woman about to give birth are another echo of the prophets... the message is the same... suddenly but after a long time. And who doesn't escape... those who cry out peace and safety.

Over confidence in material prosperity eats away at people's resolve to prepare themselves for the day of Christ's return.

The Children of Light Are Prepared

1 Thessalonians 5:4 what does this mean that we will not be taken by surprise? It means we will be prepared. How do we prepare?

1. Throw Off Deception - 1 Thessalonians 5:5 Paul is referring to the Church... we are not in deceived darkness concerning the coming judgment... not unaware, or unconcerned. We have been called into the light... or enlightened. We know what God expects us to do, and we do it.

Acts 26:17-18 going from darkness to light means coming out from under the power of deception. To receive forgiveness, to receive a place/an inheritance/a position and job to do in the coming kingdom, to be set apart/sanctified by what you believe and how you act upon it.

2. Learn & Obey God’s Laws - Psalm 119:105 enlightenment comes through accepting, and doing God's righteous laws. Do not be deceived into believing they don’t matter.

3. Change The Way You Think - Ephesians 5:8 enlightenment leads to changing the way you live and how you think.

If we are children of the light then we will not be taken by surprise because we have prepared ourselves through repentance, obedience, overcoming and putting on the the mind of Christ... not  because of secret knowledge about the unfolding of end-time events. That is not what coming into the light of day is all about.

Engage in Spiritual Battle

Thessalonians 5:6-8 - Putting on breast plates and helmets sounds like a plan of preparedness. But, it does not mean going our and purchasing a stash of weapons and canned food so we can hunker down and survive apocalyptic chaos. The weapons of our warfare are spiritual not steel... and they have power to defend and to tear down strongholds of the mind... they demolishing arguments and every pretense that fights the knowledge of God.

1. A person who is sober and alert is putting on love and faith as a breast plate:

Faith - trusting that God is right and true and therefore obeying His righteous commands

Love - choosing to live with kindness, patience, reconciliation, justice towards others... even when they don't deserve it.

2. A person who is sober and alert is putting on a good understanding of the salvation God offers  as a helmet... What is it? Why do you need it? How do you get it? Where is it headed?

The breast plate guards the heart... the helmet guards the head! The truth of God does not deal only with the emotional and shut out the intellect. Nor is it solely intellectual without feeling.

Stay Alert

We are told to stay awake/alert/watchful [G1127]... not awake unto a better discernment of prophetic signs and symbols... awake as to our spiritual condition. To not fall asleep because we become weary of well doing, or because of deception. Note: drunkenness is a biblical metaphor for deception and false teaching... but it also makes you tired and sleepy.

Romans 13:11-14 the call to wake up and be alert leads directly to consideration of our own moral behavior: ex. sexual immorality, fighting & quarreling, gratifying the flesh... and once again likening this to putting on armor… the armor or light.

Revelation 3:2-3 the church is warned to wake up... remember the truth of God that flipped that switch in your mind... guard it and preserve it... then take stock and repent... prepare yourself... otherwise, the thief in the night will find you unprepared.

Revelation 16:15 even as the armies gather around Jerusalem... which is one of the actual signs Jesus foretold... people are warned about falling asleep... neglecting to clothing themselves in the robes of righteousness.

Over the centuries an interest in prophecy and the signs of Christ's return has lead many to get serious about preparing themselves. But, it is of little value if it doesn't lead to moral improvement along God-given guidelines.

A Way of Escape

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 God has not appointed those who put His plan of preparedness to feel the weight of His wrath, or to destruction, or harm... whether it comes in our lifetime or after we are dead. He promises to protect and spare those who have prepared.

We should not be overwhelmed by pessimism, despair, or apathy…

The outlook is not dark and gloomy for those of us who prepare. So be encouraged, and encourage one another:

1. through regular attendance of God's holy assembly every seventh day… your Creator has established it for your benefit… so take advantage of it!
2. through fellowship either in spoken words or the solidarity of interacting with people who believe as you do [another practical function of Sabbath attendance].

Encouraging and Building Each Other Up

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 respect the ministry and the instruction they provide... even if you sometimes don't like what you hear. They are tasked not only with providing encouragement but also warning.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 we are all responsible for warning those who are not walking properly in the way [in gentleness and kindness]... we all should provide encouragement to those who might be struggling with doubt, or facing their fears... we should all help and care for those among us in need.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 end the cycle of retaliation: among one another, to everyone else. Seek peace and practice reconciliation. This creates peace and unity within the Church.

Purpose and Motivation: Prayer and Prophecy

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 rejoice because because of the sense of purpose you have through the enlightenment given you by God. Give thanks because with this understanding your trials and tests make sense. They work towards God’s planned outcome rather than merely hitting you as the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

If we do all these things then we are taking on the armor of God… prepared so we will not be caught off guard by a thief who comes suddenly in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 some of what you hear concerning prophecy is not really helpful... but some is. The promise of Christ's return with its combination of resurrection, reward, wrath, and retribution... is a strong motivator for repentance, change and newness of life.  

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ... will do what? PRESERVE your whole spirit, soul, and body through whatever calamity might lay ahead... even the return of Jesus Christ. You have God's promise of protection from His word... and He says His word is sure... standing fast for ever and ever. Heaven and earth shall pass away but His word shall never pass away.