1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

“Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation. For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.”

— ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭11‬‬

 If they didn’t need anything written to them, then why are 1 and 2 Thessalonians’ primary theme the end times? Lol Paul.

Times and seasons: phrase regarding things of the end. (Good place to remind us that “end times” began at Jesus’ resurrection. Regardless of eschatological views, that launched God’s restoration of all things, and so final redemption/judgment is coming and has been coming since Jesus)

Thief in night: Jesus used this picture, too. I don’t think the point is that Jesus is the thief and stealing people away. The point is that no one is expecting it. It’s a surprise, even with all the “signs” that have pointed to His appearing throughout history. 

The world preaches peace and security. All is well. Nothing to worry about, and from some perspectives that may be true. Certainly not worth worrying about the list they give. Again, the point here is that Jesus’ appearing will occur. No one can stop it. And those who are content with the status quo of culture on a moral/religious level may be surprised by the final verdicts.

We are “of the light.” “The Day” as in when God vindicates His people and judges the nations will not surprise us like a thief. I wonder why, because we don’t have a date or time. Sure, we have signposts that point in the right direction, and we can see indications in Bible of what precedes Jesus’ appearing. But any attempt to date set breeds awful results. Perhaps we won’t be surprised because we won’t be judged. We are not “of wrath.” 

Sleeping in this passage seems to represent moral dullness. Those in darkness sleep. They do not have the renewed minds. And thus, the thief at night surprises them. We are of the light. We are alert, and sober. We can wear faith, hope, and love, anticipating our final redemption. 

That “for wrath” is obviously debated, whether it’s a specific period of God’s wrath on the world, i.e., a tribulation period. Or whether it’s final judgment. I suppose this passage could be taken either way, but I am not a fan of piece mealing a view of the end with various texts. I’m more comfortable saying we have been saved from wrath in general and not limit it to specific things. Though in this case, Paul probably does have a specific referent. I would say it’s final verdicts before God as judge.

Asleep—in this passage seems to be moral. But ch 4-5 together talk about those who have fallen asleep, i.e., died. I haven’t read arguments either way, but the nearer context does seem to point to being morally foolish. Whether we are alert and sober or sleeping in the darkness, Jesus will bring us to ultimate salvation. We will be raised to life. 

It’s important to remember that studying end times and all the different “events” or people can be fascinating. For some it’s downright scary. But this final verse reveals the purpose of study. It’s encouraging to know that Jesus is returning. He will save His people. And vindication and justice will come finally. Our job is simply to endure to the end, probably with that faith, hope, and love he talked about.

1 John 2:18-23

“Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us. Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.”

— ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭23‬‬

Author of these epistles (presumably John the apostle) shows tenderness to his audience. 

We repeatedly see the early church identify their generation as the “last days.” We have done more damage to our current generations by assuming world has gotten way worse (though, yes, I understand Jesus and Paul’s warnings of how wars will progress and false teaching will arise, etc.) The point is humans have been pretty awful since the beginning. And in the first century, they were just as expectant of Jesus’ return as we are. There is nothing hindering that. The “end times” began at the resurrection. This cannot be emphasized enough.

“The antichrist” has many titles in NT. Son of Perdition/ Man of Lawlessness. But there’s debate if AD 70 fulfilled this portion of these prophecies. Could be pattern fulfillment for multiple blasphemous people throughout history, and perhaps culminating in one terrible person at the end. Not really trying to get into the “beast from the sea” in Rev 13. Beasts typically refer to kingdoms, not individuals throughout Jewish literature, like Daniel 7.

Many antichrists have appeared, and not just appeared from outside in the culture. These have gone out from the church. 

This passage is used in nearly every conversation about preservation of saints, assurance of salvation, losing salvation, etc. I like to focus on God’s sovereignty and faithfulness to His people. This is what preservation means. He will get His people from Point A to Point B. He never loses any (John 10:27-28), and He will complete the work (Phil 1:6). 

But we know of people all the time who were in church, heavily involved, even pastors who turn away from faith, Jesus, ministry everything. 1 John 2:18 helps. They went out because they were not really of us. If they were of us, they would have remained.

Can they come back? Sure. I know Hebrews 6 says it’s impossible for them to repent. But I would say if they repent, then they haven’t really left. We like to debate. We like to find loopholes and make up weird situations to label people or make it difficult for either people to find God or the Bible to be true. 

First, let each Bible author say what he wants to say to HIS audience for THEIR situation. Second, these people were facing persecution and opposition from teacher that we can sort of relate to but not really. They were still wrestling with deity of Christ, the expansion of the gospel for all nations, and how all this works together. We have scores of other issues. 

But many of the biblical authors, John perhaps at the top, makes it fairly simple. Someone is either following Jesus or they aren’t. Revelation basically makes God’s team and the devil’s team. We can make up all sorts of practical scenarios of switching back and forth and leaving one and going back or taking a break. But John doesn’t mess around. You’re life as a whole…for or against. Period.

John echoes the confidence of Hebrews’ warning passages. His people have an anointing from above. They have received the truth. The lies they are hearing about Jesus’ deity. The opponents who have left are saying Jesus was not the Messiah. The one sent by God to rescue His people. And then John switches from plurals to singular—the antichrist. 

You can tell similar vocabulary and phrasing between this passage and John’s gospel. He who has the Son has the Father. Jesus reveals God perfectly.