What does 1 Thessalonians 5:1 mean?
Earlier, Paul commended the Christians at Thessalonica for their faithfulness and spiritual strength (1 Thessalonians 3:5–7). Every generation seems curious about the future and has numerous questions about the Lord's return. The Thessalonians had similar questions, but when Paul was in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey he had spent considerable time speaking to the brothers there about the day of the Lord. They knew quite a bit about the end times, but they needed to apply what they knew to their circumstances. Likely, they thought they had already entered the day of the Lord because of the suffering they were experiencing at the hands of their persecutors."Times" in this verse is the Greek word, chronōn, from the same root which give us the English word "chronology." It refers mainly to a period of time, and occurs 53 times in the New Testament. The word "seasons" is from the Greek kairōn, and is found 86 times in the New Testament. It is translated "time" 33 times and "season" 16 times. The same two words are found in Acts 1:7 where Jesus answered the disciples' question, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). He said, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed in his own authority." No one needs to know everything about the Lord's return. We have enough information about it in Scripture to anticipate it and to order our lives properly in light of it.
First Thessalonians 5:1–11 informs believers about the day of the Lord. This phrase refers both to the moment of the rapture as well as the seven-year tribulation period that follows the rapture. The passage assures us that believers will not experience the tribulation. The day of the Lord will commence unexpectedly, like the arrival of a thief at night. It is described as a time of darkness with dreadful consequences. Unbelievers, identified as those who belong to the night, will be overtaken by destruction. But believers are, symbolically, of the day not the night. They are not the objects of God's wrath, but are destined to receive a full rescue from the day of God's wrath. In view of their exemption from the day of the Lord, believers ought to encourage and edify one another.
First Thessalonians chapter 5 reiterates that the rapture will occur quickly, catching the unbelieving world unprepared. In contrast, Paul presents faithful Christians as those who are aware and ready for this event. This passage uses the contrast of day versus night to highlight those differences. Paul also completes his letter by offering various practical instructions. These include the need to be peaceful, hardworking, and forgiving. He also commends constant prayer and an attitude of joyfulness, before closing his letter with a command for this letter to be read aloud.
