The Day of the Lord
Introduction
Focus on the things you know and understand.
Focus on living a life pleasing to the Lord rather than putting your efforts into predicting dates of the Lord’s return.
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NLT
The Day of the Lord
5:1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Examine the Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NLT
The Day of the Lord
5:1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen,
Questions about Christ’s return have always occupied the thoughts of many.
dear brothers and sisters,
Once again we see “dear brothers and sisters”.
Paul truly loved the Thessalonians.
we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
- Christ’s return will be unexpected and unwelcome by those not ready for it.
Matthew 24:36, 43-44 (Luke 12:3540) NLT
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
42 So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
2 Peter 3:10 NLT
10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.
Revelation 3:3 NLT
3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.
Revelation 16:15 NLT
15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”
The day of the Lord will include both judgment and blessing.
- We don’t know the timing of God’s final judgment, but we do know that it is coming.
Prepare for Christ’s return by living godly lives.
- Live godly lives in light of coming judgment on the world.
3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
This will be a time of judgment and destruction for the unbeliever.
- God’s ultimate judgment comes unexpectedly to the unbeliever and is inescapable.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 NLT
9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.
4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.
- Christ’s return will not take believers by surprise (however, the timing might).
The signs of Christ’s return are discernable to Christians, but we do not know the exact time.
Christians will not face destruction on judgment day.
5 For you are all children of the light and of the day;
Colossians 1:11-14 NLT
11 … May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
John 12:36 NLT
36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
Acts 26:17-18 NLT
17 … Yes, I am sending you (Paul) to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
Ephesians 5:8 NLT
8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
1 Peter 2:9 NLT
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
we don’t belong to darkness and night.
- Christians are children of light and of the day—people transformed by Christ.
6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others.
Unbelievers are spiritually insensitive. Living without considering the coming Day of Judgment.
Stay alert and be clearheaded.
Matthew 24:42 NLT
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
Matthew 25:13 NLT
13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
- Anticipate the Lord’s return.
Be watchful and clearheaded, waiting for the Lord’s return.
7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.
Matthew 24:48-51 NLT
>48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The drunk are unable to respond properly.
The drunk lack self-control.
The drunk are unprepared for the master’s return.
8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
- Know that God has equipped you with faith, hope, and love to protect your heart and mind until Christ returns.
A good prayer to pray for those preparing for Christ’s return:
Philippians 1:9-11 NLT
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.
Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
John 15:16 NLT
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit,
1 Thessalonians 1:10 NLT
10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Romans 5:9 NLT
9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.
- Jesus has rescued Christians from the terrors of the coming judgment.
10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.
Review verses from previous lesson:
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NLT
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
Additional verses:
2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
John 14:1-3 NLT
14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
- Christians will live with the Lord for all of eternity.
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Remind each other of the promises of God that we already know.
- The church is a community that encourages and builds others up in preparation for Christ’s return.
