I Thessalonians 5:1-11

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I have been asked over and over again, "Is this the end?" Well, here we have some insight given to us in this chapter.

1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

NOTE the trio says that there is no need in talking about times and dates, because the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. What does that mean? It means that the end will come upon us suddenly and it is impossible to escape its inevitability.

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

This is interesting! Those believers in Jesus, the brothers and sisters, are children of the light and not the darkness. Since we are in the light, the end should not surprise us nor should we be shocked that this will all happen swiftly.

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

NOTE that God did not appoint for us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through Jesus. Since He died for us, whether dead or alive, we may live together in Him. How are we to respond as we approach what might be the end? We are to put on faith and love and hope in Jesus. Although this passage is used to say that believers won't go through the Great Tribulation, it seems more appropriate to see it as saying that in the midst of whatever level of tribulation we may encounter, we must embrace our salvation through Jesus.

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

NOTE this is not saying to take these truths about the end of time and scare the hell out of those who may be listening on. Nor does it say that we must figure out the timing of the end and find our place in prophecy. What it is saying is that we are to use these truths to encourage one another and to build each other up in the midst of the world pressures and struggles that may come upon us.

You know what? I think the essence of what is being said in this section is, "There is only one way to get through this life and to get out of here alive and that is through Jesus."