The church in Thessalonica, which had endured harsh persecution, asked Paul: when is Jesus coming back? What is going to happen to our brothers and sisters who have died/have been killed? Paul addresses their inquiry in this passage (1 Th 5:1-11). For believers, the Day of the Lord is nothing to fear

1. STAY WOKE: READY
AND STEADY
1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11 BIBLE STUDY
DANNY SCOTTON JR 2.27.19
ALPHA BAPTIST CHURCH
TO DOWNLOADTHESE SLIDES, PLEASEVISIT CATCHFORCHRIST.NET

2. BLESSED ASSURANCE
• Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
• This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

3. EVER GET CAUGHT DOING SOMETHINGYOU’RE
NOT SUPPOSEDTO BE DOING?
Since we know the Lord is coming, but we don’t know when,
we have to always be “ready and steady” (Weima, 357)

4. 1 THESSALONIANS SUMMARY
(BIBLE PROJECTVIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No7Nq6IX23c

5. THESSALONIANS:THREE QUESTIONS
1. What about our love for one another? (Philadelphia) (cf. 1 Th 4:9f.;
Green, 203). Brother = ἀδελφός (adelphos)  of the same womb
(δελφύς | delphys) (NIDNTTE)
2. What about the believers who have gone on? (Stott, 107; cf. 1Th 4:13-
18; Green, 229)
3. What about the timing of when the Lord comes? (Stott, 107; Green,
229)
• These questions may have been relayed to Paul byTimothy (Fee, 185;
Green, 230)
• Paul encourages and exhorts them with teaching about the Parousia
(παρουσία) – the Second Coming of Christ

6. QUESTION #1: LOVE
• 9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to
write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to
love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family
throughout Macedonia.Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to
do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead
a quiet life:You should mind your own business and work with
your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may
win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be
dependent on anybody. (1 Th 4:9-12, NIV)

7. QUESTION #2:THE DEAD IN CHRIST
• 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who
sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no
hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that
God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to
the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the
coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
• 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in
Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.And so
we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with
these words. (1 Th 4:13-18, NIV)

8. QUESTION #3:THE DAY OFTHE LORD
• 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.
3While people are saying,“Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as
labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
• 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise
you like a thief. 5You 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. 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. (1Th 5:1-8, NIV)

9. QUESTION #3:THE DAY OFTHE LORD
• 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.
• 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are
doing (1Th 5:9-11, NIV)
• Thesis: No need to fear the Day of the Lord (1 Th 5:1-3) (Weima, 343)
• Reason 1:You are “children of light/day” not of the darkness/night (1Th 5:4-5)
• Result: Live “ready and steady” lives (1Th 5:6-8)
• Reason 2: God has destined us for salvation and eternal life with Christ (1 Th 5:9-10)
• Conclusion:Therefore Edify one another (1 Th 5:11) (Weima, 343)

10. NO NEEDTO FEAR
THE DAY OF THE LORD
• 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 (1 Th 5:1-2,
NIV)
• Apparently, Paul had already give them some instruction about the Day of the Lord while
he was still with them (Morris, 93; Stott, 107; Green, 230; Shogren, 201;Wanamaker, 177)
• Understandable: people were being persecuted and dying.As the Day approached, they
likely wanted to alleviate doubts (Wanamaker, 178) and make preparations (Stott, 107)
• No need for him to write anymore about the timing – which no one knows (Morris,
93; Stott, 107)

11. NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY NOR THE HOUR
• 32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father (Mk 13:32, NIV; Stott, 107; cf. Mt 24:36; Green, 231
• 7 He said to them:“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by
his own authority (Ac 1:7, NIV; Stott, 107; Shogren, 200; Beale; Keener)
• Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted the Day of the Lord in 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918,
1925, 1975, and 1984 (Keener)
• Hippolytus: 500; Columbus (1492) apparently “sailed to the New World to bring about the
new creation prophesied in Scripture”; Luther: within a century of his time (1500s); Quakers:
1700’s; Jonathan Edwards: Great Awakening (1700’s) (Keener)
• Revolutionary War: Many Americans thought King George III was the Antichrist. 1800’s:
Ministers in the North and South thought God would usher in His kingdom with the Civil
War. 1988: 88 Reasons why the Rapture is in 1988 sold > 3 million; 1989 revised ed. (Keener)

12. THE DAY OF THE LORD:
BAD NEWS – JUDGMENT FOR THE WICKED
• Day of the LORD is an OT expression.The Israelites thought that on the Day, God would judge
and destroy their enemies (Morris, 93; Fee, 187; Keener IVP; Evans, 623)
• 3 For the day is near, / the day of the LORD is near— / a day of clouds, / a time of doom for
the nations. (Eze 30:3, NIV; Green, 232)
• Amos tells them that the wicked in Israel should fear the Day, as well: 18 Woe to you who long /
for the day of the LORD! / Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be
darkness, not light. (Amos 5:18, NIV Morris, 93; cf.Amos 5:20; 8:3, 9; Fee, 187; Comfort, 363;
Martin, 158; Green, 232;Weima, 346)
• 6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; / it will come like destruction from the Almighty. (Is
13:6, NIV cf. Obad 15; Martin, 158; Is 13:9; Shogren, 201)
• Those who have not repented will face destruction from the LORD (cf. Joel 1:13-15; Martin, 158)

13. THE DAY OF THE LORD:
GOOD NEWS – SALVATION FOR THE FAITHFUL
• 2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established / as the highest of the mountains; /
it will be exalted above the hills, / and all nations will stream to it. / 3 Many peoples will come and say, /
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, / to the temple of the God of Jacob. / He will teach us his
ways, / so that we may walk in his paths.” / The law will go out from Zion, / the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem. / 4 He will judge between the nations / and will settle disputes for many peoples. /They will beat
their swords into plowshares / and their spears into pruning hooks. / Nation will not take up sword against
nation, / nor will they train for war anymore (Is 2:2-4, NIV)
• 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his
resting place will be glorious (Is 11:10, NIV; cf. Is 19:18-25; 25:6-9; Fee, 187
• 31 The sun will be turned to darkness / and the moon to blood / before the coming of the great and dreadful
day of the LORD. / 32 And everyone who calls / on the name of the LORD will be saved; / for on
Mount Zion and in Jerusalem / there will be deliverance, / as the LORD has said, / even among the survivors /
whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:31-32, NIV; cf. Zech 14:1-21; Martin, 158)

14. THE DAY OF THE LORD:
NEWTESTAMENT
• In the NT, the Day of the LORD [YHWH] is associated with Christ – who is the Lord (Morris, 93 cf.“the/that
day”1 Cor 3:13; Rom 2:5, 13:12;“day of the Lord”: 2 Th 2:2; 1 Cor 5:5;Witherington, 145; Fee, 187; Shogren, 201)
• 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1
Cor 1:8, NIV; cf. Php 1:10; 2:16; Martin, 158;Wanamaker, 179;Witherington, 145)
• 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus. (Php 1:6, NIV; Morris, 93; cf. Lk 17:23, 30; Marshall, 1283)
• the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of
judgment. (2 Pe 2:9b, NIV; Morris, 93)
• Dual: Judgment for wicked + salvation for faithful (Martin, 159;Wanamaker, 179; Beale, 143; Evans, 623)
• Good News/Bad News:We know Jesus comes to save, but He also comes to judge (Chan, 14)
• 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has
given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Ac 17:31, NIV cf. Martin, 158; cf. 2Tim 4:1;Ac 10:42)

15. YOU ALREADY KNOW
• 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord
will come like a thief in the night. (1 Th 5:2, NIV)
• Parental language: I’ve already told you, you know
better (Fee, 186)
• Irony: you already know that no one knows (Fee,
186;Witherington, 146)

16. COMES LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
• Thieves come unexpectedly (Morris, 93); they don’t send warning postcards (Stott, 109)
• 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief
was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do
not expect him. (Mt 24:43-44, NIV; Stott, 109 cf. Lk 12:39; Fee, 187; cf. 2 Pet 3:10, Martin,
159; cf. Rev 3:3, 16:5;Weima, 346; Shogren, 202)
• Believers don’t know when Christ is coming, but we know that He is coming. It’s not a
complete surprise (Martin, 159; Green, 232;Weima, 347)
• But it will be sudden (cf. Mal 3:1; Joel 2:9; Obad 5; Evans, 623)
• “Night” likely sets up Paul’s readers for the metaphors of “light” and “darkness” (1 Th 5:4-8;
Weima, 347; Martin, 162)

17. “PEACE AND SAFETY”
• 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. (1 Th 5:3, NIV)
• Common expression during Pax Romana: Roman peace (Comfort, 364), which was made
possible by the sword of Augustus – who was called “the son of god”(Green, 233)
• Roman propaganda claimed all was secure and under control (Martin, 159;Weima, 348; Shogren,
203). Inscriptions (Witherington, 146), coins, etc. said (Latin:) pax et securitas (Evans, 624)
• Those who trusted in the imperial power of Rome (Weima, 351), which could not be protected
from the power of God (Shogren, 203)
• Destruction (of unbelievers; Martin, 160) concerns more of being separated from God rather
than annihilation (cf. 2 Th 1:9; Morris, 94).
• Paul is not trying to scare them, but reassure them as followers of Christ.Their enemies will
be justly punished (Fee, 188) – not them! (Weima, 353)

18. INESCAPABLE
• 3While people are saying,“Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as
labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Th 5:3, NIV)
• If one is expecting, clearly labor is expected. But it still comes suddenly. Once labor starts,
what has been set in motion cannot be stopped -- birth is unavoidable (Stott, 109; Martin,
160 cf. Mt 24:8; Mk 13:8; Comfort, 364;Weima, 352; Beale, 145)
• Thief: no warning; Labor: no escape (Stott, 109)
• On that Day, there will be no time to try to “take care of neglected business” (Martin, 160)
and no chance to flee (Green, 234 cf. Mt 23:23; Shogren, 204)
• If Christ will come suddenly without warning and without any hope for escape, how should
they prepare themselves? (Stott, 109)

19. ESCHATOLOGY:
TWO OVERLAPPING AGES
• ἔσχατος (eschatos) = “last” (NIDNTTE)  eschatology = theology
about the last things, the end times
• Two ages (aeons) overlap (Stott, 111):
• The present age – which was evil
• The age to come – which is the time of the Messiah
• Two ages were often depicted as “night” and “day.” “The present age
was like a long dark night, but when the Messiah came, the sun would
rise, the day would break, and the world would be flooded with light.”
(Stott, 111; cf. Is 9:2; Shogren, 205)
• Which age do we belong to?

20. CHILDREN OF THE DAY/LIGHT
• 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like
a thief. 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the
night or to the darkness (1 Th 5:4-5, NIV)
• The present world/age is one of darkness – of opposition to God (Morris, 95 cf. Job 22:9-11;
Ps 82:5; Prov 4:19; Is 60:1-3; Martin, 162; light vs. dark in John esp. Jn 12:35-36; Beale, 146)
• Hard to see in darkness. 19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not
know what makes them stumble. (Prov 4:19; Martin, 162)
• God has saved us (Fee, 193) from darkness and brought us into His light (Morris, 95) – into
His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9, Martin 162)
• For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of
the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14, NIV;
Morris, 95 cf. 2 Cor 6:14; Eph 6:12)

21. DON’T BE LIKE
THE CHILDREN OFTHE NIGHT
• 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 (1 Th 5:6-7. NIV)
• Sleep refers to moral indifference (Mk 13:36; Eph 5:14; Morris, 96; Comfort, 364; Shogren, 207)
• Since we know the Day is coming, believers ought to be alert (i.e., watchful) and self-controlled
(sober-minded) (Morris, 96 cf. Martin, 164;“on your guard”: Comfort, 364)
• Don’t be like the people who belong to the night and therefore do nighttime activities – which
render one unprepared (Stott, 110; Fee, 192; Beale, 147).“Daytime behavior” (Stott, 112)
• “Drunk with the wine of the world we forget thee” (cf. Beale, 147)
• Contrast (Fee, 194; Martin, 162). Compared to the world, our behavior should be like night
and day (cf. Eph 5:8-11; 1 Jn 1:5-7; Martin, 162; Marshall, 1283

22. BE READY…
FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE
• 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. (1 Th 5:8, NIV)
• Paul often uses armor metaphors (2 Cor 6:7; 10:4; Morris, 97) w/ variations (Stott, 112) (cf. Is 59:17;
Fee, 195; Comfort, 364; Evans, 624; Beale, 151; Shogren, 209)
• 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light. (Rom 13:12-13, NIV; Morris, 97; Martin, 165; Beale, 146; Shogren, 209)
• 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…against the powers of this dark
world…13 Therefore put on the full armor of God… (Eph 6:12-13a, NIV; Morris 97; Martin, 165)
• Salvation is not what is hoped for; it is the grounds for having hope (Fee, 196; Beale, 154)
• We live in a spiritually dark world, we must be prepared for conflict (Martin, 165); we have to be
dressed appropriately (Beale, 150).
• Walking on road to salvation should differ from walking on road to destruction (Martin, 165)

23. BLESSED ASSURANCE
• 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. (1 Th 5:9-10, NIV)
• “Appoint:” believers can be sure of their salvation – which comes from the Lord (Morris, 97);
“Divine initiative” (Martin, 165-67)
• Paul: Don’t fear the Parousia (Stott, 113); we have Blessed Assurance -- whether awake or sleep:
dead or alive (cf. Rom 14:8; Morris, 99; Fee, 198; Comfort, 365; Keener IVP; Beale, 154; though
the verb is different. Could refer to human faltering cf. Martin, 168 contra Shogren, 211)
• He shifts from discussing their age-appropriate acts to the acts of God & our Lord Jesus Christ
– who died for us (Stott, 113; cf. Rom 14:9; 2 Cor 5:15; 21; Martin, 167; Gal 1:4; Comfort, 365)
• Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness (cf. Stott, 114; Fee, 196)
• We may live together with him (cf. 1 Th 4:17; Fee, 198; Martin, 168; Beale, 155)

24. EDIFY ONE ANOTHER
• 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are
doing. (1 Th 5:11, NIV cf. 1Th 4:18; Comfort, 365; Beale, 155)
• Therefore: probably refers to everything since 1 Th 4:13 (Morris, 99)
• The church is not the building; it’s the people. Jesus is the cornerstone (cf. Mt 21:42)
• 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in
your midst?...you together are that temple (1 Cor 3:16,17b, NIV)
• 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God? (1 Cor 6:19, NIV)
• We should build each other up as the Body of Christ, theTemple (1 Cor 3:9-17, Eph
2:21-22; Morris, 99) in love (Eph 4:16; Martin, 169) – as we are empowered by the Spirit).

25. STAY WOKE:
BE READY AND STEADY
• Thesis: No need to fear the Day of the Lord (1 Th 5:1-3) (Weima, 343)
• Reason 1:You are “children of light/day” not of the darkness/night (1 Th 5:4-5)
• Result: Live “ready and steady” lives (1 Th 5:6-8)
• Reason 2: God has destined us for salvation and eternal life with Christ (1 Th 5:9-10)
• Conclusion:Therefore Edify one another (1 Th 5:11)
• Two ages: the present age (of darkness/night) and the age to come (of light/day).To which age do we belong? Let’s act
our age!
• Walk in the light, not in the night! Our behavior should contrast from that of the world like night and day.
• The foundation of our hope: Christ died for us that we may live together with Him
• Nothing (neither life nor death) can separate us from the love of Jesus (Rom 8:35-39)
• Live uprightly, not “uptightly” (Fee, 200) – for we know Christ may return at any moment (and no one knows when!)

26. BLESSED ASSURANCE
• Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
• This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

27. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
• Burge, Gary M., and Andrew E. Hill, eds. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
• Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–.
• Beale, G. K. 1–2 Thessalonians. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
• Chan, Sam. Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable. Zondervan, Kindle Edition, 2018
• Comfort, Philip in Hoehner, Harold W., Philip W. Comfort, and Peter H. Davids. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Philemon. Vol. 16. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale
House Publishers, 2008.
• Evans, Craig A., and Craig A. Bubeck, eds. The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Acts–Philemon. First Edition. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2004.
• Fee, Gordon D. The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009.
• Green, Gene L. The Letters to the Thessalonians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos, 2002.
• Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
• Keener, Craig S. NT385 Book Study: Revelation. Logos Mobile Education. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.
• Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
• Marshall, I. Howard. “1 Thessalonians.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 1277–85. Leicester, England; Downers
Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
• Martin, D. Michael. 1, 2 Thessalonians. Vol. 33. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995.
• Shogren, Gary Steven. 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.
• Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.
• Stott, John R. W. The Message of Thessalonians: The Gospel & the End of Time. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994.
• Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990.
• Weima, Jeffrey A. D. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians. Edited by Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014.
• Witherington, Ben, III. 1 and 2 Thessalonians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006.