1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11.  The Day the Master Returns.

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About dates and times, my friends, we need not write to you, for you know perfectly well that the Day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.

We don't know when Jesus will return - no point in speculating.  It will be unannounced.

"The Day of the Lord": a time of salvation and a time of judgement.
cf 1 Corinthians 1: 8  (The Holy Spirit) will keep you firm to the end, without reproach on the Day of our Lord Jesus.  The Holy Spirit will make sure we're ready.
    2 Peter 3: 10     A description of what will happen on the Day of the Lord.
    Luke 17: 24 - 37  Jesus' description of what will happen on his return.

V.3

While they are talking of peace and security, all at once calamity is upon them, sudden as the pangs that come upon a woman with child; and there will be no escape.

While people talk about peace and security - feeling secure - calamity comes unannounced - again like a thief.  That's how Jesus will come again - a surprise, the last thing from people's minds.
cf  Luke 21: 34-36  The return of Jesus compared with the coming of a thief in the night - unexpected - something we should be preparing for, holding ourselves in readiness so it doesn't matter when he comes.
    Matthew 24: 43  Remember, if the householder had known at what time of night the burglar was coming, he would have kept awake and not have let his house be broken into.

A burglar rifles our possessions, takes our treasures and leaves us bereft.  What will we lose if we are not prepared for Jesus' return? Our lives - eternally. If we are prepared, we'll lose nothing, but gain everything.

V 4.

But you, my friends, are not in the dark, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
(The Message) We will not be taken off-guard about it.

Christians are not ignorant about  Jesus' return.  We have no excuse not to be ready.
cf  Luke 21: 34-36  Jesus' warning and instruction to us for our preparations.

Vs 5, 6, 7.

You are all children of the light, children of day.  We do not belong to night or darkness, and we must not sleep like the rest, but keep awake and sober.  Sleepers sleep at night and drunkards are drunk at night,...

We are God's children and he has provided us with a warning.  We must stay alert at all times.  We must act like God's children who are ready and confident.

"Light" = divine revelation and righteousness

Children of the 'light' and of the 'day' have nothing to fear and nothing to hide.  Our lives are open to scrutiny at all times.

V 8.

...but we, who belong to daylight, must keep sober, armed with faith and love for coat of mail, and the hope of salvation for helmet.

The state we should be in as we wait prepared: we must be spiritually awakie and aware at all times.  Aware of what God, in Christ has done for us, alert for the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives
We need to be : sober - alert to the leading of the Spirit and to God's will for us, able to think and make good decisions, sensible and responsible, able to be trusted
                           armed with faith and love as coat of mail - for protection - faith in action, love in labour - and hope (or certainty) of salvation as our helmet, giving strength and patience.

Faith - trust in God to protect and guide us, allowing us to be bold in action, able to 'go out on a limb' when necessary to achieve God's purposes.
Love - in all we do, passing on the love of God to others as it shines through our lives, attitudes and work.

V 9.
For God has not destined us to the terrors of judgement, but to the full attainment of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God does not plan for us to be terrified of his Judgement or to suffer from his judgement because we are 'saved' through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

V 10.

He died for us so that we, awake or asleep, might live in company with him.

What Jesus did for us - died so that we live at all times in his company (The Message: whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead)

God's remedy for sin: Romans 3: 24 - 26, 2 Corinthians 5: 19-21.

Good News!!!!!

V 11.

Therefore hearten one another, fortify one another - as indeed you do.

We have reasons for joy - we need to encourage each other and strengthen each other so we are all ready and prepared all the time for Jesus' return.

SO....It doesn't matter when Jesus comes.  We will be ready!!!