What is the day of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 5:2?
The day of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 is the time when Christ comes in wrath and judgment, arriving as a thief in the night. It concerns the unbelieving world, not the church, contrasting with the rapture in chapter 4 where believers are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
Les teaches that 1 Thessalonians 5:2 describes the day of the Lord as coming like a thief in the night, which he explains is when Christ will come in wrath and in judgment. In the surrounding context, Les contrasts this with the rapture of the church in chapter 4, where believers are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Chapter 5 presents the other side of the coin: the unbelieving world, those not caught up. The pronoun shift from 'we' to 'they' highlights that the day of the Lord here concerns unbelievers, not the church.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
More Questions
What does it mean that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night?
The day of the Lord coming 'as a thief in the night' means when Christ comes in wrath and in judgment.