Who is 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 talking about in contrast to the rapture?
1 Thessalonians chapter 5 concerns the unbelieving world, those not caught up to meet the Lord in the air. In contrast to the rapture of the church, it describes the day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night, when Christ comes in wrath and judgment.
Les explains that 1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses "we" and "us," including Paul with believers who are caught up together to meet the Lord in the air—the rapture of the church. Then in chapter 5, he says, you look at the other side of the coin: those who will not be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, the unbelieving world. Chapter 5 begins with the times and seasons, and verse 2 says the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, when Christ comes in wrath and judgment. In verse 3 the pronoun changes to "they," showing the difference between believers and the unbelieving world.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
More Questions
In 1 Thessalonians 5, who are the people who will not be caught up to meet the Lord?
The people in 1 Thessalonians 5 who will not be caught up to meet the Lord in the air are the unbelieving world.