Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you (I Thes. 5:1).
Times is the word chronos which refers to clock time, calendar time. The word epochs is kairos which refers to seasons, ages. In both cases here Paul is speaking about the end times.
The end times, the final age of history, is all of time between the first and second coming of Jesus — the Age of Grace, the Church Age. But in particular, Paul is referring to the last years of the end times, the season that empties into the return of Christ.
Paul says, You have no need of anything to be written to you. There are two reasons for this.
1. First, because Paul had already taught them about the end times. His teaching ministry had been thorough and so they had accurate information.
2. But also, there is much God has not revealed because we do not need to know. When the disciples asked, Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6), His reply was, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority (Acts 1:7). They did not need to know the exact date of the end. What they needed, Jesus said, was to be Spirit-empowered witnesses to the remotest part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
However, even though Jesus said that we will not know the exact hour of His return (Matt. 24:36) and though we do not need to know, He does not want us to be asleep, undiscerning, unprepared. So Paul reminds the church, For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night (I Thes. 5:2).
The church already knew full well some truths concerning the day of the Lord and so do we.
1. We know it will be unexpected like a thief in the night. Jesus used this same imagery: Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will (Matthew 24:42-44).
The return of Jesus for His church and His coming in judgment on an evil, idol worshiping, God-rejecting world will be unexpected, sudden.
2. The day of the Lord will be preceded by false prophets:
Jesus warned us, Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). And He said, For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many (Matt. 24:5).
Paul warned the church of false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds (2 Cor. 11:13-15).
Peter warned the church that just as there were false prophets in Israel, there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies (2 Ptr. 2:1).
Only a few years later, John warned the church, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (I Jn. 4:1). There have always been false prophets, false teachers but they will increase as we move deeper into the end times and we know this.
3. Another truth the church understands is that these false prophets will proclaim false security:
Paul warns us, While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape (I Thes. 5:3).
Because of the deception and lies of the false prophets and false teachers, many will be unprepared. Jesus warns us, For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matt. 24:37-39).
Prior to the end of the end times, people will be enjoying life as in the days of Noah — eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. It’s not wrong to eat and drink and marry but it is terribly wrong, dangerous and destructive to not discern the time, the season.
Jesus rebuked the undiscerning leaders of His day, When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? (Matt. 16:2,3). They could predict the weather but failed to understand the season of their Messiah in their midst. The result was the complete destruction of their nation less than 40 years later.
Many will be unprepared for the return of Christ because of false prophets proclaiming false security. Paul’s generation understood this, they had been warned. So are we warned.
4. Another day of the Lord truth that is clearly revealed in Scripture is that false prophets and false priests will culminate in one final man of lies, known by various names.
In his first epistle, John calls him the antichrist: Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour (I John 2:18).
Antichrist — antichristos — is a compound word. Anti refers to that which opposes or takes the place of something or someone. Christos is the Greek word for Anointed One, Messiah. The spirit of the antichrist has been at work throughout the centuries, before and during this last age. It manifests in those who oppose the truth of Jesus, who obstruct and resist the ministry of Jesus, who oppose the majesty and authority and holiness of Jesus or who seek to take His place. But it will manifest most fully in one man who will embody fully and completely Satan’s opposition to Christ. He will be brilliant, ruthless and completely demonized.
Paul describes him as the man of lawlessness and the son of destruction: Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God (2 Thes. 2:3,4).
It will not come refers to the season of the Lord’s judgment and the return of Christ. That will not happen until the apostasy — a rebellion or falling away from Godly truth and morality. This apostasy will be led by the man of lawlessness, whom John calls the antichrist. His crowning work of rebellion will be his enthronement in the rebuilt Jerusalem temple.
John describes this man in Revelation 11:7 as the beast that comes up out of the abyss. The fact that he comes up out of the abyss, the place of demonic imprisonment (Luke 8:31, Rev. 9:2,3), does not mean that he is demonic in origin. He is a man but his power and authority and character are entirely demonic. He will not merely have a demonic anointing on his life. He will be totally surrendered to and energized by Satan. His godlessness will be most fully displayed when he sets up an altar to himself in the rebuilt Jerusalem temple and declares himself to be God.
The Antichrist will be accompanied by the most evil of all false prophets who, performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men (Rev. 13:13). This is the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image (Rev. 19:20).
During a time of world wide stress, the Antichrist will usher in a brief season of peace and prosperity and will initiate the massive genocide of Christians. But his rule will disintegrate into war, chaos, famine, and the breakdown of human society as God pours out His judgment. The Day of the Lord will be accompanied by world wide collapse of governmental and economic systems and creation itself will disintegrate (see Revelation chapters 6, 8, 9, 16, 18).
As God shakes the nations, He will also shake the heavens. There will be universal and cosmic upheaval as even the stars are shaken. Centuries ago, the Lord revealed through the Old Testament prophet Joel, I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes (Joel 2:30,31).
John describes that day, And the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places (Rev. 6:13,14).
5. Concerning these false prophets and false priests, including the Antichrist, Paul says, Destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape (I Thes. 5:3). The word destruction is olethros which is not annihilation of being, not the end of existence but the end of the purpose of existence which is to know, glorify and enjoy God. Their destruction is separation from God forever. Their destruction will be sudden, inescapable. The God of justice will carry out His judgment suddenly and completely.
6. Another truth clearly revealed in Scripture is that the day of the Lord will be a day of redemption for many. As we approach the end of the age, the redeemed church will go forth with a mighty anointing from the Lord, with signs and wonders and powerful preaching and witness resulting in an unprecedented harvest of souls for the kingdom of God.
The labor pains of judgment will lead to the birth of a new beginning. The outpouring of judgment, will culminate in the enthronement of Jesus and the establishing of His kingdom on earth.
Knowing these things, how are the redeemed to respond?
1. We are to be vigilant, discerning: But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober ( I Thes. 5:4-6).
The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night but we are not of the night so the return of Christ should not overtake us like a thief. We are children of light. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, will enlighten and enable us to understand and discern the times.
2. We should be confident: For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him (I Thes. 5:9,10). The world has an appointment with judgment but the redeemed have an appointment for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. We should not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Gal. 6:9). We should be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that (our) toil is not in vain in the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).
4. We should keep our faith focused on Jesus.
The writer to the Hebrews exhorts us, Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebr. 12:1).
Paul testifies, For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day (2 Tim. 1:12).
Even in a time of false prophets and lying signs and wonders, it will be impossible to deceive people whose faith is fixed on the Christ who will faithfully guard the life we have entrusted to Him.
5. We should stay filled with the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be His witness across the world. Jesus said, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
What is of primary importance is not prediction but preparation and empowerment. When Paul talked about discipleship, he used two main illustrations — the athlete and the soldier. Both train diligently for the coming event. The athlete does not know exactly what will happen once the competition begins. The soldier will face unexpected challenges in the battle. But if they are prepared and empowered they will prevail.
This is why Paul prayed for the church, That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come (Eph. 1:18-21).
Paul says that he wants us to understand what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might. The word for power (dunamis), refers to miraculous power, mighty work, abundance, strength, the ability to accomplish God’s purpose. Dunamis is the word from which we derive the family of English words: dynamic, dynamo, dynamite. It is used to describe the promise of God working in Mary, The power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:35). It is used in Luke 9:1, as Jesus gave His apostles power and authority over all demons.
The word working is energeia from which we derive the English word energy. It is used here to describe the power of God in the resurrection of Jesus (Eph. 1:19,20); to describe the power of God enabling Paul’s ministry (Eph 3:7); and the power of God building the church (Eph 4:16). Energeia is power at work.
The word strength — the strength of His might — is kratos which is power that conquers and is used in I Timothy 6:16 to describe the everlasting dominion of God. In Hebrews 2:14, it describes the work of Jesus, who, through death, rendered powerless him who had the power of death.
The word might — the strength of His might —is ischus which is forcefulness. It is used in reference to God’s willingness to strengthen His people for overcoming, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10). It is used to describe an attribute of angels (2 Ptr. 2:11). It is used of followers of Christ who are commanded to love God, With all your strength (Mark 12:30,33).
Paul is not praying that we will have power — we already do. He is praying that we will know the power of God that is at work in us. In Philippians 2:13, Paul said, For it is God who is at work (energeia) in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. In Ephesians 6:10, Paul said, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength (kratos) of His might (ischus). In Ephesians 3:20 Paul said, Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power (dunamis) that works (energeia) within us.
Paul wants us to understand that the same power that raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and seated Him at His (God’s) right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come (Eph. 1:20,21)—that same power is at work in us who believe.
Paul reminds us, For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority (Col. 2:9,10). Christ is the fulness of God and head over all rule and authority in the universe and in Him you have been made complete.
Knowing what we know about the end times, how are the redeemed to respond?
We are to be vigilant, discerning and confident. We should not lose heart in doing good but keep our faith focused on Jesus and be continually filled with the Holy Spirit who empowers, energizes and strengthens us with the same power with which the Lord raised Jesus from the dead.
We will not know the exact day or hour of our Lord’s return but we can be prepared and empowered to prevail. The Holy Spirit prepares us for every challenge and for all adversity as we open our lives to the discipline of prayer, of worship, of study in the word of God, of living the truth we study — the discipline of holiness.
The Holy Spirit prepares us as we yield to His powerful anointing, filling us and refilling us, energizing and enabling us to live to the glory of God. If we are prepared and empowered to serve and glorify the Lord today, we will be prepared and empowered to serve and glorify Him tomorrow, no matter what happens.
Many years before television or radio, the town crier would announce coming calamity. Once, in the dark of night he hurried through the town ringing his bell and shouting, “There is a storm coming, a storm is coming.”
A wise man stuck his head out the window and called out, “Yes, but I patched my roof while the sun was shining.”