But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

When will Christ return? This is the million dollar question, in fact many false teachers made millions writing books false prophecies of when Jesus was actually going to return, you should throw all those books in the garbage, Jesus said “Nobody knows the day or hour” (Matt. 24:36) Don’t be deceived by false teachers, read your Bible!

The Apostle Paul describes Christ returning as a “Thief in the night”, so what does that mean? Well think about if someone breaks into your house, it usually comes at a day and time when you least expect it, it usually is an event that catches you off guard. This is what Paul is saying, Christ is going to return at a moment when you least expect him. The world will believe in a false sense of peace and safety, yet judgment is coming to the world when the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ returns

But as Paul says to the Church “You are not in the darkness” the true Church shouldn’t be caught off guard with the return of Christ, we are not in the darkness, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are the children of the light. We have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, however “let us not sleep”, the Church can’t spiritually fall asleep as the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25) half was not ready and The Lord shut the door!

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:7-11

Referencing the parable of the Ten Virgins again, half were caught with their lamps empty (Matthew 25) which I believe the oil is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Half of the Church was not Born Again, therefore they were not ready for Christ. Paul warns the Church , when Christ returns “Be Sober” Where will you be when Christ returns? Will Jesus find you drunk in a bar at his return or will Christ find you living in a way worthy of his calling? We should live everyday as if Christ was going to return, this is exactly how the first century Church lived

Paul says “God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation”  Jesus dies on the cross for our sins, so we may inherit eternal life, this is our living hope, this is the promise by God Almighty. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

Jesus is coming as a Thief in the Night, have your lamps full of the Holy Spirit, always be ready for the great blessed day when our Lord returns to take us to eternal glory, Amen!