But that is not what 1Thessalonians5 is talking about. It is them who are in darkness will be saying peace and safety. Which sudden destruction comes upon them when that illusion is shattered - by a certain event that triggers the Day of the Lord.
1Thessalonians5 is talking about the unexpected beginning of the Day of the Lord on them who are unsaved, but think they are in a peace and safety situation.... of a false messianic age with the onset of the Antichrist.
Incorrect! This has NOTHING to do with world peace or peace as the world defines it. Not at all. Please read the whole context:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
[1] But of the
times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
[2]
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
[3] 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.
[4] But
ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
[5]
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
[7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
[8] 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.
[9]
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to
obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
[10] Who died for us, that,
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
[11] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
That word translated
travail (
odin) is the exact same Greek word that is translated "
sorrows" in Matthew 24. This is the beginnings of travail or sorrows, becasue it is a struggle or tribulation in the church, when false prophets abound and professed Christians
foolishly think they have peace with God and are safe. But they are not safe behind church walls, they are indeed under wrath of God
for their rebellion and abominations. As Christ coming to them "as a thief" in the night, they shall be broken when they least expect it!
But those who truly know the Lord are not in darkness that this day shall overtake them as a thief. Please note carefully that verse 6 says, "Therefore let us not sleep
as do others; but let us watch and be sober." This is just as Christ warned the church in this very same Matthew 24 when speaking about this coming Great tribulation and great apostasy--to Watch!
Matthew 24:43
- "But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up."
The house is the church! And if we do not watch, but sleep without the Spirit to keep our lamps burning, we will find that our house has been broken into by the thief, as judgment "DIRECTLY" from God.
And as in the parable of the 10 virgins, when the call is made to those sleep, that the bridegroom cometh, the foolish virgins (professed christians) will be found without sufficient oil (
Spirit) to light the way to the wedding.
Tell me, who says "Peace and safety?" Who is it that "THINKS" they are at peace with God, and that THINKS they are safe from within the House of God, but will have travail as a woman with child? On the other hand, the children of the light WATCH, and therefore they see, and they KNOW when to flee from the aposate church. When the apostasy has brought a house to desolation - the abomination of desolation. How do they "know?" They WATCH! Not watching for a literal war that will end to world peace! No, The children of light are married to Christ, and not to a church. They serve Christ,
and not the Church. They serve Him as ruler, not the false prophets and Christs sitting in the Holy Temple (church). They know when they see the judgment taking place in the House of God. They interpret Scripture by Scripture, not by current events, historians or Preachers like
YOU do!
The professed Christians are the children of darkness while the True Elects are the Children of Light within the congregation. Just like the Wise Virgins and Foolish Virgins. This has NOTHING to do with world peace or anything like that. The context has to do with the spiritual condition of God's Church where some people cannot tell if they are under judgment while the True Christians can see and flee from her, Revelation 18.
TribulationSigns, actually I think you are in the wrong forum. You would do better in a theology oriented forum, that is not eschatology based.
Nope. I have been in the Eschatology forum ever since I joined here. While I can deal with theology issues, but I do belong to this forum where I can see your eschatology interpretation to be inaccurate! Sorry!