translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET study note

text: The day of the Lord is the period of time in the future when the Lord will intervene in the events of this earth to consummate his redemption and his judgment ( Isa 2:11-12; 13:6-13 ; Ezek 30:3 ; Joel 1:15; 2:32; 3:18 ; Amos 5:18-20 ; Obad 15-17 ; Zeph 1:7-18; 2:2-3 ; Zech 14:1, 13, 20-21 ; Mal 4:1, 5 ; 1 Cor 1:8; 5:5 ; 2 Cor 1:14 ; 2 Thess 2:2 ; 2 Pet 3:10 ). It includes both blessings and curses, though the latter is emphasized here.


text: Jesus used a thief coming at night as an illustration of the unexpected and hostile nature of the coming of God’s judgment in the future. This is repeated in various ways in v. 4 ; 2 Pet 3:10 ; Rev 3:3; 16:15 .


text: An allusion to Isa 59:17 .


text: God did not destine us for wrath. In context this refers to the outpouring of God’s wrath on the earth in the day of the Lord ( 1 Thess 5:2-4 ).


text: The phrases alert or asleep may be understood (1) of moral alertness (living in faith, love, and hope as vv. 6, 8 call for, versus being unresponsive to God) or (2) of physical life and death (whether alive or dead). The first fits better with the context of 5:1-9 , while the second returns to the point Paul started with in 4:13-18 (no disadvantage for the believing dead).