基督何時再來？
帖撒羅尼迦前書五章1至11節
1弟兄們，論到時候、日期，不用寫信給你們，
2因為你們自己明明曉得，主的日子來到，好像夜間的賊一樣。
3人正說平安穩妥的時候，災禍忽然臨到他們，如同產難臨到懷胎的婦人一樣；他們絕不能逃脫。
4弟兄們，你們卻不在黑暗裡，叫那日子臨到你們像賊一樣。
5你們都是光明之子，都是白晝之子；我們不是屬黑夜的，也不是屬幽暗的。
6所以，我們不要睡覺，像別人一樣，總要警醒謹守。
7因為睡了的人是在夜間睡，醉了的人是在夜間醉。
8但我們既然屬乎白晝，就應當謹守，把信和愛當作護心鏡遮胸，把得救的盼望當作頭盔戴上。
9因為神不是預定我們受刑，乃是預定我們藉著我們主耶穌基督得救。
10他替我們死，叫我們無論醒著、睡著，都與他同活。
11所以，你們該彼此勸慰，互相建立，正如你們素常所行的。
信息分享
保羅在上一章的信息主要是傳達安慰；但來到第五章，他的重點卻是要提醒信徒，審判必會臨到。他形容基督再來的日子，仿如夜間的賊一樣，會在不知不覺間悄然而至。
他引用的另一個例子也同樣一目了然。懷孕的婦人最終必會經歷臨盆的陣痛，這是無可避免的。當基督再來的時候，那些不接受基督為救主的人必要面臨審判。這是何等嚴厲的警告！
保羅提醒帖撒羅尼迦信徒說：「你們既知道這一切，就當按著真理而行，如此，世人便憑著你的生活方式，看見你的信仰。」（五6-11）
我們相信基督必會再來。要是祂在今年再來，或是本週再來，甚至是今天再來，那又如何呢？我們是否已作好準備，行事為人都討主的喜悅？當祂再來的時候，祂會看見我們正在做甚麼呢？我們正在讀哪些刊物，或觀看甚麼節目？讓我們安靜下來，好好地反省自己。我們要常作準備，等候祂的再來。
但這並不表示我們要變賣一切，乾坐著等祂再來。許多異端的教派都曾經吩咐他們的信徒這樣作，但結果總是失望而回。基督曾親口說過：「那日子時刻是沒有人知道的……」祂也吩咐信徒要「趁著白晝作工」，換言之，我們要把握時機，為主作工。每個信徒都有一個使命，就是要將福音傳遍世界，讓所有人都能得聞福音。單是這項使命，已足以讓我們在等候基督再來的時候勤勉工作。
WHEN IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?
1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Message
In the previous chapter Paul was writing a message of comfort. Here he was warning of judgment. Christ's coming will be as unexpected as a burglar's entry.
His other illustration is also clear. A pregnant woman's final labour pains cannot be escaped. At Christ's coming, judgment will be just as sure and certain for those who have not accepted him as their Saviour. What a warning!
Paul said to the Thessalonians, "You know all this. In the light of these truths, live in such a way that the world will see your faith in the way you live." (vv 6-11)
We believe Christ is coming again. What if he comes this week or this year? What if he comes today? Is our Christian life ready for inspection? What will Christ find us doing? What will we be reading or watching? Stop and think about it. We need to be ready while waiting for Him.
But that does not mean we should sell up everything and sit doing nothing until He comes. Many cults have done this over the years only to be disappointed. Christ Himself said, “No one knows the hour...” He also told us to “occupy till I come”. “Occupy” in this context means to keep working - for Christ. We have a ministry. We have a responsibility to spread the Gospel to those who haven't heard. That's enough to keep us occupied until Jesus comes.