基督何时再来？
帖撒罗尼迦前书五章1至11节
1弟兄们，论到时候、日期，不用写信给你们，
2因为你们自己明明晓得，主的日子来到，好像夜间的贼一样。
3人正说平安稳妥的时候，灾祸忽然临到他们，如同产难临到怀胎的妇人一样；他们绝不能逃脱。
4弟兄们，你们却不在黑暗里，叫那日子临到你们像贼一样。
5你们都是光明之子，都是白昼之子；我们不是属黑夜的，也不是属幽暗的。
6所以，我们不要睡觉，像别人一样，总要警醒谨守。
7因为睡了的人是在夜间睡，醉了的人是在夜间醉。
8但我们既然属乎白昼，就应当谨守，把信和爱当作护心镜遮胸，把得救的盼望当作头盔戴上。
9因为神不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们借着我们主耶稣基督得救。
10他替我们死，叫我们无论醒着、睡着，都与他同活。
11所以，你们该彼此劝慰，互相建立，正如你们素常所行的。
信息分享
保罗在上一章的信息主要是传达安慰；但来到第五章，他的重点却是要提醒信徒，审判必会临到。他形容基督再来的日子，仿如夜间的贼一样，会在不知不觉间悄然而至。
他引用的另一个例子也同样一目了然。怀孕的妇人最终必会经历临盆的阵痛，这是无可避免的。当基督再来的时候，那些不接受基督为救主的人必要面临审判。这是何等严厉的警告！
保罗提醒帖撒罗尼迦信徒说：「你们既知道这一切，就当按着真理而行，如此，世人便凭着你的生活方式，看见你的信仰。」（五6-11）
我们相信基督必会再来。要是祂在今年再来，或是本周再来，甚至是今天再来，那又如何呢？我们是否已作好准备，行事为人都讨主的喜悦？当祂再来的时候，祂会看见我们正在做甚么呢？我们正在读哪些刊物，或观看甚么节目？让我们安静下来，好好地反省自己。我们要常作准备，等候祂的再来。
但这并不表示我们要变卖一切，干坐着等祂再来。许多异端的教派都曾经吩咐他们的信徒这样作，但结果总是失望而回。基督曾亲口说过：「那日子时刻是没有人知道的……」祂也吩咐信徒要「趁著白昼作工」，换言之，我们要把握时机，为主作工。每个信徒都有一个使命，就是要将福音传遍世界，让所有人都能得闻福音。单是这项使命，已足以让我们在等候基督再来的时候勤勉工作。
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.