1Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
‘For when they shall say, Peace and safety.’ Time of sudden destruction: When Antichrist shall have conquered the 10 kingdoms inside the Roman Empire in the first 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 7:23-24; Rev. 13:1-18 and 17:1-18), and by these kingdoms shall have conquered Russia and the other nations north and east of the Roman empire in the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 11:40-45), it will be time for the world to be saying “Peace and safety.” They will think that getting rid of Israel (Zech. 14:1-21) will mean no further wars. They will then look forward to a period of peace and prosperity, but the Lord will come suddenly when Jerusalem is half taken and sudden destruction will be upon all the nations at Armageddon (Zech. 14:1-21; Joel 3:1-21; Rev. 19:11-21).
‘Destruction come upon them.’ [Greek: olethros] ruin, destruction, plague, pest (5:3; 2Thess. 1:9; 1Cor. 5:5; 1Tim. 6:9). This destruction did not kill the man. Whatever it was it was capable of bringing him to repentance (2Cor. 2:7).
‘As travail upon a woman with child.’ Just like a woman knows she must travail if she is with child but knows not the day or the hour, so it is with the sudden destruction. We know the times and seasons of it, but not the day or the hour. Since the second coming of Christ brings this sudden destruction, it means that men will not know the exact day or the hour of His coming. This will always be the case, as predicted by Christ in Matthew 24:36, 24:39, 42-51; 25:13. Jesus Christ and angels do not know the day or hour of the second coming (Mark 13:32).
‘They shall not escape.’ The destruction will be general among the nations. The cities of the nations will fall in a great earthquake. Hail will fall weighing 52 kg., and the armies of the nations at Armageddon will be destroyed except for the sixth part of them (Ezek. 39:2; Zech. 14:1-5, 16-21; Rev. 19:11-21). Many will be left alive to enter the Millennium (Zech. 14:16-21; Isa. 2:1-4; Matt. 25:31-46).
Living the Word 