1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.ReflectionsWritten by Christine MacgeorgeAfter reading of the exciting events foretold at the end of chapter 4, the burning question is "When will Jesus return???" Paul gives us two pictures in answer. First, in v2, a thief in the night. Just as no one can know when a thief might come, we don't know when Jesus will return. However, the second picture, in v 3, of labour pains suggests that it is not quite so random. Just as pregnancy will end and the new life will be ushered in, so too the end of this world is inevitable. Even if, as I experienced with my first born, labour comes when we are not expecting it, it is still the end result of a process of growth. We did know that a baby would arrive at God’s appointed time and so we know that Jesus will return at the time that God has already appointed. The Old Testament prophets are full of "day of the Lord" references and it can be an exciting exercise to research them and learn as much as possible about God's ultimate plans for mankind and all of creation. But the thief in the night image reminds us that we cannot pin down an exact day and time. When I was young, visiting my grandparents, we would often go to Balmoral Beach and I was fascinated to learn that when my parents were teenagers a large crowd had gathered there on a particular day to watch Jesus walking in through Sydney Heads! He didn’t, of course, but I did think it would be exciting to be there if he does! I've always known that Jesus will return but that it is foolish to try to anticipate a date and time – and when Jesus’ followers questioned him, he said that even he himself didn’t know.How amazing that Jesus has already suffered the full force of God’s wrath, that we deserve, so that when he returns we who are in him will not be destroyed but will be with him forever! As we face the medical and economic uncertainties of coronavirus, let’s hold fast to the certain knowledge we have that: “the day of the Lord will come” (v1). As we pray “Our Father in heaven, your Kingdom come, your will be done”, let’s continue to intercede with urgency for our family and friends who are not yet in Christ. The thief could come any night and the labour pains will come upon the pregnant woman.About the AuthorChristine Macgeorge is enjoying the fellowship week by week of Ladies Bible Study, is trying to enjoy Fairfield 10.30 church online or church-in-person with very few people and is missing very much the lovely folk of 8.30 church.