The Nature of the Second Coming

After comforting the Thessalonians over the future state of their deceased loved ones in chapter 4, Paul turns to address some fears that the living seemed to have about the "Day of the Lord." Paul details three sets of indicative-followed-by-imperative verbs that tell us how we ought to live in light of Christ's coming: Stay alert, be sober and live for Christ. As with Christ's parable of the absentee master of the home, those who are doing what they are supposed to be doing at his return will be rewarded.