I Thessalonians 5:7

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“For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.”

To whom does this “drunken”ess and “sleep” refer? Also, what is the “night” referring to?

Romans 11:7-8 reveals that this verse primarily refers to the nation of Israel. Matthew 13:10-17 explains that the world is now blinded and asleep—which are related terms! Matthew 25 describes the final era of God’s Church—the Laodiceans—who fall into this condition. While I Thessalonians 5:7 uses an analogy, it perfectly pictures a world that, at this point, can neither understand God’s Plan nor respond to it. The “night” pictured here is primarily the fact “that men loved darkness to hide and cloak their evil deeds” (John 3:19; 8:12; Eph 6:12; Matt. 4:16; 6:23; among others). Beginning with Adam and Eve, the world has chosen to be drunk and asleep, and to live a “night” existence.

This passage is also a powerful warning to every true Christian that he or she should be careful not to fall asleep, to dull the senses by drink—literal or otherwise—or to allow darkness to cover his attitude—all of which are practices of the world! Ask: How keenly perceptive can one be about himself, his life, his calling or his salvation, if he is either sleeping, in a drunken stupor or in a pitch-black room? Suggested reading:

• America and Britain in Prophecy