For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
They - the men of the world. 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6; Colossians 4:13, "others:" all the rest of the world except Christians.
Peace (Judges 18:7; Judges 18:9; Judges 18:27-28; Jeremiah 6:14; Ezekiel 13:10).
Then - at that very moment, when they least expect it. Compare Belshazzar, Daniel 5:1-6; Daniel 5:9; Daniel 5:26-28; Herod, Acts 12:21-23; Luke 21:25-35.
Cometh upon, х efistatai (G2186)] - stands at their doors "sudden" (not an epithet, but a secondary predicate of manner).
As travail. 'As the labour pang' comes in an instant on the woman when otherwise engaged (Psalms 48:6; Isaiah 13:8).
Shall not escape, х ou (G3756) mee (G3361) ekfugoosin (G1628)] - 'shall not at all escape;' another awful feature of their ruin: there shall be then no possibility of shunning it (Amos 9:2-3; Revelation 6:15-16).