"As a Thief in the Night"

[RR144]

The thought implied in this verse is that our Lord's Return would be thief-like in its manner (1 Thes. 5:1-6; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15). When a thief comes to break into a house, does he carry a bright light and blow a trumpet, shouting to the people, "Hello, you people! Wake up! I am coming to rob your houses"? Of course we know he does no such things. Neither, therefore, does our Lord when He returns as a thief in the night. The thief in the night comes silently, stealthily, hiding in the dark, walking noiselessly with padded shoes or in stocking feet, picking locks and opening doors or windows with quiet deftness, thus concealing his presence from his unsuspecting victims.

Our Lord in the first part of His Second Advent comes in a similar manner, unknown to the world. But as a thief's presence in the house that is being robbed may by certain signs be made known to his accomplices who may be awaiting him in or at that particular house, so the Lord promised to make known, after His Return, to His faithful watching people, the fact of His Return by certain signs and proofs (Matt. 24:3, 30-33).

Note how 1 Thes. 5:1-6 tells us that the world would not be aware of our Lord's Return, because of its thief-like manner, but that His waking and watchful people would be aware of it. Of course, if the world would see His Return with their physical eyes, they would be aware of it. So their not being aware of it proves that they would not see Him physically in His Second Advent, which therefore must be invisible to physical sight.

 

[GRACE ambassador]

The thought implied in this verse is that our Lord's Return would be thief-like in its manner...concealing his presence from his unsuspecting victims.

So, The LORD Jesus Christ, 'in thief-like manner,' Comes, "Gathers Up 'His Precious
jewels,' ALL 'members of The Body of Christ,' in the air, in the twinkling of an eye
(1Co 15:51-52), leaving behind ALL unsuspecting victims, UNbelievers, shocked,
on the earth:

"For The LORD Himself Shall Descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:​

Then we which are alive and remain shall be Caught Up together with them in the
clouds, to meet The LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with The LORD.
Wherefore comfort one another with These Words." (1Th 4:16-17)​

Very Comforting, Indeed! Amen.
---------
To not be unsuspecting, But Comforted please receive:

Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided!

 

[FactsPlease]

Doesn't a "Thief in the night" come while people are sleeping...or gone?

 

[Trekson]

The thought implied in this verse is that our Lord's Return would be thief-like in its manner (1 Thes. 5:1-6; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15). When a thief comes to break into a house, does he carry a bright light and blow a trumpet, shouting to the people, "Hello, you people! Wake up! I am coming to rob your houses"? Of course we know he does no such things. Neither, therefore, does our Lord when He returns as a thief in the night. The thief in the night comes silently, stealthily, hiding in the dark, walking noiselessly with padded shoes or in stocking feet, picking locks and opening doors or windows with quiet deftness, thus concealing his presence from his unsuspecting victims.

Our Lord in the first part of His Second Advent comes in a similar manner, unknown to the world. But as a thief's presence in the house that is being robbed may by certain signs be made known to his accomplices who may be awaiting him in or at that particular house, so the Lord promised to make known, after His Return, to His faithful watching people, the fact of His Return by certain signs and proofs (Matt. 24:3, 30-33).

Note how 1 Thes. 5:1-6 tells us that the world would not be aware of our Lord's Return, because of its thief-like manner, but that His waking and watchful people would be aware of it. Of course, if the world would see His Return with their physical eyes, they would be aware of it. So their not being aware of it proves that they would not see Him physically in His Second Advent, which therefore must be invisible to physical sight.

Your last sentence, "So their not being aware of it proves that they would not see Him physically in His Second Advent, which therefore must be invisible to physical sight." I don't believe this is a viable conclusion. Lack of belief doesn't make one unaware of a truth, it would be more like not "expecting" the truth to be real. Because of the false Left Behind books and movies many unbelievers are aware of what some of the church believe regarding Christ's return. We are talking a blink of an eye here. It's not going to be a long drawn out affair. The world will see the signs as well, as the church should be warning the world of what is about to happen, they just won't or don't belief the true meaning of them. So they will be aware of it beforehand and immediately afterwards but it won't take satan long to deceive the world again into believing the whatever lie they use to explain it. Matt. 24:30 tells us that "all the tribes of the earth" will "see it happening" and Luke 21:26-27 seems to be talking about the same response of the world when they do see Him coming as John does in Rev. 6:15-16.

 

[Taken]

Doesn't a "Thief in the night" come while people are sleeping...or gone?

A and as, two different things.

The prepared, expect at an unknown time, as a thief comes at an unknown time.

 

[Taken]

Your last sentence, "So their not being aware of it proves that they would not see Him physically in His Second Advent, which therefore must be invisible to physical sight." I don't believe this is a viable conclusion. Lack of belief doesn't make one unaware of a truth, it would be more like not "expecting" the truth to be real. Because of the false Left Behind books and movies many unbelievers are aware of what some of the church believe regarding Christ's return. We are talking a blink of an eye here. It's not going to be a long drawn out affair. The world will see the signs as well, as the church should be warning the world of what is about to happen, they just won't or don't belief the true meaning of them. So they will be aware of it beforehand and immediately afterwards but it won't take satan long to deceive the world again into believing the whatever lie they use to explain it. Matt. 24:30 tells us that "all the tribes of the earth" will "see it happening" and Luke 21:26-27 seems to be talking about the same response of the world when they do see Him coming as John does in Rev. 6:15-16.

Consider the Heaven(S).

Gen 2:
[4] These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens...

High heavens ...appears to mans eye on Earth as complete darkness...where no light escapes...common term...black hole.

Mid heavens ...appears as bright during the day...dark with bright lights during the night.

Lower heavens ...appears as visible clouds above the earth...men scaling mountains (earth) with cloud cover are in the lower heavens...similar as airplanes fly through the lower clouds. A plane in the clouds is unseen by a man on earth.

The Lord descends From higher Heaven TO lower Heaven....ie clouds.
He summons up to Him those Prepared, (IN Christ).
Those same which are parallel, as a Jewish Bride Who is Promised to her betrothed, is Prepared and Waiting for an unknown time her groom shall send a signal to her, and she dons her veil and abandones her earthly father’s house, prepared for her groom to come and take her to His father’s house, Become wed and go to the new Home the Master Of His House (groom) has Prepared...His and her’s new home...

Yes the Veiled Prepared Bride retrieved from her earthly father’s house sees her groom...in His Father’s Home, Kingdom, Which Any portion
/all of Heaven (upper, mid, lower) is Gods Throne.
Isa 66:1
Acts 7:49

Men ON Earth can see clouds above the Earth...but can not see what is IN the clouds.

Living Men ON Earth are waiting for WHAT they can SEE with their Earthly Eyes...
Living departed souls IN the Earth are waiting for WHAT their souls SIGHT can SEE...
Ie. waiting for the Son of Man, Who was sent to Earth, Who Returned to Heaven, Who Promised to Return To Earth...
...appears Above the Earth...sitting ON a White Cloud...whereby all below Him can LOOK UP and SEE The Son of Man.

At that point...He still has Not set foot on Earth...Yet.

Returning TO Earth is one thing...Return-ED to Earth is having Arrived ON Earth.

 

[Trekson]

Consider the Heaven(S).

Gen 2:
[4] These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens...

High heavens ...appears to mans eye on Earth as complete darkness...where no light escapes...common term...black hole.

Mid heavens ...appears as bright during the day...dark with bright lights during the night.

Lower heavens ...appears as visible clouds above the earth...men scaling mountains (earth) with cloud cover are in the lower heavens...similar as airplanes fly through the lower clouds. A plane in the clouds is unseen by a man on earth.

The Lord descends From higher Heaven TO lower Heaven....ie clouds.
He summons up to Him those Prepared, (IN Christ).
Those same which are parallel, as a Jewish Bride Who is Promised to her betrothed, is Prepared and Waiting for an unknown time her groom shall send a signal to her, and she dons her veil and abandones her earthly father’s house, prepared for her groom to come and take her to His father’s house, Become wed and go to the new Home the Master Of His House (groom) has Prepared...His and her’s new home...

Yes the Veiled Prepared Bride retrieved from her earthly father’s house sees her groom...in His Father’s Home, Kingdom, Which Any portion
/all of Heaven (upper, mid, lower) is Gods Throne.
Isa 66:1
Acts 7:49

Men ON Earth can see clouds above the Earth...but can not see what is IN the clouds.

Living Men ON Earth are waiting for WHAT they can SEE with their Earthly Eyes...
Living departed souls IN the Earth are waiting for WHAT their souls SIGHT can SEE...
Ie. waiting for the Son of Man, Who was sent to Earth, Who Returned to Heaven, Who Promised to Return To Earth...
...appears Above the Earth...sitting ON a White Cloud...whereby all below Him can LOOK UP and SEE The Son of Man.

At that point...He still has Not set foot on Earth...Yet.

Returning TO Earth is one thing...Return-ED to Earth is having Arrived ON Earth.

I disagree w/ your heavens breakdown I think they are simply the sky, outer space, and then an invisible spiritual heaven that is not in a black hole it's just a different realm from the physical we live in. That whole church as the bride scenario isn't in scripture, it's a made up scenario by Levitt and pushed by Perry Stone. In the bible, the church is "never" called the bride of Christ, that is an id crisis on the part of the church that creates a false impression about the end times. You're making a simple thing (every eye shall see Him) into something more complicated than it needs to be. It doesn't say that everyone will see him all at once although that's not impossible w/God but via technology that sight will be shown over and over again in the news cycles. Man can not always grasp the reality of the spiritual when it contradicts the supposed realities of the physical.

 

[Adam]

Consider, that if "David" is the Messiah

Ezekiel 34
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

24 And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.

And if "Elijah" is John the Baptist

Matthew 17
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Then consider that during the second coming, Jesus will be under a different name and will not be recognized by the public.

 

[GRACE ambassador]

Then consider that during the second coming, Jesus will be under a different name and will not be recognized by the public.

You mean This Name?:
Rev 19:12
"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns;
and He Had a Name Written, that no man knew, but He Himself."

Or: This Name?:
Rev 19:13 "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped
in blood: and His Name Is Called The Word of God.

Or: This Name?:
Rev 19:16 "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh
A Name Written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Or: none of Them?
--------------------
Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided!

 

[Adam]

You mean This Name?:
Rev 19:12
"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns;
and He Had a Name Written, that no man knew, but He Himself."

Or: This Name?:
Rev 19:13 "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped
in blood: and His Name Is Called The Word of God.

Or: This Name?:
Rev 19:16 "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh
A Name Written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Or: none of Them?
--------------------
Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided!

Jesus also had wonderful titles during the prophesy of his first coming too

 

[bbyrd009]

The thought implied in this verse is that our Lord's Return would be thief-like in its manner (1 Thes. 5:1-6; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15). When a thief comes to break into a house, does he carry a bright light and blow a trumpet, shouting to the people, "Hello, you people! Wake up! I am coming to rob your houses"? Of course we know he does no such things. Neither, therefore, does our Lord when He returns as a thief in the night. The thief in the night comes silently, stealthily, hiding in the dark, walking noiselessly with padded shoes or in stocking feet, picking locks and opening doors or windows with quiet deftness, thus concealing his presence from his unsuspecting victims.

Our Lord in the first part of His Second Advent comes in a similar manner, unknown to the world. But as a thief's presence in the house that is being robbed may by certain signs be made known to his accomplices who may be awaiting him in or at that particular house, so the Lord promised to make known, after His Return, to His faithful watching people, the fact of His Return by certain signs and proofs (Matt. 24:3, 30-33).

Note how 1 Thes. 5:1-6 tells us that the world would not be aware of our Lord's Return, because of its thief-like manner, but that His waking and watchful people would be aware of it. Of course, if the world would see His Return with their physical eyes, they would be aware of it. So their not being aware of it proves that they would not see Him physically in His Second Advent, which therefore must be invisible to physical sight.

groping your way closer, huh?
Now if you would just Quote this "Jesus, Returning" once--one, single time--the whole truth might come out
which i guess you are not gonna like, ok
ok peace

 

[stunnedbygrace]

groping your way closer, huh?
Now if you would just Quote this "Jesus, Returning" once--one, single time--the whole truth might come out
which i guess you are not gonna like, ok
ok peace

Hmm…you mean like…when Jesus said, I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
A lot of translations say “comes” instead of “returns.” But if Jesus comes back to earth it is a returning, right?

 

[Ronald Nolette]

The thought implied in this verse is that our Lord's Return would be thief-like in its manner (1 Thes. 5:1-6; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15). When a thief comes to break into a house, does he carry a bright light and blow a trumpet, shouting to the people, "Hello, you people! Wake up! I am coming to rob your houses"? Of course we know he does no such things. Neither, therefore, does our Lord when He returns as a thief in the night. The thief in the night comes silently, stealthily, hiding in the dark, walking noiselessly with padded shoes or in stocking feet, picking locks and opening doors or windows with quiet deftness, thus concealing his presence from his unsuspecting victims.

Our Lord in the first part of His Second Advent comes in a similar manner, unknown to the world. But as a thief's presence in the house that is being robbed may by certain signs be made known to his accomplices who may be awaiting him in or at that particular house, so the Lord promised to make known, after His Return, to His faithful watching people, the fact of His Return by certain signs and proofs (Matt. 24:3, 30-33).

Note how 1 Thes. 5:1-6 tells us that the world would not be aware of our Lord's Return, because of its thief-like manner, but that His waking and watchful people would be aware of it. Of course, if the world would see His Return with their physical eyes, they would be aware of it. So their not being aware of it proves that they would not see Him physically in His Second Advent, which therefore must be invisible to physical sight.

Absolutely! Teh rapture is when the Lord descends to grab us and the world is unaware until we are gone.

However the Rapture is not part of Jesus "second advent" as you called it. There is only one part to Jesus return- that is when He returns to earth.

The rapute is only now an end time event because we are living in teh end times. It could have happened anytime since teh church was born.

It is not His return, but teh word is "paruosia which means a presence. Teh Lord is present in teh atmosphere to gather us up, but does not return to earth yet.

 

[bbyrd009]

Hmm…you mean like…when Jesus said, I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
A lot of translations say “comes” instead of “returns.” But if Jesus comes back to earth it is a returning, right?

well, "comes back" would be hupo strepho, "turn back," so while i dont know, it strikes me as pretty strange that we can only Quote "appears, comes, is revealed"

Luke 18:8 Lexicon: "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

biblehub.com

ok, given what i have learned about the then-prevalent Cult of Sol and virgin (who was not yet with child) worship,it really doesnt strike me as strange at all, now...sure did at first tho

 

[CadyandZoe]

The thought implied in this verse is that our Lord's Return would be thief-like in its manner (1 Thes. 5:1-6; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15). When a thief comes to break into a house, does he carry a bright light and blow a trumpet, shouting to the people, "Hello, you people! Wake up! I am coming to rob your houses"? Of course we know he does no such things. Neither, therefore, does our Lord when He returns as a thief in the night. The thief in the night comes silently, stealthily, hiding in the dark, walking noiselessly with padded shoes or in stocking feet, picking locks and opening doors or windows with quiet deftness, thus concealing his presence from his unsuspecting victims.

Our Lord in the first part of His Second Advent comes in a similar manner, unknown to the world. But as a thief's presence in the house that is being robbed may by certain signs be made known to his accomplices who may be awaiting him in or at that particular house, so the Lord promised to make known, after His Return, to His faithful watching people, the fact of His Return by certain signs and proofs (Matt. 24:3, 30-33).

Note how 1 Thes. 5:1-6 tells us that the world would not be aware of our Lord's Return, because of its thief-like manner, but that His waking and watchful people would be aware of it. Of course, if the world would see His Return with their physical eyes, they would be aware of it. So their not being aware of it proves that they would not see Him physically in His Second Advent, which therefore must be invisible to physical sight.

Does Jesus come like a thief, or does the DOL come like a thief? Is there a difference between the two?

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Does Jesus come like a thief, or does the DOL come like a thief? Is there a difference between the two?

Jesus at teh rapture comes like a thief. At His second coming or return to earth it is a well advertised event globally! The whole world will know when Jesus comes back to earth.

Teh Day of the Lord comes also like a thief. In this context the DOl is the 70 th week of Danile or what many call the tribulation. Based on Scripture, the evidence strongly suggests that the antichrist starts to bring about peace and safety, maybe even a measure of prosperity, Then god begins to lower the boom with the plagues of the trumpets and bowls.

 

[RR144]

Does Jesus come like a thief, or does the DOL come like a thief? Is there a difference between the two?

They are one and the same. The rapture is NOT a scriptural teaching.

 

[CadyandZoe]

Jesus at teh rapture comes like a thief. At His second coming or return to earth it is a well advertised event globally! The whole world will know when Jesus comes back to earth.

Teh Day of the Lord comes also like a thief. In this context the DOl is the 70 th week of Danile or what many call the tribulation. Based on Scripture, the evidence strongly suggests that the antichrist starts to bring about peace and safety, maybe even a measure of prosperity, Then god begins to lower the boom with the plagues of the trumpets and bowls.

After thinking about it further, I believe the DOL begins with Jesus' decent to earth again, which is why his arrival and the DOL are said to begin "like a thief in the night." I appreciate your distinction between them.

I believe that the "run-up" to the DOL is when God brings smoke and destruction on the earth.
I believe the "tribulation" began with the event recorded in Acts 12:1

 

[CadyandZoe]

They are one and the same. The rapture is NOT a scriptural teaching.

Well, I don't know what you believe about the rapture. But I think a careful study of Luke 17 and Matthew 24 will reveal two distinct situations associated with the coming of the Lord, (1) leaving home, and (2) being take up by angels.

According to Luke 17, both of these events take place "on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. We can tell the difference between these two situations according to three categories: 1) prudent action to take when the situation takes place, 2) Jesus' cautionary advice and 3) the conditions that will accompany one situation or the other.

A. One will be taken, one will be left.

Situation:
The day that the son of man is revealed, one will be taken and one will be left.

Prudent action:
Wait and watch.

Cautionary advice:
Be on the alert at all times:

Conditions:
Involuntary removal
No conditions or state of affairs exist that requires quick, prompt action.
The day of departure is just like any other day.
Jesus gives no alarm/or sign to anticipate.

B. The arrival of armies

Situation:
The day when the Son of Man is revealed

Prudent action:
On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out.
And likewise, the one who is in the field must not turn back.

Cautionary advice:
Remember Lot's wife
Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

Conditions:
The ability to act is voluntary.
One is required to weigh the relative value of things against one's own existence
Those who are not willing to abandon things will perish.

Both of these situations will be present on the day when the Lord is revealed. Each situation will require distinctly different responses and come with distinctly different cautionary advice.

 

[bbyrd009]

We are the Body of Christ, and i think you should run, run like the wind from anyone who suggests a literal Return of Christ, that they cannot Quote one single time
View attachment 29207
ha this site is so painful now lol