As a thief in the Night

 

“As a Thief in the Night”

3^rd December 23

Christianity—following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ—is a lifelong occupation, not a side hobby.

The Coming of the Son of Man

Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Pay attention to a season change

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be watchful so the Day of the Lord

doesn’t come upon you “as a thief in the night”

 

This Passage here is spoken by Jesus Himself

Revelation 3:1-6  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.  5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.  6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This theme of the Day of the Lord coming “as a thief in the night” can also be found in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and 2 Peter 3:10

 

2 Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

 

 

 

End-time forecast = Warning

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  3  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.  4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

 

Days of Noah = Warning of complacency

Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,  39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Two in the field

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken [context is in v39], and the other left.  41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Watching our spiritual condition or state of readiness

42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken up.

44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Wise and Evil Servant – Could Your Love Grow Cold?

45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;  49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;  50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,  51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Ten Virgins : 5 Wise & 5 Foolish

Matthew 25:1-13  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  2  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  3  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

 

 

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

 

A thief or a husband?

Revelation 19:7-9  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.