Like a thief in the night?
This question illustrates the importance of reading an entire passage and not just a select part. First of all, the apostle Paul says, “Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you” (1 Thessalonians 5:1). Paul is telling the believers in Thessalonica that they know about Jesus’ soon coming. They are aware that it will be like a thief in the night, but not for themselves (v. 2).
“For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (v. 3, my emphasis). It is not the believer who experiences the coming of Christ as an unexpected robber, but those who live in denial of the second advent. “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (v. 4). Only those who are unprepared experience the second coming of Christ as a thief. Paul goes on to explain, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (vv. 5, 6).
Many interpret this text to mean that Jesus will come like a silent thief to steal believers out of this world. Then cars will collide, planes will crash, sacked quarterbacks at football games will vanish, and babies will be missing from their cribs. Popular Christian films present this perspective, but it is a total distortion of the text.
The apostle Peter also wrote: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise” (2 Peter 3:10). According to Peter, this coming of Jesus is definitely not a silent, secret event that precedes a seven-year period of tribulation. Rather, this day arrives suddenly, with “a great noise” and is clearly connected with the end of the world!
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2
Like a thief in the night?
This question illustrates the importance of reading an entire passage and not just a select part. First of all, the apostle Paul says, “Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you” (1 Thessalonians 5:1). Paul is telling the believers in Thessalonica that they know about Jesus’ soon coming. They are aware that it will be like a thief in the night, but not for themselves (v. 2).
“For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (v. 3, my emphasis). It is not the believer who experiences the coming of Christ as an unexpected robber, but those who live in denial of the second advent. “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (v. 4). Only those who are unprepared experience the second coming of Christ as a thief. Paul goes on to explain, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (vv. 5, 6).
Many interpret this text to mean that Jesus will come like a silent thief to steal believers out of this world. Then cars will collide, planes will crash, sacked quarterbacks at football games will vanish, and babies will be missing from their cribs. Popular Christian films present this perspective, but it is a total distortion of the text.
The apostle Peter also wrote: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise” (2 Peter 3:10). According to Peter, this coming of Jesus is definitely not a silent, secret event that precedes a seven-year period of tribulation. Rather, this day arrives suddenly, with “a great noise” and is clearly connected with the end of the world!
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2
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