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I’m sure many people, in congregations all over the world, have heard their pastor or some other pastor say over and over again, “The Lord’s return will come as a thief in the night.”. While this is true, it should also be taught that this warning is NOT for everyone. This warning is reserved for the unrighteous, those without wisdom and understanding in God’s word. For them Jesus second return WILL come as a thief in the night.
Unfortunately, many pastors are teaching this to their own members and they too are lead to believe the day of the Lord, or Christ second coming, will come without warnings, signs or anything. Many saints believe Jesus second coming will be a ‘secret’. And because they have not been taught the truth and have been given no other scriptures to read, other that what the pastor reads to them, they sit back, do nothing, ignore the signs and the warnings and wait for Jesus ‘secret’ return. All of which are just the opposite of what Jesus tells us to do.
Now are the saints really supposed to be in the dark about Jesus return? Should Jesus return sneak up on the saints and take them by surprise, as it will for the unrighteous? Are we really supposed to just sit back, wait and do nothing?
God’s word says absolutely not!
Contrary to what many believe, God has given us many signs to let us know His arrival is near. As a matter of fact, God tells His true believers His second coming should NOT sneak up on them and overtake them as a thief. God calls those with knowledge and understanding, “…children of the light…”
And what does God call those without wisdom and understanding? He calls them, “…of the night….of darkness…” Let’s now read to confirm;
Children of Light or Darkness
I Thes 5
2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
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.
Paul tells us that Jesus return will come as a thief, but to whom? Jesus second coming will be a surprise to those that are of the night and in darkness. These are the ones that either ignored the true word of God or just did care about gaining wisdom or knowledge of God‘s word. These are the ones that were described as the following;
Luke 17
[26] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
[27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
[30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Just as in the days of Noah, people will be having a good old time and not watching for the signs God will give to let them know His arrival is near.
Let’s look at what Jesus Himself said about His second coming and the warning He gives for not being observant;
Rev 3:3. 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.
And here we have Jesus Himself telling us His second return should not to take us by surprise as a thief. But the key to that not happening is remembering what we have received and heard, to hold fast, repent and to WATCH!
So from the mouth of Paul and from Jesus Himself we are told the saints should not be in the dark concerning His second coming. If we remember what we have heard and hold fast to it and watch, His second coming will not come upon us as a thief.
Now what about those whose pastors did not give them any signs to look for? What about those pastors that did not give wisdom and understanding? For them, Jesus second return will be a total surprise! The saints without knowledge and wisdom will be just as surprised as the unrighteous! Let’s read just a few signs God has given us so that we will know Jesus second return cannot sneak upon us as a thief.
Signs and Warning to Watch For
According to God’s word there should be no way His second return take those with wisdom and knowledge by surprise. There are just too many events that MUST take place before Jesus returns. Granted, some of these warnings and events must come to us using reasoning, logic and good old common sense, but that is what we are to do anyway.
Now the bible speaks of only one more coming of the Lord, His second coming. There is no mention in God’s word that this will take place in phases, or in two or three parts. Knowing this, any return we read of in the scriptures must be referring to Jesus next return. Let’s now read some of the signs and warnings God, not man, gave to us to know for sure Jesus arrival is soon.
2 Thes.2
[1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Above we know the topic Paul speaks of is about the coming of the Lord AND the gathering of the saints. He goes on to tell us not to be worried if a spirit comes, or someone tells us, or if we receive a letter saying that day of Christ is upon us.
[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
He then warns us NOT to be deceived by any means; for that day (Jesus second coming), the topic of discussion in the first verse, SHALL NOT COME, except there is a falling away from the word of God AND the man of sin has been revealed. Now one of these warnings has come to past, for as we know, mankind has surely fallen away from God’s words. But what of the second warning? Has the man of sin been revealed? Let’s hear more from Paul….
[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Paul tells us this man of sin will exalt himself above all that is called God, will sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God! So…has this man been made know yet? Some will say yes he has…but let’s read more…
[8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Paul tells us that the man of sin will be consumed by the Lord when He returns. So whoever this person is, if he is alive today, he will still be around when Jesus returns, for Jesus will consume him at His coming! Let’s read more….
Matt.24
[1] And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
[2] And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
[3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Here we have the disciples asking about the sign of Jesus coming. Let’s read if He says anything about a ‘secret’ return.
[4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Again we get the warning of not being deceived. It’s obvious Paul and Jesus both knew that there would be a lot of deception in the world in the latter days. Let’s continue….
[15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand
Here Jesus tells us about a man He calls the Abomination of Desolation, standing in the holy place. Paul described the same individual in 2 Thes. 2:4. And Paul said Jesus second return would NOT happen until this man is revealed. Let’s read more of Jesus words…..
[21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Above Jesus speaks of a time so bad the world has not seen any time like it up until Jesus day, nor will there ever be a time like it again. Thus far Jesus has not mentioned anything about His return. Let’s move on…..
[23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
[26] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
And here Jesus gives us the same warning as Paul, which said; “…be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word…”. But still no mention of Jesus return. Let‘s continue….
[27] For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[29] 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.
Finally the disciples are given a sure sign to know when to expect the second return of Jesus. For Jesus tells us His return will be AFTER the tribulation period. And just as the lightning shines, so shall it be when the Son of man return. Notice who will see Him; “…all the tribes of the earth…”.
[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.
Here we also have the same gathering of the saints that Paul spoke of. So we know this event will happen at the second coming of Christ.
Let’s review
Let’s stop right here and just use the scriptures we have read thus far to figure out some of the events that MUST take place before Jesus returns;
There must first be a falling away from the word of God; “…except there come a falling away first…” 2 Thes.2:3
The man of sin, the Abomination of Desolation must be made known; “…and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…” 2 Thes.2:3
The man of sin will go against all that is called God; “…Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God…” 2 Thes.2:4
That same man will sit in the temple of God and claim to be God; “…sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,…” 2 Thes.2:4 & Matt.24:15
If a man is to sit in a temple a temple must be built; “…“…sitteth in the temple of God…” 2 Thes.2:4
There must be a time of trouble unlike any other time; “…Immediately after the tribulation of those days…”, “…shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven…” Matt.24:29:30
The sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine; “…the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light…” Matt.24:29
Trumpets will sound; “…with a great sound of a trumpet…“ Matt.24:31
There are so many signs God has given us to let us know Jesus second return is drawing near, that you would have to TRY to miss them if you are a student of the scriptures. But we are not to stop at reading God’s word to find the signs. When God says to watch, He means just that; watch everything that is going on around us;
Have the toes of the image spoken of in Dan. come together yet?
Has there been talk of the building of the temple?
Do those that call themselves Jews have a red heifer to restart sacrifice?
Is the world gearing up for one man to rule over it, thus getting reading for one world government?
Have nations started aligning themselves getting ready for battle?
All of these and more are all signs leading to the coming of the Lord. God tells us to watch and be sober. We are who people will go to for answers. Those of us with knowledge and understanding are the children of the light.
The time will come when you will prove which you are. Will you trust God’s word and FLEE, or will you trust man and stay put when the man of sin is revealed? You really do not want to make a wrong mistake on this one!
Will Jesus return come as a thief in the night for you? Which will you be? A child of the darkness….or a child of LIGHT?
.
Unfortunately, many pastors are teaching this to their own members and they too are lead to believe the day of the Lord, or Christ second coming, will come without warnings, signs or anything. Many saints believe Jesus second coming will be a ‘secret’. And because they have not been taught the truth and have been given no other scriptures to read, other that what the pastor reads to them, they sit back, do nothing, ignore the signs and the warnings and wait for Jesus ‘secret’ return. All of which are just the opposite of what Jesus tells us to do.
Now are the saints really supposed to be in the dark about Jesus return? Should Jesus return sneak up on the saints and take them by surprise, as it will for the unrighteous? Are we really supposed to just sit back, wait and do nothing?
God’s word says absolutely not!
Contrary to what many believe, God has given us many signs to let us know His arrival is near. As a matter of fact, God tells His true believers His second coming should NOT sneak up on them and overtake them as a thief. God calls those with knowledge and understanding, “…children of the light…”
And what does God call those without wisdom and understanding? He calls them, “…of the night….of darkness…” Let’s now read to confirm;
Children of Light or Darkness
I Thes 5
2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
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.
Paul tells us that Jesus return will come as a thief, but to whom? Jesus second coming will be a surprise to those that are of the night and in darkness. These are the ones that either ignored the true word of God or just did care about gaining wisdom or knowledge of God‘s word. These are the ones that were described as the following;
Luke 17
[26] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
[27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
[30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Just as in the days of Noah, people will be having a good old time and not watching for the signs God will give to let them know His arrival is near.
Let’s look at what Jesus Himself said about His second coming and the warning He gives for not being observant;
Rev 3:3. 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.
And here we have Jesus Himself telling us His second return should not to take us by surprise as a thief. But the key to that not happening is remembering what we have received and heard, to hold fast, repent and to WATCH!
So from the mouth of Paul and from Jesus Himself we are told the saints should not be in the dark concerning His second coming. If we remember what we have heard and hold fast to it and watch, His second coming will not come upon us as a thief.
Now what about those whose pastors did not give them any signs to look for? What about those pastors that did not give wisdom and understanding? For them, Jesus second return will be a total surprise! The saints without knowledge and wisdom will be just as surprised as the unrighteous! Let’s read just a few signs God has given us so that we will know Jesus second return cannot sneak upon us as a thief.
Signs and Warning to Watch For
According to God’s word there should be no way His second return take those with wisdom and knowledge by surprise. There are just too many events that MUST take place before Jesus returns. Granted, some of these warnings and events must come to us using reasoning, logic and good old common sense, but that is what we are to do anyway.
Now the bible speaks of only one more coming of the Lord, His second coming. There is no mention in God’s word that this will take place in phases, or in two or three parts. Knowing this, any return we read of in the scriptures must be referring to Jesus next return. Let’s now read some of the signs and warnings God, not man, gave to us to know for sure Jesus arrival is soon.
2 Thes.2
[1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Above we know the topic Paul speaks of is about the coming of the Lord AND the gathering of the saints. He goes on to tell us not to be worried if a spirit comes, or someone tells us, or if we receive a letter saying that day of Christ is upon us.
[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
He then warns us NOT to be deceived by any means; for that day (Jesus second coming), the topic of discussion in the first verse, SHALL NOT COME, except there is a falling away from the word of God AND the man of sin has been revealed. Now one of these warnings has come to past, for as we know, mankind has surely fallen away from God’s words. But what of the second warning? Has the man of sin been revealed? Let’s hear more from Paul….
[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Paul tells us this man of sin will exalt himself above all that is called God, will sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God! So…has this man been made know yet? Some will say yes he has…but let’s read more…
[8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Paul tells us that the man of sin will be consumed by the Lord when He returns. So whoever this person is, if he is alive today, he will still be around when Jesus returns, for Jesus will consume him at His coming! Let’s read more….
Matt.24
[1] And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
[2] And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
[3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Here we have the disciples asking about the sign of Jesus coming. Let’s read if He says anything about a ‘secret’ return.
[4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Again we get the warning of not being deceived. It’s obvious Paul and Jesus both knew that there would be a lot of deception in the world in the latter days. Let’s continue….
[15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand
Here Jesus tells us about a man He calls the Abomination of Desolation, standing in the holy place. Paul described the same individual in 2 Thes. 2:4. And Paul said Jesus second return would NOT happen until this man is revealed. Let’s read more of Jesus words…..
[21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Above Jesus speaks of a time so bad the world has not seen any time like it up until Jesus day, nor will there ever be a time like it again. Thus far Jesus has not mentioned anything about His return. Let’s move on…..
[23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
[26] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
And here Jesus gives us the same warning as Paul, which said; “…be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word…”. But still no mention of Jesus return. Let‘s continue….
[27] For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[29] 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.
Finally the disciples are given a sure sign to know when to expect the second return of Jesus. For Jesus tells us His return will be AFTER the tribulation period. And just as the lightning shines, so shall it be when the Son of man return. Notice who will see Him; “…all the tribes of the earth…”.
[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.
Here we also have the same gathering of the saints that Paul spoke of. So we know this event will happen at the second coming of Christ.
Let’s review
Let’s stop right here and just use the scriptures we have read thus far to figure out some of the events that MUST take place before Jesus returns;
There must first be a falling away from the word of God; “…except there come a falling away first…” 2 Thes.2:3
The man of sin, the Abomination of Desolation must be made known; “…and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…” 2 Thes.2:3
The man of sin will go against all that is called God; “…Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God…” 2 Thes.2:4
That same man will sit in the temple of God and claim to be God; “…sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,…” 2 Thes.2:4 & Matt.24:15
If a man is to sit in a temple a temple must be built; “…“…sitteth in the temple of God…” 2 Thes.2:4
There must be a time of trouble unlike any other time; “…Immediately after the tribulation of those days…”, “…shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven…” Matt.24:29:30
The sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine; “…the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light…” Matt.24:29
Trumpets will sound; “…with a great sound of a trumpet…“ Matt.24:31
There are so many signs God has given us to let us know Jesus second return is drawing near, that you would have to TRY to miss them if you are a student of the scriptures. But we are not to stop at reading God’s word to find the signs. When God says to watch, He means just that; watch everything that is going on around us;
Have the toes of the image spoken of in Dan. come together yet?
Has there been talk of the building of the temple?
Do those that call themselves Jews have a red heifer to restart sacrifice?
Is the world gearing up for one man to rule over it, thus getting reading for one world government?
Have nations started aligning themselves getting ready for battle?
All of these and more are all signs leading to the coming of the Lord. God tells us to watch and be sober. We are who people will go to for answers. Those of us with knowledge and understanding are the children of the light.
The time will come when you will prove which you are. Will you trust God’s word and FLEE, or will you trust man and stay put when the man of sin is revealed? You really do not want to make a wrong mistake on this one!
Will Jesus return come as a thief in the night for you? Which will you be? A child of the darkness….or a child of LIGHT?
.