Jesus. A Thief In the Night?

Archived on August. 2001

Many Christians today walk in the dark. Yes, though they are children of Light they walk in the dark, because without learning about God and His will through the Word, their perception of the future is clouded. This holds true to the thought that "Jesus will come as a thief in the night", Jesus in fact spoke this but if these words are considered in their context the Christian will know that our Father has shown us all things concerning the return of Christ. Turn with me to The Gospel of Luke and Chapter 12 of that Gospel, starting at the 35th verse.

Note: You'll notice below a new way of presenting the message. Only the Book Chapter and Verse are listed, along with commentary. This is so that you can and will look at the scripture yourself in your own bible. We of course use the KJV and Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries for study and preparation.

Luke 12:35
People in those days wore robes, they "girded" their loins, by taking the robe and bringing it up and tying it so that the legs could be free to move. This was for running, sports and fighting. Jesus is saying, "You be ready, be prepared and let your light keep shining." This reminds me of the Parables of the Ten Virgins, Five wise, five foolish in Matthew 25. The five wise had enough oil(truth) in their lamps to keep them burning for the Groom(Yeshua) when He arrived for the wedding.

Luke 12:36
Here Jesus is continuing the thought. Just as those virgins were waiting for their Lord, the groom. They didn't fall asleep or go wandering after an imposter.

Luke 12:37
Isn't that a wonderful thought? He will come and sit down with us and serve US. IF we watch for him.

Luke 12:38
The second watch and third watch are certain times during the day and night. If we watch for Him continually, we will be blessed. For we will see the signs. More on this a little later.

Luke 12:39
This "goodman of the house" is a Greek word that means the head of the household. If the man of the house knew what hour a thief was to come, he could watch for him and not worry about his house being broken into.
What is this house? In Ephesians 5 we have the temple or the earthly tabernacle. This being our physical body, a house which holds our soul and spirit. If we watch and prepare for the return of Christ, knowing the things which will transpire before His coming, then our temple will not be broken into by lies and deceit of those who say they are Christ returned. Watching and girding up our loins or preparing involves studying the Word of God. In that we strengthen the foundation of our house and the thief will not break through. Like the locust army of Revelation chapter 9, who suck the truth from men and poison them with the venom of false doctrine.
This verse and others like it are where Christians get the "thief in the night" belief. Unfortunately that is all they understand. Not what we are talking about in these verses before and after.

Luke 12:40
Be ready, be prepared, we do not know the specific hour, but we do know the seasons. If you continue down, you will find another parable concerning this topic. With that said, for those who are still doubting this, turn to 1st Thessalonians Chapter 5. Yep right after Chapter 4, and the talk of Jesus descending from heaven with a shout.....

1st Thessalonians 5:1-2
Yes, read those two together. Paul is stressing that he doesn't need to talk to them about the time when Christ will return, they know he will come as a thief.

1st Thessalonians 5:3
They cry peace, peace then suddenly destruction(ruin in the Greek, related to the Son of Ruin in 2nd Thessalonians Chapter 2) comes upon them. Like a woman in labor, having those pangs, which increase as the time wears on. Her pain increases in magnitude and frequency until she knows it is time for the birth. This is how we are to know that Christ will come. You see things in this world, the wickedness, increasing rapidly. Not only wickedness, but the very Earth herself is crying out, with increasing Earthquakes, and other disasters. The frequency of all worldly things increases.

1st Thessalonians 5:4
What did it just say? You, brothers and sisters are NOT IN DARKNESS, that the day should overtake you as a thief. So, yes it will come as a thief in the night to those who are not lovers of God. But those who are of God, who love his Son who is THE LIGHT are not in Darkness. We are supposed to know the season. How? Study, learn the true occurrence of events.


1st Thessalonians 5:5
Exactly, we are children of the light.


1st Thessalonians 5:6
We are not to sleep like others do, like those who don't have the Light. We are supposed to watch and remain sober, just like those servants Jesus spoke of in Luke. You know what this sleep is? It is the spirit of Slumber spoken of in Hebrews


1st Thessalonians 5:7
People who sleep, sleep in the nighttime. We are not in the dark, so we should stay awake, smell the coffee, see the times and seasons that are upon pertaining to the return of our wonderful LORD!!! Stay sober.


1st Thessalonians 5:8
Here we have that preparation. Those who have studied will notice the relation here between Ephesians Chapter 6. The Armor of God. We must prepare for that day, when we the birth will come. That groom will come and the wedding feast will begin for those who have watched and obeyed. For those who do not know the seasons, who have not loved the Father enough to study and learn His plan, that day will come when they least expect it. Why? because they are looking for a rapture, or they are looking for a Messiah because they do not believe the True Messiah has come yet. But how is that day going to be when Jesus does return? Make no bones about it, it won't be a day only known to some people...


2Pe 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.

The word here for elements in the Greek is a word that means the very rudiments or molecules that make up the universe. The physical realm is dissolved and Spiritual realm is now visible when this occurs.
Amen, it will come as a thief to those who are not in the know. Because before they know it, the physical realm is dissolved and they are standing in their spiritual body, clothed or unclothed awaiting the feast. The clothing being a robe made up of the righteous acts of that person(Rev 19:8).


Rev 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.
Don't stand before the Lord naked, without a wedding garment. Dig into his Word and learn of Him, so that you may know the seasons of His glorious return. Watchman, Watch!

◄Back To The Message Archives

◄Back To The Message Archives