THE DAY OF THE LORD COMES AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

THE DAY OF THE LORD is a major theme in the Bible. It is grounded in the Old Testament Scriptures but as we move into the New Testament we find that Jesus introduced additional truth in regard to the Day of the LORD that Paul then builds on in 1 Thess. 5. What Jesus introduced is a very significant detail. We find it in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24:42–44 (NKJV)
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Christ here speaks of His coming as being like a thief with no forewarning. It happens at a time when it is completely unexpected. I believe that Matthew 24 is the seed plot for further NT revelation related to last things related to BOTH aspects of Christ’s Second Coming – that is the Rapture and subsequently His return to the earth seven years later.

Where did Paul, Peter, and John get the analogy that the Day of the Lord comes unexpected like a “thief”? (cf. 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15) I believe they got it from Jesus as introduced by Him in Matthew 24. This language of coming like a “thief” is not used by any of the OT prophets in relation to the Second Coming. So, Jesus here adds a new detail regarding HOW He comes which I think relates to the first aspect of His Second Coming – which is to say the RAPTURE.

The Jews did not understand that the Christ was to have two separate comings and consequently they are still waiting for the Christ to come. With further revelation we clearly see the reality of TWO advents. But now in addition to this we need to understand that just as there are two distinct comings there are also two distinct phases to the Second Coming. The first phase (the rapture) happens BEFORE the Day of the Lord, the second phase (His return to the earth) happens within the Day of the Lord.

In my view Christ in Matthew 24 addresses two distinct phases related to His Second Coming. He addresses life “as normal” in which His coming at the Rapture comes as a surprise – like a thief in the night. But He also addresses His Day of the Lord Second Coming which has many observable signs pointing to it during the Tribulation Period. Note carefully that while Jesus speaks of His coming as being unexpected like a thief; Paul says the Day of the LORD comes as a thief in the night. BOTH are true and are interrelated!

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NKJV)
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

I believe that the coming of Christ as a “thief” at the rapture relates very closely to the day of the Lord coming “as a thief in the night”. Both His coming at the Rapture and the Day of the Lord come unexpected as a thief. And the reason for this is because they are very closely related. The Day of the Lord follows closely on the heels of the rapture.

The first phase of Christ's Second Coming is imminent - meaning it could happen at any time. This is commonly called the RAPTURE in which the Church of Christ will be caught up to meet Him in the air (see 1 Thess 4:16-17). This will then usher in the Day of the Lord Judgment which will climax in the second phase of Christ's Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation Period in which He returns with the Church in great power and glory to set up His kingdom.

This DISTINCTION between Christ coming as a thief in the night with NO SIGNS and His coming with great observable forewarning SIGNS demands two phases of His Second Coming. Phase one is imminent! Perhaps today! Maranatha! Live ready!

Revelation 3:10–11 (NKJV)
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.