Jesus Coming Like a Thief in the Night
—What Does it Mean?
"The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (1Thessalonians 5:2,4).
Christ’s coming is not like a thief in every way, but only in one respect. Let's look at how Jesus WON'T come like a thief, then we will see in what way he WILL come like a thief.
1 Jesus WON'T take what doesn't belong to him
A thief steals property or money that belongs to somebody else. Thieves take what is not their own and what they have no right to take. Our Lord Jesus is not like that! Jesus takes only what belongs to him and has his name on it.
¶“But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his’, and, ‘Let all who name the name of the Lord depart from evil.’ ” (2Timothy 2:19).
Jesus owns all his flock because he purchased his sheep with his own blood. ¶“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1Corinthians 6:20)
As Paul said to the elders of the Ephesus church, ¶“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased; with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
2 Jesus WON'T come in secret
The day and hour of our Lord’s second coming is a secret, but his coming itself will be a revealing that every eye shall see. "Behold he is coming with clouds and every eye shall see him..." (Revelation 1:7)
Paul describes a highly visible event to take place ¶“...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, giving vengeance to those who don't know God, and to those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus... when he comes to be glorified in his saints [people made holy by him], and to be admired among all those who have believed in that day” (2Thessalonians 1:7-10).
Peter describes the terrible noise and destruction of the second coming. ¶“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth, and the works done on it, will be exposed” (2Peter 3:10).
3 Jesus WON'T come without authority
In most cases, a thief acts without authority, but Jesus will have absolute authority when he comes again.
¶“Then comes the end, when Jesus delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power” (1Corinthians 15:24).
“At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10).
So we have seen three ways in which Jesus WON'T come like a thief. How then WILL he come like a thief?
4 Jesus WILL come unexpectedly.
Jesus explains that he is coming at an hour unexpected. The second coming itself will be no secret. It will be a complete revealing. But the time of his coming will be his secret until the day he is revealed from heaven.
“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:39-40).
That's the way Christ’s coming is like a thief coming in the night.