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As A Thief
In this study, I want to examine the use of the
phrase, "I come as a thief". We will look at how and where it is used to see
if we can understand the meaning a little better. Repeatedly in the Bible we
are told that we should watch and the reason we are given is because the
Lord will come as a thief in the night. In other places it says, you know
not when the Lord doth come but it is the same thought. As we progress
through this study, we will cover some other points that are relevant to
what is being discussed.
Matthew 24:42-44
42) Watch therefore: for ye know not what
hour your Lord doth come.
43) But know this, that if the
goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief
would come, he would have watched, and would not have
suffered his house to be broken up.
44) Therefore be ye also ready:
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man
cometh.
Why does our Lord come as a thief? Is He trying to
trick us, or is it for an altogether different reason?
In verse 43, we are given the position of the goodman of
the house, to look at for our example. In this example,
his house is broken up. In verses 45-46, we are told that
a faithful and wise servant will be caring for his
household and will be blessed for doing so when Christ
returns. The faithful servant didn't allow his household
to be broken up. This implies the breaking up takes
place before the return of Christ. What is so very
interesting about these verses, when we think of the
rapture doctrine, is that, this follows the left behind
verses. Someone was just taken and someone just left
behind. Let's back up and have a look.
40) Then shall two be in the field; the
one shall be taken, and the other left.
41) Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and
the other left.
42) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what
watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have
suffered his house to be broken up.
44) Therefore ° be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not
the Son of man cometh.
45) Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made
ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
What are we to take away from these
scriptures? Well, after someone is taken and someone is left behind,
Christ is coming! If we want to blessed, we had better not allow our
household to be broken up. How can we prevent this from happening? We
can watch! Is it possible that the goodman didn't think he had anything
to watch for? Could it be that Christ came at a time he wasn't looking
for Him? Could this have anything to do with believing, he, (the goodman),
wasn't going to be here when this breaking up took place? You can't
rationally say that the rapture had occurred and he
missed it either. Why, because we were told those who
didn't allow their house to be broken up are faithful
and wise. Remember this is after one is taken and one is
left. If the rapture were true how could anyone left
behind be seen as faithful and wise? Lots of
questions, let's see what exactly this breaking up is.
Mark 13:9-12
9) But take heed to yourselves:
for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the
synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought
before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony
against them.
Who do you think is behind these councils and ruling
the synagogues at this time? If you read Revelation
2:9-10 you will find that these are the synagogues of
Satan and it is the devil who will cast you into prison.
10) And the gospel must first be published
among all nations.
This is what God expects His servants to do during this time. Many who know the truth,
will help to publish the gospel among all nations. The
next verse will tell us how.
11) But when they shall lead you, and
deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall
speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall
be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not
ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
These events will likely be televised either
nationally or worldwide, much like the trials that were
held for suspected communists many years ago in this
nation. When you allow the Holy Spirit to speak through
you, you will be giving a great witness for God that
will reach many people. When the Holy Spirit speaks it
is undeniable and will likely turn many from the worship
of the beast. This hour that is spoken of in this verse
is the same hour of temptation we read about in Rev
(3:10). We are kept from that temptation because the
Holy Spirit gives us what we shall speak. Satan is so
convincing that if we had to speak for ourselves he
would probably convince us he is Christ. The next verse
tells us how we are delivered up and this is where the
breaking up of the house takes place.
12) Now the brother shall betray the
brother to death, and the father the son; and children
shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause
them to be put to death.
The breaking up of the house is a two fold teaching.
First the house is split between those who believe the
antichrist and those who don't. Then, in their ignorance,
family will betray family in an effort to convert the
poor sinner who doesn't believe the lies of the
antichrist. Satan will break up your house if you do not
prepare your family to deal with him. If we know he is
coming first and what methods he will use, we can escape
this and properly take care of our household. Don't be
the one that's taken, they are taken by a flood of lies
and deception.
Revelation 16:15-17
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.
16) And he gathered them together into a
place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17) And the seventh angel poured out his
vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of
the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is
done.
I want you to notice this is said just before
Armageddon and the seventh vial is poured out. Once that
seventh vial is poured out, it's over. Why are we still
receiving this warning so late into the tribulation if
we are not going to be here? Will you ignore the word of
God or can you see that this presents a real problem for
the rapture doctrine. Those who choose to ignore the
word of God will be ashamed and their nakedness or lack
of truth will be out there for all to see.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
1) But of the times and the
seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto
you.
2) For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief
in the night.
3) For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon
them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall
not escape.
Here again the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night. It's not because He hasn't warned us, it's
because many will not be watching. As it
says in verse 9 of this chapter, God hath not appointed
us to wrath and in 2 Peter 3:9, the Lord is not willing
that any should perish. He has warned us over and over
again to watch and He gives us the tools we need if we
listen to His word rather than that of man. Verse 3 is
very important and we can learn a lot by examining it
closer. The first thing that jumps out at you is the
word Peace, notice it's uppercase. We are talking about
a person rather than a condition. Isaiah 9:6, Christ is
the Prince of Peace. So when they say Christ is here, as
in Matthew 24:23 and think they are in safety, then
sudden destruction comes upon them and they shall not
escape Christ's judgment. What does the rapture teach,
Christ is coming first, it's simply not true and a very
dangerous doctrine. God sent us His word and He
tells us how to escape these things. He will be very
unhappy with those who fail to study it and find the
truth. I think you would agree it will take a miracle to
bring peace to this earth. Daniel 11 tells us this is
how the antichrist comes in "peacefully" and obtains the
kingdom through flatteries. He will take over the world
and unite the nations all under a platform of peace.
Daniel 11:21-22
21 And in his estate shall
stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the
honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably,
and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
22 And with the arms of a flood
shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be
broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
Notice with the arms of a flood are they
overflown. Just like in the days of Noe, they knew not
until the flood came and took them away. The first one
taken, is taken by Antichrist!
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.
We are not in darkness, so our house should not be
broken up and this day should not come upon us as a
thief. We have been given the signs to watch for and
told that this would happen. Antichrist is the thief
coming to deceive the whole world and rob us of our
expectation. The reason this day comes as a thief is
because many have unwittingly been robbed by antichrist
and false teachers. The rapture is setting them up for
Satan to knock them down. If Christ could come at any
moment, what are we watching for? Don't listen to fables
and the rapture is a fable devised by man. Let no man
deceive you study and find the truth. God Bless!
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