![]() One group caught off-guard and the other group, ready and waiting. Nowhere does it say anything about being invisible, not in these verses or anywhere else. As a matter of fact, how could the “ones not ready,” be surprised if they do not see it? Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming ” ![]() Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:37- 42 “ But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.One particular part of the common misconception of “Jesus coming as a thief in the night” is an erroneous twist on the following verses: We must study our Bibles for our own selves and filter everything we read, see and hear by it. He longs for Christians to be complacent or off-track. We must be careful of what books we may read or media we may watch or listen to, that are unscriptural, because the enemy always tries to twist God's Word just as he has done since the Garden of Eden. The Amplified Bible has verse 4 as this: “But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief.” God's people know the signs and nearness of His coming and are watching for Him. This great day will surprise the lost “as" a “thief in the night.” But God's people - who are not of the night nor of darkness - will be looking for Him. “The coming of the Lord” will be “unexpected” by those who “are not watching and waiting” for Him. Verse 4 above says “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” This clearly shows that God does not want His children surprised. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.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. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:42-44 “ Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15 " Behold, I am coming as a thief.Let's look at some of the Scripture involved. Strong’s Greek Concordance, #726, harpázō – properly, seize by force snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize) to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly). The very definition of the word “harpázō” that we get the word “rapture” from, is to openly and forcibly snatch something from someone. The rapture will not only be the deliverance of the persecuted church but following it will be beginning of the outpouring of God's judgment and wrath upon those who will worship the beast and receive his mark. It will also be when the enemy will be saying “peace and safety” but to their surprise, the Lord will be coming and with His throne (more can be read about a visible rapture in the article, Every Eye Will See Him). ![]() The sun, moon and even the stars will have previously gone dark, the whole atmosphere will roll back like a scroll and every eye will see Him just as the Bible says. When the Lord returns for us, His coming will illuminate the whole earth. Jesus will be coming “like” a “thief in the night” in that “He will take the world by surprise” when He comes to get His church. Anyone would know when someone came in or out, including in the night. In the day and age of Jesus and the apostles, most people lived in one or two room houses. This phrase is not about the Lord being like “the kind” of a “thief” that would come in the night by sneaking in and sneaking out. The true meaning is to “take by surprise.” And the Lord makes it clear to His church through His Word, that He does not want us to be taken by surprise but on the contrary for us to be faithful, alert and watching. This is a false interpretation of what the Bible means. ![]() Jesus is coming and as a “thief in the night.” The biblical terminology about “coming as a thief in the night” is used by many to say or imply that Jesus is coming like the kind of thief that afterward, no one will even know He came and snuck away with His church.
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