Yesterday I wrote about why the Day of the Lord is unlikely going to be a seven year time period corresponding to the seventieth week of Daniel. However, there is still a significant issue that needs to be addressed with regards to yesterday’s argument before I can go on to analyze other potential ideas that relate to the Day of the Lord’s length.
Many people characterize the Day of the Lord’s coming as a “thief in the night” by citing the following Bible verses:
- 1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
- 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 common interpretation people have towards the statement the Day of the Lord will come as a “thief in the night” is that the Day of the Lord will come when everyone is not expecting it to arrive. Some people take the interpretation further by stating that the Day of the Lord can occur at anytime because it sneaks up on us like a thief.
In this blog post I’ll give you my interpretation of what the term “a thief in the night” means when it is used to characterize the Day of the Lord.
This may come as a surprise to many people, but the Bible seems to suggest that the Day of the Lord may not come as a “thief in the night” to everyone (it'll just come as a "thief in the night to the wicked). For instance, Paul implied in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 that those “in darkness” (the wicked) will be overtaken by the Day of the Lord as it will come as a “thief in the night” to them (verse 3).
- 1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
- 1Th 5:3 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.
- 1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
If you are not “in darkness” the Day of the Lord shall not overtake you as a thief (verse 4). This is consistent with Paul’s statement that believers are not appointed to God’s wrath, which is what the Day of the Lord is (Zephaniah 1:15).
- 1Th 5:8 But we being of day should be sober, "having put on the breastplate" of faith and love, and the hope of "salvation as a helmet;"
- 1Th 5:9 because God has not appointed us to wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
The idea that the Day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night to the wicked is further implied in Revelation 3. Christ told the church in Sardis that if they do not watch He will come as a thief to them (verse 3).
- Rev 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
- Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
- Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Conversely, Christ won’t come as a thief to the church in Sardis if they keep watch, receive, hear, hold fast, and repent (verse 3).
Paul disproved the notion that the Day of the Lord, which comes as a “thief in the night”, can come at any time in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. Paul stated that the Day of Christ (distinct, yet connected with the coming of the Day of the Lord) cannot come until at least after the Antichrist is revealed and is proclaiming himself as God (something that will not happen until the midpoint of the seventieth week of Daniel when he establishes the abomination that causes desolation in the temple in Jerusalem).
- 2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
- 2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
- 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
- 2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Therefore, there are events that must take place before the Day of the Lord can come as a thief in the night to the wicked.
The expression “a thief in the night” suggests to me that something is coming at a time when a majority of people are not expecting it. A thief usually prefers to invade a place at night because it is a time when people are generally not keeping watch over their property. However, some people are not completely caught off guard when a thief decides to come because they are remaining vigilant at night.
The Bible provided information about what signs people need to watch for to know when the Day of the Lord is approaching. The wicked are unlikely going to even be aware of these signs because they are not grounded in God’s Word. The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night to the wicked because they are unaware that it is arriving until it is already come.
