A Theft In The Night
Published 20150602 -:- Revised 20250906
NB: Bible references are from MKJV unless
noted otherwise.
Translation -:- 2025 September
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Let’s look at how a “House Robbery; A Theft In The Night”
is described in the Bible. There is another story we are all familiar with, and
it is in the same period of time and the same ethnic culture. Do you remember
the story of “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”? It is a classic Middle Eastern
folk tale. The thieves had planed to hide in large water jars, which were
delivered to a rich man's feast. Then wait until a signal was given, then all
would jump out and attack and destroy, then they would take all the loot. We
today in our western culture, think too much of “a thief in the night” as a
quiet “cat burglar”. We should try to understand the scriptures from the original
time and place!
ALL these passages listed below
seem to describe what we would call today in our culture; A Home Invasion; An
Armed Robbery; or A ‘Smash and Grab’! They indicate that the ‘Strong Man,
the Thief or the Robber’ are people who can put up
a good fight! Also in these passages there is no indication of a quiet sneaking
in like a “cat burglar”. Let's do a search through the scriptures using the
following ‘key words’.
‘Strong Man’ (6 Listings Of This Phrase)
1Sa 14:52 And the war was heavy
against the Philistines ..when Saul saw any strong man, or
any brave man, he took him to himself.
Isa 10:13 ..I have removed the
bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the
people like a strong man.
Mat 12:29 ..how can one enter ..a strong man's house and spoil his goods, unless first he binds the strong one, ..then ..plunder his house.
Mar 3:27 No one can enter ..a strong one's house ..plunder his goods, except he first binds the strong man. ..then ..plunder his house.
Luk 11:21 When the strong man, fully armed, guards his dwelling, his goods are in peace.
Mat 12:29 ..how can one enter ..a strong man's house and spoil his goods, unless first he binds the strong one, ..then ..plunder his house.
Mar 3:27 No one can enter ..a strong one's house ..plunder his goods, except he first binds the strong man. ..then ..plunder his house.
Luk 11:21 When the strong man, fully armed, guards his dwelling, his goods are in peace.
‘Rob, Robber, Robbed’ (31 Listings)
Jdg 9:25 ..men of Shechem set men
lying in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all
that passed by.
1Sa 23:1 And they told David,
saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob
the threshing-floors.
2Sa 17:8 For, Hushai said, ..they are mighty men, and they are bitter of soul, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field.
Isa 10:13 ..I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and ..put down the people like a strong man.
Isa 13:16 And their children shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be robbed, and their wives raped.
Isa 17:14 ..behold, terror! Before the morning, he is not! This is the lot of those who plunder us, and the lot of those who rob us.
Isa 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; all of them snared in holes, and they are hidden in prison-houses..
Jer 50:37 ..and they shall become as women. A sword is to her treasuries, and they shall be robbed.
Eze 18:7 and has not ill-treated any man, but has given the debtor's pledge back to him, has robbed none by violence,..
Eze 18:16 nor has ill-treated any man; has not withheld the pledge; nor has robbed by violence..
Mar 14:48 And answering Jesus said to them, Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to take Me?
Luk 10:30 ,,A ..man went ..to Jericho ..fell among robbers, who stripped him ..wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luk 22:52 And Jesus said to the chief priests ..who had come to Him, Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves?
2Sa 17:8 For, Hushai said, ..they are mighty men, and they are bitter of soul, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field.
Isa 10:13 ..I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and ..put down the people like a strong man.
Isa 13:16 And their children shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be robbed, and their wives raped.
Isa 17:14 ..behold, terror! Before the morning, he is not! This is the lot of those who plunder us, and the lot of those who rob us.
Isa 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; all of them snared in holes, and they are hidden in prison-houses..
Jer 50:37 ..and they shall become as women. A sword is to her treasuries, and they shall be robbed.
Eze 18:7 and has not ill-treated any man, but has given the debtor's pledge back to him, has robbed none by violence,..
Eze 18:16 nor has ill-treated any man; has not withheld the pledge; nor has robbed by violence..
Mar 14:48 And answering Jesus said to them, Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to take Me?
Luk 10:30 ,,A ..man went ..to Jericho ..fell among robbers, who stripped him ..wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luk 22:52 And Jesus said to the chief priests ..who had come to Him, Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves?
The Thief Or
Thieves’ (40 Listings)
Exo 22:2 If a thief
is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, no blood shall be
shed for him.
Job 24:14 The murderer
rising with the light kills the poor and needy, and in the
night he is a thief.
Jer 49:9 If ..gatherers ..come ..would they not leave some ..grapes? If thieves come by night, they will destroy until they have enough.
Joe 2:9 They shall rush on the city ..run on the wall ..climb up on the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
Mat 6:19 Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
Mat 6:20 But lay up treasures in Heaven ..where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
Mat 24:43 But ..had known ..the thief would come, he would have watched and ..not have allowed his house to be dug through.
Luk 12:39 ..had known ..the thief would come, he would have watched and ..not have allowed his house to be dug through.
Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy…
Jer 49:9 If ..gatherers ..come ..would they not leave some ..grapes? If thieves come by night, they will destroy until they have enough.
Joe 2:9 They shall rush on the city ..run on the wall ..climb up on the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
Mat 6:19 Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
Mat 6:20 But lay up treasures in Heaven ..where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
Mat 24:43 But ..had known ..the thief would come, he would have watched and ..not have allowed his house to be dug through.
Luk 12:39 ..had known ..the thief would come, he would have watched and ..not have allowed his house to be dug through.
Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy…
The above verses are not a complete
list of the scriptures using those ‘key words’. But they all give a clear
indication of the violence suggested by those words. For example the last verse
above, John 10:10 ‘The thief does not come except to steal and to
kill and to destroy.’ So when we read the scriptures, which
speak about, “the Lord coming as a thief in the night”, we should
see in the surrounding words some indication of “violence”!
Also we should not try to cloak it with a preconceived idea of a
pre-tribulation rapture, something, quite and/secret! So, let’s look at some of
those scriptures that speak of the Lord coming as a thief in the night!
The Coming Of The Lord
The Lord will come as a thief in
the night UNEXPECTEDLY! And it will be Loud, Powerful and Destructive!
Luk 12:40 Therefore be ready
also, for the Son of Man comes at an hour when you think not.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord
will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements will
melt with fervent heat. And the earth and the works in it will be
burned up.
Rev 3:3 Remember then how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
Rev 16:15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.
Rev 3:3 Remember then how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
Rev 16:15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.
Paul To The Thessalonians
The Thessalonians were concerned
their dead friends would miss out on the resurrection. Paul then writes to the
Thessalonians: -
1Th 4:13 “But I would not
have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, (dead in
Christ).. :15 For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are
alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are
asleep. :16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel and
with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ
shall rise first. :17 Then we who are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And
so we shall ever be with the Lord. :18 Therefore comfort one another with
these words.”
Then Paul continues with an
Adjunct, ‘But’, which joins the two chapters as one event. He then describes
the Lord coming as a thief: -
1Th 5:1 “But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. :2 For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. :3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. :4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. :5 You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. ..:8 But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet. :9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”
1Th 5:1 “But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. :2 For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. :3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. :4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. :5 You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. ..:8 But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet. :9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”
The passage above has all these events happen: - “the Lord descends
with a shout”, “voice of an archangel”, “trumpet of God”, “dead in Christ will
rise first”, “the day of the Lord”, “the Lord coming as a thief in the night”,
“sudden destruction comes upon them” and “God has not appointed us to wrath”.
QUESTION: - Who will experience the wrath of God? - The wicked are the
ones who suffer! And it happens instantaneously when we are caught up to meet
the Lord. So it is quite ridiculous to think that the catching away or ‘the
rapture’ is a quiet or secret event. And through all of that, God
has not appointed us to wrath. None of the above sounds like a quiet event? Psa 91:7 “A
thousand
shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; it shall not come
near you.” We seem to have forgotten the protection that God has
promised over us! It seems as though the church feebly hopes to be lifted out
of the world in some kind of pre-tribulation rapture? So that God won’t
accidentally hit us when He pours out His wrath. Have we forgotten the book of
Exodus and how God protected the children of Israel during the plagues of
Egypt?
The Rapture QUESTION
The other thing that is like a loose cannon is the question of the Rapture! ALL of this passage above from
Paul to the Thessalonians is talking about the Second Coming of The Lord. And
Paul is saying that it is the very next thing that is going to happen! So if
there is a Pre-Rapture then why doesn’t Paul tell the Thessalonians about the
Rapture first? WHY; because obviously there is NO pre-tribulation Rapture!
End Times Description
The Parable of the Weeds
Mat 13:24 “He put out
another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who
sowed good seed in his field. :25 But while men slept, his enemy came
and sowed darnel, (weeds), among the wheat and went his way. :26 But
when the blade had sprung up and had produced fruit, then the darnel also
appeared. :27 So the servants of the householder came and said to
him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then where have the darnel
come from? :28 He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said
to him, Then do you want us to go and gather them up? :29 But he
said, No, lest while you gather up the darnel you also root up the wheat with
them. :30 Let both grow together until the harvest. And
in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together
the darnel and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat
into my granary.” The harvest is obviously the very NEXT thing to happen in our
world! ..(Now “Jump” to the explanation of this passage).
The Parable of the Weeds
Explained
Mat 13:36 “..And His disciples came to Him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the darnel of the field. :37 He answered and said to them, He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; :38 the field is the world; the good seed are the sons of the kingdom; but the darnel are the sons of the evil one. :39 The enemy who sowed them is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. :40 Therefore as the darnel are gathered and burned in the fire, so it shall be in the end of this world. :41 The Son of Man shall send out His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who do iniquity, :42 and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. :43 Then the righteous shall shine out like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Where is the pre-tribulation Rapture?
So, from the above passages,
where does the church get the idea of a, “Pre-Tribulation Rapture”? Probably by
reading someone’s commentary on the subject, rather than reading the Word of
God, because none of these passages indicate anything “Quiet” or “Secret”!
The Parable of the Net
Mat 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered some of every kind; :48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. :49 So it shall be at the end of the world. The angels shall come out and separate the wicked from among the just, :50 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Again, where is the pre-tribulation Rapture?
2 Thessalonians
Try to figure out where the Rapture fits into this passage? This is the second letter from Paul to the Thessalonians; surly he is going to tell them about the Rapture this time!
The Man of Lawlessness
2Th 2:1 “Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, :2 that you should not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand. :3 Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day, (‘that day’ a single event), shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, :4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.” ..“Jump” to verse :8 “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming,” Again where is the pre-tribulation Rapture?
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There are TWO events here, “the coming” and “our gathering together”, and then Paul says, “for that day”! This means the two events are simultaneous. BUT BEFORE this coming, the man of sin is revealed. So, we must all be here when ‘the man of sin'’ appears. Also while he is active down here on earth and when he is consumed by the Lord. Some say that the Lord returns 7 years after the ‘rapture’, “in His power” with the 144,000. And at that time Christ destroys the man of sin. So those people say this passage refers to that event which happens after the 7 years? If that is true; then there must be a second gathering? In other words; a gathering at the start of the rapture at the start of the 7 years, and a gathering at the Second Coming of The Lord after the 7 years! If all this is correct, then why is Paul consoling the Thessalonians with this passage? Why doesn’t Paul clearly tell them about the ‘rapture’??
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I see things happening like this, Jesus comes only once. At which time there is the Gathering, the man of sin is destroyed, Satan is bound for 1000 years, and then the millennium starts! We have forgotten our historic style of events. We see it in the movies but fail to understand. When a King or the Roman Emperor returns home after a long trip away, all the citizens go out of the city to greet him. For example, if our King Charles came out to visit Australia, crowds of people would go out with flags and line the streets. When Christ returns, we will all be caught up in the air to greet Him as He approaches earth. We are figuratively the 144,000, and we all come to earth with Him to set up His millennial rule. The one thing that will cause His return I believe will be the impending world war with Gog and Magog.
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I have numerous other talks for you, refer to the Links below. This has been set up this way for me to easily of translate.
REMEMBER If you wish to go to the Links below you will need to open the Link; then translate them to your language by using the TRANSLATE option in the right hand margin. [Powered by Google]
In YOUR Language I have given you the titles of the talks in the first list.
Then in the same order you are given the links in the second list.
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He Shall Speak Words Against The
Most High
Rebuilding The Temple Of Jerusalem
Stanley and The Blood Covenant
Who is Jesus - Is He Michael Archangel?
Lies In The Bible Part 2
Who Will Reign With Christ
British Israel - 1.01 [For Beginners]
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