Like a Thief in the Night

Introduction

What time of day do you think most home burglaries happen?

My initial thought is that they occurred at night because of the verse that we’ll look at today.

Apocalipsis 16:15 ESV

15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

However, I discovered that most burglaries happen from 10:30-3:30 PM - during the day time when most people are out of the home at school, work, or running errands.

Nevertheless, the Bible speaks about the second coming of Jesus to bring judgement upon mankind - as like the coming of a thief at night.

In Revelation 16, John describes a series of seven plagues that Almighty God will bring upon the earth to seal his judgement upon all who have survived the previous judgements.

It will be utter destruction as mankind suffers from sun burns, the waters (both salt and fresh) turned into blood, and darkness come upon the kingdom of Satan.

Then we also see that once the seventh judgement is poured out:

Apocalipsis 16:21 NIV

21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

Notice, how despite the destruction, the remaining survivors will come out of the rubble and continue to curse God - instead of showing heartfelt repentance and shame for their rebellious works.

All these affirmations are part of the Christian Faith. We affirm it in the Apostles Creed when we say:

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe that one day Jesus will come to earth and bring judgement upon all mankind.

Now can live in constant fear as we watch the news, social media, and rumors of things happening around the world.

We can live in fear over the destruction of society.

We can live in fear as we see governments around the world oppress their citizens and restrict their freedoms.

We can live in fear when we see the spread of disease and economic collapse.

…or we can live in obedience to the command of Jesus.

Apocalipsis 16:15 ESV

15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Jesus said - he is coming like a thief that comes at night.

This simply refers that we do not know the time that he will come.

A thief does not announce when he will enter your house.

He comes unexpectedly.

He comes at the most unexpected moment.

So our duty is simple - stay awake, be alert, keep your garments on.

We should constantly be on guard…waiting upon the coming of the Lord Jesus.

We should wake up each day - and truly have a heartfelt desire and expectation - that today could be the day.

We should long for the coming of Jesus and for him to finally bring about true and everlasting justice.

But what is the comment about having your garments on, so you are not naked and exposed? What is that about?

Well, this takes us back to Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned against God, their eyes were opened and they felt shame for they were naked before his presence.

…so God sacrificed an innocent animal and made garments for them.

God has done the same for us - in that the Father sent his son to die on the cross, an innocent victim, to die in our place, so that we would be clothed in his righteousness.

Such that if we trust in Jesus Christ we are declared righteous before God.

Our sins our forgiven.

We do not need to feet God’s judgement for we are now sons and daughters of God.

So we should long for the second coming of Jesus - where he will judge the living and the dead - but we do not need to fear for we have been justified and forgiven on the basis of the work of Christ on the cross.