As a thief he comes

[savagewind]

1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 16:15

They say it means sudden and unexpected. Many other things in this world are sudden and unexpected. Why did he say "thief".

Jesus is his words. Oh, you thought Jesus is his power. I'm sorry. I think that is not right.

Jesus (The Word) is God's power.
Isaiah 52:14
Just as there were many who were appalled at him -- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness--
Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the יְהוָה֩ will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the יְהוָה֩ makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the יְהוָה֩ will prosper in his hand.
John 1:11
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (Did not receive the real Man with his words)

Isaiah 52:14 מַרְאֵ֑הוּ וְתֹאֲר֖וֹ מִבְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃

Is it possible these four words mean his person becomes a reflection of corrupted Adam? Instead of a reflection of יְהוָה֩

His perfect words are gone, replaced by men's words. He comes with men's words that are not his own. What is a person called who is in possession of something not his own?

 

[savagewind]

You will say those scriptures apply to his ministry while a man. OK. Tell me please how describing his ministry is beneficial for teaching, reproving and setting things strait?

How is it possible to believe Jesus left to come back even when his words say "I will be WITH you all the days"?

He is with us as a thief. I think he does not want to be a thief.

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14:36

 

[savagewind]

Acts 20:29
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
Matthew 7:15
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Ezekiel 34:8
As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,
Jude 1
17But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." 19These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.…

 

[Sleeppy]

LIKE a thief in the night... It's a simile. I don't understand the full point of your posts; could you summarize it into a question?

 

[savagewind]

LIKE a thief in the night... It's a simile. I don't understand the full point of your posts; could you summarize it into a question?

Does Jesus coming as a thief have anything to do with thievery? I know it is a simile because Jesus is not a thief. He comes like a thief.

But I really do think it is related to something stolen. He did not steal it. The nations (people not driven by The Holy Spirit) possess something of his that identifies him andf his purpose to make The Name of God holy for us.

1 Samuel 4:3-11
New International Version (NIV)
3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?”

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has[a] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

 

[savagewind]

Coming as a thief "in the night" refers to this: As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work (the works of God).

The night refers to the lost words of Jesus Christ.

Did he say "get away from me"? No! The real words are lost.*

Did he say "take care you are not misled"? No! The real words are lost.*

Did he say "go make disciples"? No! The real words are lost.*

*Stolen actually by the presumptuous ones.

He is still standing by his words but like a thief because they are not his words.

 

[savagewind]

Did anyone else find words attributed to him that he did not say?

 

[Desert Snake]

Hmm very interesting thread. I think it would be ideal to look at this wording in context, look at the surrounding verse(s). I find this often adds real explanation to the verse in question.

 

[savagewind]

1 Thessalonians 5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

 

[Desert Snake]

Does Jesus coming as a thief have anything to do with thievery? I know it is a simile because Jesus is not a thief. He comes like a thief.

Hmm yes very interesting, we see a possibility of different metaphor here.

 

[savagewind]

2 Peter 3:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

 

[savagewind]

Revelation 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”

2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.

4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One,
you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
7 And I heard the altar respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are your judgments.”
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon

 

[kashmir]

"as a thief in the night"

Is a metaphor.
Basically Jesus is saying when God comes, no one will know the time or day, just as a thief doesn't warn someone that he is going to rob them.
If the thief did, he would be caught.

If God did, then everyone would do as they please and not prepare until that day.
Jesus is saying get right with God now, because when he comes, it will be too late.

 

[savagewind]

"as a thief in the night"

Is a metaphor.
Basically Jesus is saying when God comes, no one will know the time or day, just as a thief doesn't warn someone that he is going to rob them.
If the thief did, he would be caught.

If God did, then everyone would do as they please and not prepare until that day.
Jesus is saying get right with God now, because when he comes, it will be too late.

The question is: Why THAT metaphor? Stealing is a sin. A child hearing "Jesus....like a thief" is a bad lesson. Why was Jesus so careless? Why didn't he use another metaphor? What about a tidal wave. Why isn't Jesus coming as a tidal wave? Or a volcanic eruption? Or like a hungry lion? Or like a storm wind?

 

[kashmir]

The question is: Why THAT metaphor? Stealing is a sin. A child hearing "Jesus....like a thief" is a bad lesson. Why was Jesus so careless? Why didn't he use another metaphor? What about a tidle wave. Why isn't Jesus coming as a tidal wave? Or a volcanic eruption? Or like a hungry lion?

IDK brother, why do we call milk milk instead of water, and call water milk?
It's just the way he worded it.
I am sure no matter how he worded it, someone will ask why he didnt word it to their liking, if you can relate to it, then it served its purpose.
:yes:

Just to fun around, why is this board called religious forums when there is talk about sex, politics, and all kinds of other non religious topics?
Shouldnt it be called, "everything including the kitchen sink"?

Why do we say up and down and left and right?
We could have titled them hdyt uitye haye8 and 04hf instead

why do we park on a driveway and drive on a parkway?
Why do we say take a poop when we actually "leave" a poop?
why do they say get on the plane?, fk that I am getting in the plane, let the stunt man get on the plane

BTW the things you list, might come to a shock of some, but others will have warnings, the thief comes and no one ever knows

 

[savagewind]

IDK brother, why do we call milk milk instead of water, and call water milk?
It's just the way he worded it.
I am sure no matter how he worded it, someone will ask why he didnt word it to their liking, if you can relate to it, then it served its purpose.
:yes:

What does a child hear when he hears "I am coming as a thief in the night"? He hears stealing is associated with Jesus Christ who is good. Yes or no?

Jesus Christ = good

Stealing = good

 

[Desert Snake]

What does a child hear when he hears "I am coming as a thief in the night"? He hears stealing is associated with Jesus Christ who is good. Yes or no?

Jesus Christ = good

Stealing = good

No, because the wording is LIKE a thief, not AS a thief, or a personal description of thief, in fact this sort of tells us Jesus isn't a thief.

 

[Desert Snake]

Similar to 'satan s 'god' of this world. that verse actually tells us that satan isn't a 'god' because it is too limiting, when taken in context.

It literally is saying that satan ISN'T a 'god', while at the same time telling us what he is/does.

 

[savagewind]

No, because the wording is LIKE a thief, not AS a thief, or a personal description of thief, in fact this sort of tells us Jesus isn't a thief.

As or like here:

as, like as, even as, when, since, as long as
NASB Translation
about (20), according (2), affected (1), after (2), appear* (1), appeared (1), effect (1), how (20), however* (1), if (10), just (6), just like (1), like (106), like* (1), namely (1), one (2), same way (1), seeing (1), since (2), size (1), so (3), so* (1), though (15), way (1), when (53), whenever* (1), where (1), while (10).

 

[Desert Snake]

As or like here:

as, like as, even as, when, since, as long as
NASB Translation
about (20), according (2), affected (1), after (2), appear* (1), appeared (1), effect (1), how (20), however* (1), if (10), just (6), just like (1), like (106), like* (1), namely (1), one (2), same way (1), seeing (1), since (2), size (1), so (3), so* (1), though (15), way (1), when (53), whenever* (1), where (1), while (10).

I meant literally AS a thief, but I see your dilemma. That is clever, but I really don't think it means Jesus is a thief.