Rev 16:15 – “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.â€? Rev 1:7 – “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.â€?
His coming for is secret and imminent.
It is secret. The taking away of Enoch was secret. The world did not know it until he was gone. The taking of Noah was secret. The people kept on eating and drinking. The snatching of Lot out of Sodom was secret. The Sodomites ate, drank and bought until the day Lot went out of the city. The identity of taking Joseph into the palace was secret. Was altogether unknown to his brethren till he came forth and revealed himself to them. The entrance of Moses’ wife into the Inn was secret. Not known nor revealed until she had entered.
The Lord will come as a thief in the night. That is, it will be in secret. 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.â€? After the warning, He says: Matt. 24:42 – “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.â€?
It is imminent. I Cor. 15:51-52 – “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.â€?
Paul taught it was imminent. I Thess. 4:16-17 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.â€?
James declares it. James 5:8, 9 – “… for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.â€?
The Lord Himself testifies of it. To the church at Sardis He says, Rev 3:1-3 – “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. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 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.â€?
His coming will be quickly. Rev 16:15 – “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.â€?
Nuggets Of Gold Ministries
Russell Stolp, Founder & Director
http://www.nuggetsofgold.org
Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.