"Behold, I Come As A Thief"

Dan Bailey

In Revelation 16:15 we read, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." This passage is a warning for the children of God and in some ways a warning to all who are living in sin. Jesus is going to come back on the last day and the judgment will take place. There are no "ifs ands or buts" about it, Jesus is coming back! When he comes, it will be suddenly and unexpectedly. He will come as a thief, without a prior announcement.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:42-44;" 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

Paul told the Thessalonians, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). And Peter tells us, "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" (2 Peter 3:10).

Since we do not know when the Lord is going to return, we are to watch every single minute and we are to be clothed in righteousness. If Christians lay aside their righteousness, they will be found naked and unprepared for the coming of Christ, and the final judgment.

We read in Revelation 19:5-9: " 5And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."

Christians should be arrayed in righteousness when Jesus returns. We must be careful, watchful, and vigilant! We have these warnings because God loves us and wants us to be ready! Are you watching? Are you dressed in righteousness? Are you ready?