Ever Wonder Why Jesus Comes Back Like a Thief?(Part 2)

I started the topic of Jesus coming back like a thief a few weeks ago because I think the topic is both important to believers and is often overlooked because of certain concepts being taught in the greater body of Christ.

I started the post by using the passage in the book of Revelation 19:11 where the apostle John wrote the words of Jesus about coming back on a white horse to judge the world. This event is referring to when Jesus was teaching for 40 days after his resurrection and was ready to return to the Father in heaven. As Jesus was ascending into the clouds two angels said to his disciples that he would be returning to earth in like manner, only this time he would be descending from the heaven above.

Acts 1:10-11                                                                                                                                                                                                     And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Scripture refers to this time as the “DAY OF THE LORD” in which Jesus returns with his angels, which is also known as the “END OF THE AGE“.

Matthew 13:49                                                                                                                                                                                             This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous.

Jesus, referring to this event, told his followers they must be ready or they would be in grave danger of not being able to enter the wedding feast of the lamb. Jesus used a parable to teach the importance of being ready for the wedding supper of the lamb.

Matthew 25:1-3                                                                                                                                                                                        “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. [2] “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. [3] “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 

This parable illustrates that five “FOOLISH” virgins were not allowed into the wedding because their oil had run out, which implies they lacked the filling of the Holy Spirit in their lives and had fallen asleep. This brings us back to the warning by Jesus about being ready. He specifically warns believers, in numerous places, about coming back when people are not expecting him and the consequences of such neglect.

Matthew 24:44                                                                                                                                                                                                      “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. 

The last scripture I used in part one illustrates again that Jesus said he comes “LIKE A THIEF” and speaks about those who will not wake up from their deception.

Revelation 3:3                                                                                                                                                                                                 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 

Revelation 16:15                                                                                                                                                                                       Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

In the last passage of Rev 16:15, Jesus talks about staying “AWAKE” and keeping one’s “CLOTHES“, which refers to wedding attire. This, in turn, refers to the parable of the wedding supper that the ten virgins were supposed to be ready for.

Matthew 22:11-14                                                                                                                                                                                       “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, [12] and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless.“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 

This clearly speaks about a person who was invited but failed to show proper respect with the right wedding clothing. Remember, often scripture speaks with metaphors to illustrate a biblical truth. In this case, the parables speak about being careful lest we find ourselves being left with unbelievers at the second coming.

Revelation 3:20-21                                                                                                                                                                                Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. [21] ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. [14] “For many are called, but few are chosen.” 

This passage, which is out of the book of Revelation, speaks about Jesus knocking on the door of believers, not unbelievers, as it was written to the seven churches. Why would Jesus be knocking on the doors of believers? Because these believers assumed they were saved and not in jeopardy of missing out on the second coming of Jesus and the wedding supper of the lamb. They became careless and let their loyalty to God fall by the wayside in favor of other things. This was written to the church in Laodicean, which was accused of being lukewarm believers. The Laodicean city was a wealthy city and their church prided itself on being wealthy and needing nothing else. They turned their love of God into a love of wealth and pleasure. Jesus said he would spit them out of his mouth for being lukewarm.

One day, the disciples of Jesus came to him and asked why he used all these parables to communicate. The disciples felt Jesus should speak plainly in order to explain what he wanted them to know. Jesus knew people could pretend to accept his teaching just because of being feed and being healed. Jesus wanted so much more from his people.

Matthew 13:11-14                                                                                                                                                                                                    He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.  [12] Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. [13] This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

Jesus then drops the bomb on the real problem for real salvation. It is not about getting a “Get Out Of Jail” card or out of hell card but having a changed heart. Always remember this. Your heart can become righteous or wicked based on your choices. Just because we have come to know the mercy of God through Jesus we can also abandon that mercy if we choose the pleasure of this world over the love of the Lordship of Christ.

Matthew 13:15                                                                                                                                                                                                         For this people’s heart has become calloused they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

This word Jesus spoke comes out of the book of Isaiah 6:9-10 in which God laments that Israel is so wicked even though they are called by God to be his people. In Isaiah 5:1-4, God speaks about Israel being his vineyard.  He did everything to make them great and yet he got sour grapes instead.

God asks, “What More Could I Do?” and then in Chapter 6 he lays out allowing people to become calloused in heart lest he heals them and fills heaven with unfaithful people.

Jesus comes like a thief because he only wants those believers who stay loyal to him and his kingdom no matter how long the second coming of Christ takes to manifest. Remember that God is after the heart, not just people who show up for church on Sunday. God has no delight in those who put their hand to the plow as true believers and then turn away because they think it’s safe to do so.

Luke 9:62                                                                                                                                                                                                                Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Questions:

1) Are you looking forward to the second coming of Jesus or are you too busy enjoying this life to care? 2 Chronicles 7:14 is a good place to start.

2) Which virgins are you most like? The five wise ones or the five foolish ones? Eph 5:18 is a must for being wise by being filled regularly.

Loving the word of God and its warnings,

Pastor Dale