This is DAY SEVENTEEN of the daily devotional.
I am releasing a 50 day daily devotional about the end-times as revealed in Scripture. Along with the text, I will be providing a video where I cover the text of the day, and @verbal-d will be providing an audio version of it. That way, whether you want to read, watch, or listen, you'll be able to enjoy this study as you wish.
The plan is to release this devotional over the next 50 consecutive days, but life may "get in the way." We will do our best, but please be patient with me if I fall behind.
The SoundCloud Audio from @verbal-d
The YouTube Video from @papa-pepper
The Text I Originally Shared on the @narrowminded Account
DAY 17 - ANOTHER THIEF?
Yesterday, we learned that although the “Day of the Lord” is definitely preceded by certain events, it still comes as a thief. Since thieves try to sneak in, knowing the signs that the thief is near can prevent one from being caught off guard. Therefore, although many will be surprised when the thief shows up, it is not necessary for us to be “in the dark.” The Bible also reveals to us something else that is coming as a thief.
“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.” (Revelation 3:3b)
“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15)
“If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Revelation 3:3b)
Jesus says that He will not come as a thief to all. Only to those who are not watching. Since we do not need to be in the dark about this, we can be as “the goodman of the house”, who knew in what watch the thief would come.
“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4)
“But 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.” (Matthew 24:43)
Knowing in what “watch”, or period of time, the thief will come, can prevent the thief from sneaking in. If the “Day of the Lord” and the return of Christ happen on the same day, then we can use precursors of the “Day of the Lord” as precursors for the return of Christ. The “Abomination of Desolation” is one such example, which I believe is stated quite succinctly in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. If we expect these events to occur within a certain time period, then we will not be off guard.
The question then for us to answer will be, “Is the return of Jesus Christ for the rapture imminent?” Could it really occur at any moment? We will start to evaluate this tomorrow.
Point #1: The “Day of the Lord” is coming as a thief.
Point #2: Jesus is coming as a thief.
Point #3: This could be additional evidence that these events occur on the same day.
Point #4: The “Day of the Lord” is definitely preceded by specific events.
Point #5: Therefore, Jesus “coming as a thief” cannot be evidence that His return is imminent.
Point #6: The rapture may be preceded by certain events.
CLOSER
If anyone is really interested, I did post the entire volume through an alt account over a year ago. I did so as an experiment to see how hard it would be for a new user to get noticed on steemit, so I didn't let anyone know that I was doing it. You can click here to a post that has links to the entire 50 days of this devotional if you really want to read ahead. That information has always been available there since I first posted it. It is not the purpose of this series to just copy all of my previous work, but instead to transform it into some new outlets by releasing it in an audio and video format, to broaden the reach that this work has.
Again, though I will certainly never claim to know it all, I do believe that many are being lead astray by some popular beliefs. I hope that this project will be able to help many others understand the end-times more accurately. Thanks!
PREVIOUS POSTS
Just in case you are new to this series and wanted to check out the previous audio or videos, here are links to the posts from each day of this series.
- NEW SERIES
- PREFACE
- DAY 1 - THE FOUNDATION
- DAY 2 - "THE TRIBULATION"
- DAY 3 - THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL
- DAY 4 - NOT APPOINTED TO WRATH
- DAY 5 - WRATH vs. TRIBULATION
- DAY 6 - THE DAY OF THE LORD
- DAY 7 - THE LORD ALONE
- DAY 8 - THE EXALTATION OF THE ANTICHRIST
- DAY 9 - PROMISES
- DAY 10 : THE PRESUPPOSITION
- DAY 11 : 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-4
- DAY 12 : THE REVEALING OF THE ANTICHRIST
- DAY 13 : SAME DAY 1
- DAY 14 : SAME DAY 2
- DAY 15 : HAND IN HAND
- DAY 16 : OVERTAKE YOU AS A THIEF
Also - A special thanks to @allforthegood for helping design my cover image!
Until next time…
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@papa-pepper I always enjoy your post. This series especially. I just wanted to add because there is nothing secret about it and will completely take the wicked ones by total surprise, when the Two Witnesses who had been killed, come to life again and are raised up with the Saints at the Rapture. When this happens and the sky opens up like a scroll, every eye will see Him and liking it or not they will be forced to give Him the glory.
The Five Second Coming Parables (Interesting read)
The five second coming parables emphasize the sudden and unexpected coming of the Lord.
He will come as:
• The thief in the night.
• The midnight arrival of the bridegroom.
• The late return of the owner of the house.
• The nobleman from a far country.
All the parables warn us to not be indifferent or slack. Let us be ready, waiting, and watching for His return. "Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42). Be constantly on the alert. Keep your eyes open. Keep wide awake! Be watchful or be vigilant means to live a sanctified life, consciously aware of the coming judgment day. The just shall live by faith in Jesus Christ. The true believer is looking forward to the coming of the Bridegroom and King.
I look forward to your next posting.
@Tolly
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Nice addition to the discussion. Per my comment below (or above...wherever it ends up :-) ) it's nice to know that being watchful will bear fruit on seeing the signs.
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@dagger212 Thanks, I found your comment (it was above :-)) Being watchful is one of the most important things we can do with out lives. Being ready is the MOST important.
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This is a very good "day". I've always had it in the back of my mind that it would be impossible to be in any way "prepared" for His return. While we should still be ready for it at all times, it's nice to see that if we "watch" we should be able to see some warning signs.
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@dagger212 I agree we can't possibly be prepared but we can be ready. If we keep our eyes open and watch we will see the signs.
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Then what is the difference between being prepared and being ready
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I have just come across your posts and am upvoting and following. We need more christian posts on steemit. I hope to be sharing some of my own later and your posts about steemit are extremely useful for newbies like me. Keep up the good work.
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Thank you for that! This is a great place to share about this stuff!
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Absolutely true! I love this piece. Quite expository. Wow! Thanks a lot for sharing this with me.
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My one opinion is that it all bores down to preparations. For those who have prepared themselves for the coming, the day will not overtake them like a thief, but for those who did not, they will surely bear the consequences and
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i hope so
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Comida para el alma! Gracias
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Thank you and God bless
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great job bro
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Yes .. The story attracts friends .. It's a matter of belief .. Tpi permit me to introduce the revelation of god that the new order is alqur an .. The number of his verses 6666 verses .. Without contra fersi for people who already know him .. Karna inside the Qur'an also tells about the very noble alkitap it .. You may be able to learn also alqur an .. Because so many science and secrets that make us will be wise there .. This story also makes everyone interesting and curious. Terikasih
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Nice video @papa-pepper
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putting the pieces together really nicely!
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Been busy with family and other things over the last few weeks, so need to do some catch up. It's always interesting to read the various interpretations of The End Times. It's great to have such a discussion going on Steemit!
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It'll be here when you get the time! Thanks.
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today is my 2nd day on steemit.and for the past day i have read posts about various things and i got to know alot.im not a christian.but that doesnt make me not to read about it.i respect every religion and i learn things from every religion.what i believe is that religions are not there to spread the power and dominate the world but to show the people the good path
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Jesus is coming, times are getting shorter, everything is happening very fast, we must be attentive, thank you. Your exegesis and explanation is super good, a hug Papa.
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When Herod the king heard this, he was deeply disturbed and so was everyone in Jerusalem. Matthew 2:3
The reaction of king Herod mentioned in our opening verse was to the news of the birth of Jesus, the long awaited Messiah. Yet the news that sparked great joy in the sherpherds also incited much worry in the heart of Herod so that he wanted to kill baby Jesus.
The way King Herod reacted to the news of Jesus' first coming is the same way many of us react to the news of Jesus' second coming. Just like when Herod heard of a sign of his coming (the star) we too become deeply disturbed when we hear of the end time signs of his return. The reason for this might be because we are not ready for our rule over our lives to come to an end. Herod wanted to extend his rule over Israel and so do we also as far as our lives are concerned. We still have plans we want to fulfill. People we want to marry. Children we want to have.
But the truth is that rule over our lives ought to be relinquished when we give our lives to Christ. Our lives belong to Him now. He is the king and Lord over our lives. In Philippians 1:21 Paul proclaims that for him to live is Christ and to die is gain. This is the point we ought to get to as Christians. But it doesn't come just by saying so but by dying daily to self just like Paul did (1 Corinthians 15:31). As we do so Christ becomes the true Lord of our lives and it would make no difference if he were to come today or tomorrow for for us to live is Christ and to die is gain. Thanks for sharing.
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No Jesus cannot come back at any time. The first time He was here, He fulfilled the Spring Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23). He died on Passover, arose from the grave on the Feast of First Fruits and poured out the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost). If He did that for the Spring Feasts then there is no reason He won't do that again for the Fall Feasts.
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Thank You @papa-pepper for sharing this revelation. It will made us prepare.
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Brilliant explanation!
I already mentioned it before, but im realy thankful for your posts.
I would be more specific about Jesus coming as a thief which means in his case coming unexpectedly only for those who don’t believe in him.
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You are welcome!
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The day will not take us by surprise in Jesus name
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