But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)

His Coming Is Like A Thief

The Holy Spirit is very descriptive in the language He uses to declare the word of God. Since the fall of man in Eden, the Lord has told man of an impending day of judgment. This message has taken on many forms through the centuries as God warns the world of His wrath against those who reject His word. Noah was told to build an ark for the saving of his household but was not told when the global flood would come. The day came when the Lord told Noah to gather the animals and his family to enter the ark. Then the waters burst forth, and the world was destroyed. There was no warning, no timeline declared, and no mercy given to those unprepared. When God told Noah to enter the ark, it was too late for the world to repent.

Jesus would use the story of Noah to describe the world on the last day. When God told Noah to enter the ark, the world was frolicking in its pleasures, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, and living life without a care in the world. Men were in the field working, women tended to the needs of the family, and children played in the fields, unaware of the impending doom. Like a thief in the night, the judgment of the Lord came upon the world. When a thief plans to enter a victim’s home, he does not give a warning or notice. His purpose is to strike unaware and without warning. If someone knew a thief would break in and steal, he would prepare for the moment. God has told the world a day of judgment is coming, and there will be no warning.

The world has survived more than two thousand years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. One of the central themes of the gospel is what a man must do to be saved. The reason this is so important is because salvation is necessary to understand the peril of eternal damnation that awaits all who disregard the word of the Lord. A day of judgment for all men is coming. This day is as certain as death. God has never hidden the fact that all men will face His judgment. Jesus described the judgment as separating sheep from goats. Those on the right hand enjoy eternal life, and those on the left face Hell. No warnings will be given to let men know the final day has arrived. Like a thief in the night, the world will pass away with a great noise, and the universe will melt with fervent heat. Everything man knows will be burned up.

The Son of God has said that no man knows the day His Father will bring final judgment upon the world. There are many people who declare they know when the Lord is coming. They are liars of the highest caliber. What purpose would be served if God told men when He was coming? There will be no warning. The world can end before the reading of this paragraph ends. What happens most often is the world does not end, and the heart of man settles into complacency and apathy. Know this and know this well. A day is coming. There is no warning. God will not give a hint of His wrath. You will be doing what you always do. In a moment, in the twinkling of the eye – the world ends, and you face the wrath of God. If you are not a child of God, you will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and eternal darkness from the face of God. It is then you will understand the language of the thief and the coming of the Lord. But it will be too late. Today is the day of salvation. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. Be faithful unto death. Live for Jesus. Be watchful. He’s coming like a thief.