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The return of Jesus Christ is likened to the coming of a thief in the night. Two passages use the wording 鈥渁 thief in the night鈥�: Matthew 24:43, 鈥淯nderstand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into,鈥� and 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 鈥淵ou know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.鈥� In 2 Peter 3:10, similar wording is used, as 鈥渢he day of the Lord will come like a thief.鈥�

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of His second coming at the end of the tribulation. Paul calls it 鈥渢he day of the Lord鈥� in 1 Thessalonians 5. This is a day of divine retribution featuring astronomical upheaval and the visible 鈥渟ign of the Son of Man鈥� in the heavens (Matthew 24:29–30). Jesus says it will happen 鈥渁fter the tribulation of those days鈥� (verse 29, ESV), a description that distinguishes this event from the rapture, which happens before the tribulation.

How is the second coming going to be like a thief in the night? The key element of Jesus鈥� comparison is that no one will know when He will return. Just as a thief catches a household by surprise, Jesus will catch the unbelieving world by surprise when He returns in judgment. People will be 鈥渆ating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage鈥� (verse 38), just as if they have all the time in the world. But then, before they know it, Judgment Day will be upon them (verses 40–41). Paul puts it this way: 鈥淲hile people are saying, 鈥楶eace and safety,鈥� destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape鈥� (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

The believer does not fear this swift and sudden judgment; the 鈥渢hief in the night鈥� will not catch us by surprise. Christians are in a separate category: 鈥淏ut you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief鈥� (1 Thessalonians 5:4). It is only those in darkness who will be taken unawares, and we 鈥渁re all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness鈥� (verse 5). Praise the Lord, 鈥淕od did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ鈥� (verse 9).

The unsaved should heed Jesus鈥� warning: 鈥淏e ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him鈥� (Matthew 24:44). How can you be ready? God has provided the way for you to escape the judgment. That way is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). By accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are granted forgiveness of sins, mercy, and salvation with the promise of everlasting life (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9). The 鈥渢hief鈥� is coming, but you can be a child of the day. Don鈥檛 put it off; this is 鈥渢he year of the Lord鈥檚 favor鈥� (Luke 4:19).