![like a thief in the night like a thief in the night](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/goZks30xrhY/maxresdefault.jpg)
Only those who are indifferent or spiritually asleep will be caught by surprise when the thief in the night appears.
![like a thief in the night like a thief in the night](https://di2ponv0v5otw.cloudfront.net/posts/2022/07/09/62ca1b42fadba43d526b32dc/s_62ca1b46fadba43d526b35be.jpg)
Those who are spiritually awake when the Lord returns will be blessed. It's a warning to always be ready at any time for the King of Kings to return for His church. I think Jesus was telling us to stay spiritually awake and to continually watch for the signs of His return, so we don't find ourselves left behind, facing the horrors of the tribulation. I always wondered what Jesus meant by " blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments" but now it makes perfect sense. 'Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments. Hence the admonition to us who, as it were, are here on Temple guard. Any guard found asleep when on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire–punishment, as we know, actually awarded. On his approach, the guards had to rise and salute him in a particular manner. In chapter 7 of his book, "The Temple", Alfred Edersheim wrote:ĭuring the night, the 'captain of the Temple' made his rounds. Two passages use the wording a thief in the night: Matthew 24:43, Understand 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, and 1 Thessalonians. If he caught one sleeping, he would use his torch to singe the guard's clothing. The return of Jesus Christ is likened to the coming of a thief in the night. To ensure that the guards were alert and stayed awake throughout the night, the temple guard (otherwise known as the "thief in the night") would sneak around, checking on those who were guarding the temple. You see, the Jewish temple would be guarded at night by priests. Last year, Hymnary had 11.3 million users from 243 countries around the globe, people like you who love hymns To serve our many, many users well takes money. But we can only fully understand the meaning of this warning if we know the history behind it. The use of this phrase in scripture is meant as a stern warning for those of us who are living in the last days. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2 Paul writes, For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Some have documented that "the thief in the night" referred to the high priest of Israel. The phrase " like a thief in the night" may seem like an odd statement to us, but it's actually an ancient Jewish idiom that refers to the captain of the temple guard. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 ESV). The apostle Paul wrote " Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Otherwise, He'll come like a thief when they would be unaware of His coming. Jesus told the spiritually sleeping church of Sardis to wake up and be watchful. 1 Thessalonians 5 'Like a Thief in the Night' Meaning The Thessalonian Christians had been speculating about the return of the Lord and making their own predictions.