Section 2
JESUS COMES AS A THIEF
THE DAY OF THE LORD
I Thessalonians 5:2-4
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
NOTE: THE DAY OF THE LORD is NOT JUST A 24 HOUR PERIOD. THE DAY OF THE LORD is a period that includes all the final judgments of all mankind, but not mankind only. FROM ADAM TO THE LAST ONE OF MANKIND TO RECEIVE JUDGMENT … followed by ON GOING Blessings of the Lord. Only for those that are written in the Book of Life and The Lambs Book of Life.
1. THE FINAL JUDGMENT FOR REWARDS BEGIN with the Rapture. Indicated in Revelation 4:1. THIS GROUP, CAUGHT UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR, is conducting business beginning in Revelation 5:5-14. This group that came from earth is a COMPLETED GROUP (no more can be added) and has already stood before the Lord in judgment, for rewards and will return with the Lord to earth at the Second Coming. After verse 14 is verse 1 of chapter 6 and this begins the 7 SEAL Judgments for them on earth, followed by 7 Trumpet Judgments, 7 Thunders that are currently sealed up and 7 Vial Judgments which are full of the 7 last Plagues. (For an EXAMPLE OF AN UNCOMPLETED GROUP, read REVELATION 6:9-11 below.)
2. THE FINAL JUDGMENT concludes for all mankind. (Revelation 20:1-15)
3. JUDGMENT FOR THE SAVED. This judgment is the Bema Seat Judgment for Rewards. The word SEAT is BEMA IN GREEK. Bema is the platform at the Olympic games that the Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners stand on. (I Corinthians 5:10)
4. JUDGMENT FOR THE UNSAVED. This judgment is to see how close you were to being saved through your own works. Jesus’ life is the standard or bar used to measure this. It is called the Great White Throne Judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)
COMES AS A THIEF
II Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
NOTE: One day with the Lord is as a thousand years. Jesus returns as a thief at the Rapture, not the 2nd Coming. Revelation 20:11 says the Earth and Heaven flee from the face of Him that sits on the Great White Throne and no place is found for them.
1 TAKEN – 1 LEFT
Matthew 24:38-43
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that
Noe (Noah) entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 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.
NOTE: This does not mean that 50% of the world or the church will be Raptured. It means that a person can be along side another and unable to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in any meaningful way that would help them choose Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They could have heard the Gospel from many different sources, in many different ways, but none touched their heart in a way that they chose Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Some Believers are lukewarm, some Believers become lukewarm, others had a Belief that was in Vain. There are some that are ‘straight up’ non-believers. These are among those left behind.
1 TAKEN – 1 LEFT
Luke 17:26, 34
And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
WATCH OR I SHALL COME AS A THIEF
Revelation 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. 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.
NOTE: A thief gets what he wants and gets out of there. Just as Jesus will do in the rapture. At the Second Coming Jesus will not come as a thief. He stays on earth and reigns with the Worthy for one thousand years.
THOSE CAUGHT UP
ARE MADE KINGS & PRIESTS
Revelation 1:6
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 5:1-3
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof ? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Revelation 5:5-9
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.
NOTE: Those that were Raptured are doing their part in verses 5-9. The song they sing says The Lamb is Worthy to Open the Seals
Revelation 5:10-14
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
NOTE: Jesus makes this group, that was caught up unto Himself, Kings & Priests (not a Kingdom of Priests as some say) and they will reign on earth.
AN INCOMPLETE GROUP
NOT DOING BUSINESS
Revelation 6:9-11
And when HE HAD OPENED THE FIFTH SEAL, I saw UNDER THE ALTAR the SOULS of them THAT WERE SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD, and FOR THE TESTIMONY WHICH THEY HELD: And THEY CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING, HOW LONG, O LORD, HOLY AND TRUE, DOST THOU NOT JUDGE AND AVENGE OUR BLOOD on them that dwell on the earth? And WHITE ROBES WERE GIVEN UNTO EVERY ONE OF THEM; and IT WAS SAID UNTO THEM, THAT THEY SHOULD REST YET FOR A LITTLE SEASON, UNTIL THEIR FELLOWSERVANTS also AND THEIR BRETHREN, that SHOULD BE KILLED AS THEY WERE, SHOULD BE FULFILLED.
(When fulfilled they are a complete group like the first group that was Raptured.
LORD IS DELAYING HIS COMING
Matthew 24:44-51
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
WHEN JESUS APPEARS
WE APPEAR WITH HIM
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
NOTE: Those that appear with Jesus at the Second coming are those that had been Raptured seven years earlier.