If you asked a typical Seventh-day Adventist what event will take place when the Lord comes “as a thief in the night” in all likelihood they will say without hesitation that it is Christ coming in the clouds of glory for what is commonly known as the second advent. In fact the official church position on the Lord’s return states:
“A Sudden, Unexpected Return. Christian believers, longing and looking for Christ’s return, will be aware when it draws near (1 Thess. 5:4-6). But for the inhabitants of the world in general, Paul wrote, “The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:2, 3; cf. Matt. 24:43).
Some have concluded that Paul’s comparison of Christ’s coming to that of a thief indicates that He will come in some secret, invisible manner. However, such a view contradicts the Biblical picture of Christ’s return in glory and splendor in view of everyone (Rev. 1:7). Paul’s point is not that Christ’s coming is secret, but that, for the worldly minded, it is as unexpected as that of a thief.”
Seventh-day Adventists Believe … A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines, 1988, Review and Herald Publishing, pp. 337-338 from a chapter 24 entitled “The Second Coming of Christ”
Although there is a secondary application of these verses quoted to the second advent, the primary application that the Lord is trying to awaken to our understanding is the next big event to take place on the prophetic timeline that is completely overlooked because it has to due with a fresh unfolding of Truth found in the writings of the Shepherd’s Rod message that a majority in the church are simply not aware of, or indifferent to its claims. The purpose of this study is to carefully reexamine some of the key verses which mention the Lord coming as a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:1-6, Matt. 24:43, 44, and 2 Pet. 3:10) to determine if there is an earlier application of these verses to an event which most are completely unawares. Remarkably, there are even some professed believers in the Shepherd’s Rod message that are also in darkness of the full and proper application of these verses, thus we have provided a thorough and systematic Bible Study to shed a broader perspective of what has been revealed from the golden bowl. This study can also serve as a training guide how to address a controverted point of doctrine and put together a properly organized Bible study outline. Please invite the Holy Spirit to guide, lead, and direct your further exploration into the fathomless billows of God’s love and the infinite depth of His Word that lies far below a mere surface reading of the subject at hand.
The Lord Coming as a Thief in the Night
With God’s richest blessings for a better understanding of His Word is our prayer,
The Publishers
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