AS A THIEF by D. A. Grant

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 20, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 16.

AS A THIEF.

By D. A. Grant

PAUL says, “Of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you; for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” 1 Thess. 5:1, 2. “Yes,” says one, “that is just what I believe. The day of the Lord will come as a thief,—unexpectedly. Those are plain words,—a child can understand them.” We agree with you, fully. They are plain words; but are not the words of the next two verses just as plain? Let us notice carefully, the reason that this will be so; for we are not left in doubt in regard to it. “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape.” Verse 3.

The reason that that day will come as a thief to some is, they will not be found watching with the armor on. Although the word of God contains ample proof that we may know, and also that it is our duty to know, when that day is near, even at the doors, yet many choose rather to close their eyes to these plain texts of scripture, and conclude not to trouble themselves, as nothing can be known relative to it.

Here is a “peace and safety” cry, which may be heard from the lips of thousands at the present day: “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Pet. 3:4. “Why,” they say, “everything remains just as usual. It is not for us to know—Christ may not come for a thousand years for aught that we know.” If this is not a fulfillment of this scripture, then we ask, When will it be fulfilled?

Says Jesus, “As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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 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.” Matt. 24:37–39. This is plain language, and shows us that the state of the world, just prior to the second advent of Christ, will be similar to that of the days of Noah. Let the world, testify, paralyzed as it is with sin and pleasure, and crying, “Peace and safety,” that that time is fully upon us; and yet they are wholly unconscious of the extreme nearness of the day of the Lord.

But are the children of God in darkness concerning the most important event which will ever take place in the world’s history? Paul answers, in the same chapter from which we have already quoted: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” Verses 4, 5.

D. A. GRANT.

Patten, Me., April, 1876.