Behold I Come as a Thief Revelation 16:15

As John continued to share concerning the events during the tribulation, He wrote about the antichrist, the false prophet and the angels who were involved in the reaping of the harvest of believers who received the Lord Jesus during that time. John wrote about the first, second, third, fourth and fifth angel pouring out their “vials filled with the wrath of God”, and he continued by writing, “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” In chapter sixteen and verse fifteen of Revelation John shares how the Lord says,“Behold, I come as a thief” where we read:

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches,

and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

The verse reads, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, ...” John began with the word, “Behold” which means “look and see” “I come” or “Jesus arrives and appears” “as a thief” which means “like an embezzler or pilferer; a stealer”. “Blessed” or “oh how happy, fortunate and well off” “is he that watches” which means “is the person whether male or female who gives strict attention to, is cautious, active and takes heed through remission and indolence to some destructive calamity which suddenly overtakes a person”. The Lord promised that His return would be at an unexpected time like when a “thief or robber” comes, and He declared the person who looks for and expects Him will be “fortunate and blessed”.

The verse continues, “... and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” John added the words, “and keeps” which means “attends to carefully, takes care of, guards and observes” “his garments” or “one's cloak, mantle, tunic, raiment, robe or apparel”, “lest” which means “except, in order and so that” “he walk” or “that person whether male or female make their progress, make use of opportunities and regulate, conduct and pass their life” “naked” which refers to “being unclad, laid open bare, nude and with undergarments only”, “and they see” or “and others perceive, discern, discover and observe” “his shame” which means “that person's unseemliness and indecency”. The instruction for those watching for Jesus' return is to “pay attention and attend to carefully” their “outer garments” or their manner of living. Otherwise, they shall be exposed for who they really are and become “ashamed” or as an “indecent” person before others.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we recognize not only a warning and exhortation for those who are expecting Jesus' return, but also are inspired to be “watching for Him” as they “keep their manner of living righteous” so they do not appear as “unseemly” or “indecently” exposed. People will be looking for the “Savior” during the tribulation time, and the battle that is to ensue will certainly bring His arrival, however, this should inspire those who are reading these words to be looking for Him while they live righteously. God desires to “save” every person through a relationship with His Son Jesus, and when Jesus is received, that person is to “live right according to God's standard” and be looking for His return.

Next time John shares how, “he gathered them together into a place called...Armageddon”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.