us’ coming as a thief discuss not a secret coming but an unexpected one. Jesusis not coming secretly to a chosen few—He’s coming suddenly when millions don’t expect Him.The problem is, texts about Jesus coming like a thief stand side by side with texts about Jesus comingin a blaze of glory. Peter in fact mentions the two in the same breath: “The day of the Lord will come likea thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire. . . .” 2 Peter 3:10,NIV. Obviously the Lord comes like a thief in the sense that His Return will be a great surprise to those whoaren’t ready—it catches them off guard. But it’s NOT silent or invisible. There’s nothing quiet about theheavens disappearing with a roar.Here’s how Christ Himself pictures the event in Matthew 24:27 & 30, NIV: “As the LIGHTNING comesfrom the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man . . . the Son of Man will APPEARin the sky, and all the nations of the earth will MOURN. They will SEE the Son of Man coming on the cloudsof the sky, with POWER and great GLORY.” This eye-riveting Event may come as an incredible surprise tosome—but it won’t be quiet and invisible or secret and mystical!God has laid out His end-time plan very carefully in His Word. Specific events will take place:1. Seismic upheavals. Revelation 6:14; 16:18-20 There’ll be stupendous seismic upheavals. The heav-ensroll back like a scroll; mountains and islands are moved; and a great earthquake shakes the planet.2. The righteous dead are resurrected. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:28-29 “The dead in Christ shall risefirst.” The faithful asleep in their graves will hear Christ’s voice and rise up to eternal life.3. The righteous living are translated. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 The righteous who are alive will be caughtup together with the resurrected and ascend...
