The believer does not fear this swift and sudden judgment the вЂњthief in the nightвЂќ will not catch us by surprise. Paul puts it this way: вЂњWhile people are saying, вЂPeace and safety,вЂ™ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escapeвЂќ (1 Thessalonians 5:3). But then, before they know it, Judgment Day will be upon them (verses 40вЂ“41).

People will be вЂњeating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriageвЂќ (verse 38), just as if they have all the time in the world. Just as a thief catches a household by surprise, Jesus will catch the unbelieving world by surprise when He returns in judgment. How is the second coming going to be like a thief in the night? The key element of JesusвЂ™ comparison is that no one will know when He will return. Jesus says it will happen вЂњafter the tribulation of those daysвЂќ (verse 29, ESV), a description that distinguishes this event from the rapture, which happens before the tribulation. This is a day of divine retribution featuring astronomical upheaval and the visible вЂњsign of the Son of ManвЂќ in the heavens (Matthew 24:29вЂ“30). Paul calls it вЂњthe day of the LordвЂќ in 1 Thessalonians 5.

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of His second coming at the end of the tribulation.

Two passages use the wording вЂњa thief in the nightвЂќ: Matthew 24:43, вЂњUnderstand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into,вЂќ and 1 Thessalonians 5:2, вЂњYou know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.вЂќ The return of Jesus Christ is likened to the coming of a thief in the night.

Thief in the night scripture kjv