Verse 4 above says “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” This clearly shows that God does not want His children surprised. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Matthew 24:42-44 “ Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15 " Behold, I am coming as a thief.Let's look at some of the Scripture involved. Strong’s Greek Concordance, #726, harpázō – properly, seize by force snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize) to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly). The very definition of the word “harpázō” that we get the word “rapture” from, is to openly and forcibly snatch something from someone. The rapture will not only be the deliverance of the persecuted church but following it will be beginning of the outpouring of God's judgment and wrath upon those who will worship the beast and receive his mark.
It will also be when the enemy will be saying “peace and safety” but to their surprise, the Lord will be coming and with His throne (more can be read about a visible rapture in the article, Every Eye Will See Him). The sun, moon and even the stars will have previously gone dark, the whole atmosphere will roll back like a scroll and every eye will see Him just as the Bible says.
When the Lord returns for us, His coming will illuminate the whole earth. Jesus will be coming “like” a “thief in the night” in that “He will take the world by surprise” when He comes to get His church. Anyone would know when someone came in or out, including in the night. In the day and age of Jesus and the apostles, most people lived in one or two room houses. This phrase is not about the Lord being like “the kind” of a “thief” that would come in the night by sneaking in and sneaking out. The true meaning is to “take by surprise.” And the Lord makes it clear to His church through His Word, that He does not want us to be taken by surprise but on the contrary for us to be faithful, alert and watching. This is a false interpretation of what the Bible means. Jesus is coming and as a “thief in the night.” The biblical terminology about “coming as a thief in the night” is used by many to say or imply that Jesus is coming like the kind of thief that afterward, no one will even know He came and snuck away with His church.
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