INTRODUCTION

"The day of the Lord" is going to be a time of judgment (Isaiah 13:6Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
See All...). It is a day that is not to be desired (Amos 5:18-20 [18] Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. [19] As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. [20] Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
See All...). This day begins shortly before the second coming of Christ and extends to the dissolving of the heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:10-11 [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
See All...), lasting approximately 1,000 years (2 Peter 3:8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
See All...). After Christ removes the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
See All...), He will establish the time of Jacob’s trouble in order to turn the Jews back to Himself. At the end of this time of tribulation, the Lord Jesus will return as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 [1] But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. [2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
See All...) to make up His jewels (Malachi 3:17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
See All...), only every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Thieves usually operate in darkness (Job 24:16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
  See All...; John 3:19-20 [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
  See All...). The day of the Lord will not be pleasant (Joel 2:11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
  See All..., 31; Malachi 4:5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
  See All...; Jude 1:14-15 [14] And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, [15] To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
  See All...). Saved people living now do not fear this time (1 Thessalonians 5:9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
  See All...; Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
  See All...).
• Why does it make sense that the Lord’s second coming will be as a thief in the night? What people group actually make up the Lord’s jewels?
• The Lord purchased the church. Therefore, He need not come as a thief to gather what He has purchased. What is different about His second coming (Revelation 16:15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
  See All...)?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank the Lord for saving you by His marvellous grace.
• Ask the Lord to deal with your loved ones before it is too late.

HYMN

Behold He Comes!

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