"Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth." - Revelation 16:15.
A thief comes only where he is not expected. His great interest is that people should be off their guard. Where there is watchfulness, there is no opening for him. Our Lord comes as a thief upon the world, because the world has no expectation of him. The world has no more thought of his coming than it has of the coming of Socrates or Alexander. This is not, be it understood, because Christ has done anything to keep the world unaware of his coming. He has sent the fullest information to every creature. He has given an open book to the world in which is an ample account of his future coming. The mode, the circumstances, and something too of the time, are published beforehand. What makes his coming to be that of the thief, is the blindness, the stupidity of men in all that relates to religious matters. He shows them even the key by which he will enter their house; but nothing produces an impression.
There are those who profess to be his servants, who also say, ’’ Our Lord delayeth his coming.’’ Their sense of responsibility loses its keenness, and they are in great danger of being found in an unprepared state. Blessed are they who say, The time is short. We know not what the morrow may bring forth. They sleep not without seeing that there is oil for their lamps.
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