August 1, 2021
“Behold I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15
Before the seventh and final plague falls, as John’s vision is about to show us the veracity with which the satanic triumvirate makes a last-ditch display to the whole world (v.14) influencing people to rebel against God, the voice of Jesus speaking directly to His followers breaks through.
Jesus says He is coming as a thief. A thief does not issue advance notice of the time that he will break in to burglarize a home. The thief reference repeated in Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:2,4; 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 3:3) shows that we are not meant to know the exact time of the arrival of Jesus. Our loving Lord desires each of us to get ready, be ready, stay ready, and employ the gifts and power that He provides to help others to get ready. What a blessing to be prepared!
Beware of the false prophet who uses the thief metaphor as a prop for the false teaching that Jesus will secretly “steal” His people out of the world before the plagues begin. The devil desires for God’s people to be unprepared when Jesus returns. Those who believe they will be whisked away secretly before the time of trouble will be utterly unprepared for any sort of test or challenge, but instead be immersed in Satan’s endless array of distractions and deceptions: false teachings, materialism, ungodly entertainment, anything to dull the intellect.
Blessed is he who watches… To watch, in the spiritual sense, is an incredibly essential element for God’s people in the process that leads to salvation. If I am watching, it is for leadership of the Lord through His example, His word, and His Spirit. If I am watching, I will recognize the leading of Satan toward disobedience, for his influences have saturated the cultures of the world.
Blessed is he who . . . keeps his garments. Beloved, the covering that the Lamb of God has graciously provided by the shedding of His pure, innocent blood is a precious, priceless gift. His gift of wedding garments provides for our effective, humble, compassionate witness to others.
Am I truly thankful that Jesus willingly died to cover the shame of my sin? It is a question to ask regularly as self-examination is an important part of the Christian life. Perfection is not attained instantaneously, but is a goal that will aid me in hearing as the Holy Spirit speaks to convict me of a change that is due in obedience to Him. Sanctification is a lifelong process, and obedience (or disobedience) determines the direction of my life. A thankful heart is one of joy and ever-increasing faith!
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:7
He who covers his [own] sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13
I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “ I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Psalm 32:5