The Third Beatitude in the Revelation

This post is Part 5 in a series of studies on the book of Revelation.

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. KJV Revelation 16:15

Here is the third beatitude from the Isle of blessings. Previously, we have looked at the first and second beatitudes in this wonderful Gospel book with a thread of prophecy. These and many more blessings are yours for the claiming dear reader.

The sixteenth chapter of the Revelation deals with the seven last plagues. These plagues are God’s judgements upon the rejectors of His mercy and love as revealed in the loving warning of the third angel’s message of Revelation 14:9-11. The third beautitude comes as an interlude between the sixth and seventh plague.

“Behold I come.” The Bible gives absolutely no excuse for remaining ignorant of the parousia. The book of Revelation is especially replete with texts about the second coming of Christ. It is the very keynote of the Holy Writ. As Christ promised the disciples in the Gospel of John saying, “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again,” Christ repeats the same promise countless number of times in this Gospel book with a thread of Prophecy. I will hereby cite a few: Revelation 1:7, 8; 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20.

To His coming is attached the urgency and the shortness of time which is the reason this book was penned. As it is written in the first Beatitude, “Blessed is he that readeth and keepeth those things written therein for the time is at hand”. O how more urgently the call is to be sounded today! For now is our salvation drawn nearer than when we first believed.

Concerning how He will come, the Bible is clear. As to when He will come, it is God’s mystery for “of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” KJV Matthew 24:36. But what does it mean for Christ to come as a thief?

We will do well to note a few things from Scripture concerning the coming of a thief then we will know what entails this beatitude:

Firstly, the coming of a thief is connected with the night. While writing to the Adventists at Thessalonica, said Paul, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” KJV 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2.

Secondly, the thief comes to steal, kill and to destroy. Said Christ Himself, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” KJV John 10:10.

Thirdly, the thief comes to the unwatchful and at an unexpected hour. Said Jesus, “And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.” KJV Luke 12:39.

From the first point we know that Christ’s coming shall be in the night, that is, the darkest hour of the history of this world. Wrote Peter, “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.” KJV 2 Peter 3:10.

2 Timothy 3:1-4 paints a picture of the spiritual darkness that will cover the world at the time of Christ’s advent. The same lesson is seen in the parable of Matthew 25.

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” verse 6.

“The coming of the bridegroom was at midnight—the darkest hour. So the coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of this earth’s history. The days of Noah and Lot pictured the condition of the world just before the coming of the Son of man.” Christ’s Object Lessons page 414 paragraph 3

From the second point, we know that Christ comes as a thief for to do a work of destruction. Notably, the key passages where Christ’s coming is likened to the coming of a thief are followed by a presentation of a work of destruction. Beginning with the text just quoted from Peter we read,

“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.” KJV 2 Peter 3:10.

Wrote Paul to the Thessalonians,

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3.**

“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” KJV 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

At His first coming Christ brought life and immortality in abundance to all men and in every generation through the gospel that “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” There is however no second probation to all who decidedly reject the gospel and believe not in Jesus. All who reject Christ welcome destruction. All who hate Him love death. Proverbs 8:36.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” To such comes Christ as a thief in the night.

From the third point we know that Christ only comes as a thief to all who do not watch for His coming. This is confirmed by the call to watch and be ready in every passage likening His coming to that of a thief. This is why it is written,

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” KJV 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6.

Said Jesus to the church of Sardis, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” KJV Revelation 3:3.

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” KJV Luke 12:39, 40.

To this end it is declared in the third beautitude of the Revelation “Blessed is he that watcheth.” Revelation 16:15. But this blessing encompasses much more. What does it mean to watch? What is represented by the garments and the injunction to keep them? What blessedness awaits all who watch and keep their garments? These and much more we will seek to answer in the next part. Till then the Lord keep you safe.

Maranatha!

The Third Beatitude in the Revelation

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Written by Alonzo Jones