Revelation 16:15; Behold, I Come As a Thief

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

Because the gathering of world kings with the beast is signal for Christ’s coming to destroy His foes, the saints are exhorted to watch for His return. A word of cheer and warning is sent to the faithful remnant: “Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (v15).

Here, we have a parenthesis of great spiritual importance. It must be understood clearly that this is not a message for the church, even though the underlying principle off blessedness being associated with watching – and shame with careless living – is applicable to saints of all times.

“Behold” and the “blessed” are definitely related to tribulation saints. Around them will be multitudes asleep and in moral and spiritual darkness. Living in a state of false security, they congratulate themselves on a condition of “peace” and “safety”. But suddenly, and unexpectedly, the Lord, as a thief in the night, will surprise and destroy the peoples gathered by satanic agency against the Lord and His anointed. … With the coming of a thief, there is dread and fear, since he is coming to rob us of our possessions and destroy our goods.

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

1 Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 

Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

2 Peter 3:10 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. 

“We are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5); therefore, we have no fear of the Lord’s return.

Of course, in connection with our walk, we must endeavour to have our garments without stain and a life without shame and moral nakedness. The danger face by saints who live at the time when the unclean spirits are operating is that of neglecting the advent hope and thereby exposing themselves to the gaze of angels and a godless world, publicly lacking divine direction and protection.

[Herbert Lockyer, Revelation – Drama of the Ages, Whitaker House, 2012, 251-252]