Some pre-trib rapture teachers say that the rapture is like a Thief in the Night. It sounds pretty good unless you realize that the Thief in the Night is the Day of the YHVH; the thief is NOT the rapture.
Let’s look at some passages:
Note, non-believers are living in ease and peace, they are not watching the signs, they are sleeping when the thief comes. To the contrary believers are told to watch and be sober. The thief doesn’t catch believers off guard, instead the thief finds believers faithful and watching for him when he returns.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the YHVH so cometh as a thief in the night.” I Thessalonians 5v 3 When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. (RSV) 1Th 5:4 But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (RSV) 1Th 5:5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 1Th 5:6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 1Th 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. (RSV)
Joel 2:31/Acts 2:20 and Matthew 24:29/Mark 13:24 place the same cosmic signs between the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the Day of the YHVH. The two cannot overlap, otherwise these verses could not be true.
2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the YHVH will come as a thief in the night; in 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.” 2Pe 3:12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of YHVH, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! (RSV)
