The Lord’s return has been described as coming like a thief in the night. His surprise arrival will affect those who have rejected Him, not those who have waited for Him aware of His immediate return.

When Paul described Jesus’s return, he wrote, “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God”  (I Thessalonians 4:16). The Lord’s return will catch unbelievers off guard, not the Church.

“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, ‘Everything is peaceful and secure,’ then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape” (5: 2-3).

When the Lord returns and shouts out His arrival and the trumpet call of God is released, we will not be surprised by His return because we have been told what to expect, “You aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night” (vs 4-5). His return will be something wonderful beyond our wildest imagination.

The Lord’s return will not be a surprise to those who believe in Him because we have been waiting for His return since the day of our salvation. We have the promises from God’s word and examples from the lives of those who have been faithfully waiting for His return. That understanding is what has built our faith and deepened our expectations of His return.

With all that is taking place in our world, this is an important time to review our understanding of His return. This is not about theories surrounding the timing and method of His return. It’s an uncomplicated belief that He will return and fulfill His promise to us. We will not be surprised. We will be amazed.