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1 Thessalonians 5:4
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4 But [de] ye, [humeis] brethren, [adelphos] are [este] not [ou] in [en] darkness, [skotos] that [hina] that day [hemera] should overtake [katalambano] you [humas] as [hos] a thief. [kleptes] KJV-Interlinear
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; NASB
There are only two perspectives of life, in life. The darkness is the perspective which lacks truth, and the light is the perspective which includes truth.
Truth allows you to see the realities of life. Darkness prevents you from seeing.
The darkness which is deficient of truth, is a total darkness, a pitch black. In it there are no reference points, no comprehension of where you are, let alone of where you came from, or where you are going.
In darkness, everything is obscure. You are dropped into a strange place, and have to figure out everything around you, without realizing that you are in the middle of a jungle with its many dangers. In short, you lose.
But if you turn the lights on, then voila, everything is clear and discernable before you. Even those things which you cannot see directly, can be figured out by inference, analysis, common sense, and so forth.
In darkness, you have no perspective, no orientation in life. Your theories are always false. Your analysis is always flawed with subjective assumptions. Your conclusions tend toward the absurd. And thus life overtakes you. Life apprehends you because your comprehension and perception is dysfunctional. The thief will always get the better of you.
You are clueless until after you have already been had.
But for those who pursue their spiritual lives, then Bible doctrine, which they inculcate into their souls, provides the brightest of lights and therefore clear vision.
You will see the thief making his approach (prophecy of the Rapture), you will see the thief when he arrives (the actual event), and you will be organized with the proper response (your spiritual preparation, knowledge and awareness ).
You know what to expect, even though you do not know the actual timing. The timing of a future event or the method of your transport out of this life, should not be that important. Christ will execute history in accordance with Gods plan. Your responsibility is to prepare yourself within the scope of your spiritual life.
You are going to leave this life either in death or Rapture. And either way, your priority in life is to prepare yourself for your ultimate evaluation before Christ. He will square you away in resurrection in due course. You need to square yourself away spiritually, in order to fulfill His will for your life.
