You said: ‘Just how were God's people to go from "believing a lie" of "destructive doctrines" and "great apostacy", to knowing "all truth" and the "finish of the mystery of God as He declared to His servants the prophets",’
A few thoughts…if the master had known his house would be broken into, he would have prepared. It reminds me of Paul telling them they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing they have a better treasure which men cannot break in and steal. Where no thief approaches.
It was men who came as a thief to kill, steal and destroy out of hatred of Christ. To me (Imo) Jesus Christ saying He comes a thief and to watch and be sober …is that any weapon formed against you will not prosper, I come not to destroy men but instead to save them. Is His coming to destroy our false doctrines we have been held captive in? His coming to destroy the lie? I think so, because of where He said to be no more children tossed about by every wind of doctrine. The same are thieves who will kill you to save themselves? Like the parable of the fowls of the air and all that which comes to steal the Word planted. There is an angst in scripture of “I will come as thief, therefore watch, be sober minded(not carried about by every wind of doctrine), so you keep your garment(only way to keep it is to loose the old man, and put on the New)” (paraphrasing off memory, might not be exact). But yet knowing you have a treasure and a House given of God (knowing if this house be destroyed(dissolved) you have a better House given from above) where no thief approaches. No man can take(steal) your joy in Christ.
I’ve struggled with this topic lately because of depression. Where all the things that once drove me, those things I once desired, He did come take away. He comes as a thief yet what we call evil, can it not be good? If He came to destroy those things that are a lie and not sustaining of true Life in Him, or those things which do not remain; then has His coming as a thief to take those things like fear of what men will do, or blasphemy against God, denial, or lies, deception of every falsehood has He taken away. why call His coming as a thief in the night evil and to do harm, instead of His coming is, that which is save men out from not keeping their garments. Does He not come so that we can loose that which can not save and to be found in Him clothed of the New Man?
Depression is a b*tch. When all you once loved and desired and sought is taken away. where can Hope and purpose be found again? Where has my drive gone? Who stole it? To me it fits which some speak of His coming as evil, some glorify Him at His coming. is He a thief that destroys all things false, that men might be saved? Huge difference. Depression…I get because I’ve experienced the heavy weight of it. At first it’s hatred of God where “why are you so evil and hateful to ruin my plans, God?” But what if those plans led to death? People may not agree but there is a real angst in what we try to make His coming as thief to be. Where it’s to kill and steal and destroy men without, that they may be saved. What is the end?…Jesus can’t wait to kill and “slay” and kill to take away all things false, forgetting that you may have something no man can steal, kill, or take.
