For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

As a thief in the night. The apostles follow their Lord's parable, expressing how His coming shall take men by surprise (; ). 'The night is wherever there is quiet unconcern' (Bengel). "At midnight" (perhaps figurative: to some parts of the earth it will be literal night), : cf. , "in that day;" , "in that night." The thief not only gives no notice of his approach, but takes all precautions to prevent the household knowing of it. So the Lord (). Signs will precede, to confirm the patient hope of the watchful; but the coming itself shall be sudden at last (Matthew 24:32).

Cometh. - present: expressing its speedy, awful certainty.

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