Dispensationalism proposes:
(1) That, at a time that cannot be predicted, God will remove the church from the earth through an invisible and inaudible secret rapture.
(2) That the Bible predicts the time after the rapture precisely. Exactly seven years later, Christ will return visibly and in glory.
The purpose here is not to discuss the concept of the rapture in general, but specifically whether Revelation 16:15 supports this concept:
“Behold, I am coming like a thief.
Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes,
so that he will not walk about naked
and men will not see his shame” (Rev 16:15).
CONTEXT OF REV 16:15
This verse is part of the seven last plagues. These plagues fall right at the end of the history of this world; after everybody has been marked for all eternity with either the mark of the beast or the seal of God.
Rev 16:15 is an interpolation. In the previous verse, demon spirits went out to “the kings of the whole world” to gather them for “the great day of God” (Rev 16:14). In verse 15, Christ warns His church not to be deceived by these demon spirits. The next verse continues to describe the work of these spirits, for it says WHERE the kings will be gathered, namely at Armageddon (Rev 16:16). Rev 16:15, therefore, is a warning to God’s people right in the midst of huge worldwide deception.
SUMMARY
For the following reasons, it is proposed that “coming like a thief” does not refer to a secret rapture but refers to Christ’s visible return to this earth::
(A) There are a number of passages in the Bible that mention Jesus coming like a THIEF, and it always means that nobody can predict WHEN Jesus will return (e.g., Rev 3:3).
(B) When Jesus comes like a thief, there will be “sudden destruction” (1 Thess 5:3). The “heavens will pass away with a roar” and “the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). These are not inaudible or invisible events.
(C) It is the “day of the Lord” that comes like a thief (1 Thess 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). That day “will come as destruction from the Almighty” (Isa 13:6, 9; Joel 1:15). Again, it will not be an invisible and inaudible secret rapture.
(D) Dispensationalism identifies Rev 4:1 as the rapture. However, Revelation 5 describes Christ’s enthronement in heaven after His death and resurrection. Rev 4:1, therefore, is not an end-time event.
(E) The context of the warning in verse 15 is Christ’s visible return. Firstly, the kings from the east (Rev 16:12) are Christ and His angels at His return. Secondly, the warning goes to God’s people while “demon spirits … go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God” (Rev 16:14), which is Judgment Day. In this context, Christ “coming” (Rev 16:15) is not a secret rapture.
(F) In Dispensationalism, the church is removed from the earth through a secret rapture, after which follow a great tribulation. However, in 16:15, after every person has been marked with either the seal of God or the mark of the beast, we find a warning that is very similar to the warning in the seven letters to the church (Rev 3:18; 16:15). This implies that the church is still on earth.
– END OF SUMMARY –
THE SECRET RAPTURE
IT IS JESUS SPEAKING.
It is Jesus speaking in Rev 16:15, for He says, “I am coming like a thief.” In Revelation, it is always Jesus who says, “I am coming” (Rev 2:5, 16; 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). It is a bit surprising to find Jesus speaking in this verse because we have not read about Him for a while, but it reminds us that Revelation is “the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:2; 22:16).
(A) COMING LIKE A THIEF MEANS WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN CHRIST WILL COME.
The phrase, “I am coming like a thief” is sometimes associated with a secret rapture. However, “coming like a thief”-passages are found in various places in the New Testament, and nowhere does it mean that the event will be inaudible or invisible. Rather, it consistently means that nobody knows WHEN Jesus will return. For example, Jesus said to Revelation’s churches:
“I will come like a thief,
and you will not know at what hour I will come to you”
(Rev 3:3).
Other examples are:
“If the master of the house had known
what hour the THIEF would come,
he would have WATCHED …
Therefore, you also BE READY,
for THE SON OF MAN IS COMING
at an hour you do not expect.”
(Matt 24:42-44; cf. Luke 12:35-40)
“The DAY OF THE LORD so comes
as a THIEF in the night.
For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’
then SUDDEN DESTRUCTION comes upon them …
But you, brethren, are not in darkness,
so that THIS DAY should overtake you as a THIEF. …
Therefore let us NOT SLEEP, as others do,
but let us WATCH and be sober.” (1 Thess 5:1-6)
“But the DAY OF THE LORD will come like a THIEF.”
(2 Peter 3:10; cf. Rev 3:3)
“Coming like a thief,” therefore, means that we do not know WHEN Christ will return. For that reason, these verses advise Christians to stay awake (Rev 16:15), watch (Matt 24:43,44 & Luke 12:40) and not sleep (1 Thess 5:6).
(B) SUDDEN DESTRUCTION WHEN HE COMES LIKE A THIEF
The description of what will happen when Jesus comes like a thief confirms that “coming like a thief” does not refer to something inaudible or invisible:
“Sudden destruction” (1 Thess 5:3);
“Heavens will pass away with a roar” and
“The earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).
(C) THE DAY OF THE LORD COMES LIKE A THIEF.
In two of the verses quoted, it is the “Day of the Lord” that comes like a thief. The “Day of the Lord” “will come as destruction from the Almighty,” “with fury and burning anger” (Isa 13:6, 9; Joel 1:15); “a day of darkness and gloom” (Joel 2:1-2). “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood” (Joel 2:31). It is not an invisible and inaudible secret rapture.
(D) REVELATION 4:1
Dispensationalism regards Rev 4:1 to be the rapture. However, that cannot be. One reason is that Revelation 5 describes Christ’s death, resurrection, and enthronement. Rev 5:1-4 describes the time before Christ; when there was great sorrow in heaven (Rev 5:4) because nobody was able to open the sealed book (Rev 5:3). But, in Rev 5:5, the great sorrow turns into joy because Jesus “has overcome so as to open the book.” This verse, therefore, is dated to the Christ event. See the article on Revelation 5.
(E) THE CONTEXT IS CHRIST’S VISIBLE RETURN.
The sixth plague begins with the waters of the Euphrates drying up to prepare the way for the kings from the east (Rev 16:12). A previous article interpreted these kings as Christ and His angels at His return.
In the preceding verse, “demon spirits” go out to the “kings of the whole world” to gather them together for “the war of the great day of God, the Almighty” (Rev 16:14). The subsequent verse says where they are gathered, namely at Armageddon (Rev 16:16). Still another article identified Armageddon as Judgment Day, namely the visible and audible return of Christ as described in Rev 19:11 and following, when He will tread “the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty” (Rev 19:15).
The context of the warning to the church in 16:15, therefore, is the return of Christ. Therefore Christ “coming” in that verse and not a secret rapture.
(F) A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH
In our verse, Jesus says:
“Blessed is the one who … keeps his clothes,
so that he will not walk about naked
and men will not see his shame” (Rev 16:15).
CLOTHES SYMBOLIZE A PERSON’S SPIRITUAL CONDITION.
“Defiled garments” (Rev 3:4), nakedness (Rev 3:17-18) or “clothed in purple and scarlet” (Rev 17:4; cf. 18:16) symbolize sin, while “white” or “clean” garments (Rev 3:4-5; 6:11; 19:8) symbolize the spiritual condition of the people who have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14). As a further example:
“The fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints”
(Rev 19:7-8).
IT IS A WARNING TO THE CHURCH.
Jesus’ warning in Rev 16:15 is very similar to His advice earlier in Revelation to the churches in Rev 1-3:
“I advise you to buy from Me …
white garments so that you may clothe yourself,
and that the shame of your nakedness
will not be revealed” (Rev 3:18).
This verse, similar to Rev 16:15, refers to clothes, nakedness, and shame. It portrays the image of a person who has disrobed and has fallen asleep, to be surprised by the coming of a thief, and forced to run around naked.
Rev 16:15, therefore, is a warning to the church. This means that the church is still on earth during the plagues. This is further evidence that Rev 4:1 cannot be the rapture.
IT IS NOT A CALL TO REPENTANCE.
But there is a difference between Rev 16:15 and the warning in the letters to churches. While the Laodiceans (Rev 3:18) are advised TO BUY white garments, in the sixth plague, God’s people are urged TO KEEP their clothes (16:15). This is consistent with the idea that, when the plagues fall, the time for repentance has passed (cf. Rev 16:9, 11). This is also consistent with the previous conclusion that the fifth plague refers to the loud cry of the angel of Revelation 18, which is not a call for repentance but a call to God’s people only (Rev 18:4).
Rev 16:15, therefore, is not a call to sinners for repentance but a call to God’s people only. This implies that the Church would still be on earth during the plagues.
CONCLUSION
In Dispensationalism, the church is removed from the earth through a secret rapture, after which follow a great tribulation. However, in 16:15, which is after the end-time persecution by the image of the beast, and after everybody has been marked with either the seal of God or the mark of the beast, we find a warning that is very similar to the warning in the seven letters to the church, which implies that the church is still on earth.
FINAL CONCLUSION
Christ’s “coming like a thief” refers to Hiss second coming IN GLORY and means that the time of His coming cannot be predicted.
ARTICLES ON THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES
Introduction – Revelation 15
The first four plagues
– Must not be interpreted individually
– Target the earth, sea, waters, and sun, but the people do not repent..
The Fifth Plague
– The Throne of the Beast is Christian Religious Authority.
– The Light of the Mighty Angel of Rev 18 causes the darkness.
– The Roman Empire gave to the Church is throne and power.
The Sixth Plague
– The Great River, the Euphrates, dries up.
– The Kings from the East are Christ and His angels.
– Armageddon is not a literal place but Judgment Day.
– Does “coming like a thief” (Rev 16:15) support a secret rapture?
– Why the Euphrates has to dry up to prepare the way for the kings
– Summary of these articles & conclusions
The Seventh Plague culminates in the return of Christ.
Purpose of the Plagues
– To show that God judges perfectly
– Why is it necessary to show that God judges perfectly?
The sixth plague contrasts two groups of kings. Since “the kings of the whole world” (Rev 16:14) are from earth, it is implied that “the kings from the east” are not from earth. Since “the kings of the whole world” are gathered together by “spirits of demons” (Rev 16:14), the kings from the east represent God’s army.
The kings come from the east and the Scriptures associated the east with God. For example, the angel brings the seal of the living God from the east (Rev 7:2; cf. Ezek 43:2). (The term in Greek for the east is 
The Bible describes that event as God’s deliverance of His people. For example, through Cyrus and his kings, God delivered Israel from their oppressors and brought them back to their homeland (Jer 50:33-34). God said of Cyrus, “He will build My city and let My people go free” (Isa 45:13; cf. 44:28). For that reason, God calls Cyrus His “anointed one” (Isa 45:1) and “My shepherd” (Isa 44:28). These most honorable titles (Isa 45:4) were later reserved for Jesus.