This was a Prophecy Update from notes I took from Rock Harbor Church in Bakersfield, a teaching by Brandon Holthaus.
Thief in the Night has meaning in both: The Rapture and The Second Coming: The Rapture: I Thessalonians 5: 1-2 "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night." And: The Second Coming: Revelaton 16: 15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
(Take the text in context, text out of context is pretext.)
Who is the Thief in the Night? I thought it was just an expression of being surprised, but it isn't. It is an expression of being surprised based on having an overseerer who catches you unaware when you should be working but you were sleeping on the job, and there are immediate consequences.
It is a 1st Century term, based on the way the Temple authority kept track of the Priests during their Temple service. During the time of the Temple, even in Jesus day, the High Priest or the Captain of the Guard was known as 'the thief in the night.'
The duty of the Priest on Temple duty was to watch the fire on the alter, so it would not go out!
Tending this fire was a 24/7 duty. The Priest's job was to stoke the fire, put wood on the fire, to make sure it never went out. There was no sleeping on the job allowed. If the Priest was found sleeping by the High Priest or Captain of the Temple Guard, the Captain would take his torch and actually set fire to the sleeping Priests garmets.
When the Priest would realize his robe was on fire, he would strip it off and run out to where there was water to put the fire out. And of course as he stripped off his garments the shame of his nakedness would be seen.
In reference to the Church Saints, it's lesson is that the believer who is spiritually asleep, and useless - cut off from active duty, and being taken over by the culture is not ready for the return of the Messiah.
At the Bema Seat, they will shed tears. Those who sleep will be like those Priests caught on fire and their nakedness will be seen.
Was it literal fire? It was! Well, fire represents judgement, so... For some the Bema Seat will be a time of great joy and reward. For some it will be an embarassment, a naked moment. (Makes me wonder if dreams of being naked before a crowd should be taken as warnings of our unpreparedness, thats just a random thought, don't read it as a lesson!)
I John 2: 28 "And now little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."
Revelation 19: 8 "And to her (the Church) it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the Saints."
Clearly this is a warning to sleep walking believers. I do not want to be found not watching, asleep on duty and found naked and ashamed.