A Thief In The Night - Part 1 of 5

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT (Film from 1972) -- Part 1 of 5

A Thief in the Night is a 1972 Christian end times film produced by Russell S. Doughten. It is the first and best known film in Doughten's four-part series on the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ. The films together are often referred to collectively as the "Thief" or "Rapture" series.

The film deals with Patty, a young woman who knows and has heard the Christian gospel but dismisses it due to her satisfaction with secular life. Another reason for Patty's rejection of the Gospel is her belief that by doing good works, going to church regularly and trying her best to follow the Ten Commandments she will be saved. Her pastor, Reverend Matthew Turner (played by Russell Doughten), preaches liberal theology, claiming that people do not have to personally give their lives to Jesus to be saved. Patty, a nominal Christian, trusts her pastor more than the Bible or the born-again Christians whom she meets, such as Jenny. One morning she wakes up to discover that her husband, a Christian, and millions of others have disappeared. Gradually, Patty realizes that the Rapture, mentioned in the Bible, has happened and she is living in the last days of the Antichrist. A government system called UNITE (United Nations Imperium for Total Emergency) is set up and those who do not receive the mark identifying them with UNITE will be arrested. Patty desperately tries to avoid the law and the mark but is captured by UNITE. Patty escapes but is cornered by UNITE on a bridge, and falls from the bridge to her death.

Patty then awakens and realizes that all she had experienced was a dream. Then she hears a report on the radio that millions of people have disappeared. Patty frantically searches for her husband only to find him missing too. Patty then realizes that the Rapture has indeed occurred and she's been left behind.

This film includes Larry Norman's composition I Wish We'd All Been Ready, one of the earliest Christian rock hits and one of Norman's best-known releases.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
• THIEF
• IN
• THE
• NIGHT
• MOVIE
• FILM
• JESUS
• CHRISTIAN
• END TIMES
• RAPTURE
• SECOND COMING
• CHRIST
• GOSPEL
• CHURCH
• BORN AGAIN
• TEN COMMANDMENTS
• LIBERAL
• THEOLOGY
• BIBLE
• ANTICHRIST
• GOVERMENT
• UNITE
• UNITED NATIONS
• THE MARK
• 666
• LAW
• DEATH
• LARRY NORMAN
• I WISH WE'D ALL BEEN READY
• WISH
• WE'D
• ALL
• BEEN
• READY
• ROCK
• GOD

[earlysda]

@1954phyllis Perhaps the confusion concerning the rapture is related to the popular teaching in most Christian churches that the dead go to heaven when they die.

Acts 2:29 Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

The dead of all ages are still in their graves, except for a few that arose when Jesus did on Resurrection day.

Yes, the saints will go to heaven, when Jesus comes :)

[1954phyllis]

@earlysda Pardon me mam or sir but it is very obvious from what is written in the Holy Bible that there is going to be a pre-trip rapture. If there is not going to be a pre-trib rapture what about all the saints living and dead that will go to meet Jesus in the clouds and will come back with Him when He comes back at the end of the tribulation? Although the word rapture is not mentioned in the Bible there is obviously going to be a great catching away of the saints.

[1954phyllis]

@earlysda Don't be confusing the 2nd coming of Jesus with the rapture. Yes the rapture will take place befor the tribulation.

[earlysda]

@1954phyllis Yes, i understand very well from the bible that when Jesus comes back, the dead in Christ will rise first, THEN we which are alive and remain will be caught up to meet them in the clouds. What is not written in the bible is the current false doctrine of a "rapture" occurring before the tribulation which is before the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.

[1954phyllis]

@1Daphdong I agree with you.

[1Daphdong]

@1954phyllis Yes I have read the adult series, though I had difficulty with the last two lol, simply because our Lord will probably do things completely differently than any of us can imagine I keep remembering that His ways are not our ways. Also I am fully aware that the series only scraped the surface of what the Trib will be like, with fallen angels (ancient gods) set loose on the world, hungry for human misery and blood.

[1954phyllis]

@earlysda No the rapture does not go against the Bible. You need to read 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

[1954phyllis]

@1Daphdong Have you read the Left Behind Series books ? They are really good.

[1Daphdong]

@PhoenixxxStar Yes it is. You can order it in through most Christian Bookshops. I also recommend Left Behind Series of Tim LaHaye

[PhoenixxxStar]

Thanx 4 postin'. Does anyone know if this is on DVD. Also check out my new Larry Norman video mix of "I wish we'd all been ready" video mix. It is a powerful video with explicit pictures of a cold hard reality so watch at your discretion.