Who Are The "Thieves and Robbers" In John 10?

I'll submit its talking about demonic spiritual entities as those who would be behind pagan religions or capable of supernatural displays, or engendering man's allegiance. The thief is to be associated with the wolf mentioned by Christ only a few verses later. The Bible says the whole world is in captivity to the evil one.

 

What do you think it means?

(Or are you going to disappear for five days and then show up and 4 in the morning again to heap abuse on everyone. Sorry for whatever problems you're going through.)

 

JoReba, please don't be so in-your-face. Your OP question is just fine, it's just the "big talkers" thing that is unnecessary.

Here's my answer: The thieves and robbers are those who prior to Jesus claimed to be the Messiah. They were false Christs who sought to deceive.

 

How do you explain 10:12 in the context of your theory?

(John 10:12) "He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters

Who are the hired hands that are seeing the false Messiahs and fleeing.

 

I'd like to revise my comment here. I have in the past speculated it might mean something different. And this is coming completely out of left field, and I venture to guess that no one will understand or concur, most will think I went off the deep end.

But in the past at least I have thought the thief or wolf was to be associated with human governments, most specifically the system of the beast in the end times. And I foresee such a system utilizing the ultimate man-made technology to thereby enforce a type of morality, by for example through mind-reading and mind control, continual automated surveillance even in people's homes, all of it controlled by computers. To this day, our government is continually rolling out new technology like this with the ostensible reason of protecting everyone, preventing evil and so forth. There is no telling what is currently being kept secret from the public at large, but will eventually be rolled out.

But as far as being a thief, entering into people's minds and homes is what they correlates to.

(John 10:1) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.

Contrast this to Christ's approach:

Rev 3:20) 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

The hired hands who do not care about the sheep would be the preachers and spiritual leaders who will collaborate with the system of the beast

 

I cannot imagine any believer who loves the Lord talking about Him in such a manner as to accuse Him of "trolling", so yes I know the answer to the question, but I won't through my pearls before swine.

 

Your disingenuous, bitter attitude is evident in this sentence.

If there was any question if this guy's trolling, this should put it to rest.

 

Do you have any friends?

John

 

Fallen spiritual entities are in essence "gods". They are supernatural powerful entities that orchestrate human events, are in opposition to God, and certainly envision themselves as gods. I don't feel like hunting up all the scripture for you. The Bible at many points says there are real fallen spiritual entities behind all of the pagan religions of that era - Baal worship - all of that. When Satan appeared before Christ, he enticed Christ to fall down and worship him and Christ refused.

FYI - this is not a "seeker" forum. You wouldn't come into someone's church and start mocking and ridiculing everyone. This isn't the public square. I still can't tell if you're presenting yourself as a believer or what.

 

Who are the thieves and robbers? I am sure there is some deep theological question being asked, but its way over my head. I look at John 10:1 and it says those who do not come into the pasture via the door with the permission of the gatekeeper, but instead climb over the fence are the thieves and robbers.

Would that be those who nullify and distort and twist scripture and make the word of God to no effect?

Now Jesus alters the parable slightly and says He is the door and therefore anyone who does not come through Jesus is a thief and robber among the flock. So here would by anyone who claims salvation by works, or those harming the flock with destructive doctrines.

 

I think you're on the right track. your post reminded me of a story told to me during a mission trip to Romania. Our young translator told us that when Communism fell in 1989, and Romania's dictator was killed, three deacons in her church disappeared. Turns out they were communists who had infiltrated the church. They had so deceived the members that they had been elected deacons. When Communism fell, they were sure to be found out and they fled.

That could be a possible example of the thieves and robbers Jesus mentioned.

 

I think you're on the right track. Your post reminded me of a story told to me during a mission trip to Romania. Our young translator told us that when Communism fell in 1989, and Romania's dictator was killed, three deacons in her church disappeared. Turns out they were communists who had infiltrated the church. They had so deceived the members that they had been elected deacons. When Communism fell, they were sure to be found out and they fled.

That could be a possible example of the thieves and robbers Jesus mentioned.

 

I think you're on the right track. Your post reminded me of a story told to me during a mission trip to Romania. Our young translator told us that when Communism fell in 1989, and Romania's dictator was killed, three deacons in her church disappeared. Turns out they were communists who had infiltrated the church. They had so deceived the members that they had been elected deacons. When Communism fell, they were sure to be found out and they fled.

That could be a possible example of the thieves and robbers Jesus mentioned.