A Thief in the Night (film)
| A Thief in the Night | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Donald W. Thompson |
| Produced by | Donald W. Thompson |
| Written by | Russell S. Doughten Jr. Jim Grant Donald W. Thompson |
| Starring | Patty Dunning Mike Niday Colleen Niday Maryann Rachford Thom Rachford Duane Coller Russell S. Doughten Jr. Clarence Balmer |
| Cinematography | John P. Leiendecker Jr. |
| Editing by | Wes Phillippi |
| Release date(s) | 1973 |
| Running time | 69 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
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.
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[edit] Biblical references
In the film, everyone must receive the mark of the beast, consisting of three rows of "0110" written on their forehead or hand, or they will not be allowed to use money in any way, including to buy food or water. This number in binary is six, hence having it repeated three times suggests the biblical number attributed to the end times. The use of the number 666 as a mandatory marking of service to the Antichrist is a common interpretation of Revelation 13:16-18.
[edit] Plot
The film deals with Patty, a young woman who knows and has heard the Christian gospel but dismisses it, believing that doing good works, going to church regularly and trying her best to follow the Ten Commandments is all that is necessary. 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 and that the Bible is merely allegory in nature. Patty, a nominal Christian, trusts her pastor more than the Bible or the born-again Christians whom she meets, such as Jenny. One afternoon, her husband, a Christian, and millions of others suddenly disappear. 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 of 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. After breathing a sigh of relief, she hears a report on the radio that millions of people have disappeared. Horrified, Patty frantically searches for her husband only to find him missing too. A traumatized and distraught Patty then realizes that the Rapture has indeed occurred and she's been left behind.
[edit] Music
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.
[edit] Sequels
[edit] External links
- A Thief in the Night at the Internet Movie Database
- A review of the film
- rdfilms.com Official website
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