Jesus said, "“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming," (Matt 25:13, and other places). We are charged to keep watch. We are told we do not know the day nor the hour, and this is the excuse most use for not keeping watch. But Jesus made it clear that we are to keep watch.
So many have kept watch and decided they do know the day and the hour.... They've all been wrong. The minute you put it down to a day, you have transgressed.
But a week? A month? A season? If we are keeping watch that day will not come on us like a thief in the night (1Thess 5:4). That means we will know when we are in the season if we are keeping watch. Perhaps we will know down to the week, too. Many thought it would be the last Jewish holiday and were disappointed that they were wrong. It certainly was a trial of faith for some, but I don't think Jesus is disturbed by the eagerness that is behind the disappointment that He hasn't come yet. To know Him is to love Him and to want to be with Him.
The day of the Lord will come and much destruction will follow, so it is not to be desired. The Lord is to be desired, though. It is a fine line to walk.
God has made it clear to many of His servants that it could be any minute now. This is the season. We are in it. God can change His mind and delay, though--that is scriptural. Time also is different for God than for us in ways I couldn't begin to fathom. Jesus has been soon returning for almost two thousand years now (Rev 22:12). Clearly time is different for God.
It is a fine line to walk also that of knowing this is the season and yet submitting to God's plan. Knowing you might appear foolish to others, but zealously proclaiming the return and trying to make others aware of the season, only to have the season pass without incident, is the disciple's way. Those venerated 12, all who proclaimed the second coming, and all who died without seeing it. Do we think them foolish? Do we mock, ridicule, hate and ignore them?
If you aren't keeping watch, you are ignoring them. Many are ignoring them while at the same time claiming to believe. There are some like those 12 alive today, and they give the same warnings. They call you to return to the King of Kings, your first love. They give the warning that time is running out. You will know them by their fruit--if what they say is scriptural and in keeping with the truths written therein, then you are remiss not to heed. It will be on your own head.
Those who walk the disciple's path are slain by the world, one way or another. In the Kingdom it is a very high honor to be amongst them. Check yourself now--how are you treating them? What will you say to God when He says, "I sent my servants to warn you."? "I didn't recognize them, Father! They in all ways appeared foolish to me. They had ADD, they were ugly, they didn't have smooth speech and classy mannerisms, I didn't know you would work through the Internet, I didn't like their voices, their messages scared me, I just wanted to have a good life in the world..." Do you think God will accept those excuses for your having ignored His servants? Or if you've done worse, for your having mocked, ridiculed, slandered, slain them?
So many have kept watch and decided they do know the day and the hour.... They've all been wrong. The minute you put it down to a day, you have transgressed.
But a week? A month? A season? If we are keeping watch that day will not come on us like a thief in the night (1Thess 5:4). That means we will know when we are in the season if we are keeping watch. Perhaps we will know down to the week, too. Many thought it would be the last Jewish holiday and were disappointed that they were wrong. It certainly was a trial of faith for some, but I don't think Jesus is disturbed by the eagerness that is behind the disappointment that He hasn't come yet. To know Him is to love Him and to want to be with Him.
The day of the Lord will come and much destruction will follow, so it is not to be desired. The Lord is to be desired, though. It is a fine line to walk.
God has made it clear to many of His servants that it could be any minute now. This is the season. We are in it. God can change His mind and delay, though--that is scriptural. Time also is different for God than for us in ways I couldn't begin to fathom. Jesus has been soon returning for almost two thousand years now (Rev 22:12). Clearly time is different for God.
It is a fine line to walk also that of knowing this is the season and yet submitting to God's plan. Knowing you might appear foolish to others, but zealously proclaiming the return and trying to make others aware of the season, only to have the season pass without incident, is the disciple's way. Those venerated 12, all who proclaimed the second coming, and all who died without seeing it. Do we think them foolish? Do we mock, ridicule, hate and ignore them?
If you aren't keeping watch, you are ignoring them. Many are ignoring them while at the same time claiming to believe. There are some like those 12 alive today, and they give the same warnings. They call you to return to the King of Kings, your first love. They give the warning that time is running out. You will know them by their fruit--if what they say is scriptural and in keeping with the truths written therein, then you are remiss not to heed. It will be on your own head.
Those who walk the disciple's path are slain by the world, one way or another. In the Kingdom it is a very high honor to be amongst them. Check yourself now--how are you treating them? What will you say to God when He says, "I sent my servants to warn you."? "I didn't recognize them, Father! They in all ways appeared foolish to me. They had ADD, they were ugly, they didn't have smooth speech and classy mannerisms, I didn't know you would work through the Internet, I didn't like their voices, their messages scared me, I just wanted to have a good life in the world..." Do you think God will accept those excuses for your having ignored His servants? Or if you've done worse, for your having mocked, ridiculed, slandered, slain them?
The watchman who comes and warns, and who is excited and thinks he has it down to a couple of days and then turns out to have been wrong, is just wrong. That is his only transgression. The one who mocks, attacks, slanders, and comes against the mistaken servant, is like unto those who scourged Jesus and His disciples and killed them. The ones who simply ignore and go on their merry worldly way are likely counted amongst the vessels made for common purposes (Rom 9:21).
Make no mistake, God has sent you messengers. God has sent you messengers to tell you this is the season. You are free to reject them and their message--you will not be forced. God is so merciful that if you reject the first few, He will send more. At some point, though, there will be no more sent. The door will be closed and it will be done.
How many times and from how many different people have you heard, "These are the end times?" These are messengers from God sent directly to you. The message is not, "Follow me," ("me" being the messenger). The message is, "Open your eyes and do your own study and find out for yourself, then keep your own watch." The message is, "Check your priorities and check your faith, and realign yourself with Christ, for He is coming."
God never promised to send you a smooth-talking beautiful messenger with a message that is music to your years, but He did promise to test your faith. How better to test it than with an imperfect messenger who is flawed as all get-out and maybe even has mannerisms that trigger your disgust? "Who is your God?" He asks, through every interaction and event that happens to us. "Is it Me, or is it your own comfort?"
Make no mistake, God has sent you messengers. God has sent you messengers to tell you this is the season. You are free to reject them and their message--you will not be forced. God is so merciful that if you reject the first few, He will send more. At some point, though, there will be no more sent. The door will be closed and it will be done.
How many times and from how many different people have you heard, "These are the end times?" These are messengers from God sent directly to you. The message is not, "Follow me," ("me" being the messenger). The message is, "Open your eyes and do your own study and find out for yourself, then keep your own watch." The message is, "Check your priorities and check your faith, and realign yourself with Christ, for He is coming."
God never promised to send you a smooth-talking beautiful messenger with a message that is music to your years, but He did promise to test your faith. How better to test it than with an imperfect messenger who is flawed as all get-out and maybe even has mannerisms that trigger your disgust? "Who is your God?" He asks, through every interaction and event that happens to us. "Is it Me, or is it your own comfort?"
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