Tag: no one knows
“Keep watch!”
Scripture reading for February 3rd: Matthew 24
Jesus was asked by the disciples: “Tell us, they said, “when will this happen and what will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age?” Jesus answered them with a warning: “Watch out that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:3-4) He went on to tell them of the deception and persecution that would mark the times of these last days before He returned and the age ended. Their job would be to fulfill His command to reach all the world with the Gospel: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the wold world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
Many church people today are focused on the signs that Jesus described and live in fear. There are wars and rumors of wars but Jesus told His followers not to be alarmed! (Matthew 24:6) This was normal birth pains before His coming! He told them of persecution and many falling away from the faith and betraying believers. There would also be many deceivers and false prophets who would cause the love of believers to grow cold. Jesus encouraged His followers to stand firm in the truth of the gospel and keep on preaching! In doing so, they would be saved and Christ’s coming would be hastened!
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:35-36) We must stay close to the words of Jesus! A relationship with Him is essential to be ready for that day of His return! “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42)
No one knows the day or hour!
Scripture reading for March 7th: Mark 13:14-37, Psalms 50:1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30
Mark’s account of Jesus’ teaching as they left the temple emphasized the need to be watchful in the last days. Jesus was asked by Peter, James, John and Andrew to explain when the temple would be torn down and the sign that these things would be fulfilled. (Mark 13:1-3) They were interested in understanding when the massive stones in the temple would be torn down and what things would precede that happening.
“Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in My name claiming ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen but the end is still to come.” (Mark 13:5-7) The first thing to watch out for was deception. The last days would be marked by false teachers and people claiming to be “Christ”. They would draw people after them who would be deceived. They would be gullible because they had never been born again and received the true Christ. They had never repented of sins and obtained Christ’s cleansing mercy through faith.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You don’t know when that time will come.”(Mark 13:32-33) God has warned His people by His word, which will never pass away or change. Part of the deception would be people or religions that set the time of Christ’s coming. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have set the time of Jesus’ coming at least four times and been wrong. Many have been disillusioned by the setting of dates.
In fact, Jesus said that even He did not know the day or the hour, only the Father knew that timing! In other words, the end could come “in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'” (Mark 13:35b-37) The best thing we can do is be ready regardless of when it might be. Worry is a sin, but watchfulness is obedience to Christ! Jesus is coming back! We must prepare and watch out!
The day of the Lord is near!
Scripture reading for August 24th: Ezekiel 29-32
One of the bad habits that Israel had developed was a dependence on Egypt for help. After Moses led them out of Egypt by God’s powerful hand, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that Egypt was a land of slavery and God had called them out of there. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel, a remnant left there in Israel chose to go down to Egypt for protection against the advice of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7) In Ezekiel 29 God gave Ezekiel a prophetic word concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom. Israel was to learn not to rely on Egypt ever again and that the Lord was sovereign over nations. (Ezekiel 29:16)
The prophet Ezekiel announced that the day of the Lord was near. That day would be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
When we hear the message about the “day of the Lord” and “the end”, we tend to think they are a long way off. We believe that they apply to a distant time, possibly be thousands of years away and surely not in our lifetime. However, we should be living as if today was the day! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. The ‘Day of the Lord’ is nearer today than yesterday! Are you ready?
No one knows the day or hour!
Scripture reading for March 7th: Mark 13:14-37, Psalms 50:1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30
Mark’s account of Jesus teaching as they left the temple emphasizes the need to be watchful in the last days. Jesus was asked by Peter, James, John and Andrew to explain when the temple would be torn down and the sign that these things would be fulfilled. (Mark 13:1-3) They were interested in understanding when the massive stones in the temple would be torn down and what things would mark that happening.
“Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in My name claiming ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen but the end is still to come.” (Mark 13:5-7) The first thing to watch out for was deception. The last days would be marked by false teachers and people claiming to be “Christ”. They would draw people after them who would be deceived. They are gullible because they have never been born again and received the true Christ. They had never repented of sins and obtained Christ’s cleansing mercy through faith.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You don’t know when that time will come.” God has warned His people by His word which will never pass away or change. Part of the deception will be people or religions that set the time of Christ’s coming. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have set the time of Jesus’ coming at least 4 times and been wrong each time. Many have been disillusioned by the setting of dates.
In fact, Jesus said that even He did not know the day or the hour, only the Father knew that timing! In other words, the end could come “in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'” (Mark 13:35b-37) The best thing we can do is be ready regardless of when it might be. Worry is a sin, but watchfulness is obedience to Christ! Jesus is coming back! We must prepare and watch out!