“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. “It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— “lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:33-37 NKJV
By now I am sure you understand I consider it very important for us as believers to do exactly as this passage commands; watch! Whenever I teach on this subject I inevitably get questions relating to what should we be watching for and what exactly will we see? My answers to those questions reveals my belief concerning the origin of many of the events we will observe. While many are aware that it was God in His inspired Word who has foretold what will happen, the truth as I see it is that most of the events we will see occur come from Satan himself because he too, is watching.
The truth is, nobody knows scripture better than Satan. After all, who has been around to study it as long as he has? He quoted it when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, and he most assuredly uses it against us. So do you think with what he knows about the end of the age, he wouldn't have a clue as to when God was preparing to take us home? Satan knows what God has in store for him, and when he believes the end times are approaching it would make sense that he would do anything in his power to release all the evil on this earth at his control in order to take as many down with him as he can.
I believe much of what we will see happen before the rapture is a direct result of Satan increasing his efforts as he sees the day approaching. I truly believe this is exactly what we can see right now in the world around us. So many events are occurring on a daily basis that it simply seems unbelievable that we could not be close to the time Jesus commanded us to watch for. Yet as believers, what do these times mean for us and what does God expect from His children in these last days before the rapture?
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;” Titus 2:1-2 NKJV
“Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” Titus 2:6-8 NKJV
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,” Titus 2:11-12 NKJV
Now like most of us, when I see the word sober my first thoughts are about drinking, and not being intoxicated, but if you look at the Greek you come up with something a little more complex than that. The word translated sober comes from the Greek word “sōphrōn” which means “of a sound mind, sane, in one's senses, curbing one's desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate”. As you read Titus, it seems clear that the issue of self-control applies to just about every facet of a believer’s life, especially as it affects and influences what others see when observing our words and deeds.
“The Church is full of hypocrites!” Have you ever heard those words? Isn’t it amazing that believers are so carefully observed and held to such a high standard? Of course not, yet somehow there are many who ignore the fact that the world will watch us closely to see if what we are trying to sell is really as life changing as we claim. If we don’t live up to the standard set forth in the Word of God, we become liars and the world rightly considers us to be hypocrites. In the believers life, being “sober” includes being of a “sound mind” which would certainly include being honest about how we choose to live out our faith.
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; “and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.” Luke 12:35-37 NKJV
In this passage from Luke, Jesus explains what we are expected to do, and the benefit we will receive if we choose to do so. His desire for us can be summed up in just four words; working, waiting, watching, rewarded. Let’s briefly look at these expectations in order to better understand what our Lord wants from us.
Working; “Let your waist be girded”. Most of us have seen pictures or images of the way people dressed in Jesus’ time, and in truth, some in the Middle East still do. Generally speaking, you wore an undergarment covered by an outer garment of long, usually ankle length flowing material. If one was to engage in physical labor, the common practice was to “gird” your outer garment around your waist to facilitate the ease of movement while working. When Jesus tells us to “gird”, there are two results which become apparent. One, we are prepared to do His work, and second, anyone who sees us will know we are working because we are dressed for it. Our work is summed up nicely in this passage from Peter, who also uses the word “gird”.
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV
Waiting; “and your lamps burning”. If we are instructed to wait with our lamps burning, it also follows that it is possible to wait without our lamps burning. Obviously it does no good at all to be waiting with a lamp that is not lit because you can’t see who is coming, and they certainly can’t see you. First of all, when our spiritual lamp is lit, not only will we be looking for our Lord to appear, we will recognize the events which signify He is near. Secondly, because our lamp is lit, others will see the light and be attracted to it giving us an opportunity to glorify God by sharing the reason we are watching and waiting.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NKJV
Watching; “be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately”.
I have always been somewhat amused by discussions concerning the question of will we know when the rapture will occur? My response has always been that why would Jesus spend so much time, and give so many illustrations concerning watching, if He did not intend to allow us to see and recognize the time of His appearing? Understand I am not saying it is possible to predict when it will happen, but rather if we are watching and waiting for His return, just like these men waiting for their master to come, we will see Him coming for us. Have you never been watching for a friend or relative to come for a visit? Do you not see them arrive and open the door and go out to greet them? That is what Jesus is telling us here, and I firmly believe that any believer, who is faithfully watching for our Master to come, will see Him as He appears and not be at all surprised when He does.
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. “It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—“lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:33-37 NKJV
Rewarded; “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.”
Is this not the ultimate role reversal? Instead of the servants serving the master, as a reward for watching diligently for His return, the Master assumes the role of the servant and rewards His servants by serving them at the feast. Can you picture in your mind the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Savior, sitting us down in Heaven at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb and then girding up His royal robes and serving us our first meal in Heaven? I can see many of us feeling exactly as Peter did when Jesus went to wash his feet and protesting that He should not do it. Yet this is exactly the reward Jesus has promised we will receive if we follow His commandment to watch for His return. There is, however, an alternate reward for those who do not.
This past year we have witnessed an explosion of accounts by many who believe we are just a few short weeks away from the rapture of the Church. I use the term explosion because truthfully, in all my years of watching I have never witnessed this many people sharing so many accounts, dreams, visions, and especially sound scholarship that points to the particular point in time that we currently find ourselves in. Is this the time that Jesus told us about when He commanded us to watch? We may not know for sure, but as believers, servants of God the Father, we have been commanded to watch for His appearing. We do that by girding ourselves to work, to wait, to watch, and ultimately to receive our reward. I don’t know about you, but I choose to faithfully watch.
If you have never made the decision to accept the sacrifice Jesus made for you by dying on the cross for your sins, there is no better time than right now to do so. Simply pray to the Father and ask Him to forgive you for your sins and tell Him you believe that Jesus died for you. Accept the gift of salvation He has offered you and you too will drink of this cup of along with Jesus on that future day when He will invite all of His believers to join Him. You can do that by praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered you by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.
“And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” Luke 12:42-43 NKJV
Keep watching.
