Mark 13:32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
I do not know the day or hour of the escape from all promised in Luke 21:36 but I am 100% rock solid certain on this fact: we are to be watching, right now. Not tomorrow, not mid-trib, not post-trib, now. Watching for what? For the return of the Lord. There is a large group of Christians who are in error today. Their error lies in this word: conflate. This word conflate has become popular in the news media today and it is the perfect word to describe the error of many people in the Church. What is this error? First of all what does conflate mean?
Conflation happens when the identities of two or more individuals, concepts, or places, sharing some characteristics of one another, seem to be a single identity, and the differences appear to become lost.
And here is the error. Too many people conflate the 'second coming' with the Lord's coming in the air for His Church. This are two distinct events that too many people conflate into one. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that stands in the way of the Lord coming for His Church in the air today. There is absolutely nothing standing in the way of the escape from all our Lord promised to happen today. Unfortunately, this error is likely to haunt many people in the Church in the days ahead. Matthew 25 speaks clearly of 10 virgins, 5 wise and 5 foolish. What tripped up the foolish virgins that makes them foolish? They were not ready. For what? For the coming of the Lord.
Our Lord could not have said it, or emphasized it any more than He did already. He clearly tells us He is coming at an unexpected day and hour and we are to be ready to meet Him when He shows up for us. How hard is that to understand? Apparently is like understanding rocket science for some. Read Mark 13:32-37 until it sinks in: We are to be watching and ready for our Lord's return right now.
What is going to happen to those people who teach and preach against the pre-tribulation rapture, if they are left behind and the believing Church who were prepared and ready leaves this earth to be with the Lord in heaven? They don't like to ask that question. It will be devastating. They like to ask us what will happen to our faith if the pre-tribulation rapture does not happen and I like to ask them what will happen to their faith when it does and they are left behind....
Wait a minute brother D are you judging these doubters? Nope, I am applying the objective evidence of the Word of the Lord to their condition. The Lord treats us according to what we believe, according to our faith. No faith, no delivery on the promises. That is not my opinion, that is the Word of God:
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
No faith=no promise, its that simple. The Lord wrote an entire Chapter in the Bible to drive this one home=Hebrews 11, it is all about faith. Some say it doesn't matter what the doubters believe, they will still be caught up in their unbelief whether or not they have no faith to do what the Lord clearly told them to do (be ready, right now today for His appearing). Here is the proof that they should be worried:
Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Enoch was translated? Yes, how? By faith. What else does it say? Before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. So let me ask, does it please God when His servants willfully, knowingly disobey His commands to watch and pray continually for the escape He promised? Does it please God when His servants preach and teach others that He cannot come back today when He clearly told us to watch always for His return? Always means right now.
Those who preach and teach others not to be ready today because 'the Lord can't show up until later' have a major problem. They know what the Lord told us to do but they disregard it in favor of their manmade doctrines. How will they explain themselves to the Lord when they stand before Him? Were the commands too confusing? Was there something about the commands they did not understand? No and no, they just chose to ignore them. Let God be true and every man a liar:
Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
There are some things in the Bible that I am not 100% sure of (that is, not sure of my understanding) but this is not one of them. We were told to watch, period. Now, period. Full stop, let this soak in. For anyone out there who still doubts whether or not we are to be watching right now I leave you with this warning:
Rev 3:1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Many are those who refuse to watch. They are in grievous error. Be watching, be ready. The Lord God was very clear about this: be watching, be ready right now. Not tomorrow, not mid-trib, pre-wrath, post-trib, NOW. He will come at an unknown day and hour and He will catch many unprepared. Woe to the foolish virgins...
grace and peace
