Israel was founded as a nation in 1947/1948 depending on how you want to calculate it. 70 years later (one Biblical generation) brings us to 2017/2018. This writer has been given specific, personal warnings to prepare for this season. Specifically, a warning has been given about 2018. We also have each of the fall feast days, Hebrew "Moed" or Divine appointments. Each of those feast days carries with it, its own warning of impending fulfillment or do the scoffers doubt that the Lord plans to do exactly what He promised to do on the unfulfilled feast days, as He has done precisely to the day for each of the spring feasts?
We have been warned. This writer has been warned personally to prepare for what is coming. Each post here has had similar wording that reflects the warning. Forget about trying to predict what is going to happen. We already know what is going to happen. We were not told to predict what is going to happen. We were told to be watching (always) and praying. Watching for what? For HIM. And when we are warned, to respect the warnings and take appropriate action. Like what? Like doing what we were told to do: repent, fast, pray, be watching and ready. Debunk that.....
The Lord is not wordy. He knows how to make His point in very few words so when He repeats something over, and over and over again we better pay attention. How many times did He warns us to watch for His arrival?
Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
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. 35 Watch 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.
Matt 25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
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. 2 Be 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. 4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Watch, watch, watch, watch, watch...Watch for what? FOR HIM. For a God who is not wordy He certainly put in the effort on this point to repeat Himself multiple times. Maybe, just maybe He wants us to watch for His arrival. Maybe He considered this such an important point that He wanted us in no way shape or form to miss it. I saw one preacher write off all of this ^^, all four gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with "He was talking to the Jews, its not for us." Say what???????
Matthew 25 is very clear, there are wise and foolish virgins. We also know there will be believers on the earth during the tribulation period. Who will they be? Perhaps the ones who cannot inherit certain promises due to their unbelief:
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Matt 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Mark 6:4But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
I'm not sure what else the Lord would need to do to get people's attention. He has sent sign after sign, signal after signal and yet many are still sound asleep with many so called men of God singing the lullaby. This writer prays that neither you or I are caught sleeping when the Master arrives.
grace and peace
