Jesus’ Clear Command to Watch and Pray within the Last Days

“So you furthermore may have to be ready, since the Son of Man will come at an hour whenever you don’t expect him.” –  Matthew 24:44

“God only knows.” It was an expression that my nana used to like to make use of when she didn’t know what the final result can be of a selected event or circumstance. “God only knows.” The Beach Boys even made successful single with the identical title. “God only knows what I’d be without you.”  Loved that one. But…it seems that my nana and the Beach Boys were absolutely right. 

How many various books have you ever seen or heard about being sold on the tip times? How about movies? Can you say “Left Behind?” It’s an infinite stream, isn’t it? Add what number of theories exist on the who, what, where, and when. The Rapture? The seven years of tribulation? The theories and speculations on the tip times could be a bit overwhelming. An easy Google search tells me there are 4 major theories – (below taken directly from Google’s reply)   – although there are some that stretch that to as many as 8 different theories.

–Dispensational Premillennialism: Teaches a structured sequence of events resulting in the return of Christ, involving a seven-year tribulation before the establishment of His Kingdom. 
–Historic Premillennialism: Suggests Christ will return before a literal millennium, emphasizing the church’s endurance alongside the world. 
–Postmillennialism: Anticipates Christ’s return after a golden age of peace and righteousness, with the church reigning alongside Him. 
–Amillennialism: Rejects the concept of a literal thousand-year reign of Christ, viewing the present age as a type of the millennium, with Christ’s reign occurring spiritually. 

But here is probably the second most significant query. What does it matter? 

There is one other, most significant query after we get all the way down to it. What did Jesus should say about His return? What were His teachings to His disciples – to us? By expecting signs – have we missed crucial message? A forest for the trees thing. The disciples, too, seemed wanting to discover from Jesus when He would return. After all, Jesus had already told them that He can be executed and can be raised again. Do you think that this didn’t raise numerous questions of their hearts and minds? Jesus was quite clear about what we should conclude from the teaching when He tells the disciples:

“But about that day or hour nobody knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” – Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32

What Is the Olivet Discourse?

“Therefore keep watch, since you have no idea on what day your Lord will come.” – Matthew 24:42

The Olivet Discourse is a relatively significant teaching of Jesus. Taught on the Mount of Olives, it’s certainly one of Jesus’ longest teachings – second only to the Sermon on the Mount. Yet one which is controversial and sometimes “misunderstood” – or not less than interpreted in any number of the way. The teaching is roofed within the three “synoptic” gospels – Matthew 24 and 25; Mark 13:1-37; and Luke 21:5-36.

The sermon comprises Jesus’ answers to questions from the disciples following their admiration of the temple, and Jesus telling them that the temple can be destroyed, not one stone left on one other. (Matthew 24:2) As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples got here to him privately. 

“Tell us,” they said, “when will this occur, and what will likely be the sign of your coming and of the tip of the age?”- Matthew 24:3

The query itself leaves it unclear today whether all the things Jesus needed to say applied to the tip times or to the destruction of the temple after which the tip times. But when it comes right all the way down to it, none of that actually matters—even to Jesus. By my count, five different times within the two chapters of Matthew referred to as the Olivet Discourse, Jesus was specific—God only knows, but you’re to remain in your toes and keep watch!

Explaining the End-Time Parables of Jesus

“Be careful, or your hearts will likely be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it is going to come on all those that continue to exist the face of the entire earth.” – Luke 21:34-35

Jesus loved to show in parables, and the Olivet Discourse was actually no exception—in reality, He used two specific parables to deliver His point. 

The owner of the home leaves his servants in charge. (Mark 13:34-36)
Jesus compares His return to a person who goes away on a visit and leaves his servants in charge – giving each a task, and tells the one on the door to “keep watch.” 

“Therefore keep watch since you have no idea when the owner of the home will come back—whether within the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, don’t let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” 

The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
While in today’s terms “ten virgins” is difficult to know, it might not have been in Jesus’ day, because it simply can be ten young women waiting for the marriage celebration. Yet, five of them were entirely unprepared for the arrival of the bridegroom and had left oil out of their lamps. By the time they ran out to get some, it was too late. They had lost their probability to be a part of the banquet and festivities.

‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
 “But he replied, ‘Truly I inform you, I don’t know you.’
 “Therefore keep watch, since you have no idea the day or the hour.

The end times may be very complicated, but Jesus’ teaching was crystal clear: We should be ready and look ahead to Him.

“So you furthermore may have to be ready, since the Son of Man will come at an hour whenever you don’t expect him.” – Matthew 24:44

What Does Jesus Tell Us to Do While We Wait for His Return?

“Be all the time on the watch, and pray that chances are you’ll have the opportunity to flee all that’s about to occur, and that chances are you’ll have the opportunity to face before the Son of Man.” – Luke 21:36

In 2 Peter, the apostle communicates to us what most assuredly was a teaching of Jesus. Peter reminds us that …the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the weather will likely be destroyed by fire, and the earth and all the things done in it is going to be laid bare.” Peter goes on to clarify that since all the things will likely be destroyed – we “should live holy and godly lives.” (2 Peter 3:10-11) The following are instructions Jesus delivered in the shape of parables:

Three servants and their bags of gold. (Matthew 25:14-30)
A wealthy man goes on a journey and trusts his riches to 3 of his servants. Each one receives a unique gift and is predicted to act accordingly. The first two – with five bags and three bags – invest the gold and generate a return for the person. They hear “Well done good and faithful servant.” The third – with one single bag – does absolutely nothing with it. He hides it and goes about his life. The man is incensed, and the servant is rendered subject to judgment. 

And this leads us to the fourth parable, which provides us the why of salvation: 

The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
“When the Son of Man is available in his glory, and all of the angels with him, he’ll sit on his glorious throne.” Judgement Day. A day that we, as disciples of Christ, is not going to need fear. But there will likely be a dividing line – those that saw Him hungry, thirsty, and in need of garments and invited Him in, and those that did nothing. 

Salvation in eternity shouldn’t be the one goal of our faith in Jesus. Eternal life begins immediately, this very moment. Our true objectives should be to live holy and godly lives and live out the righteousness that God intends for us. It shouldn’t be just so that we step into heaven after we pass from this life into eternity. It shouldn’t be “so long as we imagine.” How we live our lives here matters.

Jesus has told us what we want to do. He gave us the work and the tools, but what’s He seeing when He looks at our lives? Whether it’s time, talent, or treasure, have we invested what He has given us—or buried it? Or have we invested it – but for ourselves and never for Him?

What should we be doing with our lives? It is our life, soul, decisions, and on a regular basis behavior that should align with the religion we profess. We are to be prepared just like the virgins with the oil, relatively than those without. 

What would occur – what would you think that – if in the subsequent few moments, we heard an amazing roar and knew it was the moment of Christ’s return? If you heard the “trumpets” and also you knew, deep in your heart, you knew. They were yelling, “The bridegroom is here! The bridegroom is here!” Would you scream out in joy in celebration? Would joy fill your heart, as they are saying within the song? Or would you regret that there was no oil in your lamp? Would you realize that you just had focused your life within the mistaken direction? Would you realize you had been blinded by greed and much too consumed by self? Maybe neglected the poor. 

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words won’t ever pass away.” – Matthew 24:35

What Does Apekdechomai Mean?

Remember Christmas as a child, after we eagerly awaited the day? There is a word within the Bible that describes that feeling—apekdechomai. It means to understand it’s coming, to expect it fully, and to be incredibly enthusiastic about it. 

 The Apostle Paul uses this word when he talks concerning the return of Christ. When he talks concerning the end of all things, he expresses it this fashion: Apekdechomai!!

“Therefore, you don’t lack any spiritual gift as you (apekdechomai) eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” – 1 Corinthians 1:7
“Not only so, but we ourselves, who’ve the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait (apekdechomai) eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” – Romans 8:23
“For through the Spirit we (apekdechomai) eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.” – Galatians 5:5
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we (apekdechomai) eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” – Philippians 3:20

May the Lord help us as we apekdechomai His return. 

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Jeremy Perkins

Grandchamp is an creator and speaker. His book, “In Pursuit of Truth, A Journey Begins,” is an easy-to-read narrative that gives answers to essentially the most common questions recent believers and non-believers have about Jesus Christ (Amazon.) Greg speaks on living out our faith in our every day lives – and on creating true disciples of Christ.
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the attitude of an on a regular basis guy on the identical journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg may be reached by email  or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp – Author.