Jesus Christ Commands us to Watch!
Kato Mivule
April 6, 2007
Day by day the world and its
inhabitants get closer and closer to a severe day of judgment
from The Lord. The Nations of the world are set on a collision
course with the Almighty Lord God of Heaven as evil in these
nations calls upon more evil.
As Christians we are called to
watch and pray that we be counted worthy to escape all these
things and to stand before The Son of Man. The context of this
‘Watch’ is to NOT so as to escape through a “secret” rapture but
to escape the filth, sin, rebellion, and apostasy that are
engulfing the world and await with patience the return of our
Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ even through much tribulation.
Many Christians are with resolve
oblivious to the fact we are approaching a time of combined
global catastrophes and wars that will totally and absolutely
alter the way of life of every individual on this earth. Many
Christians believe that this is not imperative and its not
important for them to set their priorities right.
My insistence on speaking and
focusing mainly about Christians and not none Christians insofar
as this ‘Watch’ is concerned, is that Christians should be
forewarned since we have been forewarned in the Bible personally
by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as to the events of the end
times and Christ’s return are concerned.
However, many in Christendom have
chosen to ignore The Lord’s Account of the end time events in
Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 and the Book of Revelation as
irrelevant and that Bible prophesy has no implications on one’s
faith in Christ Jesus…
Christians should know that
treating Bible Prophesy with such contempt and disdain is
scoffing and basically going against God’s Word, or to be blunt,
it is rebellion against God’s Commandments insofar as His return
is concerned.
Like I have stated before, part
of the reason why Christians look to Bible Prophesy with disdain
and contempt is the false doctrine of the Rapture Before
Tribulation that has turned not only Christians away from Bible
prophesy but also none Christians. The other reason is
Christians being blinded by the love of this world.
PRE TRIBULATION DOCTRINE, AN IMPEDIMENT…
Reuters News Agency recently came
out with an article showing how many Americans are turning away
from Bible prophecy, especially when it comes to the rapture
question…
As a matter of fact the Reuters
piece was a mockery against the whole out of touch and out of
reality and fantasy ‘Rapture Before Tribulation’ coupled with
the pathetic ‘Left Behind’ Series.
More Americans laugh off the
“rapture’ topic and scoff at it at the End Times Studies largely
due to the false doctrine of a Rapture before Tribulation that
makes Christians look like escapists who are out of touch with
reality…
Such escapism mentality is more
like a Hollywood Movie in which the film star causes havoc and
destruction and then awaits for a helicopter to escape to final
total destruction ‘Leaving Behind’ all the helpers, and
‘partners’ he used to get his way to suffer fate…
“Several years
ago, Eschenbach had a boss who scheduled meetings around the
rapture, the term for an event that around 20 percent of
U.S. Christians believe is imminent. "One day he announced
to the employees that they probably wouldn't be there next
week because of the rapture," Eschenbach said of his former
boss. "His church had decided that the rapture would happen
that week." The belief has been fueled by the bestselling
"Left Behind" novels, which tell how Christian believers
will soon be whisked to heaven -- leaving clothes, dental
fillings and eye-glasses behind -- while others are left
behind to fight the anti-Christ in preparation for the
return of Jesus Christ.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070313/ts_nm/usa_religion_rapture
_dc;_ylt=AmXMI8JQr0U90ctugy7iw5V34T0D
The Liberal
Christians have also taken advantage over the apathy towards
Bible Prophesy by promoting their false liberal doctrines with
help of the US Corporate Media. The truth of the matter is that
many Christians are not obeying The Lord to Watch largely
because of America’s Pop Culture ‘Left Behind’ series by Tim
LaHaye and his Pre Tribulation Rapture doctrines…
"In
Cincinnati, Rev. Canon Joanna Leiserson said members of her
Episcopal congregation started asking about the rapture when
"Left Behind" books, movies and games flooded onto the
market. Before the books, Leiserson said, mainstream
Christians paid little attention to the Book of Revelation,
the part of the Bible that mentions Armageddon. "The
mainstream churches haven't avoided (Revelation) as much as
we just didn't think it was that big of a thing, until the
fundamentalist churches started making a big production out
of it," she said. For Leiserson, Revelation is a story about
Jesus confronting the evils of the Roman Empire. To help
counter the rapture tide, she is developing a Sunday school
curriculum to teach kids that Jesus loves everyone and would
not leave anyone behind."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070313/ts_nm/usa_religion_rapture
_dc;_ylt=AmXMI8JQr0U90ctugy7iw5V34T0D
One can
clearly see that those with liberal Christian views are taking
advantage of the scoff that is coming out against Bible prophesy
by even proposing so-called school curriculums that are
unbiblical. The so-called Rev. Canon Joanna Lieserson has taken
advantage of this ‘Bible Prophesy Void’ caused by false
doctrines such as the Pre Tribulation Rapture to foster a
liberal Christian worldview. One clearly sees that this lady is
not even a believer in the Bible but one who is categorically
attacking the Bible using the failures of pre tribulation
rapture and wrong bible prophesy interpretations to advance her
views…
"Tim LaHaye,
co-author of the "Left Behind" series, said Americans like
his books not because of the violence, but because they
believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
"Surprisingly
enough with all the liberal brainwashing they've got in
public education, most people that claim to be Christians
have a tendency to believe the Bible," LaHaye said in an
interview. Moderate Christians will never come up with a
story that can compare, he said. "They are just liberal,
socialists, really, and they don't believe the Bible,"
LaHaye said. "What they probably will come up with is a
plausible explanation from their liberal standpoint to
satisfy their adherents that are reading our series and
liked it. But it will be inferior because the story will be
inferior." The success of the graphic novels is just one
indication of the strength of belief in rapture, Armageddon,
and the subsequent second coming of Jesus Christ. A 2006
survey for the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found
79 percent of American Christians believe in the second
coming, with 20 percent believing it will happen in their
lifetime."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070313/ts_nm/usa_religion_rapture
_dc;_ylt=AmXMI8JQr0U90ctugy7iw5V34T0D
US
Evangelical War Partnerships with the State…
Many peoples
see America-nized Christians as naïve, arrogant, and
preposterous simply because the same ‘Left Behind’ Christians
support US foreign policies of war and conquest. The US
Evangelical Church is seen as part and parcel of the US war
machine used to conquer nations like Iraq and Afghanistan. The
American Evangelical Church is seen to been in spiritual
fornication with the US Beast.
However,
what is most damaging insofar as bible prophesy is concerned, is
that these same evangelical Christians who support US foreign
policies of war, claim how they will escape all the chaos and
turmoil and leave behind the sinners while America suffers
judgment from her enemies because of her sins…these Christians
suppose that they will escape through a secret rapture and leave
behind the sinners…
Such notions
that are unbiblical have very much contributed to many people
shunning away from Bible Prophesy as they see clearly the
Christian duplicity, as Sarah Posner at Alternet.org notes on
John Hagee and his Pre Tribulation Doctrines of War…
"Christian
Zionists are dancing the hora in San Antonio. Armageddon
appears to be at hand... Biblical literalists, convened
together through San Antonio megapastor John Hagee's
Christians United for Israel (CUFI), are now seeing the
fruits of their yearlong campaign to convince the Bush
administration to attack Iran... Armed with blood-red
rhetoric and the hubris of the politically connected, Hagee
filled his 5,000-seat church for a weekend-long event
culminating in his Night to Honor Israel in October. To an
eager audience preparing for the end times, analogies to
Hitler and denouncement of "appeasement" were flying.
Anti-Muslim rhetoric was at a fevered pitch. All of it was
dressed up as love and benevolence for God's chosen people.
But what masqueraded as Biblically mandated generosity
toward the Jews was nothing more than a political rally for
a war not just against Iran, but against Islam, and for the
dominance of Christianity (Hagee's brand, of course)"...
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/46753/
Support of
the US wars of conquest and so-called Christian presidents like
GW Bush and support for America to nuke Iran yet all the while
thinking that they will simply be raptured away from the
consequences of an American initiated global war by American
Evangelicals such as John Hagge can never be much more a cause
for apathy towards True Bible Prophesy that has nothing to do
with expansion of the US Global Empire.
Paul Craig
Roberts wrote an article for Antiwar.com and noted this
blasphemous American Evangelical duplicity spearhead by John
Hagee in which “Christians” support murder of other peoples all
the while thinking they will simply be raptured away…
...Evangelical
"Christians" are part of the propaganda show. Three thousand
of them, under the lead of the Rev. John C. Hagee, are
heading to Washington for a "Washington/Israel summit" to
demand, needlessly, that the neocon Bush regime show
"stronger support for Israel"...
...Gentle
reader, is this an admission that evangelicals have set
aside Jesus for war? Do these bloody-minded evangelicals
really believe they will be wafted to Heaven for helping
Israel involve the U.S. in more war? Have evangelicals
forgotten that "an eye for an eye" is Old Testament? "Turn
the other cheek" is New Testament...
http://www.antiwar.com/roberts/?articleid=9317
Such witness
from US Evangelical Christians such as John Hagee have all
contributed to the lack of interest in Bible Prophesy and
lethargy among Christians when it comes to obey The Lord’s
Command To watch…
Pre
Tribulationists won’t admit their error…
Many Bible
Prophesy teachers have noticed this anti-bible prophesy trend
among the Christian community and none Christians alike. R.A.
Coombs a Pre Tribulation End times minister and editor of
AOReport.com does well to notice the anti-prophesy attitude…
There is a
quiet, but developing schism within organized Christianity
over the issue of Biblical Prophecy. It’s been quietly
developing for decades since the end of World War 2.
Mainstream Protestant denominations have however, steered
away from understanding Biblical Prophecy since the
Reformation.
Down through
the ages, the Biblical prophetic writings have always been
more or less, sidestepped. Only in America in the 19th
century did a segment of Christianity begin to grab hold of
those writings and study them in detail. This trend
developed in the face of liberal theologians in Germany who
were working overtime to minimize and discredit key elements
of the Bible.
http://www.aoreport.com/mag/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=628&Itemid=49
However,
R.A. Coombs being a pre tribulationist fails to see the negative
impact of the ‘Left Behind’ series on catapulting anti-bible
prophesy trend in the church and among none Christians. The
truth is that the ‘Left Behind’ series promotes one of the most
destructive heresies of our time when it comes to Bible
Prophesy.
The Pre
Tribulation Rapture not supported anywhere in Scripture but is a
doctrine of Men…and no doubt that false doctrines will certainly
and most assuredly continue to contribute to apathy and lethargy
among Christians insofar as their walk with Christ is
concerned…
Yes, the
fictional novels in the “Left Behind” series have been
popular, but overall, the Evangelical wing of the American
church is showing further signs of joining liberal American
Christianity in turning its back on Biblical Prophecy.
Interestingly, R.A. Coombs does very well in noticing the
negative influences and impacts from such liars like Rick
Warrens and the Mega Church growth movement…such movements have
watered down the Word of God and always avoiding Bible Prophesy
and minimizing it or seeing it as secondary…and yes, among the
list are zealots from both Pre Tribulation and Post Tribulation
camps who engage in date setting and thus bring scoff to Bible
Prophesy as R.A. Coombs notes below…
The rise of
“Mega-churches” and the influence of men like Rick Warren
are working to minimize Biblical Prophecy studies and
interest in the doctrines of Biblical Prophecy. Some of this
loss of interest is due to many zealots engaged in
date-setting, particularly on the issue of the Rapture. The
dates come and go and Biblical Prophecy is discredited. The
“believing” church become subject to ridicule not only by an
unbelieving world but by liberals and now by many so-called
“Evangelicals.” Many of the Mega-churches are taking their
cue from men like Rick Warren and simply avoiding prophetic
issues or deriding the notion of literal fulfillment.
The heresy
of Preterism as R.A. Coombs notes below has largely contributed
to an anti-bible prophecy trend in the church. While studying in
the United States, I was amazed at the number of Bible College
Professors who were given over to this false notion that every
bible prophesy had been fulfilled literary and was therefore
history… The consequences for such heresy in the church are
enormous. Many believers have simply recoil from The Lord’s
Command to Watch and have totally ignored Bible Prophesy…
The heresy of
Preterism (prophecy already fulfilled in the 1st Century) is
growing in popularity among Protestants and Evangelicals.
Belief in the idea of the Rapture is under attack from not
only Liberals, and Evangelicals, but also further suffering
from arguments from within the ranks of literalist
interpreters of Prophecy.
Blame
Shifting…
However, Pre
Tribulationists fail to see their errors and instead blame the
current apathy towards Bible Prophesy on the arguments between
those on the Pre Trib theory and those on the post trib theory.
This is a very clever cover-up.
It is not
the arguments amongst Bible Prophesy Students that is causing
the apathy towards Bible Prophesy as R.A Coombs describes below
but it is False Doctrines that are brewed out of some of these
arguments especially the Pre Tribulation Rapture theory that
cannot be substantiated by Scripture but by patch-fixing of
scriptures to suit American Christian’s most desired craving,
escape of pain and suffering – The ‘Secret Rapture’…a kind of
pain killer…
The arguments between Pre-tribbers,
Mid-tribbers, Post-Tribbers, and Pre-wrathers has become so
nauseating that it has caused many outsiders to simply
reject or disregard Bible Prophecy completely.
The Raptures
Occurs AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS…
Though R.A
Coombs does great on the end times issues such as the
Identification of Mystery Babylon today, amazingly the Rapture
question has always been a trouble. He almost gets to the
extremes and almost borderlines blasphemy when he states that
‘The Rapture cannot be absolutely proven 100% on when it will
happen from the scriptures’…
The Rapture,
cannot be absolutely proven 100% on when it will happen from
the Scriptures. One can be 50% or 70% or 90% or even 99%
certain, of one of the various theories and still be wrong,
yet all too often, heated arguments develop among genuine
believers over the “when” of the Rapture. These kinds of
heated arguments are exceedingly destructive to the cause of
the Gospel and Jesus Christ. It needs to be stopped, but it
can only be stopped if everyone involved realizes the damage
being done, and that the arguments on all sides are rooted
in spiritual pride and arrogance as well as ignorance of the
facts. The facts are – not one theory can be proven 100% as
absolute in regards to the “when” other than that it is a
future event yet to come at some point within the prophetic
passages.
http://www.aoreport.com/mag/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=628&Itemid=49
To read such
a statement from a well-respected Bible Prophesy Teacher is
shocking and flabbergasting. To say that the rapture cannot be
proven 100% from the bible when it will occur is total
misjudgment.
On reading such a statement that
‘the rapture cannot be proven 100% from scripture’ at face value
seems genuine and true because Jesus Christ said no one knows
the day or the hour and that He would come like a thief in the
night etc…
However, this is what many Pre
Tribulationists do, they take scripture out of context and quote
single scriptures to suit their view. Secondly R.A. Coombs uses
this to protect his Pre Tribulationist Doctrine and shift blame
away from this Pre Tribulation doctrine as being the cause for
apathy towards Bible Prophesy…
The
Scriptures are very clear when the rapture will occur and such
statements from R.A Coombs are just obstruction to what Jesus
Christ told us and they even further contribute to the apathy
towards Bible Prophesy, the very thing that R.A Coombs is
fighting against…
Matthew 24:29-31
(29)
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars
shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be
shaken:
(30)
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and
then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see
the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory.
(31)
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet,
and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds,
from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark 13:24-27
(24)
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
(25)
And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in
heaven shall be shaken.
(26)
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with
great power and glory.
(27)
And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth
to the uttermost part of heaven.
The Lord
Jesus Christ is very clear here that it is immediately after the
tribulation of those days that the rapture occurs and not before
the Tribulation of those days. So, Jesus Christ has given us
signs and clues as to when His return will occur.
Jesus Christ
is NOT coming back three or four times but the second time and
that will be when the rapture occurs, AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF
THOSE DAYS. The Timing, After the Tribulation of those days… I
am not in one way or the other setting dates and times but the
Period when The Lord is expected back and to gather His
Saints...this period is AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS…
One would
only need to know when The Great Tribulation begins and that is
after the Man of Sin declares himself to be God and causes the
Abomination of Desolation in the Temple, from that time on it
will be three and one half years (3.5 Years) of Great
Tribulation. So, it is after the Tribulation of those days, the
great Tribulation that The Lord Jesus Christ Returns…that is
when the raptures occurs.
We Take
Christ’s Word, He Returns after the Tribulation of those Days…
Why are
well-respected Bible Prophesy teachers not seeing this clear
period of time that Jesus Christ gave to His disciples? Is it
because they are afraid to take action with the Truth known?
They are afraid to change and want to stubbornly stick to their
own doctrines… They know that this means going through the
tribulation and suffering for Christ Jesus, which is what we are
called to.
It is another thing to argue
about how long the tribulation will take and not when The Lord
returns because The Lord Jesus Christ spoke it in first person.
He said He will return AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE
DAYS…meaning the rapture Cannot take place before the second
Coming of Christ but takes place right at the second coming…
That is when the Angels gather
the elect from the four corners of the earth at the sound of the
Trumpet. The dead in Christ Rise first then we who are alive are
caught up in the air to meet Him at the sound of the last
trumpet…
This is very simple to understand
but why does it bamboozle American Bible Prophesy Scholars?????
It is this doctrine, a false
doctrine and heresy of the Pre Tribulation-ism that has largely
caused apathy towards Bible Prophesy and those who preach it and
are making money out of it will have to answer before God.
CHRISTIANS AND LOVE FOR THE WORLD
For the most part many Christians
refuse to watch as Jesus Christ commanded us to do so but they
are caught up with plans on how to acquire more wealth, acquire
more money, more materials and make it big in the world.
This is the main reason why
Christians refuse to Watch and reject Bible Prophesy just as
Jesus Christ clearly stated in Luke 21:32-36. The messages in
most churches today are just all about “how to Enjoy Life
Everyday”, these are the books, CDs, and DVDs that sell – “How
to Enjoy Life Every Day” or what one preacher called “Joyce
Meyer-ism” …
The issue is not that Christians
don’t see what is going on and the events happening but they are
burdened with the cares of this world, the responsibilities, the
chase after profits and riches, the opinions of their friends
and relatives…
For such Christians, Jesus Christ
is seen as an embarrassment. Christians are afraid to share The
Lord’s Words that sound offensive to their friends and
colleagues; they feel ashamed and embarrassed to live a life
following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ…embarrassment of
the Cross of Jesus Christ…
Don’t be overcharged with the Cares of this Life…
However, this is what warned us
about in Luke 21:32-36 that we don’t be overcharged or burdened
down with the things of this world so that ‘That Day’ gets us
unaware. Now here, ‘That Day’ would refer to the Beginning of
the Tribulation to the coming of The Lord.
Many Christians and peoples in
the world are going to get caught off guard because they refuse
to take heed to Jesus Christ’s warnings… The Events of the
Tribulation Period, the Judgments up to The Lord’s Return will
get many people off guard simply because they refused to Watch
as The Lord commanded…
The consequences for ignoring
Christ’s Warnings are great and very grave. Those Christians who
think that they will simply deal with this issue when the global
war begins are only deceiving themselves… It is like a student
who says they don’t need to study before exams but will simply
pass the exams on examination day…
Sadly most Christians refuse to
awake and continue on in slumber largely due to their leaders
who promise them prosperity and riches yet what comes ahead in
this hour is persecution, tribulation, sorrows, turmoil, and
judgment.
It is incumbent to all true
Christians out there to take action and prepare for the coming
storm that is to take this world by surprise. The implications
of the coming global war are great and many will be taken by
surprise…
Luke 21:32-36
(32)
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till
all be fulfilled.
(33)
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass
away.
(34)
And 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.
(35)
For 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.
It is Satan’s gambit to make sure
that he gets as many people including Christians who should know
these things, with surprise as pertaining the events that are
coming upon the face of the earth. Satan has placed many
Christians to sleep through ‘overcharging’ them with the things
of this world.
Another English word for
overcharging would be ‘fleecing’… or to ‘swindle’ and ‘cheat’.
Satan is busy fleecing many Christians with a false Peace and
Prosperity gospel yet what is coming ahead are sorrows for which
we must be ready to endure and persevere…
Greek for ‘Overcharging’
G925
βαρύνω
barunō
bar-oo'-no
From G926; to burden (figuratively): - overcharge.
So, the Greek word for
‘overcharging’ here would be ‘Baruno’ meaning to burden… It is
interesting that Satan is burdening many Christians with
surfeiting, drunkenness, and cares of this life… The Devil is
just out fleecing Christians with false burdens to simply get
them off guard that the Day of The Lord gets them unaware…
Jesus Christ clearly gave us a
warning about the ploys of Satan to ‘overcharge’ us with cares
of this world in Luke 21:32-36 so as that day to take us by
surprise… True Christians should watch out for the following
three things…
-
Surfeiting
-
Drunkenness
-
Cares
of this life
Surfeiting…
The Greek word for Surfeiting is
‘Kraipale’…
G2897
κραιπάλη
kraipalē
krahee-pal'-ay
Probably from the same as G726; properly a headache (as a
seizure of pain) from drunkenness, that is, (by implication) a
debauch (by analogy a glut): - surfeiting.
Another word for ‘debauch’ from
which we derive the term ‘debauchery’ is ‘lead astray’, corrupt,
degrade, ruin, and debase… Jesus Christ is certainly warning us
against the corruption that comes from loving the world…
Drunken with the Love of This World - Intoxication
Greek word for drunkenness is
’methe’… the meaning is intoxication…
G3178
μέθη
methē
meth'-ay
Apparently a primary word; an intoxicant, that is, (by
implication) intoxication: - drunkenness.
The cares of this world, the love
of this world, and the pleasures of this world certainly
intoxicates a believer’s life that they cannot separate good
from evil any longer. We must search our lives in light of God’s
Word that we are not subtly intoxicated by the love of this
world.
Most intoxication can come in
unaware and subtly, more like folks who get intoxicated fatally
by carbon monoxide. The love of this world and the pleasures
thereof are an intoxicant that if we Watch not, the day of The
Lord will get us unaware…
Cares of This World…
Interestingly, the Greek words
for ‘cares’ is ‘merimna’, meaning solicitude, and other English
terms for the same word are, concern, attentiveness, anxiety,
consideration, and care…
G3308
μέριμνα
merimna
mer'-im-nah
From G3307 (through the idea of distraction); solicitude: -
care.
The context though of this Greek
Word ‘Merimna’ is at in distraction… The Devil sets up a ploy by
deceiving Christians through issues that seem legitimate like
taking care of life’s business. However, it is in such issues
that Christians get intoxicated and distracted from a Personal
Relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ and also get blinded and
fail to Watch for The Day of The Lord as Jesus Christ Commanded
us to…
…That Day takes you unaware…
Another important word we would
look up in the Greek would be ‘That Day’ which is ‘Hemera’,
meaning a 24 hour Day, Several days as reckoned by Jews, or a
period of time… In Bible Prophesy it would denote The Day Jesus
Christ Returns and also the Period of Time marking the start of
the Tribulation to the End of the Tribulation when Jesus Christ
comes back… So, we are to Watch that we are not caught off guard
by The Day of The Lord in both contexts…
G2250
ἡμέρα
hēmera
hay-mer'-ah
Feminine
(with G5610 implied) of a derivative of
ἧμαι
hēmai (to sit; akin to the base of G1476) meaning tame, that
is, gentle; day, that is, (literally) the time space between
dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were
usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both
extremes); figuratively a period (always defined more or less
clearly by the context): - age, + alway, (mid-) day (by day, [-ly]),
+ for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.
Cares of this world are a snare…
The Bible warns us that we need
to take care, take heed to ourselves least our hearts be
overcharged…
Jesus Christ gives three points
that will make people sleep and which are actually causes for
the present day apathy towards bible prophesy as we have clearly
seen above…
-
Surfeiting...
-
Drunkenness...
-
Cares
of this life...
The three above have to do with
Christians loving the world and keeping themselves busy with the
things of the world like chasing after a good job, a promotion,
buying the best SUV, buying the best House etc.
These things in themselves seem
to pose no danger but it is the love of these things and their
consumption over the souls of Christians that many Christians do
not watch and therefore are blinded and are chocked by the cares
of the life that they loose sight of the Lord Jesus Christ and
His Second Coming.
Love of This World and Prosperity Movement Choke Christians…
The Surfeiting, Drunkenness, and Cares of this
life are the greatest causes of Christian shunning Bible
Prophesy. Yes, though other factors may come in but Jesus Christ
gives us the real reasons why folks would shun Bible
Prophesy…and that day takes them unaware as a thief in the
night. It is the love of this world.
Those three elements namely, Surfeiting,
Drunkenness and the Cares of this life is what the prosperity
movement is all about preaching...as such where you find the
prosperity gospel preached, you will find those three elements
and also a great apathy and even hate for True Bible Prophesy...
Matthew 13:22
(22)
He also that received seed
among
the
thorns
is
he that heareth
the
word;
and
the
care
of
this
world,
and
the
deceitfulness
of
riches,
choke
the
word,
and
he
becometh
unfruitful.
Jesus Christ is more explicit in His word here in
Matthew 13:22 as to the cause of lethargy and apathy in the
church when it comes to Bible prophesy and Watch of The Lord. It
all has to do with the Cares of this world and the deceitfulness
of riches. This is what chokes God’s Word in us and we become
unfruitful. These are things that Christians who are really
interested in The Lord’s Return must watch out for.
Too Busy for a Personal life with Jesus Christ…
Many people claim that they get to busy for the
things of God, they are busy chasing after a promotion and pay
raise, they are busy with kids and busy with the things of this
Life that they see no reason why they should mind to watch
events that proclaim the Return of The Lord Jesus Christ.
Amazingly today the cares of this world and
deceitfulness of riches have become a lifestyle of many
Christians. Like I stated earlier before, this lifestyle is
preached on the pulpits, sold in books as reading material,
preached on TV and you are even given tips on how to “Enjoy Life
Everyday” or what one preacher called Joyce Meyer-ism.
The Lord Commands us to Watch…
Brothers and Sisters this ought not to be so. The
Lord commands us to Watch and we have no excuse but obey His
command to watch according to His Word. Let’s not give lame
excuses that we are failing to Watch because of ‘arguments’
among the Pre Trib and Post Trib camps.
Such are not justified excuses. The real reason
behind the lack of interest in the Lord’s Watch and apathy
towards The Lord’s Return has to do with our flesh – love of the
things of this world, cares of this life and deceitfulness of
riches.
Brethren, lets examine ourselves before The Lord
and His Word and ask that He will purge us of these killer
elements…that we shall be purified with His Holy Fire bringing
to death in us the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of
riches that we shall stay focused on The Lord Jesus Christ. Yes,
that we shall be counted worthy to escape all the coming
deception, and be preserved through all the trails that are
coming upon this earth to test the sons of men.
Let us take The Lord at His Word and not the
doctrines of Men. When The Lord says ‘After the Tribulation of
those days’ He means exactly that regardless of if we really
enjoy going through the tribulation or not. We therefore must
obey His command to watch otherwise we shall be caught unaware
by the events and trails that are coming down on this earth...
Matthew 24:42-51
(42)
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
(43)
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in
what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and
would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
(44)
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not
the Son of man cometh.
(45)
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made
ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
(46)
Blessed
is
that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
(47)
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his
goods.
(48)
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord
delayeth his coming;
(49)
And shall begin to smite
his
fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
(50)
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not
for
him,
and in an hour that he is not aware of,
(51)
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint
him
his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
Give the Saints the Right Food in Due Season…
The Lord Commands us to
watch…this is a command we MUST obey…. The Lord through the
parable of the faithful servant exhorts us to watch, not to get
drunk and ‘give them meat in due season. The meaning here is
that we should be preaching and teaching Christians the correct
doctrine concerning The Second coming of The Lord and the events
that precede it.
We should be teaching the saints
that they will need to endure, persevere, and suffer for Christ
even unto death as they go through the coming great tribulation.
We should be teaching Christians to set their hope in Christ
Jesus and store their treasures in Heaven and not be earthly
focused but Heavenly focused. We should be teaching saints to
walk a life of holiness and deeper personal relationship with
The Lord.
This should be the food in due
season and not the Prosperity Gospel and Joyce Meyer-ism. The
Prosperity Gospel and Joyce Meyer-ism is what is causing
Christians today to get drunk with the wine – pleasures of this
world and as such the infightings over money, fame, power,
authority wrangles, leading to many wounded Christians abused by
current church leaders…who ironically think that they will just
be raptured away in a secret rapture…
Mark 13:33-37
(33)
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
(34)
For 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:
(36)
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
(37)
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Rejecting The Lord’s Command to Watch is Rebellion…
The Lord’s command is very clear
to all and that is Watch…Don’t ignore bible prophecy…if you do
so, you are rejecting The Lord’s command and rebelling against
Christ Jesus… You should be deeply concerned about The Second
Coming of The Lord. Yes, you should…
Luke 21:32-36
(32)
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till
all be fulfilled.
(33)
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass
away.
(34)
And 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.
(35)
For 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.
The Lord
commands us to Watch all the signs that pertain to His Second
Coming and not slumber nor sleep being intoxicated by The Lord
of this world and the riches thereof… For that Day will come as
a snare upon all who dwell upon the Erath…
The Events of the Tribulation and
the Great Tribulation will get the residents of this world
unaware and off guard. Sadly many Christians will be caught
unaware because they rejected Bible Prophesy and rejected The
Lord’s Commands in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21… Brethren,
lets Watch and Watch according to God’s Word and not Man’s
Doctrine…
Ephesians 5:14-18
(14)
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
(15)
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
(16)
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
(17)
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of
the Lord
is.
(18)
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with the Spirit;
Awake from your slumber, and
Watch. It is time to seek The Lord’s will for our lives
personally and not be busy chasing after Material gains of this
world… The days in which we walk are evil… We are warned not to
be drunk with the wines (pleasures) of this world but be filled
with The Holy Spirit… Lets walk as wise – those who obey The
Lord’s Commands and not fools who get caught up with the
pleasures of this world. Brethren, WATCH!
In Christ Jesus
Kato Mivule
Uganda, Africa
www.yesumulungi.com
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