Jesus the Christ, Yahshua the Messiah, God incarnate, has commanded us over and over to watch! Just maybe it's important?
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:6
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:42-44
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 13:35-37
Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
Revelation 3:3b
What is the imperative antithesis of this? If we will watch, we will know! Why would He tell us to watch for something that we cannot see? This is more than just being ready - this is to watch so we can be a 'watchman on the wall' to others.
'What hour I will come' is not a literal sixty minutes but a general time in history. Paul expected us to be able to see the signs and know the approximate time.
...but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25b
And what of those who do not watch? Is it possible to have 'professed with your mouth' that Jesus is your savior and ultimately have eternal life, but to be disobedient and slack, and miss His miraculous protection?
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts weighed down with carousing, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come on you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Therefore, watch and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:34-36
Hmmm... 'watch and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy.' Is He talking to unbelievers? No! It could be a painful mistake to assume that you will be taken in the Rapture just because you have eternal fire insurance.
Read carefully this message to the church of the last days!
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;
These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, and I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Revelation 3:14-21
To the obedient church in Philadelphia He said 'I have set before you an open door' but to the Laodiceans He said 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' The 'knocking' verse is commonly used to call new believers but He said this to the church! It is my opinion that those that are vomited are not unbelievers cast into hell but disobedient Christians left in the Tribulation for chastisement.
If you are not walking with God, if you are being disobedient to what He is asking of you, or if you are lukewarm in your faith and actions, then you just may be left here to be chastised in the Tribulation!
Because you have kept the word of my patient perseverance, I also will keep you from [Ek = from out of] the hour of the proving trial, which shall come on all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth.
Revelation 3:10 - TKJV
Only one church out of the seven was given this promise - a reward for obedience.
The message I hear in all these verses is that we must be walking, watching, and praying to be counted worthy of escape. Eternal life is by grace alone but escaping the time of trial, the Tribulation, is a reward for living in obedience.
If you are asleep - wake up! If you are lukewarm - light a fire and join the Philadelphian church!
Other watch verses:
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.
Matthew 25:13
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching: truly I say to you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to eat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luke 12:37
Thus the Messiah, sacrificed once to take away the sins of all, will appear a second time to him without sin, who is eagerly waiting for salvation.
Hebrews 9:28 - TKJV
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Revelation 16:15
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