Focus:
kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(
FaithOfJesus thread begun by r
RandyP )
Today's Verse:
kjv@Matthew:24:36-51
kjv@Matthew:24:36 @ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
kjv@Matthew:24:37 @ But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
kjv@Matthew:24:38 @ For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
kjv@Matthew:24:39 @ And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
kjv@Matthew:24:40 @ Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
kjv@Matthew:24:41 @ Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
kjv@Matthew:24:42 @ Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
kjv@Matthew:24:43 @ 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.
kjv@Matthew:24:44 @ Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
kjv@Matthew:24:45 @ Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
kjv@Matthew:24:46 @ Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
kjv@Matthew:24:47 @ Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
kjv@Matthew:24:48 @ But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
kjv@Matthew:24:49 @ And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
kjv@Matthew:24:50 @ 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,
kjv@Matthew:24:51 @ And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Today's notes: Part Two - Thy Coming
Context:
- Before - Part One - Signs of the End Times
- After - Part Three - The oil/lamps of ten bridesmaids
What is man believing/doing?:
- inquiring of Jesus signs of His coming (continued)
- inquiring privately (a continuation of His answer of the end times)
What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:
- Recent talk of the destruction of the temple, the judgment of this wicked generation, mentions of His coming death, observance of the reactions and hostility of other men
- Private? some concern or timidness or needing extra detail
Notes:
Indications brought up in this passage of a pre/early or mid tribulation rapture:
- What are the two men in the field or two women at the mill doing? Working! Can we take it then that the sign of the beast has not been engraved/embedded so as to dictate/prevent commerce for believers?
- What is the general population doing? Eating/Drinking/Marrying as if no tribulation, no pestilence, no signs, no abomination, no fleeing, no times such as the world has ever seen to be of much concern.
- What does the evil servant say? My Lord delayeth (as if relieved or that it once had been a concern)! So why would he smite his fellowservants? They must of tried to make it a concern at least for sometime to his embarrassment. What he believes justified for that time turns out to be most hypocritical.
Indications brought up in this passage of a late/post tribulation rapture:
- Work or commerce of some type would still be needed, perhaps through some type of black/hidden market economy
- It could be much like the times of WWII Nazi Germany; those in the good graces were mostly immune from the un-pleasantrys occurring beneath them, positively motivated by the difficulties ahead securing a national victory.
- Near the middle of this seven year period there does appear to be a detectable relief of tension, that leaves only a three year period to adapt to the sudden shift in reality and deflate the initial enthusiasm commonly felt at that time. It could be very late into this second three year period, even the end before the oblivious self justification party for most citizens ends.
There of course is much more to these scholarly debates. A very brief introductory examination of a one passage discourse, though it is Jesus' discourse, is hardly complete grounds for leaning one way or another. It does however give us a sense of the depth and impact of these prophecies and their interpretations.
The goodman of the house has four watches in the night to choose from, apparently he feels that he can only commit to one. Perhaps we can think of this as pre/early/mid/late tribulation interpretations. Each seem to have reasonable supporting evidences and are strongly debatable. Why is it prudent to only set watch on one? Therefore be ye also ready suggests either of two things or both: search out/be certain of what you think you discern, but be not a hindrance to those who must be prepared for something else should you be wrong.
The better way to think of this fairly simple. If it is guaranteed by Jesus that it will not come at the time we think, what makes us think that we know the time it will come? Is the object of the watch to know the time or is it to be ready for it no matter when it comes?
The condition of the household is that a thief has tunneled through. If we are to understand the coming of Jesus to be the thief, we must also consider that there is a barrier of some type that He is having to break through. This could be a barrier of mystery/secrecy; it could just as well mean some protective barrier that we have placed against the Lord toward Him getting here (or both). Either way, He comes to His household at a time uninvited.
Key Messages:
What does this say about our present condition?
- His portion with the hypocrites? Think back on who else has been called filter:NT-GOSPEL hypocrites and you will see a detailed profile of what drives these religious men (likely leaders). They serve a horrible injustice to the general public whose perceptions of the times largely are influenced by their role in the Lord's household. They can be identified within our household by observing their treatment of fellowservants and the opportunities they afford themselves to with the outside world.
- That the modern Church divides off into factions on these points is not the intention behind the divine secrecy regarding this matter. As the events of the Great Tribulation stand as a witness against all the nations, the secrecy of the timing of the rapture stands as a witness against those that believe in the name of Jesus but are unwilling to carry His watch and readiness forward.
Further Resources:
Comment Board:Matthew:24:36-51
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:24:36-51 rwp@Matthew:24:36-51 mhcc@Matthew:24:36-51
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index
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