WATCH THEREFORE
By John C. Carpenter
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for
to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall
not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came
unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and
shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to
pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences,
and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall
kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another,
and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love
of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached
in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee
into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in
the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray
ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the
beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved:
but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe
it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in
the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth
even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered
together. 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: 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. 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. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth
leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily
I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words
shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of
Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all
away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two
women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord
doth come. 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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man
cometh (Matthew 24:1-44).
If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that most believers in the modern Christian church are
focused on many things [work, family, money, entertainment, pleasure, sports, travel] other than God the Father and the Kingdom of
Christ. Most believers that I know rarely contemplate their future [or even current] life with God. The scriptures teach us that watching
is essential. In verse 42, the word watch is translated from the Greek word gregoreuo, which means to keep awake, to watch literally
or figuratively, be vigilant, or to rouse. We should ask, then, 'what is the believer in Christ to watch for, be awake to, be vigilant
with, or focus on?'
THE SIGN OF THY COMING AND THE END OF THE WORLD
The answer could be considered twofold. First, the believer
is to watch for and be alert to the signs, especially miraculous signs, seen which indicate the imminent coming of Christ, and the
end of the age or world as we have known it. As His disciples asked the Lord, what shall the sign [Greek, semeion, an indication,
especially ceremonially or supernaturally, a token, something which signifies] of thy coming [Greek, parousia, being near, advent,
return, physical aspect, presence], and of the end [Greek, sunteleia, entire completion, consummation of a dispensation, to complete
entirely, to fulfill, the end] of the world [Greek, aion, age, a period of time, course of time, appointed duration]? The believer
is to watch for the evidence, the indications, that Christ is about to return to earth for the second time, and that this physical,
worldly, temporal life as we have known it is very soon going to come to an end. Specifically, we are watching for the the second
advent of Christ which will in itself signify the end of this current age as we have known it. So, what are those signs and clues?
The
first sign Jesus said would signal the end of this age is massive deception. The Lord said that many shall come in my name, saying,
I am Christ; and shall end out deceiving many. Not only will there be many that say they are personally Jesus, THE Christ, but many
will also say they are anointed. Most interestingly, the word Christ is translated from the Greek word Christos, which means anointed.So many ministers today in churches and on the television and radio are constantly referring to the anointing on them and their preaching;
anointing which bears no good fruit - only decetion. Is this the deception going on today in so-called preachers of the gospel, as
Jesus warned?
Jesus also warned that just prior to the end of this age, there would not only be rumors [people hearing] of wars,
but actual wars occurring in various places. He added that nation [Greek, ethnos, a race, foreign, Gentile, heathen, people] shall
rise against nation [possibly suggesting race wars or wars between actual nations], and kingdom [Greek, basileia, properly royalty,
those who rule, a realm literally or figuratively] against kingdom [possibly suggesting power struggles among those who have power
and rule in one way or another]. He also warned that there would be famines [Greek, limos, destitution, scarcity of food, dearth,
hunger], and pestilences [Greek, loimos, literally a disease, a pest], and earthquakes [Greek, seismos, a commotion, movement, vibration,
a tempest], in divers places. The Lord then encouraged His disciples to see that they should be not troubled at all of these things
that would come to pass, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. The Lord clarified to His disciples that
all these events were only the beginning of sorrows.
Jesus then warned that those of the faith would eventually be delivered
up to unbelievers who were in power, and that believers would be afflicted, hated of all nations, and also killed. As another sign
of the end times, the Lord explained that many would become offended, would betray one another, violently hate one another. He added
that on the religious front, many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many, and because sin and evil shall abound, the love
of many shall wax cold. As a matter of encouragement, Jesus said that those that shall endure unto the end of the age, the same shall
be savedl and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end
come. Jesus added that when believers see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, they should stand in the
holy place - Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any
thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are pregnant,
and to them that are nursing babies in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except
those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any
man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you
before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe
it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shallthe 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: 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. 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. Now learn a parable
of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall
see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these
things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. The Lord added, but of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son
of man be. 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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son
of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the
one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
LOOK FOR NEW HEAVENS AND
A NEW EARTH
Secondly, the believer in Christ is to watch for, be alert to, expect, and anticipate the beginning and manifestation
of a new and currently unseen age, a spirirual, glorious, and eternal age, world, or season of time. Although this idea is not specifically
addressed within our subject verses, the scriptures contain many verses which exhort belivers to watch for the age, time, or world
to come.
For example, the apostle Paul wrote to Titus, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:11-14). Peter instructs
and encourages fellow believers, the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with
a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing
then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking
for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2
Peter 3:10-13). Jude, brother of James, referred to the age to come: Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Jude 1:21). Scriptures also teach us that, By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out
into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned
in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:8-10).
Paul wrote the church in Corinth,For our [Paul and his fellow disciples] light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Paul later added, For we know that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle [physical body] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our [currently unseen and eternal] house [body] which is from heaven (2
Corinthians 5:2). John, the evangelist, refers to the believers' spiritual and eternal reward: many deceivers are entered into the
world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose
not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine
of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son (2 John 1:7-9). Paul referred
to the believers' eternal house in heaven when he wrote the church in Corinth: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle[physical body] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality
might be swallowed up of [eternal] life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the
earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the
Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body [physically dead],
and [for our spirit] to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that
he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto
God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences (2 Corinthians 5:1-11).
Paul and Timotheus wrote the saints in Philippi,Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told
you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is
their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation [citizenship, cummunity] is in heaven;
from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto
his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself (Philippians 3:17-21). Also,
Paul exhorted the believers in Ephesus to remember that in Christ they were no longer strangers and foreigners to God, but were not
fellow citizens with all other saints, were members of the household of God, and built together for an habitation of God through the
power and working of the Holy Spirit: Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision
by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ
Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For
through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens
with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also
are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:11-22).
The apostle John also refers to our eternal
existence when he says, the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever [with God]
(1 John 2:17). In his letter to the Colossian church, Paul could not have been more clear about what the believers' focus and priority
should be in his letter when he wrote, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on
the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with
Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4). While with
His own disciples, the Lord emphasized that they, and we as well, should not focus on temporal, earthly treasures, but eternal, heavenly
things. He instructed them to Lay not up for yourselves treasures [Greek, thesauros, a deposit, wealth literally or figuratively]upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light (Matthew
6:19-22).
Jesus also warned His disciples about lusting after worldly and temporal things [as opposed to heavenly and eternal
things]: ” ...Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:And he thought within himself,
saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns,
and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid
up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required
of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich
toward God (Luke 12:15-21).
WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YE KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR
WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH
Without
a doubt, we all know that there is tremendous debate wihin the church about the occurrence and timing of the rapture, the occurrence
and timing of the tribulation, the second coming of Christ, the thousand year reign of Christ on earth, the end of this age, and eternity.
It is important to clarify that this article is not primarily about those issues, but is focused on the fact that the scriptures teach
that, according to the will of God the Father, the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ shall certainly occur, and
that believers in Christ are to anticipate and look for these events. Many may debate, even argue unnecessarily and divisively, about
these issues, but we must keep in mind that the exact occurrence, details, and timing of these events is only within the Lords' knowledge
and will. No human being is meant to know precisely how all of these things shall come to pass: Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only (Matthew
24:35-36).
What we do know is that, throughout scriptures, the believer in Christ is consistently instructed to watch for the
return of the Lord, the end of this age as we know it, and the advent of the next eternal age which follows the second coming of Jesus
Christ, which we can refer to as the age of eternity. In chapter 24 of our subject verses, Christ commanded His disciples to watch.
Later, the Lord again pointedly warned His own disciples, Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son
of man cometh (Matthew 25:13). We know that when the Lord makes His point not once, but twice, we should certainly take heed to His
words.
Christ, through John Mark, again instructs us to be alert with these words: 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. 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:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch (Mark 13:34-37). Luke likewise warns, 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 (Luke 21:36).
The apostle Paul clearly warned the Thessalonian church, I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which
are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever
be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that
I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of
the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians
4:13-5:6).
Again, Paul wrote to Timothy, his dearly beloved son in the faith, I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full
proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:1-8).
Peter,
an apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Forasmuch
then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh
hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess
of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess
of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was
the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God
in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (1 Peter 4:1-7).
Christ, Himself,
warns the church in Sardis, and all believers, And 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. Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember 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 (Revelation 3:1-3).
GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM, AND BE THEIR GOD
Without
a doubt, the scriptures teach that the believer in Christ is to focus on spiritual, glorious, eternal, and heavenly matters, and not
the mundane, worldly, natural, temporal, and trivial aspects of this life.
The apostle Peter reminds Israel, as well as believers
in Christ, of their future: ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew
forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but
are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation (1
Peter 2:9-12). Paul instructed Titus, and us, that because we are justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the
hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7). Paul also instructed the church of believers in Rome: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we
suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:16-17).
The unclear author, possibly Paul, of the book of Hebrews
reminds us of the believers' eternal salvation: Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens
are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture
shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels
said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth
to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:10-14). Again, in his letter to Titus, Paul, a servant of God, and
an apostle of Jesus Christ, referred to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; Inhope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:1-2).
The apostle Peter refers to
the believers' incorruptible inheritance and salvation with these words: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are
in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though
it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye
love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your
faith, even the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9).
The author of the book to the Hebrews also referred to those who desire
a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city (Hebrews
11:16). Believers in Christ are to Love not the [this current age and] world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man
love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:15-17). If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2).
Paul instructed
the church in Rome about the age of glory to come for the believer in Christ: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Later, Paul added, And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom
he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified (Romans
8:28-30). Paul then adds, And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer
than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put
on the armour of light (Romans 13:11-12).
In His own words, Jesus refers to the future inheritance of the saints: When the Son
of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall
be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall
set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed
of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:31-34). Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ, encouraged the saints in Ephesus about their inheritance: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by
Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made
us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his
grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according
to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together
in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even [specifically] in him: In whom also we have obtained
an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will (Ephesians
1:3-11).
Likewise, the apostle Peter, wrote the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1
Peter 1:3-5).
Finally, John, the revelator, saw in the Spirit a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with
men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God (Revelation 21:1-3).The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (1 Peter 4:7). Paul reminds us, And that, knowing the
time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed (Romans 13:11). Let us
watch, therefore. AMEN.
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified [found
by God not guilty, innocent] by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved
by his life”
(Romans 5:8-10).
“Draw nigh to God,
and he will draw
nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be
afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight
of
the Lord, and he shall lift you up”
(James 4:8-10).
