I have heard Christians debate the issue of attempting to discern the signs of the times (eschatology). Are we supposed to be trying to know when Jesus will return, or are we just supposed to leave the issue alone and wait patiently? Some Christians really do not believe the second coming of Christ will be during their own lifetime, while others believe that Jesus could come back any second! What should we believe?
Let's look deeper into scripture to find the answers.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (Matthew 24:36 NKJV)
Father God knows when Jesus is coming back, nobody else does.
So is it wrong to discern the signs of the times trying to figure out when He will come?
"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 NKJV)
Answer #1: WATCH for His coming!
Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 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 13:33-37 NKJV)
Answer #2: While you watch, PRAY!
What happens to those who are not watching and doing God's will?
But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:48-51 NKJV)
Some will not be watching and some will...
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV)
With knowledge comes responsibility. We know that God wants Christians to watch, pray and be ready for His sudden return!
Answer #3: God gave us signs to discern that will encourage us to await Jesus' soon return!
Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? (Luke 12:54-57 NKJV)
WATCH, PRAY, DISCERN THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES - BE READY! BE FOUND WHEN HE RETURNS DOING HIS WILL.
How do we do His will? First put your complete faith in Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation that will pay the price and take the judgment for the sin in your life. Cry out in prayer to God and ask for His mercy on you through the sacrifice of Jesus.
But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above ) or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:6-11 NKJV)
Second way to do His will - TELL OTHERS about salvation through Jesus Christ. All Christians are called to evangelize and make disciples.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19, 20 NKJV)
Be blessed and be ready in Jesus name!
Sarah
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