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What Saith the Scripture?
http://www.WhatSaithTheScripture.com/
Red Sky in Morning
Or, The Paradox of No Man Knows the Day or Hour
"And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and
lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern
the signs of the times?"
(Matthew 16:3).
by Tom Stewart
7-17-2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preface
If Jesus condemned as hypocrites those who could not "discern the signs of the
times" (Matthew 16:3),
it seems paradoxical that He would also say that no man can know the "day and
hour" (Matthew 24:36)
of His Return. But, it appears that the issue is not so much that anyone would know
or not know the time of His coming, as much as it is that they would "love His
appearing" (2Timothy 4:8).
An old weather predicting adage rhythmically states:
Red sky at night, Sailors' delight.
Red sky in morning, Sailors take warning.
Humidity in the air is indicated by red skies at sunset--
red sky at night-- or, at sunrise-- red sky in morning. The forming
raindrops scatter the short-wavelength blue light so that only the long-wavelength
red light reaches the observer. Jesus "answered and said unto them, When it
is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red" (Matthew 16:2). Good weather--
sailors' delight-- is generally indicated when the sky is red at sunset, while
sailors take warning of impending precipitation or bad weather, when the sky
is red at dawn. "And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the
sky is red and lowring" (16:3). The LORD Jesus Christ rebuked the hypocrisy of those who could
easily use meteorological signs to predict the weather, but whose wickedness prevented
them from admitting they were speaking to the very promised Messiah at His First
Advent. "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there
shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them,
and departed" (16:4).
Similarly, the Second Advent of the LORD Jesus Christ, with its concomitant Pre-Tribulational
Rapture, should not be unanticipated by the Saints of today. "And the LORD direct
your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (2Thessalonians 3:5). [See our article, "Must There Be a Pre-Tribulational Rapture?"
-- http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Prophecy/Must.Pre.Trib.Rapture.html -- , for
a discussion of the Scriptural merits of such an event.]
It will not be long! "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the
coming of the LORD draweth nigh" (James
5:8). However, Jesus plainly warned us, "But of
that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father only"
(Matthew 24:36).
Does this admonition make anyone who believes he has reason to anticipate any
particular day or hour for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church, unscriptural
or heretical? Decidedly not! "One man esteemeth one day above another: another
esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind"
(Romans 14:5).
Even the Old Testament prophet Daniel was reminded by the Pre-Incarnate Christ about
the prophecies Daniel received, that "none of the wicked shall understand; but
the wise shall understand" (Daniel 12:10). "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should
overtake you as a thief" (1Thessalonians
5:4).
Only Hypocrites Cannot Discern the Signs of the Times
During the earthly ministry of the Saviour, the Jews were also expecting the appearing
of their Messiah. "And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused
in their hearts of John [the Baptist], whether he were the Christ, or not" (Luke 3:15). What the Church
now calls the First Advent of the LORD Jesus Christ, should have been for the Jews
the appearing of their long awaited Messiah, if they had not already become the "rebellious
house" described by Ezekiel. "Son of man, thou [Ezekiel] dwellest in the
midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears
to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house" (Ezekiel 12:2). In fact, the Pharisees
and Sadducees, as if to prove their own wickedness, stared into the face of the Messiah
that they claimed to be awaiting, and hypocritically asked for a sign from Heaven
to prove that He was truly the Christ, when they had already rejected and despised
Him for condemning their sinfulness. "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew
5:20). The irony of the Jews situation was that Moses
had already prepared them to be looking for the Christ, i.e., "a Prophet from
the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me" (Deuteronomy
18:15), but by the time Jesus was manifested to the
Nation, they had become a religiously hardened, hypocritical people that had no
"understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1Chronicles 12:32). "1 The Pharisees also with the
Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would shew them a sign from Heaven.
2 He answered
and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the
sky is red. 3
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring.
O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs
of the times?" (Matthew 16:1-3).
It is not a strange thought that the religiously and irreligiously wicked of this
world should not be able to "discern the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3), for the "natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1Corinthians 2:14). Because
the New Testament Saints have been uniquely given the indwelling of the Spirit of
God, they have the Heavenly Tutor to "guide [them] into all Truth" and
to "shew [them] things to come" (John
16:13). In keeping with the Son's mission to reveal
the Heavenly Father to His disciples, Jesus declared to His brethren-- "For
both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause
He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews
2:11)-- the Father's plans of the prophetic future.
"25 At that
time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, LORD of Heaven and Earth, because
Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto
babes. 26 Even
so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth
the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and He
to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him" (Matthew
11:25-27). For this reason, it is not a mark
of spirituality, that those who are called by the name of Christ, to have such an
unclear concept of the "times and the seasons" (1Thessalonians
5:1). Instead, the True Saints continually cry out,
"Come [quickly], LORD Jesus" (Revelation
22:20), in keeping with Christ's instructional prayer,
i.e., "Thy Kingdom come" (Matthew
6:10).
No Man Knows the Day or Hour
A traditional doctrine of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, is that it will be imminent
or at any moment. "8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The LORD is not slack concerning His Promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance. 10 But 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" (2Peter 3:8-10).
Coupled with this traditional teaching of the imminency of Christ's Return, is the
proviso that no person will know the exact day or hour of Christ's Return. "Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh"
(Matthew 25:13).
Most fundamental explanations of eschatology distinguish between Christ's secret
coming in the air for His Church (the Pre-Tribulation Rapture)-- "After this
I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven: and the first voice which I heard
was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will
shew thee things which must be hereafter" (Revelation
4:1)-- and, His "every eye shall see Him"
(Revelation 1:7),
bodily return to the Earth (the Second Coming)-- "Ye men of Galilee, why stand
ye gazing up into Heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven,
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven" (Acts 1:11).
Contrasted to the Saints' expectation of departing at any moment for an eternity
in Heaven, are the Scriptures that teach the opportunity and necessity of a life
of service on Earth for our LORD Jesus Christ. "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" (Matthew 24:45-51). Our earthly conduct of service for Christ, i.e., all right moral
action, will be judged by the LORD at His Bema Seat, when He returns for us. "10 For we must all appear before
the Judgment Seat [Greek, bema] 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. 11 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" (2Corinthians
5:10-11). [See
our article, "The Judgment Seat of Christ, Or, Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?" -- http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Prophecy/Judgment.Seat.of.Christ.html
--, for a discussion of Christ's Bema Seat.]
An Excerpt from "Why Should Christians Be Date Setters?"
The case for knowing the day and hour of the LORD Jesus' Return is built upon friendship
with the LORD Jesus. He knows when He will return, and He is absolutely willing to
share that information with His friends. "Henceforth I call you not servants;
for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for
all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:15). Only for a short
time did Jesus set aside His heavenly glory, and voluntarily limit His knowledge
of the future. Thus, He rightly stated that, "of that day and that hour knoweth
no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father"
(Mark 13:32).
That was then. But now, He is back in Heaven where He is using all of His divine
power, as the Saints' Friend and Intercessor, to show them "things to come"
(John 16:13).
The secret of what is about to unfold upon the world at the end of this age is given
to the righteous. "His secret is with the righteous" (Proverbs 3:32). "Surely the LORD
GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets"
(Amos 3:7). It
is becoming increasingly more difficult to build a case for ignorance of the timing
of the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. If God could lead the Wise Men to the LORD
Jesus at the First Advent, why wouldn't He lead the wise to the timing of Jesus at
His Second Advent? "None of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall
understand" (Daniel 12:10).
[For a more complete development of the concept
that a Christian may legitimately have an idea of the day and hour of the
Rapture, read the rest of "Why Should Christians Be Date Setters?"
-- http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Timeline/Why.Should.Chirst.Date.html --. "For
the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:
though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry"
(Habakkuk 2:3).]
What is the Crux of the Paradox?
Approximately two millennia have passed without the fulfillment of the Pre-Tribulational
Rapture, the Great Tribulation, or the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but that has
not diminished the fact that the LORD Jesus has promised, "I will come again,
and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). This same Jesus,
who commissioned His Church to evangelize the world (Matthew 28:19-20), has likewise
promised, "Behold, I come quickly" (Revelation
22:7). Of what value is the Church in publishing the
Gospel to the world, e.g., "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"
(1Timothy 1:15),
if it is preoccupied with its departure from this planet? None at all! "Occupy
till I come" (Luke 19:13) has been our LORD's marching orders to His people; and, a faithful
servant will never allow himself to become lax about his living or spreading the
Gospel, though he watch the clock for his departure. "2 Moreover it is required in stewards,
that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of
you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet
am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the LORD. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the
time, until the LORD come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness,
and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have
praise of God" (1Corinthians 4:2-5).
A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement that may be nonetheless true. Since
we know that the God-breathed Scriptures cannot contradict themselves, i.e., "The
Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35), then any ostensibly conflicting declarations, must be able to be
resolved without damaging the fabric of Scripture or the character of the God of
Truth. For example, Solomon's Proverbs make two diametrically opposed assertions;
and yet, the Spirit of God does not allow him to make contradictions. "4 Answer not a fool according
to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in
his own conceit" (Proverbs 26:4-5). "Answer not a fool" in the fashion of "his
folly" (26:4),
i.e., "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing"
(1Peter 3:9).
"Answer a fool" because of "his folly, lest he be wise in his
own conceit" (Proverbs 26:5), i.e., "19 And I ["a certain rich man" (12:16)] will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many
years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 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?" (Luke 12:19-20).
The paradox of not knowing the day or hour of the LORD's Second Coming, i.e., "But
of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father
only" (Matthew 24:36),
is contrasted to our LORD's Promise to keep His friends posted concerning His Father's
plans. "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what
his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of
My Father I have made known unto you" (John
15:15). This is in keeping with the Old Testament Promise,
"Surely the LORD GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants
the prophets" (Amos 3:7).
Even if none of the Saints were certain of the exact day or hour of the Pre-Tribulational
Rapture, it does not detract from our LORD's willingness to have His people search
for the timing of His soon appearing and their Pre-Tribulational Rapture. "10 Of which salvation the prophets
have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should
come unto you: 11
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them
did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory
that should follow. 12
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister
the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel
unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven; which things the angels desire
to look into" (1Peter 1:11-12).
It is our LORD's intention that His people should be keenly aware of what is about
to shortly occur. "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide
you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear,
that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come" (John 16:13). Because faith
is confidence in God, His secrets belong to those who have confidence in Him. "For
the froward [literally, crooked or perverse] is abomination to the LORD: but His
secret is with the Righteous" (Proverbs
3:32). The reason for no man knowing the day or the
hour of the LORD's return is more attributable to man's lack of faithfulness than
our LORD's willingness to make the timing known. "When the Son of Man cometh,
shall He find faith on the Earth?" (Luke
18:8). Again, the LORD has long ago stated His willingness
to share the secrets of His covenant with those that fear Him. "The secret of
the LORD is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant" (Psalm 25:14).
The Need for the Saints to be Watching for the LORD's Return
It is difficult for the Church to be alive, much less to be spiritually awake, without
living in continual anticipation of the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ and
their Pre-Tribulational Rapture. "For our conversation is in Heaven; from whence
also we look for the Saviour, the LORD Jesus Christ" (Philippians
3:20). The temptation and tendency to become sinfully
polluted by the world we live in, must be continually overcome by trusting in the
LORD. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1John 5:4). It would be self-deception
to believe that we could be ready to meet the LORD at His return, without living
a life of consecrated love that measures up to our professed confession of faith
in the LORD Jesus. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no
man shall see the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14). In fact, our very emphasis upon the soon return of our LORD Christ,
i.e., "Behold, I come quickly" (Revelation
22:7), is intended by the LORD to maintain our holiness
and purity. "2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him
as He is. 3 And
every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure"
(1John 3:2-3).
At the time of His First Advent, Christ Jesus impressed upon His apostles the need
for recalling the atonement He was about to accomplish, through the ordinance of
the LORD's Supper. "24
And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body,
which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. 25 After the same manner also He took
the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in My blood: this
do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me" (1Corinthians 11:24-25). Further, the
Apostle Paul stressed that this remembrance was to continue until the judgment that
the LORD would accomplish at His Second Advent. "For as often as ye eat this
bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the LORD's death till He come"
(11:26). A key
feature of the LORD's Supper is to remind the Saints of our need of self-examination,
i.e., "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and
drink of that cup" (11:28), that we "would walk worthy of God" (1Thessalonians 2:12), and that we would
practice the self-judgment, i.e., "For if we would judge ourselves, we should
not be judged" (1Corinthians 11:31), that would keep us from continuing in known sin. "But whoso
keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected" (1John 2:5).
Spiritual readiness is expected of all True Saints-- those "that look for Him"
(Hebrews 9:28).
"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think
not" (Luke 12:40).
The Saint who is about His Father's business is ready for His LORD's return.
"4 But the
wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps... 10 And while they [the Foolish Virgins] went to buy, the Bridegroom
came; and they [the Wise Virgins] that were ready went in with Him to the marriage:
and the door was shut" (Matthew 25:10). [See our article, "A Tale of Ten Virgins" --
http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Prophecy/A.Tale.of.Ten.Virgins.html --, for a sober
warning to those who await their Pre-Tribulational Rapture.]
Whether the Gospel is preached to the Lost, or the Saints edified, we must be spiritually
ready to do the LORD's bidding. "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach
the Gospel to you that are at Rome also" (Romans
1:15). Christians are born into the Kingdom of God,
ready to do God's will, as well as to meet their LORD at His coming. "35 Let your loins be girded
about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he
will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto
him immediately. 37
Blessed are those servants, whom the LORD when He cometh shall find watching: verily
I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and
will come forth and serve them" (Luke
12:35-37).
Knowing how to conduct ourselves in this world, as we see Scriptural prophecies unfold,
is essential to our well-being and usefulness, in these Last Days. "2 For yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the LORD so cometh as a thief in the night... 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness,
that that day should overtake you as a thief... 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be
sober" (1Thessalonians 5:2, 4, 6). For example, the rebirth of the modern nation of Israel in 1948
or the Israeli recapture of the city of Jerusalem in 1967, are essential for a Rebuilt
Jerusalem Temple to be desecrated by the Antichrist in fulfillment of the endtime
prophecies of the LORD Jesus Christ concerning the Abomination of Desolation (Matthew
24:15) at the Middle of the Tribulation Week, i.e., "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:)" (Matthew
24:15). [See our
article, "Antichrist Shall Come" --
http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Prophecy/Antichrist.Shall.Come.html --, for more
background on this significant, but evil personality.]
And, these modern events increase our anticipation of departure at a Pre-Tribulational
Rapture, as we conclude that we are part of the Terminal Generation. "Verily
I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled"
(Luke 21:32).
[Also, see our article, "Ezekiel Predicted the 1967 Recapture of Jerusalem" -- http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Timeline/1998.Year.of.Apocalypse.2.html#Ezekiel
Predicted -- (from our "1998: Year of the Apocalypse" series-- when we
were hoping the Rapture would occur on Pentecost 1998).]
Such anticipation draws us away from becoming at home in this world, accentuating
the pilgrim character of all True Saints. "These all died in faith, not having
received the Promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them,
and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth"
(Hebrews 11:13).
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts, which war against the soul" (1Peter
2:11).
Keeping our focus upon the Heavenly Treasures is part of the benefit of watching
for our LORD's return. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon Earth, where
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal" (Matthew 6:19). Certainly,
souls won to the LORD Jesus Christ are part of that Heavenly Treasure. "For
what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence
of our LORD Jesus Christ at His coming?" (1Thessalonians
2:19). But, all moral action transacted for Christ
by the Saints is accounted as the Perfect Love demanded by our God. "36 Master, which is the great
commandment in the Law? 37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the First and Great Commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. 40 On
these two Commandments hang all the Law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40). Inordinate concern
over the cares of this world, indicate that we have lost a proper Christian focus
upon that which is true and real. "20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also" (6:20-21).
Too often, those who cry the loudest that some Christians are so heavenly minded
that they are no earthly good, have regarded the injunction of the LORD Jesus' Olivet
Discourse, i.e., "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the
angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13:32), as an indication that
Christians should be more practically employed in building the Organizational Church
on Earth, than to be absorbed with "esoteric" prophecy. But, "1 If ye then be risen with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand
of God. 2 Set
your affection on things above, not on things on the Earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is
hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3). If we are about our Father's business, He will look out for
our interests. "30
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow
is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after
all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye
have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
(Matthew 6:30-34).
The Potential Abuse by Those Who Say They Watch for Their LORD's Return
Refusing to do the spiritual service that God has appointed for us, i.e., "I
do not have the time to minister the Word of God or pray, because I am too full of
anticipation of being Raptured", is an unfaithful and foolish use of the doctrine
of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church.
"42 And the
LORD said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler
over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant,
whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all
that he hath" (Luke 12:42-44). When the unfaithful degenerate in their foolishness from unwillingness
to engage in "prayer, and... the ministry of the Word" (Acts 6:4), their wickedness will be
seen in increasingly blatant conduct. "But and if that servant say in his heart,
My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens,
and to eat and drink, and to be drunken" (Luke
12:45).
More than once, in the history of the Church, have Professed Christians ceased working
for the support of their bodily sustenance, i.e., quit their earthly, income producing
jobs, because they thought that the End was near or the Coming of the LORD was about
to be accomplished. The Apostle Paul wrote more than one epistle to the Thessalonian
Christians, concerning their conduct in anticipation of the LORD's return. "5 And the LORD direct your
hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 6 Now we command you, Brethren,
in the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every Brother
that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye
ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man's
bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might
not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample
unto you to follow us. 10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work,
neither should he eat. 11
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all,
but are busybodies. 12
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our LORD Jesus Christ, that with
quietness they work, and eat their own bread" (2Thessalonians
3:5-12).
The Thessalonian Christians had previously been addressed by Paul "to wait for
[the Father's] Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered
us from the wrath to come" (1Thessalonians
1:10). It was a legitimate concern of the Apostle, that
the Saints of Thessalonica would be "perfect, even as [their] Father which is
in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), not neglecting their Christian duty to walk in Perfect Love, even
as Jesus instructed. "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if
ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). This Apostle of the Gentiles (Romans
11:13) framed the need for Practical Holiness in light
of the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. "To the end He may stablish your
hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our
LORD Jesus Christ with all His Saints" (1Thessalonians
3:13).
Christianity and slothfulness are diametrically opposed, even if there is the peak
of anticipation of the LORD's return. "26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,
thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest
therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should
have received mine own with usury" (Matthew
25:26-27). Unlike the world that seeks the job or position
that is worthy of them, the Saints have already been given this "high calling
of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14), and ought to be willing to work in the most humble employment that
provides for our needs, "until the LORD come" (1Corinthians
4:5). "11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and
to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that
ye may have lack of nothing" (1Thessalonians
4:11-12). Ending this practical exhortation against
slothfulness, Paul punctuated the passage with the "Blessed Hope, and the glorious
appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). "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" (1Thessalonians 4:17).
Lack of concern over personal holiness may arise when the Spirit of God is not consulted
about the right estimation of the doctrines of the Second Coming of Christ, but we
are assured that we are to follow "holiness, without which no man shall see
the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14). "And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray
God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of
our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Thessalonians
5:23). [See our
articles, "Must We Then Sin?" -- http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Must.We.Then.Sin.html
--, and "The Beauty of Holiness" --
http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/The.Beauty.of.Holiness.html --, to assist
you in your desire for "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD" (Zechariah
14:20).] Since
we are supposed to be the "children of light, and the children of the day"
(1Thessalonians 5:5),
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober"
(5:6). Seven practical
exhortations to personal holiness are then given by the Apostle Paul:
(1) "Rejoice evermore" (5:16), i.e., How can we not be glad and rejoice, if our "Names are written in Heaven" (Luke 10:20)?
(2) "Pray without ceasing" (5:17), i.e., How can we have the slightest care, if we have cast all our "care upon Him" (1Peter 5:7) through prayer?
(3) "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (5:18), i.e., Does not "giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20) cause us to be knit to God and separated from sin?
(4) "Quench not the Spirit" (5:19), i.e., Can we be walking in Perfect Love, unless we "grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby [we] are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30)?
(5) "Despise not prophesyings" (5:20), i.e., How can we continue to walk in Loving Obedience, unless we can cry out with the Psalmist, "O how love I Thy Law! it is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97)?
(6) "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (5:21), i.e., How can we cleave to that which is from God and that which is good, unless we have our "senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14) by reason of use of the strong meat of the Word of God? And,
(7) "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (5:22), i.e., What Saint can maintain his holiness in life and service, if he does not hate "even the garment spotted by the flesh" (Jude 23)?
The Jehovah's Witnesses, a false cult that denies the divinity
of the LORD Jesus Christ, e.g., "Who ran the universe during the three days
that Jesus was dead and in the grave... If Jesus was God, then during Jesus' death
God was in the grave... If Jesus was the immortal God, He could not have died"
(from the Jehovah's Witness publication, "Let
God Be True" [Rev. 1952, p. 109]), are sometimes
cited as representative of what happens to Christians, who get carried away with
the doctrines of the Second Coming of Christ. But, this cannot be an example of the
fruit produced, when True Saints study Bible prophecy, because passages such as Paul's
instructions to Timothy must have been purposely ignored by the Jehovah's Witnesses.
"13 I give
thee charge in the sight of God, Who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus,
Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this Commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until
the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ: 15 Which in His times He shall shew, Who is the Blessed and Only Potentate,
the KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the Light which no man can
approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be honour and power everlasting.
Amen" (1Timothy 6:13-16).
Further, though Charles Taze Russell-- founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses-- calculated
that the "invisible return" of Christ was to have taken place in 1874,
and the Second Coming of Christ in 1914, the ill-repute and failure of his predictions,
more importantly, must be assessed in light of his ill-treatment and abuse of the
LORD Jesus Christ. "21
He that hath My Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that
loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself
to him... 24 He
that loveth Me not keepeth not My Sayings: and the Word which ye hear is not Mine,
but the Father's which sent Me" (John
14:21, 24). [See
our article, "How to Identify a False Prophet"
-- http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Prophets/How.To.ID.False.Prophet.html -- , for
a Biblical treatment of false prophet identification.]
Christians ought not fear that they will apostatize by laying emphasis upon the Second
Coming of the LORD Jesus, much less, expecting any particular day or hour for their
Pre-Tribulational Rapture, if we are confiding in the Promises of God to keep us
from the abyss of such devils as Charles Taze Russell. "24 Now unto Him that is able to keep
you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with
exceeding joy, 25
To the Only Wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen" (Jude 24-25). [See our article, "Exceeding
Great and Precious Promises" -- http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Promises/Exceeding.Promises.html
--, to see how the Promises of God are designed to confirm and sanctify us, until
He returns for us.]
Conclusion
For any True Christian, knowing or not knowing the "day and hour" (Matthew 24:36) of Christ's
return or of the Pre-Tribulational Rapture, is truly a non-issue, compared to the
destiny of the hypocrite, who discerns not the "signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3). The real issue
is Perfect Love, that is, "Do we give to Christ the obedience that demonstrates
that we are His friends?" "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command
you" (John 15:14).
Contention over the whole topic of knowing or not knowing the day and hour of the
LORD's return, would vanish if our hearts were not embittered over disappointments
experienced, because the LORD Jesus delayed His coming. Again, "for the vision
is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though
it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry" (Habakkuk 2:3). Allow the Sovereign
God the time to work out His purpose in completing the Body of Christ and working
out His judgment of the world. "And all the inhabitants of the Earth are reputed
as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the Earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest
Thou?" (Daniel 4:35).
The Wicked cannot and will not know what has happened, while the True Saints are
and will be taught by the Spirit of the timing of "things to come" (John 16:13). "(According
as it is written, God hath given them [the Wicked] the spirit of slumber, eyes that
they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day" (Romans 11:8). Those who look
with disdain at the zeal and fervency of those who anticipate a soon Rapture-- with
or without any specific day or hour-- must recall that Paul told the Roman Saints
that it was "high time" to be awake and ready for Christ to "appear
the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews
9:28). "11 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. 12 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).
The great excitement generated within the Evangelical Church with Hal Lindsay's book,
"The Late Great Planet Earth" (1970), caused many to sit up and take notice
of the lateness of the hour and the closeness of the Rapture, in light of the argument
that those who are alive at the time of the modern re-birth of Israel in 1948, are
part of the Fig Tree Generation (Matthew 24:32), that shall see the LORD's return.
"This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" (24:34). This interest in Bible
prophecy was well and good, but the Church can never live alone on the emotion and
excitement of even the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus. Instead, we are commanded
to sink deep roots of abiding in Christ, that "when He shall appear, we may
have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" (1John 2:28). "Abide in Me, and
I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;
no more can ye, except ye abide in Me" (John
15:4).
When all is said and done, we must "all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ"
(Romans 14:10)
to account for how we responded, when we were shown the "signs of the times"
(Matthew 16:3). "11
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon
this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire
shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. 15
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be
saved; yet so as by fire" (1Corinthians
3:11-15). LORD, make us to be ready! "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).
Maranatha!
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