When we think about end-time events, it's human nature to want to know the details of those things that will occur in the future and so many people go to psychics and fortune tellers. Even in some Christian circles, people chase after well-known so-called "prophets" in order to get an update on their "personal prophecy". And many theologians have determined a number of different theories about how they believe these end-time events will transpire, and many of them go around the country teaching and preaching those theories to the masses…each one believing that they have the correct answer and all the others are wrong.
While Jesus told us a number of things that we are to look for that would point to the end of the age, and God even gave the Apostle John and the prophets of old great visions of future events, He never clearly taught them exactly how all these events would take place nor did He give them specific details about the order of events that they saw. And so the debate continues today. But we can be sure that Jesus did outline three steps that He wanted us to follow so that the time of the end would not catch us by surprise, and I think that by knowing these steps, we will be more prepared to recognize what is taking place as we see the end drawing near. I'd like to share those with you if I may:
1. First, He told us 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 13:35-37) Friends, we need to be constantly aware of the things that are going on in our world. We do not need to keep our heads hidden in the sand, waiting for some event to take place that will give us an escape from it all. Jesus was very specific about the things we need to be watching for in scripture and He put it there for a reason...because He wanted us to be aware and to realize how close we are to the things that He has warned us about. He wanted us to stay close to God so that we will be prepared. Jesus criticized the Pharisees because they did not pay attention to the signs of the times. "Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?" (Luke 12:56) When you read your Bible, you will find a number of events that we can look for to happen before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the things He warned us about in scripture.
2. The second thing He told us to do was to PRAY: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." Friends...in the text just before this scripture, Jesus was warning His Disciples of all the things that would take place on the earth as the end of times is drawing near. He has given signs to look for so that we will be aware. But I am convinced that we will not know how they will all fall into place until they are actually happening day by day. That is why there is so much confusion and so many "theories" out there. Many experts have written books about it and made movies about it…and to be quite frank, some people have made a great deal of money with their theories. But, I truly believe that as we are going through these events and the things that Jesus has told us about are taking place, then the Holy Spirit will open our eyes little by little and reveal truth to us as we seek the Lord for discernment, direction and guidance. But if we are not paying attention and if we are not seeking Him for truth, then we will miss the signs that God has given us. He has ALWAYS desired our daily communion and dependence on Him, and even in these end times He has that same desire! He wants us to come to Him every day allowing Him to show us what is happening and what we need to be doing do to prepare for those things we read in scripture. He has a plan in place already, but we need to spend time in His presence in order to find out what His specific plan is. Those times will REQUIRE great discernment from the Holy Spirit and our ultimate dependence on God.
3. The third thing Jesus told us to do is to OCCUPY till He comes: “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:13) In this parable, Jesus was giving His Disciples an example of what it would be like when He returned. He told the story of a Nobleman who was going away and left his servants in charge of his goods…and He told them to “occupy” until he returned. Friends, that world “occupy” does not mean to sit idly by and take up space. Many people think that they can sit in a pew on Sunday morning and just live their lives with no commitment and no service for the Kingdom of God, and somehow Jesus will be more than happy to receive them into His Kingdom when He returns, but when I read the end of that parable in verse 27, the Nobleman said, “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’” I don’t think that Jesus meant for us to just take up space! The King James Version of the Bible uses the word “Occupy” but when I looked in several of the other versions, I believe we get a better understanding of what He meant…most of them used words like, “do business” or “conduct business”. The meaning would be more of an action word. If you think of the word “occupy” in military terms, for an army to “occupy a territory” would certainly not mean that they were just hanging out there having a good time. NO! To occupy means they are at work, busy doing the things that they are left there to do. When Jesus told His Disciples to “Occupy” until He comes…He was in fact telling them to be “busy about the Father’s business”.
And THAT is what we need to be doing while we are waiting for scripture to be fulfilled during the end of the age. We need to be paying attention to the things that are going on daily. We are to know what world events are that are taking place in our time. We are seeing scripture fulfilled every day as we eagerly await the return of our Lord. We are to pray…like we have never prayed before. We need to pray for discernment and direction…but we are to also pray for those around us who are suffering as evil is abounding more and more. We are seeing terror on every side and deep darkness is covering our world. We need to be deeply involved in prayer. And we need to “Occupy” until He comes. We need to be actively engaged in Kingdom business. We need to be reaping the harvest that is out there waiting for someone to come along and show them where to find hope and peace in these last days. We need to be actively engaged in the spiritual battle…interceding for the lost and preaching the Gospel to the world.
Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” We have a work to do Friends…we MUST preach the Gospel to all the world as a witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ…BEFORE and UNTIL He comes!
Prayer:
Father, we know that You have given us instructions in Your Word regarding the day and age in which we live. You have not left us without hope and encouragement. Jesus told us that the world will wax worse and worse until He comes and sets things in proper order. Father, help us to become aware of what you want us to do…help us to pay attention to the signs that are all around us every day. Help us Father to stay in prayer…or as Paul admonished us, to pray continually…and help us also Lord to be about YOUR business as we await the great and glorious promise of our Lord to return for His own. There is still much to be done and a great harvest of souls awaits our obedience. Strengthen us, empower us, and send us out to do that which You have called us to do. And when that glorious day of our Lord does come, we will be honored to meet with Him and live with Him for all eternity. In Jesus Name we pray…Amen.
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