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Post by witness1 on Jan 28, 2018 15:04:05 GMT -6
We know that Jesus commanded us to watch, but why? If we are already walking with the Lord and simply disappear in the blink of an eye or even in our sleep, why do we need to be awake to the times?
Who are we watching for? Are we watching for each other? For unbelievers? For the sleeping church?
The command to watch in Revelation 3 carries this note in my commentary (ESV Study Bible): "The command to 'wake up' is a reminder that twice in its history Sardis had been sacked when the watchmen on the walls failed to detect an enemy army sneaking up its supposedly impregnable cliffs and walls."
Luke 21:34-36
"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Is watching simply God's gift to give us time to examine our hearts and repent of any sin found therein, that we may stand before the Son of Man and escape the things of earth? Or is there more to it?
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Post by rt on Jan 28, 2018 15:43:47 GMT -6
Here are some other verses (the OP's included) that appear to address the same idea of watching, not drawing any conclusions, just putting them out here for consideration:
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Post by davewatchman on Jan 28, 2018 16:14:25 GMT -6
We know that Jesus commanded us to watch, but why? If we are already walking with the Lord and simply disappear in the blink of an eye or even in our sleep, why do we need to be awake to the times? Who are we watching for? Are we watching for each other? For unbelievers? For the sleeping church? The command to watch in Revelation 3 carries this note in my commentary (ESV Study Bible): "The command to 'wake up' is a reminder that twice in its history Sardis had been sacked when the watchmen on the walls failed to detect an enemy army sneaking up its supposedly impregnable cliffs and walls." Luke 21:34-36 "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." Is watching simply God's gift to give us time to examine our hearts and repent of any sin found therein, that we may stand before the Son of Man and escape the things of earth? Or is there more to it? There must be more to it. If we are at the end of the world, it's going to be better for the ones that are found watching. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching. I think the people here are doing it. We're watching for the rapture. We're watching for the tribulation. We're watching for the signs that are given. And what would I be doing now if I wasn't watching? Shopping for a new truck? Building a new pole barn to store my stuff? Buying more tools on sale? Planing out my next five years here in the world? Because Jesus said that He's going to come at an hour that we do not expect. It's going to take the vast majority by surprise. I don't think all Christians are into this end time material like we are. But that's fine, watching is not a salvific criteria. It would be OK, as long as we are not here at the end of the world right now. If I knew that the tribulation was about to begin, but I was not 100% sure that I would be part of the rapture, I certainly would not be getting on a plane headed to France for the purpose of taking pictures of the Eiffel Tower. And I would not want to be in a large downtown area of a city. I would rather be close to home when it starts because when it does, I'm fairly sure that where you are is where you're going to be. So if some foolish virgins find themselves on a trip to Europe when a third of the earth gets burned up, and all the green grass, I'll bet they'll wish that they had kept watch and would not have let their house be broken into. And this is one of the specifications that i look for. If everyone jumps onto a date at the same time with spirited excitement, it makes me suspicious. On the day that the Son of Man is revealed, I want to be one of the ones found watching for Him. And not doing anything foolish, like taking pictures of the Eiffel Tower. |
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Post by witness1 on Jan 28, 2018 16:53:01 GMT -6
If that day is not going to take us by surprise, don't you think that watchmen being in agreement about a date being significant would make that date actually a BETTER possibility? |
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Post by davewatchman on Jan 28, 2018 17:25:31 GMT -6
If that day is not going to take us by surprise, don't you think that watchmen being in agreement about a date being significant would make that date actually a BETTER possibility? The watchmen shall see eye to eye. Together they shall sing. You got me on that one. But at the same time, i don't see this as something John Hagee finds out and then tells about it in a prime time interview on the Barbra Walters show. |
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Post by barbiosheepgirl on Jan 28, 2018 17:25:59 GMT -6
From what I was getting from biblehub lurking the greek names of "watching" , "be alert" it has the meaning too of "vigilance": the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties (by definition)
What this tells me is that we are not necessarily going to be immune from tribulation or trial in our current Walk today, and perhaps Paul and John and those spreading the Message were warning those coming into the Faith would suffer challenges.. And we know the bond-servants and saints in the days the Gospel was in its infancy were suffering persecution right from the start. And, we know that in countries now there are Christians dying because of their Faith. Even among our friends the Name Jesus sounds offensive to them. We get judged by our friends who see us as hypocrits because they still see us sinning...Being a Christ-follower comes with much condemnation from the masses. But why all this concern to be vigilant?
What dangers? Dangers of false doctrine? False teachers? Gnostics? Jesus warned 3 times to be careful not to be misled in Matt 24.. We must get to know Him thru His WORD..
What difficulties? Being alienated by our families for our Belief? Walking apart from faith and being overcome by our fleshly desires? Our battle is a spiritual battle according to Paul:
Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Can we recognize our spiritual enemies?
But one reason WHY we are "watching" by looking for events, heavenly signs, and searching ourselves every time we contribute to a post, or share the Gospel is because of what Paul wrote to the Romans: Ch 8
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
We are groaning for this revealing. Our flesh bogs us down, we are slaves of it and corrupted by it. It can wear on a person, no? We want our LORD God to get going! His Kingdom to manifest on earth as it is in heaven...meaning, we get to put on the incorruptible. We become glorified beings no longer flesh and blood the way we know it, to be restored to the way we were before the Fall, and physically walk with Jesus! That is our great Hope! To have that happen to us and no longer be longing for it. And the Rev 12 sign really got us excited about it!!
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Post by witness1 on Jan 28, 2018 17:32:49 GMT -6
If that day is not going to take us by surprise, don't you think that watchmen being in agreement about a date being significant would make that date actually a BETTER possibility? The watchmen shall see eye to eye. Together they shall sing. You got me on that one.
But at the same time, i don't see this as something John Hagee finds out and then tells about it in a prime time interview on the Barbra Walters show.
I've never seen that scripture. Thank you for sharing! Isaiah 52:8 I think you're absolutely right on about it not being what the mainstream media reports. The differentiation between us being in agreement and the news report is a good one. This scripture makes me think something will happen that will make this puzzle suddenly make sense so that we are in agreement. Do you think so? |
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Post by davewatchman on Jan 28, 2018 17:42:28 GMT -6
We are groaning for this revealing. Our flesh bogs us down, we are slaves of it and corrupted by it. It can wear on a person, no? We want our LORD God to get going! His Kingdom to manifest on earth as it is in heaven...meaning, we get to put on the incorruptible. We become glorified beings no longer flesh and blood the way we know it, to be restored to the way we were before the Fall, and physically walk with Jesus! That is our great Hope! To have that happen to us and no longer be longing for it. And the Rev 12 sign really got us excited about it!! I know it did. But all these disappointments have probably served a purpose. They are going to help cause the majority to miss the real thing when it comes. And scripture will be fulfilled. It will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth, and the Son of Man will come at an hour when we do not expect. I recommend the Trump born on a full moon video. Just for what the author says at the end of it when he just goes on talking. A young guy like that having all that he wants and just started a new job. Most young people would rather this not be the end of the world yet. But he is ready for it, even excited. Like a kid on Christmas eve. I wouldn't want to miss it for the world. Isaac Newton would have loved to see one of our days. |
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Post by davewatchman on Jan 28, 2018 17:47:00 GMT -6
The watchmen shall see eye to eye. Together they shall sing. You got me on that one.
But at the same time, i don't see this as something John Hagee finds out and then tells about it in a prime time interview on the Barbra Walters show.
I've never seen that scripture. Thank you for sharing! Isaiah 52:8 I think you're absolutely right on about it not being what the mainstream media reports. The differentiation between us being in agreement and the news report is a good one. This scripture makes me think something will happen that will make this puzzle suddenly make sense so that we are in agreement. Do you think so? That would be nice. It would be great if it happened just a few days, maybe seven days, prior to the event taking place. Then there wouldn't be enough time for it to flood the media, but we would have the time to see eye to eye.. |
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Post by witness1 on Jan 29, 2018 8:50:21 GMT -6
davewatchman, that makes a lot of sense. There would need to be time for the watchmen to be in agreement but not enough time for it to be mainstream. I keep thinking about Moses telling the people to be ready on the 3rd day: On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. Exodus 19:16-20
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Post by witness1 on Jan 29, 2018 8:55:56 GMT -6
I am glad to know that we will (should?) be in agreement when the time comes. I don't want to blow any whistles based on what my own eyes are seeing and thereby profane the name of Christ when I'm wrong.
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Post by stormyknight on Jan 29, 2018 10:06:19 GMT -6
davewatchman , I have been of the same mind as you. I have been poring over the internet news and whatnot, keeping an eye on events, waiting feverishly for our Savior's return. I ache for that day. My wife, on the other hand, still plans for things, she redid our son's old room into a spare bedroom for when we have company, she has plans for me to build a greenhouse near her garden, etc, etc,. And she is a baptized believing Christian as I am!!! She prays and hopes for the day as well, but it seems she just leaves the watching up to me. Is that wrong? I don't know, and I'm not going to judge her on it. I don't make plans any farther than next week! If that!! There is a super blood blue moon on Wednesday and I was thinking there might be a special meeting at the UN on the two state solution on Friday, I might be wrong on that though. What does that mean? I don't know. Will it spark a war? Peace? Will Jesus pull us out of here? I hope so! Some days my mind gets so frazzled it's hard to stay focused. edit...it is a meeting of the EU not the UN.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2018 11:44:49 GMT -6
Want to add another scripture to this topic:
Being a watchman seems to bear also enhanced responsibility.
For our own life and walk with Christ.
And obviously we are responsible (in a specific sense) for our brethren, too.
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pault
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Post by pault on Jan 29, 2018 14:16:18 GMT -6
I had a little insight into how "watchmen" operated in the bible. They were stationed in towers on the walls of the city, usually its Jerusalem. It was only one watchman per tower and in a shift rota so they wouldn't fall asleep. They were needed more at night because in the day the people were passing through the gates and at night its hard to see any enemies approaching. The watchman had a trumpet which he would blow if he saw any enemies approaching. So the following were good rules that applied to watchmen that should still apply to us today;
1. Keep watch for the enemy who is hiding in the dark.
2. Remain undistracted for as long as you can.
3. Carry a loud trumpet to warn the people of impending doom.
4. Don't give up just because it looks like no one is taking any notice.
5. Blow that trumpet as loud as you can.
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Post by domagb on Jan 29, 2018 17:24:53 GMT -6
Why do we watch? I can't speak for others, but I am a soldier. if I am told to watch, I watch! I don't ask why. I obey my King! I know obeying my Lord will grant me many eternal and temporary rewards!
Watchman reporting for watching duty!
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