NO ONE KNOWS
Mark 13:32-37 NKJV
32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 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. 35 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— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
1988 was the year of the infamous book "88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in 1988." Obviously, the book, although selling well, was wrong. There is still much discussion and speculation about the return of the Lord. Will He come back before the great tribulation or after? How many times is He returning?
In this passage, Jesus is clearly stating that no one knows. The angels don't know; even the Son doesn't know. Only the Father knows. So, with all this uncertainty, what are we to do? Watch and pray.
I believe Jesus will return to catch away the church prior to the great tribulation. Then, I believe He will return to rule and reign after the tribulation. So, I believe He will come twice. What if I am wrong? Even if I am totally off, I do know what to do: watch and pray.
Jesus said His return is similar to a man going to a faraway country and leaving his household under the authority of his servants. The servants are to continue to do their work, and the doorkeeper is to watch. This gives us something else to do. Do the work God has committed to us. Taking the gospel to the nations and advancing the Kingdom of God on the earth is our job. The premise Jesus set up was that those of us who serve Him are to do His work until He comes. This keeps us from putting life and our purpose on hold, thinking He is coming back any minute. He may be, but we are to stay busy, watch and pray. We do not want the Lord to come and find us sleeping.
APPLICATION
Watching and praying is staying spiritually alert. I do believe that those who are spiritually alert will not be caught by total surprise at His return. We will have a sense of His coming. As we are watching and praying, one of the things we can pray for is an awakening in the Church worldwide, and especially here in our country. Jesus said it would not be good for Him to come and find us sleeping. Awakening is another term for revival. We can certainly use a revival in our land, so let's pray along those lines.
I do not know when Jesus is coming, but I do know what to do until He comes. Watch, pray and keep busy with Kingdom work.
PRAYER
Lord, I know You are coming again. Until that day, I am praying for an awakening in our land and an awakening in my heart. I purpose to stay spiritually alert until You come, or I come Your way.