Be Ye watchful

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ComeLordJesus

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2017
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#1
I don't understand why we are admonished to be watchful because the lord can return like a thief in the night. I pretty much think God has everything planned out so how can our being watchful change anything one way or another. How does it benefit us to be watchful?
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,215
2,551
113
#2
He does have everything planned out the issue is it is not for us know the timing of his planning
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,392
16,338
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69
Tennessee
#3
I don't understand why we are admonished to be watchful because the lord can return like a thief in the night. I pretty much think God has everything planned out so how can our being watchful change anything one way or another. How does it benefit us to be watchful?
I believe that the message is that since you don't know when the Lord will come again you should live each day like it's your last because one day it will be.
 

Deade

Called of God
Dec 17, 2017
16,724
10,530
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Vinita, Oklahoma, USA
yeshuaofisrael.org
#4
I don't understand why we are admonished to be watchful because the lord can return like a thief in the night. I pretty much think God has everything planned out so how can our being watchful change anything one way or another. How does it benefit us to be watchful?
Hi ComeLordJesus
,
Well it is pretty simple for believers for the reason to be watchful. When He said: Mark 13:37: And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. He was addressing believers.

Here is the reason: 1Thess. 5:2-6: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.Like in the parables: we watch for when summer is nigh, the day of the Lord is near.
:rolleyes:

Yours,

Deade
:cool:

GH_JSMF.gif
 

ComeLordJesus

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2017
372
39
28
#5
Hi ComeLordJesus
,
Well it is pretty simple for believers for the reason to be watchful. When He said: Mark 13:37: And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. He was addressing believers.

Here is the reason: 1Thess. 5:2-6: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.Like in the parables: we watch for when summer is nigh, the day of the Lord is near.
:rolleyes:

Yours,

Deade
:cool:

View attachment 178122
So basicly what your saying is like what Paul encountered in 2Tim.2:18 where people were being told that the ressurection had already happened and shaking peoples faith. If we know the signs and pay attention we won't be like some (I think they were Millerites) in the past who sold all their belongings and stood on rooftops waiting for the Lord and he didn't come.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,637
13,038
113
#6
I don't understand why we are admonished to be watchful because the lord can return like a thief in the night. I pretty much think God has everything planned out so how can our being watchful change anything one way or another. How does it benefit us to be watchful?
People are easily distracted, and Christians can be easily distracted also if they are not watchful. If that were not true, then there would have been no need for this warning to be repeated over and over again. The world, the flesh, and the Devil have one sole objective -- to get Christians off the track and engaged in things which are unprofitable for eternity. We are given these examples in Scripture (Mt 24:43,48,49; 25:3,26,27):

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up...

But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken...

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them...

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: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
 

Enoch987

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2017
317
15
18
#7
Revelation 16:15. Jesus returns as a thief in the night. Why is this verse placed before the 7th bowl of God's judgment? Is this when the rapture happens? If true, this is called the pre-wrath rapture.
 

ComeLordJesus

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2017
372
39
28
#8
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the deaf in Christ shall rise first: 1Thess.4:16

I was on youtube one day looking at some stuff and ran across a video where people are claiming to hear trumpets. Pretty out of context of what the Bible says since the dead in Christ will rise when this happens.
 

ComeLordJesus

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2017
372
39
28
#9
Revelation 16:15. Jesus returns as a thief in the night. Why is this verse placed before the 7th bowl of God's judgment? Is this when the rapture happens? If true, this is called the pre-wrath rapture.
I think this is when the vials are being poured out and doesn't have anything to do with "bowls." I think this the preparation for Armageddon. Read verse 16.
 
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tanakh

Senior Member
Dec 1, 2015
4,635
1,040
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#10
What we should be watching is our relationship with God. None of us know how long we have to live. We hope to have long lives but there is no guarantee of it. A few days ago three teenagers in London were killed by a hit and run driver while waiting at a bus stop on their way to a Birthday party. I have no idea what relationship they had with the Lord but it certainly brings home to me how really tenuous how our lives are
 

Enoch987

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2017
317
15
18
#11
I think this is when the vials are being poured out and doesn't have anything to do with "bowls." I think this the preparation for Armageddon. Read verse 16.
some bibles translate 'vials' some bible have 'bowls'.
its the same, the pouring out of wrath different than a bottle which has a tapered mouth so it can be controlled better.
the word picture is pouring out of God's wrath all a once or suddenly.
 

ComeLordJesus

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2017
372
39
28
#12
some bibles translate 'vials' some bible have 'bowls'.
its the same, the pouring out of wrath different than a bottle which has a tapered mouth so it can be controlled better.
the word picture is pouring out of God's wrath all a once or suddenly.
Not trying to get into a version battle , but, when we look at the Greek word translated as VIALS (φιαλας) in the King James Bible and many other translations as well, we find that the English word “vial” comes directly from this Greek word. Webster’s New Word dictionary, college edition, tells us that a vial is a small vessel or bottle, usually made of glass, and that it comes from the Latin word phiala and the Greek word phiale - which just happens to be the exact Greek word used all 12 times in the book of Revelation - φιαλας.
 

MarcR

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2015
5,486
183
63
#13
I think that we should be watchful that we do not compromise our witness with behavior that reflects badly on the Lord, with whom people associate us.

We should also be watchful that we use our time in ways that serve and glorify the Lord.

We should be watchful that our values reflect His teachings and NOT those of our culture.

We should be watchful that opportunities to be useful to the Lord are missed because of inattention to what He has told us to be doing.