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?
Be Ye watchful
- Thread starter ComeLordJesus
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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.
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.
Yours,
Deade
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.
Yours,
Deade
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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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
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.
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.
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.