QT 1/18/2024 Mark 12:32-37, Be prepared

Mark 13:32–37 (ESV) —

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

 

NOTE: We don't know the day or hour of his return, that is the day of the Lord, meaning his second coming, not the rapture. The rapture precedes the tribulation, but does not signal the beginning. The signing of the peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel signals the beginning of the 7-year tribulation period. The abomination that causes desolation signals the beginning of the last half of the tribulation called the Great tribulation. And the Jews acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah signals the time will be at hand for Jesus' return. We are to understand the signs and the season. We can't pinpoint the day of the Lord's return, but we can recognize the signs. We are close in my estimation. Most events have already occurred, but there are still a few remaining. Russia (Magog and Rosh), Iran (Persia), and Put and Cush (Ethiopian and Somalian Islamic terrorists) have partially attacked Israel. They are all sided together. We also need a one-world government that splits into ten regions. And we need the emergence of the Antichrist. A time with a false sense of peace and security will follow. How long will that all take? Five, ten, twenty years are all good guesses.

 

PONDER:

1. The command to stay awake means to fulfill the responsibilities that were given to us. What has God called me to and what am I doing about it?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to be faithful in the things you have assigned to me. Protect me from sin. Provide my daily bread.