Be Watchful
"Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you."
-Jesus
If, when you hear about end time events, you comfort yourself to disengage by saying "no one knows the day or hour," you are actually speaking a curse over yourself. You will suffer loss.
Revelation 3:1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
4“You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
In Jesus' warning to Sardis, He tells her the cost of not watching...not participating in His return, is to be "blotted out from the Book of Life"... This means to " fall away." Many churches that started out alive with the Spirit, now have a name for themselves, then begin to pull away from the Holy Spirit right in the time they need Him to be fueling their hearts to get ready to endure. The warning to Sardis is entirely about the lack of the leadership of the Holy Spirit...the third person of the Trinity. Without the Spirit alive, active, and growing you into the preparatory reality of a zeal-filled watching of the events surrounding Jesus' return, you are likely to fall away...which means quit Jesus because you don't have what it takes to stand with Him.
The falling away is one of the most clear doctrines in the Bible, and one of the least taught doctrines in the church. You live in the hour of the falling away...like, right now...for real. This should make us tremble...but unfortunately, many simply yawn and say "we'll see."
There is a time appointed for the falling away.
2 Thessalonians 2:1Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
Jesus warns five of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 they will fall away if they don't repent...which means change and agree with Jesus about how intense His return is going to be and start getting ready.
Ephesus:
Revelation 2:5“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Pergamos:
Revelation 2:15“Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. (No one wins this fight)
Thyatira:
Revelation 2:21“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23“I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Sardis, I already quoted...
Laodicea:
Revelation 3:16“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
FIVE OUT OF SEVEN!! That is more than 70% of the church Jesus warns is not ready to stay loyal to Him!!
OK...so you are sure you are ready?! Great! How come you aren't warning others about the falling away?! If you aren't feeding the other servants food at the right time...teaching them the true things to be ready for what comes next...YOU aren't ready...
Matthew 24:44“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46“Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47“Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
48“But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
49“and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50“the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51“and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This isn't a warning about gluttony and drunkenness. You can beat people up without ever laying a finger on them. This is talking about resisting the coming of Jesus and living like the rest of the world... Beating up on those warning about the high cost of stupor in this hour. Warning about what is sure to come is what everyone loyal to Jesus in the Bible does, including Jesus!!....every writer of the New Testament said the same things...they all warned the Church of the falling away, which means Christians who quit being loyal to Jesus...though they will continue to claim to be "Christian" for a while longer...until that, too, is illegal and costly, which is when they begin denying they ever knew Him:
Paul:
1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
Peter:
2 Peter 2:1But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
James:
James 5:7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
10My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
11Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
John:
1 John 2:16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
18Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
(This whole chapter could have been quoted)
Jude:
Jude 1:16These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
17But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
19These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
The writer of Hebrews:
Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
That is EVERY writer of the New Testament warning you about the high risk of quitting Jesus in the generation we live in...and almost no one in the Church is watching, praying, or getting ready for this event, which...quite honestly... is evidenced by the dullness of the people in the church to this reality.
The falling away doesn't happen in one big event with clipboards and sign ups...it "creeps in" as some of the quotes above indicate...day by day not responding IS evidence of the falling away process already in motion... Just as the new birth happens day after day growing in the Lord and loving His appearing....the falling away happens day by day....starving yourself of the very things you need to endure a storm that breaks suddenly, which Jesus warned His best friends of privately....this is a warning to believers:
Matthew 24:7“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8“All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
10“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
11“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
You have to take the whole counsel of scripture... Not isolate verses that make you feel comfortable to not respond to Jesus. By the events unfolding all around us, Jesus is shouting "wake up and get in the process of my return."
Every living thing is either growing or dying...
2 Peter 3:17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
-Jesus
If, when you hear about end time events, you comfort yourself to disengage by saying "no one knows the day or hour," you are actually speaking a curse over yourself. You will suffer loss.
Revelation 3:1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
4“You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
In Jesus' warning to Sardis, He tells her the cost of not watching...not participating in His return, is to be "blotted out from the Book of Life"... This means to " fall away." Many churches that started out alive with the Spirit, now have a name for themselves, then begin to pull away from the Holy Spirit right in the time they need Him to be fueling their hearts to get ready to endure. The warning to Sardis is entirely about the lack of the leadership of the Holy Spirit...the third person of the Trinity. Without the Spirit alive, active, and growing you into the preparatory reality of a zeal-filled watching of the events surrounding Jesus' return, you are likely to fall away...which means quit Jesus because you don't have what it takes to stand with Him.
The falling away is one of the most clear doctrines in the Bible, and one of the least taught doctrines in the church. You live in the hour of the falling away...like, right now...for real. This should make us tremble...but unfortunately, many simply yawn and say "we'll see."
There is a time appointed for the falling away.
2 Thessalonians 2:1Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
Jesus warns five of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 they will fall away if they don't repent...which means change and agree with Jesus about how intense His return is going to be and start getting ready.
Ephesus:
Revelation 2:5“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Pergamos:
Revelation 2:15“Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. (No one wins this fight)
Thyatira:
Revelation 2:21“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23“I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Sardis, I already quoted...
Laodicea:
Revelation 3:16“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
FIVE OUT OF SEVEN!! That is more than 70% of the church Jesus warns is not ready to stay loyal to Him!!
OK...so you are sure you are ready?! Great! How come you aren't warning others about the falling away?! If you aren't feeding the other servants food at the right time...teaching them the true things to be ready for what comes next...YOU aren't ready...
Matthew 24:44“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46“Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47“Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
48“But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
49“and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50“the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51“and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This isn't a warning about gluttony and drunkenness. You can beat people up without ever laying a finger on them. This is talking about resisting the coming of Jesus and living like the rest of the world... Beating up on those warning about the high cost of stupor in this hour. Warning about what is sure to come is what everyone loyal to Jesus in the Bible does, including Jesus!!....every writer of the New Testament said the same things...they all warned the Church of the falling away, which means Christians who quit being loyal to Jesus...though they will continue to claim to be "Christian" for a while longer...until that, too, is illegal and costly, which is when they begin denying they ever knew Him:
Paul:
1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
Peter:
2 Peter 2:1But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
James:
James 5:7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
10My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
11Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
John:
1 John 2:16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
18Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
(This whole chapter could have been quoted)
Jude:
Jude 1:16These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
17But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
19These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
The writer of Hebrews:
Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
That is EVERY writer of the New Testament warning you about the high risk of quitting Jesus in the generation we live in...and almost no one in the Church is watching, praying, or getting ready for this event, which...quite honestly... is evidenced by the dullness of the people in the church to this reality.
The falling away doesn't happen in one big event with clipboards and sign ups...it "creeps in" as some of the quotes above indicate...day by day not responding IS evidence of the falling away process already in motion... Just as the new birth happens day after day growing in the Lord and loving His appearing....the falling away happens day by day....starving yourself of the very things you need to endure a storm that breaks suddenly, which Jesus warned His best friends of privately....this is a warning to believers:
Matthew 24:7“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8“All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
10“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
11“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
You have to take the whole counsel of scripture... Not isolate verses that make you feel comfortable to not respond to Jesus. By the events unfolding all around us, Jesus is shouting "wake up and get in the process of my return."
Every living thing is either growing or dying...
2 Peter 3:17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
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