The Trap of Over-Developed Assumptions
Every time Jesus warned His disciples to be ready for His return, the implication was that it was sooner than believed... that life would appear normal...
The one exception is the parable of the Bridesmaids where He promises a delay. He doesn't suggest it, He says the Bridegroom will be delayed.
The delay produces an assumption that the watcher watched too early, then gives up, then get's run over by the unforseen nature of the return of the Lord.
MANY in the Church have way-overdeveloped assumptions about what is required in the return of the Lord. These assumptions disregard the VAST majority of warnings Jesus gave of His own return:
1. like a thief... undetected unless you were actively trying to detect it
2. In the midst of a cultural concern about the cares of this life that ignored obvious signs that judgment was necessary (as in the days of Noah)
3. In the midst of deep division in the church to the point where believers would side with the world against portions of the church that did not agree with themselves, or the assessment of the delay of the Lord's return.
These are all happening now. All of them.
I am not preaching a "pre-trib" rapture, nor do I believe that is Biblical. BUT, it makes no difference if the trib you imagined, and arrogantly and presumptuously require Jesus fulfill, never happens! The post-trib part of post trib theology requires you recognize a "like a thief, as in the days of Noah" tribulation!
To require Jesus to make the trouble WORSE to get you to believe you are in the time you COULD be deceived is ridiculous...that is the point of the warning about deception...
If you can't see His return unfolding right now all around you, you are literally in the heart-condition Jesus CALLS being deceived.
Matthew 24:36-51 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (37) But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (38) For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, (39) and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (40) Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. (41) Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. (42) Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (43) But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. (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.
The bridegroom was delayed...don't let that trick you. When you ask Him what He is doing, what does HE say to you? (this is a rhetorical question)
Now listen.... this is the point of my post... your heart condition is being examined right now. The delay of the Lord was always intended to sift out those with no desire, no history... little relationship... those along for the ride with the others who demanded a response of their own hearts. Those who expected more of themselves and were not ok to be passive are going to walk forward through this fall. Those who shrunk back in passivity, or never walked forward into rejection (the cross) and zeal, will not make it past the next few months...
There is a cry about to go out. It's midnight, friends. A trumpet is about to blow. It isn't too late, but it will be soon...
That is what I hear when I ask Him.
Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, (4) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (6) "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' (9) But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (11) "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' (12) But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' (13) "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The one exception is the parable of the Bridesmaids where He promises a delay. He doesn't suggest it, He says the Bridegroom will be delayed.
The delay produces an assumption that the watcher watched too early, then gives up, then get's run over by the unforseen nature of the return of the Lord.
MANY in the Church have way-overdeveloped assumptions about what is required in the return of the Lord. These assumptions disregard the VAST majority of warnings Jesus gave of His own return:
1. like a thief... undetected unless you were actively trying to detect it
2. In the midst of a cultural concern about the cares of this life that ignored obvious signs that judgment was necessary (as in the days of Noah)
3. In the midst of deep division in the church to the point where believers would side with the world against portions of the church that did not agree with themselves, or the assessment of the delay of the Lord's return.
These are all happening now. All of them.
I am not preaching a "pre-trib" rapture, nor do I believe that is Biblical. BUT, it makes no difference if the trib you imagined, and arrogantly and presumptuously require Jesus fulfill, never happens! The post-trib part of post trib theology requires you recognize a "like a thief, as in the days of Noah" tribulation!
To require Jesus to make the trouble WORSE to get you to believe you are in the time you COULD be deceived is ridiculous...that is the point of the warning about deception...
If you can't see His return unfolding right now all around you, you are literally in the heart-condition Jesus CALLS being deceived.
Matthew 24:36-51 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (37) But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (38) For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, (39) and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (40) Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. (41) Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. (42) Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (43) But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. (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.
The bridegroom was delayed...don't let that trick you. When you ask Him what He is doing, what does HE say to you? (this is a rhetorical question)
Now listen.... this is the point of my post... your heart condition is being examined right now. The delay of the Lord was always intended to sift out those with no desire, no history... little relationship... those along for the ride with the others who demanded a response of their own hearts. Those who expected more of themselves and were not ok to be passive are going to walk forward through this fall. Those who shrunk back in passivity, or never walked forward into rejection (the cross) and zeal, will not make it past the next few months...
There is a cry about to go out. It's midnight, friends. A trumpet is about to blow. It isn't too late, but it will be soon...
That is what I hear when I ask Him.
Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, (4) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (6) "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' (9) But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (11) "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' (12) But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' (13) "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
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