IF one obeys the Word of God, one watches.
“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
–Mark 13:35-37
There are MANY instances where believers are COMMANDED to watch and be alert for the return of Jesus.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.””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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
–Matthew 24:42-44
So, believers approach each new year with a sense of watchfulness. Will this be the year Jesus returns? Will this be the year God weighs and judges the men of the earth–and largely finds them wanting?
2023 is NO different.
The believer should be alert: although it seems a little unlikely that 2023 should be the year that end times events begin to unfold, God’s Word (and particularly, JESUS) warns repeatedly that Jesus Christ will return at a time when men believe it to be unlikely.
Many men will find it so unlikely that Jesus is coming back to earth that they ridicule other men who are watching.
“That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
–2PETER 3:2-4
ALL of that is a good reason to watch.
And as the time draws nearer, the command to watch is even MORE important.
Committed watchers KNOW that the pace of end times events has increased over the years. Twenty or thirty years ago, some prophetic from God’s Word would take place every five or ten years.
The last few years, that pace has QUICKENED to something from God’s Word occurring every month or week. Heck, sometimes it seems that events are taking place every DAY.
Will 2023 be the year?
God’s Word is CLEAR that NO MAN knows the day or the hour of the return of Jesus.
“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
–Mark 13:32
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
–Matthew 24:36
HOWEVER, believers will NOT be totally in the dark at to the timing of the last days.
“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. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. “
–1THESSALONIANS 5:1-11
So, whether one is watching or whether one is SLEEPING, the end times events will come as a COMPLETE surprise to those who are wrapped up in this world and this present life.
2023?
It could happen this year. After all, end times events are happening so fast, they just sort of whirl on by.
Of course, the culmunation of the end times might not occur until later.
ALL of which provide one more reason for readers to WATCH.
IS the reader watching?
Why or Why Not?
It is not YET too late–although time is surely running out: there is still a LITTLE time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
—1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: January 2, 2023.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Photo by Moritz Knöringer on Unsplash.com
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-22. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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