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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Matthew, Chapter Twenty-four
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:42-44)
Posting a guard.
The argument is used that the heavenly spectacle mentioned in earlier verses cannot be applied to the coming set forth in the above passage, because everyone would have been warned. It would be like a thief turning on a floodlight and blowing a trumpet to announce his coming. So, the conclusion is drawn, this must refer to a special, secret coming that occurs before the main, spectacular coming.
The problem with this conclusion is it would mean the Lord had suddenly left the subject of His parousia and was speaking of a different coming, a secret coming. There is no indication that He has changed the subject. Also, the notion of a special, secret coming ("rapture") is in direct opposition to Christ's statement that His appearing would not be a secret but an open manifestation of His Glory.
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:27)
It is as I stated previously. The appearing of the sign of the Son of Man in the sky will catch the whole world off guard. The events that follow will not include an opportunity for repentance.
We must always be ready. We must always post a guard. This is the reason there is a problem with eating, drinking, giving in marriage, buying, selling, building. It is not that these are sinful in themselves. Rather it is that we become so involved we do not keep watch—and then suddenly it is too late.
I mentioned previously the problem with the current teaching. The believers are trusting that it does not matter whether they are watching. They are saved by grace, and on that basis they always are ready.
But this is not the case. The only way in which we keep ourselves prepared for His sudden, dramatic appearing is by continually inviting Him into our life so we are always feeding on His body and drinking His blood. In this case we are not walking in darkness such that the Day of Christ catches us by surprise.
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. (I Thessalonians 5:4-6)
The notion that we are saved by grace and holding our ticket to Heaven, and no further preparation is needed, is a destructive error and will lead us to destruction in the Day of Christ.
To be continued.