Jesus Said To "Watch"---Watch for What?

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Reading Mark 13 the other day, Jesus told us to "keep watch" because we do not know when the owner of the house will come back. He says "if he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping." Then he says, "what I say to you I say to everyone, 'Watch!'"

What do you think Jesus is admonishing us to watch for---what would constitute someone sleeping? I'm interested in hearing your opinions.

Be on your guard. Be alert to the trickery of our enemy...the principalities and powers of darkness.

Someone who is sleeping is someone who is not spiritually awake to the spiritual warfare going on around them. They have been lulled into spiritual sleep and are caught up in the affairs of this life. They aren't watching and waiting attentively for Jesus to come back.

[shazeep]

ya, that does seem to be the only part that preterists have not covered too well

26Then they will see the •Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by shazeep

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

i think Christ is telling us to watch out for people who make doctrines out of clear, topical warnings, such as this one specifically to the people of Judea, who would not all pass away before the Temple was destroyed.

Did Jesus come back at the destruction of the Temple? And how does this passage jibe with "all scripture is profitable". How does this passage apply to us today if it was for a specific moment that has passed?

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by shazeep

ya, that does seem to be the only part that preterists have not covered too well

26Then they will see the •Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

It fits passages about Judea, but passages like this? Yeah it is found wanting...

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Reading Mark 13 the other day, Jesus told us to "keep watch" because we do not know when the owner of the house will come back. He says "if he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping." Then he says, "what I say to you I say to everyone, 'Watch!'"

What do you think Jesus is admonishing us to watch for---what would constitute someone sleeping? I'm interested in hearing your opinions.

I am thinking He would be admonishing us to watch for the signs of His return. "Sleeping" would be the state of the Christian overcome with the cares of this life-- so much so that the Christian is unaware of the nearness of Christ's return.

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I am thinking He would be admonishing us to watch for the signs of His return. "Sleeping" would be the state of the Christian overcome with the cares of this life-- so much so that the Christian is unaware of the nearness of Christ's return.

I agree. Jesus and the prophets gave us plenty of signs to look for. He said we were to "look" for His coming. He said "when you SEE the fig tree produce its leaves you know the time of figs is near." There are things we can see and know His coming is near.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I agree. Jesus and the prophets gave us plenty of signs to look for. He said we were to "look" for His coming. He said "when you SEE the fig tree produce its leaves you know the time of figs is near." There are things we can see and know His coming is near.

One of my former Pastors twice said that all of the major prophecies have been fulfilled that need to be fulfilled before the coming of Christ.

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

One of my former Pastors twice said that all of the major prophecies have been fulfilled that need to be fulfilled before the coming of Christ.

I don't know which ones he considers the "major prophecies" but I would dispute that claim. Certainly Israel reemerging as a modern nation is the most important prophecy fulfillment in modern times. To think that they had no hope of having a national identity for nearly 2,000 years and then almost overnight became a nation again, not to mention the fact that they have defeated their enemies since becoming a nation again and again, against insurmountable odds, is nothing less than divine intervention.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I don't know which ones he considers the "major prophecies" but I would dispute that claim. Certainly Israel reemerging as a modern nation is the most important prophecy fulfillment in modern times. To think that they had no hope of having a national identity for nearly 2,000 years and then almost overnight became a nation again, not to mention the fact that they have defeated their enemies since becoming a nation again and again, against insurmountable odds, is nothing less than divine intervention.

He said it, not me.

I used to think that every human being having to hear the Gospel was something that had to occur before the return of Christ-- but I have realized that it is impossible for every human to hear the Gospel before the return of Christ.

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

He said it, not me.

I used to think that every human being having to hear the Gospel was something that had to occur before the return of Christ-- but I have realized that it is impossible for every human to hear the Gospel before the return of Christ.

Even with god?