Accepting Christ’s Call
To Be A Watcher
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
In the Gospel of Mark chapter 13 verses 32-33 Jesus Christ, speaking of His future return, makes this statement:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. TAKE HEED, WATCH AND PRAY; for you do not know when the time is.”
Many critics and popular preachers in the church twist or redefine Christ’s words to make those who are watching for His return look like a bunch of religious extremists, or “tin-foil hat doomsday crazies”. However, much of their unbiblical agenda is subtly grounded in a false, yet popular system of church growth or unity theology -- or it's designed to appease the “more enlightened” wealthy intellectual church members who financially support their ministry. Jesus told us to WATCH FOR HIS RETUN AND PRAY. HE DID NOT SAY, “...go on with your life and don’t worry about watching because you can't know the day or hour anyway." Jesus said the exact day or hour was unknown -- even to Him. He said that only our Heaven Father knows the exact time. However, He did not say we couldn’t know the week, month, season or year. Hebrews 10:25 reveals that those watching and looking for their Lord's return would “see the Day approaching”. Concerning the return of Christ, Paul warned the Church:
"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. THEREFORE LET US NOT SLEEP, AS OTHERS DO, BUT LET US WATCH AND BE SOBER (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).
The 10th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans gives us two simple requirements necessary to obtain salvation and God's gift of eternal life. One requirement is believing in one’s heart that our Heavenly Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). If we truly believe in Christ’s physical and bodily resurrection, then we will also obey His command “to watch”. We are watching for the promised return of our crucified AND RESURRECTED LORD AND SAVIOR. When we hear the many religious critics poke fun, malign and attempt to discredit those who are obeying Christ’s command to watch, you have to wonder if they truly believe that He is alive from the dead as the Scripture teaches. The unintended consequences of their criticisms are shocking to consider. Being a watcher is one of the Biblical signs that follows a person who possesses authentic salvation. No one watches for the return of someone who is dead and remains buried in the grave. If Christ is not “alive from the dead”, then the salvation we think we have is actually void -- and we are forever dead in our sins (Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-22). YET, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WATCHING FOR CHRIST’S RETURN IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN OR KEEP OUR BLOOD-BOUGHT GIFT OF SALVATION. Saint Paul suggested that many authentic Christians are not watching, but are asleep -- and he condemned this dangerous condition as “living in spiritual darkness”. A VAST MAJORITY OF THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS IN THIS DECEPTIVE CONDITION. Yet, the Bible teaches that accepting Christ's invitation to become an active watcher exists as one important outward sign that our faith in Christ is alive and authentic.
"So Christ was once offered to bear
the sins of many; AND UNTO THEM THAT
LOOK FOR HIM shall he appear the second
time without sin unto salvation."
(Heb 9:28 KJV)
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