Luke 12:54-56 (ESV)
He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
When it comes to the end times, Paul added this:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Jesus is warning us to pay attention to the signs. The early church thought Christ was coming immediately. As He has delayed His coming (in human terms) we get more and more mellow about the end. Yet, the New Testament writers used Christ’s return as a motivation for living a pure life.
1 John 3:3 (ESV)
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
James 5:7 (ESV)
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
James 5:8 (ESV)
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
2 Peter 1:16 (ESV)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
We have allowed ourselves to fall asleep. Yet, on numerous occasions Jesus told us to stay awake for His coming:
Matthew 24:42 (ESV)
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Mark 13:35 (ESV)
Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
Luke 21:36 (ESV)
But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The rhythm of the world is meant to cast us into deep sleep. Wake up! He is coming!!
Remember how the Bible ends:
Revelation 1:7-8 (ESV)
BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev 3:11
[Indeed] I am coming soon.
Rev 16:15
Indeed, I am coming like a thief.
Rev 22:7
Indeed, I am coming soon.
Rev 22:12
Indeed, I am coming soon
Revelation 22:20 (ESV)
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
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