It's THAT Time!*

The Body of Christ is separated and divided. We are seeing things come to pass that were not understood when they were written by the prophets: Daniel was told to "shut up the words and seal the book even to the time of the end" (Dan. 12:4). The fact that we can understand the visions and prophecies of Daniel tells us that we are in "the time of the end". Those prophecies are now unsealed to us. Jesus scolded the people of Israel for not being able to discern the times. He told the parable of the watching servants: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching..." (Lk. 12:35-37). Jesus told those who were listening to Him to have their loins girded. We know that our loins are to be girded with truth. Jesus was again telling His listeners to have their lights burning. So we also are to have the light of the truth, the light of salvation, the light of Christ in us and our works of faith well seen before men, and not hidden under a bushel. Jesus went on to say that the attitude of the servants, even in the wordly situation of His parable, indicates how seriously they take their lord's return. Even if the lord doesn't come until later than expected (v. 38), they are still fully prepared to receive him. How much more should this be the case in the Body of Christ? Jesus said, "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (v. 40). To any who have been faithful and wise to watch for, and be prepared for His return, Jesus said: "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing...he will make him ruler over all that he hath." (v. 41-44). However, those servants who know the lord's will, but wrongly feel confident that their lord's return is delayed, acting unfaithfully as a result, will be be punished and treated as an unbeliever. The punishment will be in proportion to the knowledge of the servant: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." (v. 45-48). This is a warning that should make all of us to be sober and pay attention. Jesus also said, "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?...Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:" (v. 49-51). Jesus then described how households and families would be divided regarding Him. Considering these things, the people should understand what these signs point to, and not pretend to be ignorant of them: "Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?" (v. 52-56). All of these "signs" are being described as part of the parable of the wise and faithful servants who watch, and are prepared for their Lord's return. As we see physical and spiritual fires all over the earth, and divisions within households, and the Body of Christ, are we discerning this time? Are we always expecting and prepared for the Lord's return? Luke 21 tells us the conditions, or signs, that would be present as the return of the Lord draws near. Not only do disturbing, even frightening natural events play a large role, including those that we are seeing now, but Jerusalem and Israel point to that time of His return as well. Jesus tells us that even as the fig tree (treated in scripture as a symbol of Jerusalem/Israel) ripening tells us that summer is coming, the prophesied events concerning Jerusalem, which we have seen come to pass in this generation, should tell us what is soon ahead (v. 24-32). He said, "Take heed to yourselves (not being caught up in the self-indulgences and cares of this life),...and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (v. 34-36). Revelation 19 also tells us that the Bride of the Lamb has made herself ready for her marriage. There are even those in the Church who do not think the Lord will return. They do not think that the Lord will act or judge anytime soon. The prophet Zephaniah describes the Lord's response to that attitude: "And it shall come to pass at tht time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees (thickened or curdled on the dregs of their wine): that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil." (Zeph. 1:12). However, the prophet wrote: "Hold thy peace at the presence of the LORD God: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests." (v. 7). Beause of the sacrifice He has prepared, which is His own death, He will punish princes who are dressed in foreign or strange apparel (opposite of the apparel of the Son and Heir). He will punish those who have filled their masters' houses with violence and deceit. Those who have been merchants, relying on their silver, having built houses and vineyards for their own pleasure, will experience the day of the LORD as a day of darkness, distress and death (v. 8-17). Silver and gold will be of no help. The day of the LORD's coming is promised, as Jesus said. Not believing it won't prevent it. The prophet Malachi also wrote about the sudden coming of the LORD to His temple, and asks, "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's sope." (Mal. 3:1-2, see also Lk. 21:36 above). The Lord will be doing a purifying work on His priests when He comes, in order to establish righteousness (v. 3). A refiner knows when he has successfully refined gold or silver. It is when he sees his face reflected on the surface. The Lord as the Refiner, is looking for His reflection on each of us as well. He will be coming near to us in judgment, witnessing against the sorcerers (to whisper, practice witchcraft), adulterers, false swearers, and those among us who have oppressed the poor and vulnerable (v. 5-6). "For I am the LORD, I change not..." (v. 6). Righteousness and wickedness in the LORD's eyes do not change based upon a new era, or the changed customs of society. The LORD's standard is His Word, His truth, not the opinions of men. In Revelation, the sealed judgments reserved for the last days are unsealed by the Lamb of God, who is enthroned, worshipped in heaven, and worthy to loose the judgments. The judgments which are unsealed in these last days in Rev. 6 are often referred to in part as the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse". As those spiritual horses ride forth across the earth, they represent a destroying, conquering power, even the Antichrist, death and a sword that takes peace from the earth, famine and economic collapse, death by the sword, hunger, and beasts (Rev. 6:1-8). These judgments are forbidden to hurt the oil and the wine, however. Aren't we seeing these things already loosed in the earth? Those who have been persecuted, martyred for their faith in Christ, will cry out to the Lord to judge, as the Lord delays only long enough to allow other martyrs to join their number. We are seeing an increase in the persecution of believers around the world. A great earthquake will shake not only the earth, but the stars in the heavens. Heaven will depart like a rolled up scroll, stars will fall out of the sky, and every mountain and island will be moved out of their places (Rev. 6:9-14). The terror will be so great that all of the great, rich and powerful will cry out to the rocks to fall on them, so they are hidden "from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (v. 12-17). Luke 21, Malachi 3, and Revelation 6 all ask the same question: "Who shall be able to stand at His coming?" Based upon all that we are seeing, I believe that it's THAT time. It's time for God's people to make a change, time to have our lamps lit, time, like the wise and faithful servant, to be alert and prepared for our Master's sudden return, at a moment when we least expect it. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 8/15/21 message to the church. To contact us: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, Tx, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com.