WHEN YOU SEE/ HEAR, The day and the hour, THIEF, stay awake, WATCH
by Tuese Ahkiong
W.H.O.INTERPRETS THE BIBLE
W ords of the text, in context. All words have
meaning. God’s words communicate God’s thoughts to us! Genre-The type of
literature. Accordingly particular rules of interpretation will apply to each
kind of writing; Historical Narrative, poetry and wisdom, or prophetic
writings.
Historic setting. The time of the
writing, the writer and his purpose, and those to whom the message was
addressed must be considered! *Audience relevance is so important because the
Bible was NOT written “to” us in 21st century but “for”
us. Many readers are very egotistic in that they constantly read themselves
into the text.
O ther Bible Texts. The Bible has unity of
doctrine. We must compare Scripture with Scripture to seethe whole picture
(This is known as the analogy of faith put forth and taught by The Protestant
Reformers.).
Here’s a great acronym for interpreting
Scripture: HAT HAT
H ermeneutics
A udience Relevance
T ime Statements
H istory
A pocalyptic Language
T ypology
In the following passages, Christ is speaking to
His disciples about events that they would see in their lifetime, their
generation (this generation-1st century). Remember,
the “YOU” in these passages are not YOU who is reading my article in the 21st century,
LOL, but “YOU,” the disciples. The disciples are the antecedent of
the pronoun “YOU” in these passages.
1. Matthew 24:15 “So [WHEN YOU
SEE] the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel,
standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
2. Matthew 24:33 So also, [WHEN
YOU SEE] all these things, YOU know that he is near, at the very
gates.
3. Mark 13:7 And [WHEN YOU
HEAR] of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take
place, but the end is not yet.
4. Mark 13:14 “But [WHEN YOU
SEE] the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be
(let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains.
5. Mark 13:29 So also, [WHEN
YOU SEE] these things taking place, YOU know that he is near, at the
very gates.
6. Luke 21:9 And [WHEN YOU
HEAR] of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must
first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
7. Luke 21:20 “But [WHEN YOU
SEE] Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has
come near.
8. Luke 21:31 So also, [WHEN
YOU SEE] these things taking place, YOU know that the kingdom of God
is near.
The 1st century saints were NOT in darkness that
the day of THE LORD would surprise them. They were aware of Christ’s
thief coming.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4
Now
concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, YOU have no need to
have anything written to YOU. 2 FOR YOU YOURSELVES
ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME LIKE A THIEF in
the night.3 While people are saying, “There is peace and
security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains
come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 BUT
YOU ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, BROTHERS, FOR THAT DAY TO SURPRISE YOU LIKE A
THIEF.
***Non-believers
were in darkness and were surprised by the day of The Lord with sudden
destruction in 70 A.D.
Matthew
24:33-36
33 So
also, [WHEN YOU SEE] ALL THESE THINGS, YOU know that HE
IS NEAR, AT THE VERY GATES. 34 TRULY, I
SAY TO YOU, THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE
PLACE. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
36 “BUT
CONCERNING THAT DAY AND HOUR NO ONE KNOWS, not even
the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
***The
1st century saints were told by Yeshua that ALL THESE THINGS
verses 1-32 would occur in their generation: destruction of The Temple, Coming
of The Lord, End of the age, false christs, rumors of war, natural disasters,
persecution, falling away (apostasy), false prophets, lawlessness, The Gospel
proclaimed to the world, they would see Daniel’s abomination of desolation
standing where it shouldn’t be and should head for the hills and not into the
temple, The Great Tribulation, sun darkened, moon not giving its light, stars
falling, heavens shaken, the coming of The Son of Man.
The disciples did not know the day or the hour of His coming but they knew the generation, their “this generation.”
**The
following is Mark 13:29-37 accounting of Matthew 24:33-36
Mark
13:29-37
29 So
also, [WHEN YOU SEE] these things taking place, YOU know that he is
near, at the very gates.30 TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, THIS
GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE. 31 Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 “BUT
CONCERNING THAT DAY OR THAT HOUR, NO ONE KNOWS, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 BE
ON GUARD, KEEP AWAKE. FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE TIME
WILL COME. 34 It is like a man going
on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in
charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to STAY
AWAKE. 35 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— 36 LEST HE COME
SUDDENLY AND FIND YOU ASLEEP. 37 And
what I say to YOU I say to all: STAY AWAKE.”
***The
following is Luke 21:31-36 accounting of Matthew 24:33-36
Luke
21:31-36
31 So
also, [WHEN YOU SEE] THESE THINGS TAKING PLACE, YOU KNOW THAT THE
KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR. 32 TRULY, I SAY TO YOU,
THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL HAS TAKEN PLACE. 33 Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But WATCH yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, AND THAT DAY COME UPON YOU SUDDENLY like a trap. 35 For it will come upon
all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 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.”
***Christ
commands His disciples to WATCH, STAY AWAKE. WATCH for what? The
signs that Christ gave them. STAY AWAKE for what? STAYING
AWAKE in preparation for their escape.
Matthew
24:42-51
42 THEREFORE, STAY
AWAKE, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW ON WHAT DAY YOUR LORD IS COMING. 43 But
know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the
night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have
let his house be broken into. 44 THEREFORE YOU ALSO
MUST BE READY, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN HOUR
YOU DO NOT EXPECT.
45 “Who
then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set
over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 BLESSED
IS THAT SERVANT WHOM HIS MASTER WILL FIND SO DOING WHEN HE COMES. 47 Truly,
I say to YOU, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But
if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and
begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks
with drunkards, 50 THE MASTER OF THAT SERVANT
WILL COME ON A DAY WHEN HE DOES NOT EXPECT HIM AND AT AN HOUR HE
DOES NOT KNOW 51 and will cut him in pieces
and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
***The
saints were admonished to stay awake in the sense of being able to watch for
the signs of Christ’s coming.
Luke
12:35-40
35 “STAY
DRESSED FOR ACTION AND KEEP YOUR
LAMPS BURNING, 36 AND BE LIKE MEN WHO ARE WAITING
FOR THEIR MASTER TO COME home from the wedding
feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he come
and knocks. 37 Blessed are those
servants whom the master FINDS AWAKE WHEN HE COMES. Truly,
I say to YOU, he will dress himself for service and have them recline
at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he
comes in the second watch, or in the third, and FINDS THEM AWAKE,
BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS! 39 But know this, that
if the master of the house had known at what hour the THIEF was coming,
he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 YOU
ALSO MUST BE READY, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN
HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT.”
***Again,
the disciples are to STAY AWAKE spiritually by being aware of imminent events.
Matthew
25:11-13
11 Afterward
the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But
he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 WATCH
THEREFORE, FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR
***Verses
1-12 is the parable of the 10 virgins that Yeshua is telling to His disciples
about being prepared. In v13, after giving the parable, Yeshua
commands His disciples to WATCH.
Again,
the apostles and disciples right in front of Christ that He is directly speaking to are to watch for the signs and be prepared.
BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME LIKE A THIEF, and then the
heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up
and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will
be EXPOSED.
***Peter
is describing Christ’s coming in the 1st century, “this
generation” to execute judgment upon Jerusalem, remove the heavens and earth of
old covenant Israel.
“And to the angel of the
church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God
and the seven stars.
“‘I know your works. YOU
have the reputation of being alive, but YOU are dead. 2 Wake
up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your
works complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, then, what YOU
received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If YOU will not wake up, I WILL
COME LIKE A THIEF, and YOU WILL NOT KNOW AT WHAT HOUR I
will come against YOU.
***Christ
is threatening to come in judgment against the Sardis church. Well,
that was a church that existed in the 1st century. It
is no longer here.
(“BEHOLD,
I AM COMING LIKE A THIEF! Blessed is the one who STAYS AWAKE,
keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen
EXPOSED!”)
***Christ
again speaks of His coming in the first century and tells the saints to STAY
AWAKE, be prepared.
WHEN YOU SEE/ HEAR, The
day and the hour, THIEF, stay awake, WATCH
When YOU (the disciples in
the 1st century) see/ hear the signs given by Yeshua. Matt
24:1-32
They did not know the
exact day or hour but they knew the generation, their generation; “this
generation.”
The saints were aware of
Christ’s thief coming. The aints or non-believers were not.
Stay Awake, WATCH was the
admonition to be diligent in being prepared and watching the signs that Christ
said would take place in their generation.
