Watchful

In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke to His disciples a great deal about the end times. Jesus talked about what life will be like in the days that lead up to His return. But Jesus was quick to point out that not even He knows the hour at which God will send Him to retrieve His people.

“‘However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.’” (Matthew 24:36-39)

Jesus said that in the days when He returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. So, what was it like in Noah’s day?

“The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.” (Genesis 6:5-6)

“Everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.” It was so bad that God was sorry he ever made man and put them on the earth. Man’s behavior broke God’s heart. So He decided to start over, finding only one man who had favor with him. Jesus said that when He returns, it will be like the days of Noah, and Jesus pointed out the ignorance of the people in those days. They were “enjoying banquets and parties and weddings,” not noticing the signs around them, not noticing the flood until it swept them all away. Let’s not be like those who were swept away. Jesus tells us not to be ignorant in that way.

“‘So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.’” (Matthew 24:42)

We must keep watch. We must pay attention to these things Jesus talked about. Does the world seem like it’s moving closer to God or further from Him? Do you think people’s behavior brings honor to God or breaks His heart? And it’s not just people’s behavior—there are signs from Revelation that we may very well be seeing taking place today.

“Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice speaking from the four horns of the gold altar that stands in the presence of God. And the voice said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River.’ Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth.” (Revelation 9:13-15)

“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance.” (Revelation 16:12)

Over the last three years, the Euphrates River has been drying up, to the point where it is nearly gone. There seems to be something about this sixth angel and the Euphrates. One of the things people have found since the drying up of the river is that there are caves that have existed under the river. Could it be that the river is drying up to release these angels or to provide a path for an army to march from east to west? I don’t have any answers to provide in regard to prophecy, only eyes to see. Keep watch and pay attention to the signs we have been given. Do not be found in those last days to be like the people who died in the flood, ignorant and partying, only focusing on themselves and their pleasures and breaking God’s heart with their behavior. Find yourself delighting in the Lord so that when Jesus comes again, you are among the gathered sheep, the branches who bear fruit so you may enter into His presence.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.