Making sure to be ready and to belong to the escaped ones

In Daniel 12:1 is spoken of a time that the archangel Michael, or the great prince who as a grand defender and guardian protects [L stands by] God’s people [10:13, 21], will stand up [arise (Jude 9; Revelation 12:7)]. All people should know that there will be a time of much trouble [distress], the worst time since nations have been on earth, but at that time God’s people will be saved [rescued]. Therefore, Jesus warns to stay alert, to keep watch because nobody knows when Jesus will come (Matthew 24:42).

Followers of Christ should remember what they have received and heard, and obey it, and turn from their sin! For if they don’t wake up, they shall be surprised, because Jesus will come like a thief, and people don’t know at what moment he will come upon them (Revelation 3:3).

We have to give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith, so that when the time arrives we shall not find ourselves not ready to follow in the footsteps of the righteous, who shall be allowed to enter the narrow gate to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus compares that coming day and the required readiness with the owner of a house who also does not know when a thief would come along. Had he known his house was about to be broken into, he would have stayed up all night, vigilantly. He would have kept watch, and he would have thwarted the thief and not let his house be broken into. So we too have to be ready because we know the Son of Man will come, but we can’t know precisely when. He might be coming at an hour we do not expect (Matthew 24:43-44; Luke 12:39; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15).

Jesus asks

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master put in charge of his household to give them food at the proper time?” (Matthew 24:45)

The sent one from God, Jeshua, the son of man and the Kristos (Christ) we can have as our trustworthy servant, the one Whom the Highest Master has put in charge of all the servants of his household. We, who want to serve Jesus, are simple servants, but that does not take away that we do not have to take our responsibility seriously.
When the times of the latter days arrive we should belong to those servants whose master (Jesus Christ) finds them doing their work when Jesus returns on this earth. (Matthew 24:46)

Jesus who always tells the truth, assures us and most solemnly say to his followers that the master will choose that servant to take care [put him in charge] of everything he owns. (Matthew 24:47)

When that servant would not be ready and [L at an hour when he] is not expecting him that is appointed by the Most High, then the master will treat that caught unaware servant like one who did not do his job and consider him a worthless servant. (Matthew 24:50-51)

In those days, after that tribulation, when the earth shall shake, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. [Mark 13:24-25; Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:10; 2:31; 3:15; Haggai 2:6,21] Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth (lying dead and buried) will awake and rise up (Daniel 12:2) to see with those, who are still alive at that time, the Son of Man coming in the clouds with tremendous power and glory (Mark 13:26; Daniel 7:13–14).

Then there might be weeping and gnashing of teeth, indicating agony and remorse, but it shall be too late to discuss over distress and anger, because everybody has been warned long before and could have found the Biblical Truth. When the time after the big war has arrived, and Jesus shall be seen as the returned one from God, then it shall be time for the righteous to come out of the world of mammon, showing to the world they do not belong to this world but to God and His people, so that they will not share in the world her sins, and so that they will not receive any of her plagues (Revelation 18:4). All then shall have to know that then the time has arrived when those particular chosen ones who are alive and left behind [or alive and are left] will be gathered [caught; taken; raptured] together with them [the resurrected ones] into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is how we, the resurrected and the living, will be with him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Events seem to be happening at a break-neck speed, so that it is almost impossible to keep up. We have major headlines coming out almost hourly, Russia (the bear), Syria, Iran, Iraq, the Asian and African countries. Many of these have a role in prophecy during the last days.

When believing in God and believing also in Jesus (John 14:1) we do know that in Jehovah, our Father’s house, there are many mansions, which all should be prepared and ready to receive the Master.

Let us, who have obtained salvation through Christ, make sure that when the time is near, right at the door, that we shall be ready. So that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming (1 John 2:28), after having able to stand strong and firm in those troubling or perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1). We have to be prepared and have made ourselves strong enough to go through that time of great trouble and can stand up against those lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:2-5). As the Messiah loves us, so should we in the world having our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment (1 John 4:17).

Nobody shall be able to escape the judgement-seat of Jesus. It is not that some people shall already be gone to a hell, a purgatory or heaven. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Let us not lay up for ourselves treasures upon earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. Let us not give thieves an opportunity to break through and steal (Matthew 6:19) and remember that whatever we deserve for the good or bad things we have done in our period here on earth, shall come unto us. They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life shall then receive their reward, but those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment, shall be condemned, find the path unto the resurrection of damnation (2 Corinthians 5:10; John 5:29).

We can only hope that when Jesus returns, we ourselves and many of our friends, shall be counted to those with faith (Luke 18:8) and belonging to the ones whose name is written in God’s book to be saved [L All who are found written in the book; C of life; Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Da 10:21; Mal 3:16; Luke 10:20; Rev. 20:12.].

 

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Preceding

Matthew 10:11-15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Searching for the Sheep

Matthew 13:36-43 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Zizania in the Field Explained

Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self

Matthew 22:11-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: King’s Inspection and Marriage Garments

Matthew 24 about temples or Houses of God and the end of the age

Matthew 24:1-2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Setting

Matthew 24:3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Apostles’ Question

Matthew 24:4-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part One – Beware Being Misled

Matthew 24:9-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part Two – The Acts of the Apostles Foretold

Matthew 24:15-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Sign 1: Encamped Armies. The Sign Great Oppression Is Near

Matthew 24:29-35 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer Part Two – Sign 2: The Parousia. A Sign after the Great Oppression

Matthew 24:36-41 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: About That Day and Hour

Matthew 24:42-51 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Stay Awake!

Left in the dark or being in the dark seeing light

Separation of local judgment regarding 70 CE from the global ultimate-coming prophecies of the Second Coming and Final Judgment

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Additional reading

1. You know neither the day nor the hour
2. Only once and with consequences
3. With the gift of Jesus comes an awesome responsibility
4. Sign of the Times and the Last Days #1 The Son of man revealing
5. Signs of the Last Days
6. The days are coming
7. To be prepared and very well oiled
8. Devotees and spotters
9. The chosen ones to fear or not to fear
10. God my fence, my hope for the future
11. Dealings with ruling authorities
12. Rapture Exposed
13. Rapture what does it mean?
14. The Rapture or admittance with Christ
15. Gather together with Jesus Christ
16. Raptured in clouds

About transgression, law and punishments

Psalm 32:1,2 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered…”

Have you ever done something very wrong and shameful; and wished that you were let off without punishment and without being exposed?

If you think of what all you have done, right from childhood till now; I am sure there will be something for which you are ashamed off and something which you don’t want to pay for. Most of us don’t have to go so far back into their childhood, to think of this. It may be quite recent. But we know how blessed it is to be forgiven and covered. King David knew what it is to be forgiven and covered. Though his actions were not kept secret, yet he was covered from being put to death as per God’s law.

Some have asked, why God sent his son so late into this world. Why did not Christ come earlier?

Well, God purposely waiting for the right time:

Galatians 4: 4-5 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

Moses receives the law (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

God had to first let the people know, what it is to face the consequences of their wrong action. So God first gave them the Law through Moses. The breaking of the Law brought in swift punishments. Eye for eye and life for life it was and there was no escape:

Exodus 21: 23-25 “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burns for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

Those caught in adultery were to be put to death:

Deuteronomy 22: 22 “If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die.”

Those who committed murder had to be immediately killed:

Leviticus 24:17 “And he that kills any man shall surely be put to death.”

The thief who was caught had to restore four to five times of the amount he had stolen:

Exodus 22: 1 “”Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.”

The people do not go by the Law and often demand a lot more; besides handing in any number of blows and insults:

Proverbs 6: 31 “Yet if he is caught, he must pay seven-fold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.”

Under the Law of Moses, a person who lied in court would receive the punishment the person on trial would have received if the lie was believed. (Deuteronomy 19:16–19)

We don’t even have the time to mention all the punishments that one has to face for breaking various other laws. In short, the Law was our teacher, to make us realize the grace we received through the coming of God’s son Jesus:

Galatians 3: 24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

Though we gentiles were not under the law of Moses, yet we all know the consequences of facing punishments from the government and the court of Law.
There is no forgiveness or letting up, once we are caught, without paying hefty fines or spending years in Jail or even getting death penalty.
Imagine how many times we have to be killed or jailed for all our wrong actions from our childhood up until now?

How blessed indeed we are, that the God who knows all our actions, will forgive us and protect us from such a great penalty. All this He did, by sending His Own Son, Jesus, to take our punishment and shame. How thankful we must for this great blessing and repent truly from our mistakes.

Let us pray:

Thank you, Great and Merciful Father in Heaven; for this great blessing of forgiveness. Please help me not to take advantage of your goodness; but rather repent fully and bring glory to your name. I pray in Jesus’s lovely name, Amen!

These Daily Bible comments by Bro. D.S.P. Varma, Bangalore, India. It is part of a forthcoming book and therefore, it is not to be compiled or translated or published by anyone, without written permission from the author.
For any inquiries or Bible questions, Call: 9731566541 or Mail to: varmjack@gmail.com

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Preceding articles:

Object of first woe

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 5:27-30 – 2. The Nazarene’s Commentary on Exodus 20:14

Matthew 5:31-32 – 3. The Nazarene’s Commentary on Deuteronomy 24:1

Matthew 5:38-42 – 5. The Nazarene’s Commentary on Exodus 21:24

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Additional reading

1. Additional comments to the 3rd Letter to the Romans
2. Additional comments to the Letter to the Romans 4
3. No time for immorality
4. Brunei introducing a raft of tough sharia punishments
5. Necessity of a revelation of creation 1 Works of God and works of man

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Further related

1. Leviticus 24 – Eye for an Eye
2. Proverbs 5: Duplicity
3. Proverbs 25:21-22 How To Treat Your Enemy
4. July 26, 2017 – The Legacies We Leave – 1 Kings 2:1-4
5. The Beautitudes in the Law of Moses
6. “An ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere?” ~~Jesus
7. What is Forgiveness? Why some people are more forgiving than others?
8. This is your Brain. This is your Brain on Porn
9. probation
10. Don’t Touch!!
11. Modern Day Idols
12. children of prostitution
13. The first to drop the stone
14. Adultery – The Sin of the Eyes and the Flesh
15. Spiritual Adultery!
16. Don’t give in to Temptation! – Prov. 5
17. The Sixth and Seventh Commandments
18. Command Number 7: You Shall Not Commit Adultery
19. Aphrodite In Chains: Adultery Vs. Technology
20. “Abstain from Sexual Immorality”
21. Divided Opinions
22. Who are the adulterers of the book of James?

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