There are over 20 commands in the New Testament to watch.
Watch for what?
Mt 24: 42-44 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mark 13:33-35-37 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
1 Thess 5: 6. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
What kind a watchman doesn’t cry out to warn those around him that are too busy with other things to watch for themselves.
I’ts like the story of the little boy that cried wolf so many times, that no one would listened, so I guess they’d prefer you wait until you see Christ coming in the clouds, and then yell at them on the way up. :)
Some can ignore the fact that all Christians are to watch, by branding the warnings as unfilled prophecies.
When we describe what we see as signs of Christ return, it isn’t a prophecy, since only God can make something happen, but if we don’t watch, and warn others of what we see, we are shirking the responsibility scripture gave us.
Keep up the good work.
JH :)
Thanks.
Great point. And, great question and Scriptures.
LUB,