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Why The Return Of

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Jesus Christ May Be Near

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Part 6

Why Believers Need To Know

&

Follow Prophetic Developments

By

R.A. Coombes

Author of
“America, The Babylon: Vols 1 & 2”
and Publisher of
The Alpha-Omega Report
aoreport.com
 

 

This entire series of articles is written as a wake-up call to any and all believers in Jesus Christ who have either not been paying attention to prophecy and the world events or who seem to think that as a believer we are not supposed to take prophecy seriously or to be on the alert, watchful and doctrinally grounded in correct knowledge of Biblical prophecy.

Yes, there are many who claim to be Christians who turn up their nose at the subject of Prophecy. They don’t want to be ‘bothered’ with such information. Many believe of these believers think that prophecy is either not important or is unknowable, but most of all, they are not aware that Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter issued commands to learn and know prophecy and to be on the alert, watchful and the ready and not be caught up in everyday living that ignores prophecy. We are commanded to know what is coming, and to be watchful of events around us and be prepared for what is coming.

When I say, “commands” – I mean just that. There are passages in the New Testament where Jesus, Paul and Peter give literal commands in the original Greek grammar. How is that possible to know these are commands?

The Greek language is a very specific language and the verbs of action contain the grammatical element called “mood.” One of those moods in the Greek language is called “Imperative Mood.” The imperative mood was to be understood by the reader as something that was an ‘order’ not an option that could be chosen positively or negatively. The Imperative Mood was an order, a command to be obeyed and obeyed unquestioningly. It was prominently used in a military sense as an officer would give military commands – and these commands would be issued in the “imperative mood.”

Similarly today, in the military – an officer gives an order – and it is grammatically classified in the “imperative mood.” If you’re in the military and you receive a direct order, what are you required to do.? The answer of course – is to obey that command. There is no option to disobey the order. So it is with scripture. When we as believers read a written command in scripture – we are to obey it. Disobedience is not an option.

So why is it that we find so many Christians – and even church pastors, seminary professors and other church leaders dismissing the idea that believers need to know Biblical Prophecy and be watching and on the alert for prophetic fulfillment? I hear so many wild and ignorant excuses to that question. One thing however is clear. We are commanded to know prophecy and we are commanded to be on the ready, on the alert, watchful and in prayer regarding prophetic fulfillments and the events happening around us. We have not options on this matters. We must either obey or disobey. Which are you doing?

Now, for those who doubt me – allow me to prove that there are indeed commands from Jesus, Paul and Peter on these matters.

Jesus’ Commands To Believers:

Matthew 24: 42, 44-46

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come”

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

“Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

Here in Matthew, we are told to “watch” and we are told why to watch.
The term original Greek term used in this verse that the KJV translators have translated as ‘watch’ is the Greek term: “gregoreite” This word is the imperative mood form of the root word “gregoreoh” (Strong’s Concordance Code # 1127) 

H.K. Moulton’s Greek-English Lexicon defines the meaning as:

To be awake, awake, alert, watchful, vigilant, attentive.

Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon defines the meaning as:

To watch, to give strict attention to, to take heed.

Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich & Danker’s Greek-English Lexicon

To be awake or to keep awake, to be on the alert, to be watchful, “to keep one’s eyes open,” to be vigilant for your life.

Every Greek-English lexicon carries these same definitions.

So that Jesus is using this word to tell believers – that we, all of us as believers are ORDERED or COMMANDED – to always BE ON TH E ALERT.

Why are we to be on the alert? Jesus explains: “For you know not the hour when your Lord comes.”

We are to always be on the ALERT because we do not know what hour He will return.

In Matthew 24:44 Jesus says we are to be “ready” which is the Greek word “etoimos” and means ‘to be ready,” “to be prepared” (Strong’s #2092) – All Greek-English lexicons concur on this meaning.

So Jesus says we are to be on the alert, watching and to be prepared. Why? The latter part of verse 44 says – that because in an hour that you don’t think He’s coming, He comes. Furthermore, Jesus states that he who is watchful, on the alert and prepared is blessed. He who is not watching, on the alert and prepared is not blessed. SO there are multiple reasons – good reasons to obey the command. Failure to obey will provide an unfavorable result of embarrassment.

Mark 13: 23, 33-37

“But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

“For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

“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.”

In Mark’s passage, in verse 23, the term “take heed” is the translation of the original Greek word “Blepoh” (Strong’s Code #991) which means “to see, to observe, pay attention to, to have an eye, to discern, and it carries with it the idea of having knowledge of what one is seeing or the ability to see and understand what one is seeing.

In verse 33 we see the same term again and along with it the command to also “pray.” Then we are told why. The reason we are to see/discern and pray is because we do not know when He will come and the underlying premise is that we are to be ready for His return.

Jesus then gives a short parable and underscores that we are not to be found asleep (spiritually not watching or alert and ready for Him) when He returns.
In verse 37, he again uses the term “gregoreite” which we explained earlier in the Matthew passage as being “to watch” or “be on the alert.”

 

Luke 21: 8-9, 28, 34-36

Vss 8-9

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

“But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.”

Vs 28

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Vss 34-36

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, 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.”

 

In Luke we see these same Greek words used again. Verse 8 = “take heed” is the Greek word “Blepoh” which we pointed out in Mark 13:23. Here in Luke 21: 8 though is an added reason to be alert – so that you are NOT deceived by those claiming to be the “Messiah.”

In verse 9 we are commanded to NOT be TERRIFIED. The antidote to not being terrified is knowledge and understanding of the prophecies, otherwise we may well be terrified and this is not what we are to experience.

In Luke 21: 28 we are commanded or ordered, that when we see these things happening – we are to LOOK UP and LIFT UP YOUR HEADS. Why? Because our redemption is near.

In Luke 21:34 we again see “take heed” which is the translation for a different Greek word – “prosekoh” – (Strong’s 4337) which means: “to pay attention to in a guarded sense.”

What follows after this word is a warning to be on guard against being caught up in your hearts with worldly living and its cares, fun and or worries so that you’re not paying attention to the signs of His coming. In other words, this is a command for you and I to pay attention to prophecy and not be rejecting the idea of alertness to prophetic events and worldly developments in favor of living in ignorance of what is coming about. We are not to be caught by surprise, because when He returns it will be like a trap speedily springing shut.

So then in verse 37, be watchful and alert with prayer, always.

Now this is not the only commands that Jesus gave on this subject. We’ll examine the rest of His commands concerning prophetic fulfillment in the Revelation passages after we look at the commands given by Paul and Peter.

 

Paul’s Commands Believers

First Thessalonians 5:6-7

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

“For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.”

Paul in verse 6 tells us also to watch and also to be ‘sober.” The term “watch” is the same Greek word that Jesus used in Matthew 24: 42 – the word - “gregoreoh.”  The term “sober” is the Greek word “nephoh” and it means to be sober or non-intoxicated and vigilant. In other words of we are to be “vigilant with a clear mind.” This passage again pertains to His Return.

 

Peter Commands Believers:

First Peter 4:7

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. “

Here Peter clearly denotes the same words that Paul uses, and connects these activities “end times” events.

Now, let’s look at the commands Jesus gives us through the Book of Revelation.

 

Jesus Commands Again To Believers:

Revelation 3:2-3

"Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

"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.

 

In verses 2 and 3we see that same Greek word that was used in Matthew 24: 42  the word - “gregoreoh” – to be alert, vigilant, attentive. We are also told in verse 2 to “strengthen the things which remain”  The term “strengthen” is the Greek word “steridzoh” which means to be mentally ready or mentally prepared and steadfast or grounded. The rest of the phrase relates to upcoming, predicted events that are ready to change the old world – as it is dying.

In verse 3, Jesus states that if we disobey and not watch, He will come up as a thief by surprise and we’ll not be ready for the Hour of His Return.

Revelation 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.

Here again Jesus references His return in the sense of surprise as a thief operates in surprise. Jesus states that the believer who is on the alert (watcheth – the Greek word “gregoreoh”) is blessed.

It should be quite clear from these passages that we who are believers in Christ, are under strict orders to always be on the alert, vigilant and paying attention to events related to prophecy and to be ready for His Return at a moments notice. This also means that we are to learn and KNOW the Biblical Prophecies concerning the “end of days” of this era in humanity.

We have no options. Anyone who claims to be a believer, to be a Christian and rejects an ongoing interest in Biblical Prophecy and rejects being watchful, vigilant and paying attention to events – those who reject doing this – are disobeying Jesus Christ’s commands and also those of Paul and Peter.

So then, the question becomes – ARE YOU DISOBEYING JESUS COMMANDS TO YOU?

Have you neglected learning Biblical Prophecy? Have you neglected to pay close attention to world events going on around you?  IF you answered yes, you are being disobedient to Jesus Christ. It is that simple.

Have you criticized others who are obeying Jesus’ commands to know and be alert and vigilant? IF you have done so you should be ashamed for doing so.

I have had numerous “alleged” or so-called “Christians” lambaste me for maintaining an interest in Bible Prophecy and for being on the alert and writing and publishing articles on Biblical Prophecy. Perhaps you have experienced similar chastisements from such people, too.

The current attitude of the majority in the so-called “Church” today is to reject the idea of Bible Prophecy for one reason or another, and there are many reasons, or shall I say “excuses” given for rejecting Bible Prophecy and or rejecting the idea of learning it and being on the alert. These people are “DEAD WRONG.” IF they continue, and IF they are indeed “saved” believers, they are going to be thoroughly ashamed and embarrassed when they face Jesus Christ – face-to-face and have to explain their – disobedience to His commands.

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to so ashamed. Furthermore, I eagerly want to know and pay attention, always seeking to learn more about prophetic events and developments leading to fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy.

Those who are spiritually mature – do pay attention to prophecy and are “on the alert” and “watching.” – Those who do not know prophecy and are not watching or on the alert for prophetic developments – are spiritually immature and spiritually carnal. As Paul explains in First Corinthians chapter 3 – there are two kinds of Christians – the spiritually maturing and those who are spiritual babies who simply cannot take solid food and are only able to drink spiritual milk of the Word and not solid, spiritual meals.

If you’re not a prophecy watcher and a student of prophecy, you’’re not spiritually mature and you’re disobedient to Christ’s commands. So what are you going to do about it?

CONCLUSION:

For those readers who are not Christians or not trusting in Jesus Christ for eternal life, I would encourage you to download a FREE E-book "The Gift of Salvation" because it is written solely for you and your benefit. It is written so that you may know and have eternal life – freely offered to you as a Gift from God and something you cannot pay for, nor earn. It is completely a gift. To download this FREE E-Book, "The GIft of Salvation" in PDF File Format see this LINK HERE.

For those of you who are trusting in Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death for eternal life, you may find this E-Book to be just a re-statement of what you already know but you may also find it of value and you're welcome to download it and pass it around to others via print or sending it as an E-mail attachment.

 

Index of Article Segments

Part 1 – Introduction – LINK 

Part 2 –THE TRIGGER SIGNS - 2 Events Started The Ticking Time Clock - LINK

Part 3 – Signs in the Geo-Political World Now Developing - LINK

Part 4 – Signs in Nature Now Developing - LIINK

Part 5 – An Overview of a Key Biblical Prophecies Awaiting Fulfillment - LINK

Part 6 – Why Believers Need To Know & Follow Prophetic Developments - LINK

FREE E-Book Download is available, too.  The Gift of Salvation – How to Have Eternal Life – LINK HERE.

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