Why Isn't the Church Keeping Watch?

³⁷ Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. ⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. ⁴¹Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? ⁴²And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? ⁴³Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ⁴⁴Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. (Luke 11:37-44 KJV)

Throughout the gospels Jesus tells the disciples to keep watch. Yet, I have never heard a sermon on the end times. I've heard plenty of sermons on believing, keeping faith, not following the world... I've read posts on whether Christians should wear leggings and tight clothing, whether we should listen to secular music, and how we should carry ourselves while dating. People may cite hypocrisy and accuse people of being false prophets, but rarely do I see posts on blogs dedicated solely to Christian ministry about the events of the end times. Why is that?

The only thing I heard as a child was "fire and brimstone." My Sunday school teachers and preachers never really explained what actually happens and I was absolutely terrified. I remember being about ten, answering the question "if you found a genie, what would you wish for?" with "that the end of the world never comes." I had no idea that the end of the world is a) already happening, b) the only way for the saints to go to Heaven, and c) Jesus' victory.

I have to thank the Left Behind series in part for my revelation, though the book is pure fiction and way off base. It at least got me to think about the topic, or rather study the topic—I've been thinking about the topic about as long as I've been a believer. Once I started actually reading The Bible I realized the Bible begins warning us of the last days long before we get to Revelation, before we even reach the New Testament. Even Jacob was concerned with telling his sons what would become of them in their last days (Genesis 49). How can one "keep watch" if they have no idea what to keep watch for?

Many will use the excuse that Revelation is the hardest book to understand in the Bible. This is probably the only thing scholars from every denomination, as well as non-believers, will agree upon. But it makes sense that the book is complex: it's a battle plan. No general would would reveal all of his cards ahead of the battle! Jesus warns of false prophecy throughout the Gospels. This is all the more reason to study. There are three schools of thought on the end times: those who believe that it already happened, that it is currently happening, and that it is going to happen in the future. There are people who believe in a rapture. There are people who think people go to heaven or hell as soon as they die (despite Revelation clearly stating that the dead were resurrected to be judged and then taken to Heaven or cast out). People place many men behind the mask of the antichrist without the slightest idea of his characteristics.

Is that not odd to you?

April was a busy month for me, so I didn't get to most everything I wanted, but maybe it worked out for the best. Now that I have more free time, I'll be able to go into this particular topic in much more detail. Next week I'll be starting a series on the End of Days. Check back to comment, question, opine, learn, and most importantly: keep watch.

³²But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. ³³Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. ³⁴For 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. ³⁵Watch 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: ³⁶Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. ³⁷And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:32-37 KJV)

Previous Posts about the End of Days

Beware of Beliefs that Don't Add Up
The Sabbath, The Mark of God, and Still Debating Where Sunday Fits In
Concluding My Debate on Sabbath vs. Sunday