Signs of the Times

What Does It Mean to Watch for Jesus' Appearing?

My parents owned a trucking company that began, many years ago, by catering to farmers with such services as hauling their livestock to the Chicago Stockyards. One of my dad’s customers lived in a large two-story farmhouse that had a pinnacle rising above the roof with windows on all sides.

I remember asking my dad about this unusual feature and he told me that the previous owner of the house built it as a place to watch for the Lord’s return. The idea of someone building a room for that purpose impressed me as a small child (I was about eight years old at the time).

I now understand that although building such a watchtower might have displayed faith in Jesus’ promises, it’s not what He had in mind when He instructed us to “watch” for His coming.

A Clear Command

The Lord’s command for us to “watch” is perhaps the most ignored of all His direct instructions to His followers. I can’t remember hearing a pastor of a local church preach on it although many of them repeatedly stress the necessity of the Great Commission because the Lord Himself commanded us to spread the Gospel to the world.

After He answered the disciples’ questions regarding the signs that would mark His “coming and the end of the age” in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:3ff), the Lord gave His followers (us) three specific instructions:

  1. “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).

  2. “Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).

  3. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).

Today, as we see the fulfillment of all that Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 rapidly approaching, is this not the time we especially need to “stay awake,” “be ready,” and “watch”?

How Do We Watch for Jesus’ Appearing?

Although the farmer who built the watchtower may have had good intentions, Jesus had other things in mind than sitting in a room in anticipation of His return. Let’s take a look at how watching for His return applies to our day.

Watching begins with believing what Scripture says about the end times. In Luke 18:8, Jesus asked this question at the end of His parable about the persistent widow, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Why would the Lord to insert this particular question at the end of a parable about the need for persistence in prayer? Just as it takes faith to persevere in bringing our requests before the Lord, does it not also take the same determination to remain hopeful of His imminent appearing as we wait year after year?

Watchfulness begins with believing what Scripture reveals about Jesus’ imminent appearing. Christians who lack such a belief often place all their hope in future aspirations for this life rather than eternity and as a result, remain blind to how world events point to the nearness of the Rapture.

We watch by paying attention to the many signs of the rapidly approaching Tribulation. The Rapture can happen at any moment and without warning. However, because it occurs before the start of the seven-year Tribulation, we take note of the many signs pointing to the nearness of this time of God’s wrath upon the earth. We understand how the news headlines of our day align with how Scripture describes the last days.

The lawlessness that’s growing exponentially in American cities at this moment aligns perfectly with what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11. The apostle described antichrist as a “man of lawlessness” and noted that the “mystery of lawlessness” was already at work in preparation for his arrival on the world scene. The current and dramatic uptick in lawlessness is but one more sign of the nearing seven-year Tribulation that heralds the soon appearing of Jesus.

We watch by serving the Lord. In the parable of the “faithful and wise servant,” Jesus said, “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes” (Matthew 24:46). Believing what the Bible says about His return leads to activity, not passivity.

As believers, we all have diverse gifts and different callings in the body of Christ (see Romans 12:3-8). Knowing that we live in the season of Jesus’ appearing should cause us to be all the more faithful in serving the Lord in the way He has gifted us and called us to serve and share the hope we have as the Lord gives us the opportunity to do so.

Watching implies that we are ready. Of course, readiness for the Lord’s return implies that we have already put our trust in Jesus as our Savior and depend on Him alone for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. All those in Christ will participate in the Rapture regardless of what they believe about it.

As New Testament saints, we strive to maintain a close walk with our Savior so we are ready to suddenly find ourselves in His glorious presence (read 1 John 2:28).

The Advantages of Watching for Jesus’ Appearing?

Yes, it’s been two thousand years since Jesus commanded His followers to watch for His coming and yet we are still waiting. Is there any advantage in it for our day? Yes, I believe there’s many benefits for us in watching for His appearing.

The Apostle Paul, who initially anticipated that the Rapture might happen in his lifetime, wrote that the Lord will reward all who love Jesus’ appearing with a “crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8). There’s always been a reward for those who long for Jesus’ appearing, the Rapture. Not only that, but there’s also temporal advantages that flow from our watchfulness.

Watching for Jesus’ appearing puts this life in perspective. Believers who fail to watch most often become preoccupied with their future in this life and as a result lose sight of eternity and all the many blessings that await them. The Lord’s command to watch keeps us from adopting such a myopic perspective on this life; one that brings little comfort when the fierce storms of this life strike and turn all our aspirations, plans, and goals into dust.

There’s a definite blessedness that flows from keeping one eye on eternity as we go about our daily tasks and look to our future. Watching for the Lord’s appearing constantly reminds us about the difference between eternal realities and those that are temporal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

The reassurance that such awareness of Jesus’ imminent appearing brings to us doesn’t depend on how soon it might happen, but rather arises from the absolute certainty that someday Jesus will come to take us home to glory, thoroughly destroy the lawless kingdom of antichrist, and establish His rule of justice throughout the nations.

Yes, the growing violence in our cities, government corruption, and constant rumors of wars distress us at times. However, calmness returns to our souls as we remember that the Bible said the end times would look like this and that God remains sovereignly in control of all things.

My new book, Invitation to a Lavish Feast – Wisdom’s Path to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, is available on Amazon. In it, I provide a compelling defense of interpreting Bible prophecy according to the intent of the prophets and apostles. My book brings to life the necessity of watching for Jesus’ appearing in the day in which we live.

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Evidence that Demands a Verdict

Evidence that Demands a Verdict

Similar to what Josh McDowell wrote in his book, when I place today’s signs of the last days in the scales, they tip the balance overwhelmingly in favor this being the last moments before we as New Testament saints meet the Lord in the air.

The mountain of evidence allows for no other verdict than the one that says we live in the season of Jesus’ appearing.

The Rapture: Wildcard for 2025

The Rapture: Wildcard for 2025

With the dawning of 2025, is there any cause for us to be less watchful than we were a year ago? No, I believe it’s rather a time for increased optimism. Of course, it would be more than a little foolish to predict that the Rapture will happen in the next twelve months. However, it would be equally so to say it couldn’t happen at any moment.

7 Prophetic News Stories From 2024

7 Prophetic News Stories From 2024

A year ago, I thought the Rapture would surely happen during 2024. Although we remain earthbound, the signs of the approaching Tribulation period continue to reach new heights in both frequency and intensity.

In this article, I have selected seven news stories from the past year that continue to shout with the message that we live in the last days leading up to the start of the Tribulation period.

Perilous Times . . . In the Church

Perilous Times . . . In the Church

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul depicts the rebellious nature of people would mark the “perilous times” of the last days. We certainly see these attributes everywhere we look in our world. Sadly, however, they also exist among professing Christians, even among many who are truly born again.

Don’t Miss the Blessing of Watching Bible Prophecy Come To Fruition

Don’t Miss the Blessing of Watching Bible Prophecy Come To Fruition

Living in the last days has its challenges, to be sure. We see wickedness, lawlessness, and deception increasing at an exponential clip. As violence erupts all around us, I pray daily for the safety of our children and their spouses as well as for all our grandchildren.

On the other hand, we live at a time like no other. I recently read Matthew chapters 12 and 13 and as I did, a coupe verses reminded me of the wonder of being alive at such a time as this.

What More Does the Church Need to See?

What More Does the Church Need to See?

Never before has there been so much evidence pointing to the nearness of this time of wrath than today. However, never in recent history has there been so much unawareness and disbelief regarding Bible prophecy as we now see in churches.

2024 Solar Eclipse: Coincidence or Final Warning?

2024 Solar Eclipse: Coincidence or Final Warning?

Could the upcoming completion of an X across the U.S. midsection by the April 8, 2024, eclipse point to another catastrophe in the months afterward such as happened in 1811 after another darkening of the sun completed an X in the same area?

Is this just an uncanny coincidence, or does it point to something far more ominous?

He Sees, He Is Not Silent, and He Is Coming Soon

He Sees, He Is Not Silent, and He Is Coming Soon

As I wondered about how to respond to the normality bias so evident in churches today, I thought about the title of the Francis A. Schaeffer book that I read in college, He Is There and He is Not Silent. I believe that name might be adjusted for today as, “He Sees, He Is Not Silent, and He Is Coming Soon.”

It’s Far Better To Heed God’s Warnings Now, Before They Become Reality

It’s Far Better To Heed God’s Warnings Now, Before They Become Reality

As I watch current events unfold in America and around the world, I find myself wondering why the Rapture has not already occurred.

I never thought I would see so many precursors to the Tribulation period as are evident all around us and yet still be waiting for the Lord’s appearing.

How Can You Not See?

How Can You Not See?

How can you not see the signs of the last days everywhere you look?

For most of you, the question is a confirmation of what you believe rather than one expressing doubt in your convictions. For those that place their hope in the church rather than Jesus’ imminent appearing, I have much for them to consider.

The Tragic Results of Divorcing the Rapture from the Gospel

The Tragic Results of Divorcing the Rapture from the Gospel

Somewhere in the past, a tragic divorce occurred; theologians decided we must separate the return of Jesus for His church from the proclamation of the Gospel. The results of this untimely divorce have led to a dearth of understanding among believers regarding Jesus’ appearing and the joyful anticipation that comes with such awareness.

The consequences of this have been tragic.

The Sign of Fulfilled Prophecy

The Sign of Fulfilled Prophecy

We learn a lot by looking at fulfilled prophecy. At His first coming, Jesus fulfilled forty-eight specific prophecies concerning His birth, lineage, life, death, and burial.

What does this tell us about our approach to the many prophecies that remain unfulfilled?

A Dozen Prophetic Signs That Tell Us We Live on the Edge of Eternity

A Dozen Prophetic Signs That Tell Us We Live on the Edge of Eternity

We live on the edge if eternity. For those who know Jesus as their Savior, it will start when He catches us up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:3-17). We live in biblical times.

As many of you know, I often write about the signs of the time. However, I feel compelled to do so again as reminder both to myself as well as to others of the nearness of Jesus’ appearing.

The Necessity of Teaching a Literal Understanding of Prophecy

The Necessity of Teaching a Literal Understanding of Prophecy

Why do so many believers today remain blind to the numerous signs that we live in the last days?

I believe a key reason for this lies with pastors and teachers today who in large numbers today embrace amillennialism, a belief system that denies biblical prophecies related to Jesus’ thousand-year rule and the restoration of a kingdom for Israel. As a result, they regard the miraculous emergence of Israel as a nation as mere coincidence without any prophetic significance.

The Indispensable Value of Biblical Prophecy

The Indispensable Value of Biblical Prophecy

What if we did not have biblical prophecy to provide a context for the events unfolding in our world? What if we did not have the book of Revelation to tell us we should expect to see a world government in the last days? What if we did not have Jesus’ words in Mathew 24 that speak of the days before His return to the earth?

Biblical prophecy is indispensable for the day in which we live!

One Minute to Midnight

One Minute to Midnight

Is this it? Are we living in the very last moments before the rapture? Is the seven-year tribulation taking shape before our eyes?

Far too many Christians answer “no” to these questions. It’s one minute to midnight and they remain asleep, unaware the we live in the perilous last days before the rapture.

10 Signs of the Looming Seven-Year Tribulation

10 Signs of the Looming Seven-Year Tribulation

Have you ever wondered during the past few months if the seven-year tribulation has already begun?

Although the tribulation has not yet started, we see the beginning of conditions we know will be much worse during this seven-year period. I believe this is God’s way of getting the attention of the world before His judgments begin. He’s also letting us know that His appearing is imminent.

Confessions of a Watcher

Confessions of a Watcher

I remember a scene from Star Trek: The Next Generation television series where Data is in his room watching water come to a boil in a flask. When someone walks in and asks what he is doing he explains that the old adage, “A watched pot never boils,” is just not true. As proof, he says that he has watched water come to a boil 23 times in a row without fail.

For those of us awaiting the imminent return of Jesus, there are days when we are tempted to wonder if a “watched for” Jesus never appears to take us home.

Waiting and Watching

Waiting and Watching

Waiting is difficult! Whether we’re waiting for cold symptoms to subside, a job offer, or a storm in our life to end, it’s never fun waiting (to say the least).

It’s also not easy waiting for Jesus to take us home to heaven as He promised in John 14:2-3. Yet I know so many of you, like me, have been waiting decades for His appearing.