Signs of the times...

[Twilight]

I see so much focus on the state of the "world".

The recession, wars and rise of crime.

But do you know the correct place to keep your eye on for the fulfillment of prophecy?

The Church.

When you see a movement rising up in the Church, amongst individual memmbers at grass root level, teaching the all sufficient Merits of Christ.

Sit up and take notice.

The end draweth nigh...

For your consideration:

Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of the Saviour shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim His own. It is the privilege of every Christian, not only to look for, but to hasten, the coming of our Lord. Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel! Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come. {Mar 112.5}

Your thoughts?

Mark

[Twilight]

I think we should focus more on the state of Gods people.

Think about it, we have a recession now, but is it any worse than the 1930's depression?

No.

We have had World Wars in the last century that make Afghanistan and Iraq pale into significance.

The one thing that can be seen in my view, is the condition of Gods people.

But not the "wheat and tares", but the wheat and their understanding. :-)

When we see the "wheat" learning to walk with God in concert, then we should sit up and take notice...

Mark :-)

[skyblue888]

Mark said:

But do you know the correct place to keep your eye on for the fulfillment of prophecy?

The Church.

When you see a movement rising up in the Church, amongst individual members at grass root level, teaching the all sufficient Merits of Christ.

Sit up and take notice.

**********************

Oh that we would talk more of the merits of Christ and that we would daily appropriate them to ourselves. Then we would be fortified and the Lord would be pleased with us and the work on earth could be finished and cut short in righteousness.

"You want to be like little children, hanging upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, and then you will be fortified. How? the angels of God will be around you as a wall of fire; the righteousness of Christ, which you claim, goes before you, and the glory of God is your rearward." MS 9,1891.

See how simple the matter of salvation is! With the simple faith of a little child you are to hang your helpless soul upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. You must make it your life business to look to Jesus and to accept His merits which it is our privilege to claim. The pen of inspiration has told us that this is the only way the sinner can be saved. See T.M.93.

This is how you appropriate the merits of Jesus Christ to yourself, by claiming them. By claiming them you show your faith, that you have accepted the gift and God is pleased with you. You then have His approval and He receives you unto Himself and you obtain the blessings of pardon and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. That's it! It is that simple! And then you will be fortified! How? The angels of God are around you as a wall of fire, the righteousness of Christ goes before you and the glory of the Lord is your rearward! Then you become a fortress impregnable to the assaults of Satan.

"The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan." Desire of Ages,324.

"The sinner must ever look toward Calvary; and with the simple faith of a little child, he must rest in the merits of Christ, accepting His righteousness and believing in His mercy." Evangelism, p.185.

"Faith in Christ means everything to the sincere believer. The merits of Jesus blot out transgressions, and clothe us with the robe of righteousness woven in the loom of heaven." Evangelism, p.186.

The robe of Christ's righteousness is the full armor of God, the full armor of light, the full armor of righteousness which makes us "more than conquerors" in the battle against all our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil, enabling us to derive much comfort and satisfaction from the plan of salvation. See 1 S.M.354.

It is very obvious that the emphasis in these statements is about the necessity of appropriating to ourselves the all-sufficient merits of Christ in order that His righteousness may be brought into the life. See F.W.65,66.

Then "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." F.W.27. It is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God! For "The law of the human and divine action makes the receiver a laborer together with God. It brings man where he can, united with Divinity, work the works of God. Divine power and the human agency will be a complete success for Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." F.W.27; T.M.92.

"With humanity and divinity combined you can accomplish a work as enduring as eternity." F.W.27.

These statements make it as plain as the Lord can make it plain that "The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the foundation of the Christian's faith." G.C.73.

Why? because as we claim the merits of Jesus His righteousness is brought into our life and "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." F.W.27.

It is our privilege to come to God claiming the merits of the blood that was shed for us upon Calvary's cross, to claim the merits of the blood that is of value beyond estimate because it was the life of God in His Son! See F.W.23.

So then "The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour: which appropriates His merits to ourselves." D.A.347.

All because, "Jesus was treated as we deserve that we might be treated as He deserves." D.A.25.

This is a stupendous truth!!!

sky

[Twilight]

Mark said:

But do you know the correct place to keep your eye on for the fulfillment of prophecy?

The Church.

When you see a movement rising up in the Church, amongst individual members at grass root level, teaching the all sufficient Merits of Christ.

Sit up and take notice.

**********************

Oh that we would talk more of the merits of Christ and that we would daily appropriate them to ourselves. Then we would be fortified and the Lord would be pleased with us and the work on earth could be finished and cut short in righteousness.

"You want to be like little children, hanging upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, and then you will be fortified. How? the angels of God will be around you as a wall of fire; the righteousness of Christ, which you claim, goes before you, and the glory of God is your rearward." MS 9,1891.

See how simple the matter of salvation is! With the simple faith of a little child you are to hang your helpless soul upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. You must make it your life business to look to Jesus and to accept His merits which it is our privilege to claim. The pen of inspiration has told us that this is the only way the sinner can be saved. See T.M.93.

This is how you appropriate the merits of Jesus Christ to yourself, by claiming them. By claiming them you show your faith, that you have accepted the gift and God is pleased with you. You then have His approval and He receives you unto Himself and you obtain the blessings of pardon and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. That's it! It is that simple! And then you will be fortified! How? The angels of God are around you as a wall of fire, the righteousness of Christ goes before you and the glory of the Lord is your rearward! Then you become a fortress impregnable to the assaults of Satan.

"The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan." Desire of Ages,324.

"The sinner must ever look toward Calvary; and with the simple faith of a little child, he must rest in the merits of Christ, accepting His righteousness and believing in His mercy." Evangelism, p.185.

"Faith in Christ means everything to the sincere believer. The merits of Jesus blot out transgressions, and clothe us with the robe of righteousness woven in the loom of heaven." Evangelism, p.186.

The robe of Christ's righteousness is the full armor of God, the full armor of light, the full armor of righteousness which makes us "more than conquerors" in the battle against all our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil, enabling us to derive much comfort and satisfaction from the plan of salvation. See 1 S.M.354.

It is very obvious that the emphasis in these statements is about the necessity of appropriating to ourselves the all-sufficient merits of Christ in order that His righteousness may be brought into the life. See F.W.65,66.

Then "Christ's righteousness accomnplishes everything." F.W.27. It is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God! For "The law of the human and divine action makes the receiver a laborer together with God. It brings man where he can, united with Divinity, work the works of God. Divine power and the human agency will be a complete success for Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." F.W.27; T.M.92.

"With humanity and divinity combined you can accomplish a work as enduring as eternity." F.W.27.

These statements make it as plain as the Lord can make it plain that "The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the foundation of the Christian's faith." G.C.73.

Why? because as we claim the merits of Jesus His righteousness is brought into our life and "Christ's righteousness accomnplishes everything." F.W.27.

"With humanity and divinity combined you can accomplish a work as enduring as eternity." F.W.27.

It is our privilege to come to God claiming the merits of the blood that was shed upon Calvary's cross, to claim the merits of the blood that is of value beyond estimate because it was the life of God in His Son!

"The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour: which appropriates His merits to ourselves." D.A.347.

All because, "Jesus was treated as we deserve that we might be treated as He deserves." D.A.25.

This is a stupendous truth!!!

sky

It is present truth.

It is only through this that the Abiding experience in Christ can be entered into.

Through the Merits of Christ...

Mark

[skyblue888]

Absolutely Mark, for as we claim the merits of that great sacrifice on a daily basis, the words of Jesus, "Abide in Me and I in you," "Continue in My love," are fulfilled in the life and the life thus received is in like manner sustained, by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, as it is written, "All Your commandments are righteousness." Psalm 119:172.

sky

[Musicman1228]

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Matt.24:32-35.

The lesson I learn from this passage is that God wants us to know when His coming is near, even at the door. There will be signs and we must be aware of what those signs are. The 'generation that will not pass away' until all these things are accomplished are those that will be living during the time of the end. It looks to me as if Jesus wants us to KNOW without a doubt if we are living in the last generation and when that will be. He then warns us that the only way to know for sure is through His own words, because they will pass away after the Heavens and the earth-and that is never. We must not be lulled into a false sense of security by believing the words of those that SAY they are speaking on behalf of Jesus Christ, but in reality they are a wolf in sheep's clothing. This includes those that say that we should not look for these signs either outside the church or inside.

God thinks that it is important for His people, His Kingdom, to know when these events will take place. Anyone that says we cannot know and should not try to find out is not of God.

[skyblue888]

What I believe Mark is saying is that there are signs in the world and in the church but the signs in the church are what we should be most aware of because what is happening in the professed church of Christ is what determines where we are in the order of last day events. Before the image of the beast is formed, there is to be a revival of primitive faith and godliness in the professed church of Christ but this revival will not come from the top but from the grass-root level as it happened in the days of Christ and in the days of the Reformation.

This is what I understand him to be saying we must be watching for.

sky

[Musicman1228]

Sky, I agree with you and Mark that the church will have to get back to where God can use us in His plans for the end. We are not there because we (the Kingdom of Heaven as a whole) are asleep.

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Rev.3:3.

If we didn't have to get back to our origins in the SDA church then why did God say we needed to remember from where we came and repent. Repent from what? Repent from going away from being the people God called us to be in the first place. The second part shows why I said we as a church are asleep. Some will be asleep when Jesus comes to seal the 144,000, but others will be awake. And according to the text those that are awake will know when the Master will come as a thief in the night.

One thing is for sure, right now we are NOT ready to meet our Master because we ARE asleep as a church. What I would like to know it what will it take to wake us up?

[skyblue888]

musicman, you read the first posts and you still don't know what it will take to wake us up?

:smile:

Every day, as I come before God praising His holy name, being in awe of His greatness and majesty, bowing before Him, acknowledging how His name is excellent in all the earth and throughout immensity for above, beneath, beyond, abides Infinite Love, working out all things to accomplish the good pleasure of His goodnes,,, thanking Him and praising Him for the great sacrifice that was made, for the privilege that I have to appropriate to myself the divine merits of my precious Redeemer that I may be clothed with the whole panoply of Heaven, how can I help but be alive with the righteousness of the Saviour since for me now every command He has spoken is a promise, a most positive promise of receiving His righteousness by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized, for "All His commandments are righteousness." Psalm 119:172.

The acceptance of this message brings perfect peace, perfect love, perfect assurance. There may be no ecstasy of feeling but there is an abiding, peaceful trust.

For those who rely solely upon the merits of Jesus for their salvation, the command is: "Awake, you who sleep; Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." Eph.5:14.

This command is a promise. If we receive the word in faith, we have the deliverance, for "He speaks and it is done!" Then the law is magnified and made honorable in the life of the believer. See Isaiah 42:21.

This is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto us! "I know that His commandment is life everlasting." John 12:50.

And the life (righteousness) which is thus received is in like manner sustained, by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God! Matt.4:4; Psalm 119:50,92; Prov.4:20-22; John 6:63.

sky

*and we have the privilege to plead the merits of the Saviour in behalf of the church and of the human family.

[Guest]

If we didn't have to get back to our origins in the SDA church then why did God say we needed to remember from where we came and repent.

But MM, it is our origins that you have done away with in your theology. We still believe in EGW. You don't. We don't believe the Holy Spirit is a woman, or God's wife. You do. The list goes on.

Is it not true that you believe the 2nd coming is going to be a secret thing, and that it is the 3rd coming that every eye shall see. Dr Rich told me that and I assume he got it from you and wayfinder since you all believe the same thing.

We actually don't believe that Paul was a liar and cheat, and inspired by the devil. You do. So what can you say that I will take seriously at this point.

[Twilight]

What I believe Mark is saying is that there are signs in the world and in the church but the signs in the church are what we should be most aware of because what is happening in the professed church of Christ is what determines where we are in the order of last day events. Before the image of the beast is formed, there is to be a revival of primitive faith and godliness in the professed church of Christ but this revival will not come from the top but from the grass-root level as it happened in the days of Christ and in the days of the Reformation.

This is what I understand him to be saying we must be watching for.

sky

Exactly. :-)

[Twilight]

Sky, I agree with you and Mark that the church will have to get back to where God can use us in His plans for the end. We are not there because we (the Kingdom of Heaven as a whole) are asleep.

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Rev.3:3.

If we didn't have to get back to our origins in the SDA church then why did God say we needed to remember from where we came and repent. Repent from what? Repent from going away from being the people God called us to be in the first place. The second part shows why I said we as a church are asleep. Some will be asleep when Jesus comes to seal the 144,000, but others will be awake. And according to the text those that are awake will know when the Master will come as a thief in the night.

One thing is for sure, right now we are NOT ready to meet our Master because we ARE asleep as a church. What I would like to know it what will it take to wake us up?

I first have to rub the sleep out of my own eyes.

When I do that, God can use me to give others a shake...

Mark :-)

[Guest]

We can also know that time is short by some of the false teachings being brought into the church.

The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18. Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony. {FLB 296.6}

[skyblue888]

We can also know that time is short by some of the false teachings being brought into the church.

The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18. Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony. {FLB 296.6}

Exactly! This has been happening for a long time but never as I have seen it lately.

sky

[Musicman1228]

Good. Then how does one know what is true and what is false teaching? Is it just that someone disagrees with the prevailing doctrine or theology of the majority?

[Twilight]

Good. Then how does one know what is true and what is false teaching? Is it just that someone disagrees with the prevailing doctrine or theology of the majority?

By checking the word of God.

Being open to our own preconceived ideas and opinions.

By deep and earnest prayer that the gift of the eyesalve be given.

"You shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart." (paraphrase)

Now some do not know the difference between seeking God and seeking themselves...

This is where the confusion sets in.

When we find our mind filled with thoughts of self and self imagery, we can know that we are not in the right path...

That includes excessive desires to preach and gather converts for the glory we will gain.

Mark

[skyblue888]

Exactly. Well said Mark. One should be able to appreciate that by directing the eyes of the people to Jesus, to His divine person, and to His merits, to the necessity of appropriating His merits to ourselves, that we are bringing glory to God by showing the perfection of the ransom paid. The merits of Christ are everything to us. By extolling the merits of Jesus we lose sight of self, of anything that pertains to selfishness and sin and our minds become focussed on everything that pertains to life and godliness for the merits of Jesus, as we claim them, blot out transgressions and clothe us with the glorious apparel of Christ's righteousnss and His righteousness is absolute. It fills up the measure of the law's demands.

It is our privilege to claim the merits of Jesus and then expect that the Father will not only receive us to Himself but that He will treat us accordingly, according as Jesus deserves to be treated. In fact, as we rest in the merits of Jesus in order to receive all the blessings of the covenant of grace, the Father loves us as He loves His Son.

"Behold what manner of love!"

We are to teach this to adventists and non-adventists alike. In fact this is the message that God has commanded to be given, not only to the church, but to the world. But it must be given to the church first. See T.M.92.

sky

*that would explain why the pen of inspiration has told us that the merits of Christ are to be presented as the remedy provided for selfishness, self-centeredness and sin. See F.W.100,101.

[Musicman1228]

Originally Posted By: musicman

If we didn't have to get back to our origins in the SDA church then why did God say we needed to remember from where we came and repent.

But MM, it is our origins that you have done away with in your theology. We still believe in EGW. You don't. We don't believe the Holy Spirit is a woman, or God's wife. You do. The list goes on.

Is it not true that you believe the 2nd coming is going to be a secret thing, and that it is the 3rd coming that every eye shall see. Dr Rich told me that and I assume he got it from you and wayfinder since you all believe the same thing.

We actually don't believe that Paul was a liar and cheat, and inspired by the devil. You do. So what can you say that I will take seriously at this point.

Please check back into the history of the Advent movement, EGW was a later addition to the movement/church and was not considered to be a founder of the church until much later. Prior to EGW members of the movement met in small groups in homes and did their own homework on the important doctrines of the church. After EGW there was little need for individual and small group study because people in the church started to rely more and more on the 'thus says the Lord' from Ellen White. In spite of what EGW wrote and said about her work as a lesser light pointing to the greater light of the Bible many Adventists came to rely on and believe in EGW as being the Spirit of Prophecy and moved away from allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their individual lives to bring them to the truth. Truth became, and for many in the SDA church still is, whatever EGW says it is.

Just look at what is said about me when I show where EGW and Scripture part ways. Some will say, "How can I do that if I am really a member of the SDA church?" Personally, I don't see the need for either EGW or Paul when it comes to improving my ability to discover the truth when I have the words of Jesus Christ the Son of God and the power of the Holy Spirit pointing the way. Often when Scripture reading is done in church they will use a quote from Paul and sometimes even from EGW and say, "Now let us hear the word of the Lord", not realizing that by making that claim on behalf of God that they are committing blaspheme. Paul IS NOT God, EGW IS NOT God, and NO ONE has the right to claim that any human being is God or speaks for God except Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Yes, I do get worked up about this. If you claim that Paul or EGW or ANYONE speaks for God (either as an apostle or prophet) and they are wrong in the smallest particular, and even if you believe them not knowing about the error you are still committing a great sin, maybe even the unpardonable sin; this because if they are wrong in anything and you claim that the information they have given is from God through the Holy Spirit then you are in effect saying that the Holy Spirit is teaching lies, and THAT IS the unpardonable sin.

You people on this forum can believe anything you want, I don't care. I came to this site only to participate in discussions in a 'safe' environment and test what I have learned in the arena of ideas. Little did I know that Adventist dogma and catechism is at least as hardened into place here as is the catechism and dogma of the Catholic church. Step out of line a little, say something outside of the party platform, outside of the long established 28 Fundamentals and the pillars of the church and watch out because you will be told that you are a blasphemer, arrogant and ignorant; you will be condescended too and reviled as heretical, just because you take a different viewpoint than the majority. (Since when has the majority always been right?)

It is this attitude that the church (and in my opinion many on this site) must back away from by going back to a time in our history when everything was up for grabs, when truth was on the table, when no topic was off limits and when the Words and Spirit of Jesus Christ were supreme. We will not be inside the will of God until that happens. I pray it is soon.

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Rev.3:1-3.

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:15-20.

[skyblue888]

Believe me, musicman, there are some here that are not "boxed in" as you think on spiritual matters. They can think outside the box so to speak and they have kept pace with the light but they will not adhere to the teachings of one who would do away with Paul's letters and belittle the Testimonies as you have done.

You are waisting your time and our time.

Your zeal is worthy of a better cause.

sky

[Musicman1228]

Sky, don't just say I am wrong, prove it. And if you don't want to do that that is also OK with me. You don't have to prove anything to me and I don't have to prove anything to you. You can and should believe anything you like. This forum is, after all, just a place to exchange ideas. As far as I am concerned proof of a position has never been the goal; finding out about various positions is the goal. All I ask is the same courtesy from everyone as you have shown right now. You are setting a quality Christ like example. Thanks.

[Guest]

While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas continued in prayer and supplication, the Lord appeared in vision to "a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias," telling him that Saul of Tarsus was praying and in need of help. "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight," the heavenly messenger said, "and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight." {AA 121.2}

Ananias could scarcely credit the words of the angel; for the reports of Saul's bitter persecution of the saints at Jerusalem had spread far and wide. He presumed to expostulate: "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name." But the command was imperative: "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." {AA 121.3}

Obedient to the direction of the angel, Ananias sought out the man who had but recently breathed out threatenings against all who believed on the name of Jesus; and putting his hands on the head of the penitent sufferer, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. {AA 121.4}

"And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." {AA 122.1}

[skyblue888]

good stuff :)

[Stewart (SDA)]

For me a thought comes to mind about "watching":

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess 5:6)...

Watch against the stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest they assert themselves; force them back, and watch. Watch the thoughts, watch the plans, lest they become self-centered. Watch over the souls whom Christ has purchased with His own blood. Watch for opportunities to do them good. (AG 332)

_____________

Our watching is not to be confined to outward things.

Things are happening in the world; things are happening in the churches, but a good deal of our watching is to be in terms of our own thoughts, conduct, and Christian duty.

Regards,

Stewart

[skyblue888]

For me a thought comes to mind about "watching":

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess 5:6)...

Watch against the stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest they assert themselves; force them back, and watch. Watch the thoughts, watch the plans, lest they become self-centered. Watch over the souls whom Christ has purchased with His own blood. Watch for opportunities to do them good. (AG 332)

_____________

Our watching is not to be confined to outward things.

Things are happening in the world; things are happening in the churches, but a good deal of our watching is to be in terms of our own thoughts, conduct, and Christian duty.

Regards,

Stewart

Yes, and all these things you listed will happen naturally as we are kept by the power of God ready to be revealed in the last time for that commandment "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess 5:6) is a promise, a most positive promise of its own fulfilment through the merits of Christ.

"There is a need for constant watchfulness and of earnest, loving devotion, but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith." F.W.38,39.

sky

[Musicman1228]

Is it possible for a watchman to stay constantly awake for long periods of time without getting sleepy? The reason the military has guard duty as 2 on 4 off (2 hours of duty, 4 hours of rest) is because in order for the soldier to stay awake and alert he needs to be rested, slightly hungry and well prepared mentally and physically for any challenge that may arise on his watch.

Does God expect His watchman on the walls of Zion to be able to stay alert all the time, or did He give hints as to what time of night the thief would come so they could be ready at the proper time? (ref. Rev.3:3, Matt.24:45-51, Luke 12:39)