Scriptures that speak to our knowing, within a tight window of opportunity, when Jesus will return for His bride.

Today's date is 9/17/2025

As of this date we are looking at five more days (if you know what I mean.)

Hebrews 10:25 BSB 
“Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The writer of this letter, to this group of Jewish believers, is telling them to encourage one another. Why do that?

Because most people in church are going through some form of battle and wouldn't dare share that with you. Perhaps the 'fear' that prevents them from sharing has to do with the people, who quickly look at their watch, as they say look at the time, I've got to go. Those same people then drift over to someone they deem more important or less demanding with their needs and talk intimately about their shared interest in the kid's soccer league.

Most people, in the churches that I have had dealings with, want nothing to do with the person sitting near them. This lack of concern usually arises because they have no idea how to respond to what is about to come out of your mouth, when most of the time, just the few extra seconds that is takes for you to pray with them is all that is needed; a few extra seconds to look them in the eyes can let them know that you care.

In general I know what it is to encourage, but for the sake of others who may not understand we will explore the word. If you look up the synonyms for encourage (alternate words that convey a similar meaning), you will get a variety of interpretation options such as: promote, boost, support, inspire, stimulate, enliven, and even animate. (This is important to me because I have sat under preachers who are willing to say, “that word means this,” and then leave you hanging with that one option that they just gave you, when you know good and well that there are other, more effective words.)

Pay attention to phrases like these “but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Encouraging, why do I have to do that?

As I said, almost everyone of us that follows after God is involved in a battle.

Ephesians 6:11-12 BSB 
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.  (12)  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Whether you want to call it a struggle or a battle, it matters not, the purpose is to silence you; and, it sure looks like flesh and blood most of the time.

The Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury has this to say. “So the will plays a vital role in spiritual matters—volition is involved in response to the Divine imperative! But when men are deceived, the will is rendered ineffective, thus one cannot meet the conditions given by God. Satan’s design is not deception for the deception’s sake, but to induce volitional paralysis, to render men passive, to neutralize the will, so that the Divine imperatives cannot be carried out”

An example of one of those imperatives is found in Matthew's gospel.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:18-20 BSB)

 

Because Jesus has all authority, and we are in Him, then we are to go and make disciples.

According to Webster's Dictionary: “Volition is the actual exercise of the power which the mind has of considering or forbearing to consider an idea.”

It is these battles that challenge our hope.

Hope is expectation, anticipation, and the leaning of everything we have upon a promise.

How do we encourage?

It almost sounds like a cheerleader and that may be true, but it is difficult to cheer others on if you have had the inspiration beaten out of you. If this is going on around you do your best to separate yourself from these dissenters.

While I have to admit that the day is also a variable, there is the implication that we can know the day.

So, undoubtedly, we encourage other believers by being a cheerleader and pointing out that we, the church, are not going to be subject to God's wrath.

If you wish to struggle with the idea of us knowing when Jesus will return for His bride, then consider the 50 prophets that followed Elijah.

“Then the sons of the prophets at Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”
(2 Kings 2:5 BSB)

Chew on that for a while, for the sons of the prophets knew it was to be that day.

Another passage comes Revelation 3:3

“Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.”
(Revelation 3:3 BSB)

Perhaps we can deem this to be an idiom, but never forget that there is NOTHING in scripture that is there by accident. He means for us to understanding that we can perceive that this moment in time is down to the hour.

Here in 1 Thessalonians we focus on the times and the seasons.

“Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 BSB)

Let's take a moment to break down this passage.

1. “Now, about the times and seasons ...”

   It is clear to me that we are to understand the times and the seasons. As followers of Christ, we are to expect violence coming at us. Jesus warned us that because they hated Me, they will hate you. So what happened to Brother Charlie Kirk, is NOT uncommon, especially in the African nations. Guess what, this level of common violence is coming to America, sooner than you think. The times and the seasons in which Jesus will come back are upon us.

2. “ While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, ...”

   They, being the nations against Israel, have already gathered to voice their opinions about the New York document, a document that will be ratified on September 23, 2025, and then it may only have one dissenting vote, although I am hoping the President Trump votes against it, making it two who are standing against this Peace and Security agreement that is being co-chaired by French President, Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salmon.

   The question is: the destruction that is coming, will it be upon the signers, or, upon Israel.

3. “... and they will not escape.”

   Does it matter to whom Jesus is speaking?

   Not really, because as I write this Israel is fighting a war on seven fronts. Any action, no matter who fires first, will be met with overwhelming firepower. I might add that Israel is progressively leveling Gaza as we speak. This action, has motivated Germany, one of the last allies Israel had, to turn their backs on Israel and voice their approval of this two state solution.

   Do not think for a second that the Islamic nations care one bit about Israel or this UN agreement, which will be signed on September 23, because those nations want Israel thrown into the sea.

4. “But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”

   In general, this statement is trying to bolster your faith and understanding, that you can understand and comprehend what God is about to do. He is about to say, Son, go get your bride.

   The naysayers loudly and incessantly rave, No man knows the day or the hour! And yet, look at the world around you. Everywhere you turn you can hear the sounds of the toilet being flushed. Nations, such as France, are burning; this is a nation where 1 in 4 women are being raped by Islamic Jihadists. There is hardly a nation where the situation is turning deadly. If you don't believe that, ask Charlie Kirk; oh yeah, you can't because he got assassinated. The hour is upon us.

5. “putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.”

   We are not to turn to rage but to live in the hope of salvation. If you have confessed that Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life then you are a believer, a follower of Christ. You no longer have time to play with the world. Separate yourself from their ways and turn quickly to Jesus.

   Why would the Apostle Paul say that salvation brings hope if it was not meant to tell us that our hope is in the rescue of the church from the horrendous things that are about to be unleashed with the signing of this peace and security agreement?

   If you are a chronologically oriented person, and know a bit of Daniel 9 and beyond, then you also know that most do not see our rescue until the antichrist adds his approval and support for Peace and Security agreement. Seriously, God is going accomplish what He desires and He desires His bride.

6. “For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

   We have hope because of this statement right here.

Because of scripture, many of us were looking for heavenly signs, well, we got them.

“And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.”
(Revelation 12:1-2 BSB)

These signs were star alignments in the night sky, that in this case came into perfect alignment somewhere around 2017. I could NOT see them from where I live as the light pollution obliterates all but a couple of the brightest stars. Many people use an app called Stellarium to know where to look. I just take their word for it; the problem was that so many of the events that we now see, were not happening at the time of John's writing.

Oh, I might add that the Magi from the East, during the days of Jesus' birth, came and paid homage to the young child Jesus, based upon their knowledge of the stars.

Allow me to burst your bubble.

“When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
(Matthew 2:16 BSB)

So Jesus, was now at least two, and was NOT living in a manger by the time the wise men (and their rather large entourage,) arrived. Joseph and Mary were in a rented home, at least. The Magi brought them great wealth and I would not be surprised to find out that the gifts funded the entirety of their stay in Egypt.

In regards to the escalating level of violence, which we just witnessed.

“They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.”

(John 16:2 BSB)

 

Consider what John 16:4 has to say.

“But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.”

(John 16:4 BSB)

In my humble opinion, the context of Jesus's statement applies to the Jewish community who are living at the time of God's wrath being poured out. The “hour” is the Greek word hōra and carries meanings, whether (literally or figuratively) of : - day, hour, instant, season. I believe that John 16:4 then points to that moment when “they” will kill you because you are a follower of Christ, or for simply being a Jew.

We will always be with the Lord.

“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 BSB)

Since imperfection (sin) cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, we must shed this earthly body.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

(1 Corinthians 15:51-52 BSB)

 

Thanks to Adam we have all been infested with sin. How to define that is part of the mystery, but it is not that difficult. That piece of fruit that the two of them ingested changed their DNA and everyone born of man is infested since then. There was time when such a concept was fodder for science fiction movies. Well, Bill Gates and others like him, paid the right people and they found a way to alter your DNA through a Mrna injection. We will not go into details, but I will tell you that one of my brothers died thanks to this manipulation of science. So we have to shed the carrier of that sin; you got it, the body. In the twinkling of an eye we will shed this damaged body in exchange for a new one. It will look just like you. Consider Jesus, He came back from the grave, sat on the beach one day and cooked and ate fish with the disciples. Sounds rather physical, but I can't explain it now and keep this short. We will be changed and sin free, something that was attached to this old body and linked back to the garden. I long for that day.

After hearing these words, I felt like I could fit in somewhere. Romans 1:1-20

This study will look at Romans 1:18.

Romans 1:18-19 NASB: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

Now, if you are one of those who advocate that all sinners should be sent to the Great White Throne and only find the portals of hell waiting for them, then perhaps this is for you, as the passage we are going to cover can give you that impression if you merely glance at the verse. But you should know me by now, as I tear everything apart, and we will do that; however, as I often do, I want to give you a glimpse into my life and hopefully make it relatable.

I recently had the opportunity to go to a men's retreat put on by two Vineyard Churches. We had done something like this two years before, and then it was titled “No Man Left Behind.” I felt like I got thrown under the bus, and I returned home as miserable as I came. These events, much like our relationship with Christ, will give you as much as you invest in them. With that in mind, I got to camp this time and almost immediately decided to jump in with both feet; besides, the speaker caught my attention.

The speaker was Dr. Eric Sandras (You can find several of his books on Amazon.com). We were told to call him Dr. E, and we came to find out that he has a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Relations, and that he has spent nearly a decade as a Human Sexuality instructor at various universities and colleges. So, at one meeting, we had an opportunity to ask any sexual questions we had. You might think that in a “holy” environment we wouldn't speak of such things, but our silence, discomfort, and false bravado, along with our phony acts of sucking up the horrible pains around us while trying to act brave, is nothing less than passive-aggressive behavior. (Passive-aggressive behavior has been a lifetime battle for me, and it is a battle that comes out of Co-Dependency.) 

The disastrous side of passive-aggressive behavior is that, like Mount St. Helens in Washington State, USA, you will eventually blow off that pressure with disastrous results. I know this from experience.

When Dr. “E” opened the series of meetings, the first thing he did was read off a card that they use to introduce people to the church. It looks like this.

After hearing these words, I felt like I could fit in somewhere. Since I am not in a position to move to Colorado Springs, I guess my mission is to make sure that others who correspond with this description fit in as well.

Many will see a description like the one in the photo, realize that some of us are accepting those who are broken, and complain, loudly, that we are NOT pointing out their sin; how could I respond to that?

Good lord, if they, in their broken conditions, are reading this, trust me, they know they are broken and thirsty; I know I did.

John's gospel tells us that Jesus had an answer to this.

Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah (the Feast of Tabernacles,) Yeshua stood and cried out, If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! John 7:37 CJB

There were no accusations or restrictions on when or how you should come; He merely said, come, and by your coming and getting closer to Jesus, the more you begin to look and act like Him.

Another example looks like this.

 

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. (24) The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:23-24 NASB

Matthew 4:23, though many see this verse as talking about sicknesses for which you merely take some pill, it demonstrates the same attitude that the welcome card conveys: you are welcome here. 

Eugene Peterson's Message puts it this way,

"From there, he went all over Galilee. He used synagogues for meeting places and taught people the truth of God. God’s kingdom was his theme--that beginning right now they were under God’s government, a good government! He also healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives." Matthew 4:23 MSG

Jesus healed diseases, but the book of Acts in chapter 10:38 associated those same diseases with demonic oppression; however, there are, without a doubt, bad effects from our relationships and choices.

As I sat through these meetings, I heard things that my “religious” upbringing wanted to conflict with; but I also heard the Holy Spirit say to me, as He had done before, you relax and listen, and all will be explained to you. I don't expect many of you to understand this, but I cried all weekend. Imagine a six-foot-four-inch, 280-pound bear of a man, crying. I had powerful men praying over me all weekend long. Some I voluntarily submitted to, while others just approached me, asking me if they could share what they had heard from the Holy Spirit, and then proceeded to tell me things they would not have known otherwise. These guys poured into my life, life from the Spirit of God, and spoke healing over me. 

For my part, I have to trust the process as I continue to put the Word of God into my life.

With that in mind, let's look at Romans 1:18

Romans 1:18-19 AMP: "For God's [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. (19) For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them."

After the question-and-answer session, I felt a little overwhelmed; in moments like this, I have learned to relax and let the Holy Spirit sort things out for me. I trust the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth and to help me discern when something is not right. Simply because the topics are uncomfortable to me does not make them wrong, and this was not wrong. For several in the audience, the things that were discussed were pure ungodliness and reeked of unrighteousness; why? Because, as I explained to one of the attendees, some people, with their legalistic point of view, are wound much too tightly. After coming down off the mountain, I made this same statement to my friends/accountability partners, and one of them asked me, what does it mean to be wound too tightly? 

Since I had an excellent example of this at the camp, I demonstrated what a brother did and said while we were there. 

We had been given icebreaker questions, and one of the questions was, what was the funniest thing that happened to you this weekend? 

While my answer was not funny at the time, several hours later, at lunch, I could laugh about it. Now it was the turn of another Christian brother from the church I attend. 

When he opened his mouth, he began an angry rant about how we were merely accepting people's sin, and how none of the pastors among us were addressing God's wrath and outrage over such sins. I happen to know this brother, and he fatigues himself fretting about sin; and, when he attempts to teach mature believers, they too have to endure his rants about sin.

It is sad how many are focused only on God’s potential wrath and indignation. As I said, with a simplistic read, it is easy to perceive Romans 1:18,19 as nothing less than ominous. So let's tear the verse apart.

• Wrath is the Greek word orgē and means desire (by analogy) violent passion; by implication, punishment: anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath.

If I substitute alternate wording in for the wrath, I get, For the violent passion of God. 

I always look at everything in light of God's character, which is Love. 

Can God get violently passionate? 

Absolutely, and we saw this when Jesus took the time to make a whip and drive the money changers and buyers out of the temple's outer court.

"And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." (John 2:13-17 KJV)

The word wrath shows up in the book of Revelation in three chapters: Rev 6:16-17; Rev 14:10; and Rev 19:15. 

There is no doubt that God is angry in these instances, but the recipients are spelled out in Scripture and have had their chances at mercy, no less than anybody else.

• Revealed is the Greek word apokaluptō, and it means to take off the cover; that is, to disclose: reveal. This word apokaluptō should be a familiar word, as it has strong similarities to the title of the Revelation; here, the Greek word is apokalupsis but still means disclosure.

To again substitute words in place of what we have so far: For the violent passion of God is disclosed from heaven, 

but for what purpose?

• Against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. Well, that sounds relatively decisive.  The Greek word for ungodliness is asebeia and also means impiety and/or wickedness. Impiety is defined as ungodliness; irreverence towards the Supreme Being; contempt of the divine character and authority; neglect of the divine precepts. Unrighteousness is the Greek word adikia and means (legal) injustice (properly the quality, by implication the act); moral wrongfulness (of character, life or act): iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.

In continuing to substitute words and phrases into the verse, we get: For the violent passion of God is disclosed from heaven, against all irreverence of God, contempt of His character, and neglect of His precepts.

The dictionary explanation of the word precepts goes like this: “In a general sense, any commandment or order intended as an authoritative rule of action, but applied particularly to commands respecting moral conduct.”

We who follow Christ are deemed by God to be in Christ. 

This wrath that is to be poured out would have been meant for us, but since Christ took the wrath that we deserved upon himself, we do not have to endure that wrath. 

Here is where most have problems, as they cannot distinguish between the tribulations that are a part of being in this world and the wrath that is to come (see Romans 5:9 or 1Thessalonians 1:10). 

The wrath that is coming is to be poured out upon the nations, the Jews, and those who have displayed irreverence of God, contempt of His character, and neglect of His precepts. 

Sorry, you don't get to stop here, as the wrath is directed at particular people.

• Of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Suppress seems simple enough, that is, until you look the word up in the Greek. It is the word katechō and means to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): - have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X, make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold. Thayer's definitions indicate: to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of). Take a moment to read Romans 2:8,9

Working off what we have so far: For the violent passion of God is disclosed from heaven, against all irreverence of God, contempt of His character, and neglect of His precepts, of men who have restrained others from finding the truth, and in many cases have hindered the people from the truth.

Are you aware that Isaiah 53 is a forbidden chapter in Israel's Synagogues? 

What does Isaiah 53 speak of? 

The Messiah and the price He was to pay by His death.

I was angrily confronted one day when a brother in Christ tried to dispute the idea that Jesus could come back at any minute. 

This brother in Christ told me that everybody, according to Scripture, had to have a printed copy of the Bible before Christ could return. I think for some, this will be bad news, and Romans 1:19 is the reason why.

Romans 1:19-20 NLT: "They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.  (20)  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God."

 Creation testifies of God, and therefore, nobody will have an excuse as they stand before God.