The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matthew 24:43-44.

 Here is where we left off in our study of Matthew 24.

“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  44 “For this reason, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
Matthew 24:43-44 NAS95

The context has everything to do with Israel and the Jews, with a special focus on the seven years of God's wrath.

Can it also apply to us now?

Certainly. In the broader picture, the head of the household - called the Jews, are the rabbis, Pharisees, and scribes.

In the narrow view, it is one in which the Gentile church body exists in the form of individual believers, the heads of our own households, a situation where we are anxiously looking for the Son of Man (Jesus). For some, Jesus will be coming as a thief in the night.

I have sat with religious people who have scoffed at my statement and ranted that they are ready and don't need me to lecture them on what it is to be ready, all the while denying that such a theme exists for them. Well, Paul, Peter, and the Apostle John also referred to this very thing.

The Apostle Paul wrote.

1 Thessalonians 5:1 NASB Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

Paul could not say this unless he had clearly developed this teaching within this church body and left no room for argument.

Consider the words, times, and epochs.

Time, according to the Word Study Dictionary, is the Greek word chrónos. “This word perceives time quantitatively as a period measured by the succession of objects and events and denotes the passing of moments.”

Quantitatively, is something that is expressible in terms of quantity.

So Paul was comfortable telling them that this time that was coming was something expressible.

Epochs according to the WSD is the Greek word kairós. It is a season or an opportune time. It is not merely as a succession of minutes, which is chrónos (G5550), but a period of opportunity.

If you are paying attention to the events which are centered on Israel, then you would know that many of us are watching intently for Jesus' return for His bride.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 NASB For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

Note the usage of the word “like”. It has similarities to the thief, but for the believer, He is not coming as a thief. Another scripture that speaks in similitude is Revelation 13:3, where it says.

Revelation 13:3 NASB I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;

Typically, when people read or hear this, they don't pay attention to fact that it is one of it's many heads that sustains the wound, nor do they realize that it is NOT dead, it just seems to be for the moment. The Ottoman Empire easily fulfills our understanding of this head.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 NASB While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

The United Nations and the World Economic Forum both repeatedly made calls for peace and security or safety, and, blame the lack of such on “antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, persecution of Christian minorities and white supremacist ideology.”¹ All of this is evidence that the globe needs to live on social contracts like China already does.

Today is August 12, 2024. This is important for several reasons. 1. It is a day of mourning in Israel as so many bad things have happened on this day. Such as the expulsion from Spain and then England. The Destruction of both temples, and now the threat of Iranian missiles be shot as Israel in retaliation of several assassinations attributed to Israel. Iran has the intent of removing Israel from the map. So, Watchman River Tom, a YouTube channel I watch, spoke about the possibility that Iran could hold off on these launches and feign peace by holding hostage talks with Israel on Thursday. This could play into the common thread where either the Jewish people or the antichrist character says peace peace.

Look at the terminology that the Amplified Bible uses.

“When people are saying, All is well and secure, and, there is peace and safety, then in a moment unforeseen destruction (ruin and death) will come upon them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there will be no escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3 AMP

1 Thessalonians 5:4 NASB But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;

Why will it NOT overtake us?

2 Timothy 4:8 NASB In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 NASB for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

Paul explains verse four above by telling this church and us, that we are not of night or or darkness; and, therefore, not subject to the fears of the night.

Again I turn to the Amplified Bible as it defines 1 Thessalonians 5:4 so well.

“But you are not in [given up to the power of] darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4 AMP

1 Thessalonians 5:6 NASB so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

The challenge, if you will, is to be alert and sober.

Sobriety has little to do with alcohol. According to Webster's it also means to be “Cautious; prudent; watchful on all sides; examining carefully all the circumstances that may affect a determination.

The Weymouth translation states,

“So then let us not sleep, like the rest of the world, but let us keep awake and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Weymouth

So then, let us not sleep like the rest of the world.

Can I spread a broad blanket and say that the majority of those who claim they are Christians are nothing more than asleep?

I recently saw a clip where Joy Behar, a commentator on the television show, The View, said, in talking about Donald Trump, after he said that it was God's grace that spared his life in this assassination attempt, that she, too, was a Christian because she was brought up in the Catholic church, and that Donald Trump's comments about God moving in his life were narcissistic. Growing up in a Catholic church does not make you Christian. Putting your life and faith into the hands of Jesus Christ by asking Him to come into your life, does. Joy Behar could never speak so corruptly about people who choose to uphold conservative values and standards and be deemed a Christian by anyone.

Matthew 24:44 Weymouth  “Therefore you also must be ready; for it is at a time when you do not expect Him that the Son of Man will come.”

Last night we went to hear a good band that was playing as part of the summer concerts in the parks. There were easily about three hundred people there. We often see people that we know from church. In a way, having a picnic in the park and listening to music makes the world seem normal, especially as the city picked up the bill for the band to be there and we just come and enjoy. The problem, that most will refuse to see, is that few of those people have any clue that we are on the cusp of Jesus' return and the start of the seven years of God's wrath.

The scriptures tell us that they were not looking for Him, nor were they aware.

Having said all that, Matthew 24:43-44 is implying that we, as the heads of our households, can know what time the thief is coming (He only appears to be a thief because they are not looking for Him.) Those of us who are alert and ready are so because we have given our hearts to Jesus as the Redeemer. Those who merely attach themselves to the name Christian will not be taken up in the rapture of the church, as they are not looking for Him, and neither are they ready for Him. For them, Jesus will come at an hour when they are NOT looking for Him.

1https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12582.doc.htm

But you, brethren, are not in darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5. An integration with an article by Amir Tsarfati about the fig tree.

This is based on an article in Harbingers Daily, written by Amir Tsarfati on 12/06/22.

One of the loathsome things I perpetually hear is, No one knows the day or the hour. These naysayers espouse this even though the Apostle Paul told us, 

“...you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief.”

“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you, yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 NASB)

There seems to be a concerted effort among church members and leadership to promote deception.
Note how Paul says that “we,” the “believer,” is NOT in darkness, that the day would overtake us like a thief; this is because those outside the family only acknowledge the rapture. After all, it is a scenario portrayed in scary movies, and they seem to have serious doubts about being left behind.

What is “the day”?

There are two schools of thought.

1. That it is a day of judgment.

   There are two of those “days” that apply to judgment. 

   One would be when He comes back at the end of the seven years and silences all who have come to fight against Him. He does this with the breath of His mouth, and there will be a river of blood. 

   The second day of judgment will come at the end of the thousand-year reign and climax with the white throne judgment. 

   Two things happen in relationship to the white throne, and they are packaged under the heading of the second day or final judgment.

   Satan will be released once again, and he will deceive the nations. Yes, during the millennial reign, people with a free will shall repopulate the earth and continue to live, and some will choose to ignore the ongoing message of God’s goodness, which they can witness firsthand.

   Deceived by Satan, they will attempt to kill God and His people as they surround the Holy City, God, and His people. He kills them with the breath of His mouth and burns them up.

   The next aspect of this judgment is that all the dead, quite possibly from the beginning of time, will be brought before this throne. Here is where Matthew 25 kicks in because Jesus, the judge, and shepherd, separates this crowd into two representative groups - "sheep and goats." To the sheep, He will say, enter into the eternal kingdom. The goats will go to eternal damnation with Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet who are already there.

So much for judgment.

2. The second way people perceive "the day" is through the catching away of the church.

   This event has little to do with judgment, although many many perceive it as judgment because it is associated with the Bema seat pg of Christ.

   The passage that gives much great concern is,

   “But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”
   (Romans 14:10 NASB)

   The Bema seat is more of a time for passing out rewards for a job well done.

Fully aware that we do not have to be deceived because we are NOT in darkness, then what can we know?

To the Pharisees, Jesus said you can read the signs of the weather.

"The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' "And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away.” (Matthew 16:1-4 NASB)

Jesus' first response when the disciples implored Him to "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

"...Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you."
(Matthew 24:4 NASB)

See to it G3005 légo – Is to say, affirm over, maintain, teach, point out with words, to speak of, or mention.

This affirmation is what you do to yourselves.

Mislead G4105 planáo - To cause to wander, lead astray.

How many different ways can we be caused to wander?

Let's see: The news, as they would never deceive me.

Are you kidding?

Haven't you noticed how every news station repeats the exact same words, no matter how small or large the station is? Someone is pulling their chains, telling them to feed you what they want you to know.

Another recent event was Elon Musk purchasing Twitter and then revealing that men like

James Addison Baker III is an American attorney, diplomat, and statesman. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 10th White House Chief of Staff and the 67th United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Ronald Reagan, and the 61st U.S. Secretary of State. He was also a former American government official at the Department of Justice who served as general counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He later served as deputy general counsel at Twitter, Inc. from June 2020 to December 2022 before being fired by Elon Musk. (Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baker)

have been assisting in process of eliminating our civil rights, by blocking our freedom of speech.

Paul in his second letter to the church in Thessaloniki, told them

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction," (2 Thessalonians 2:3 NASB)

Notice the nondescript word "it." It is fascinating how a simple word can imply or point to so many things. “It” can apply to the beast, antichrist, the New World Order, the methods used to make their evil plans work, or the people who think they can control us. I chuckled as I wrote this, as they are making it happen.  

Are you in denial? How is that working for you?  

Deceive G1818 exapatáo - to seduce, deceive, lead out of the right way into error.

I was not born during the days of the Nazi concentration camps, but I can read and am a piteous history student. But this leading out of the right way into error is precisely what Hitler and the Nazi party did to Germany. If you don’t believe that, try reading about Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as he details how the Nazis led the majority of Pastors, and for a moment, even Bonhoeffer, to the point that they merely played their worship music louder to drown out the screams of the Jews on the trains as they were carted off to their deaths.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, we know that the Greek word apostasia had been  manipulated  in the King James Version of the Bible to read apostasy - or falling away instead of departure (indicating a departure  of the church to be with Jesus.)  This was done to convey the anger of the state church, the Catholic church in the 1500s, over people leaving the church for Protestantism. The previous version of the Bible was the Geneva Bible and existed for almost 100 years, with the word apostasia accurately being translated as departure. 

A three-page introduction. What is the point? 

Since we are not in the dark, we should be able to see what is coming and how close we are to our catching away. 

Jesus addressed just such a condition when He spoke to the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

He said, 

“Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky but cannot discern the signs of the times?”

One of those signs was the fig tree, and that is where Amir Tsarfati comes into play. I will add that many are now trying to tell us that the fig tree does not refer to Israel. This is part of the deception!

‘We Are The Generation’: God Has Not Left Us In The Dark About the Generation We Live In."

By Amir Tsarfati, December 6, 2022

Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 9:10, and Joel 1:7 all refer to Israel as a fig tree, and the content of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25 is concerning events before and during the 70th week of Daniel – also referred to as the Great Tribulation. That means the fig tree Jesus is referring to is the nation of Israel, and when it puts forth leaves and the branch is tender (which indicates new growth) we can know that summer is near. From that example Jesus said that the generation that sees this will not pass away before all things in the Olivet Discourse take place.

What that means to you and me as Christians living at the end of the time of the Gentiles and the church age is that we have been given an entire generation’s notice about the coming of the Lord. He will come first for His church before the Tribulation and then with His church to end the Tribulation. We were given this information by our gracious and loving Lord not so we would be ready for the Rapture – we should always be ready for that event – but so we would tell others not only that they also need to be ready, but more importantly, why and how they can be.

No one knows the day or the hour of the Lord appearing in the air to meet the dead in Christ and the living saints. However, He did tell us to be ready in Matthew 24:

Matthew 24:44 KJV – “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

The phrase “hour you do not expect” could also be translated as “a season never supposed”. That carries with it a couple of potential meanings. Either that Jesus is coming for us at a time when things are unimaginable, like now, or that Jesus is coming at a time when few think He will, also like now. Whichever meaning is the one that God intended, both make clear that the hour is late. The Jews are back in the land, the fig tree has put forth leaves, and the unknown day or hour is likely very near.