Should we be Watching for Christ's Return?

With the incredible events going on in the world today many are wondering if we’re in the “last days”, even the last moments of the “last days”. Many declare that Jesus is coming back SOON and like the 10 virgins mentioned in Matthew 25 we need to WATCH for his coming.

In this article we will examine the parable of the 10 virgins and ask these questions- who, what, when, where and why…particularly WHEN.

However, before we can approach Matthew 25, I think it’s necessary to take a few steps back and consider the chapters leading up to it.

In Matthew 3 John the Baptist warned the “Pharisees and Sadducees” to “bring forth…fruits meet for repentance” in order to “flee from the wrath to come” (vs 7&8). He said unfruitful trees would be “hewn down and cast into the fire” (vs 10).

In Matthew 21 Jesus told a parable in which a “householder…planted a vineyard…let it out to husbandmen and went into a far country”(vs 33). The husbandmen beat, stoned and slew not only his servants but his own son (vs 35-39). Jesus then asked the chief priests and pharisees “when the Lord of the vineyard come what will he do to those husbandmen?” They responded “he will miserably destroy those wicked men and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen” (vs 40&41). Jesus then said “the kingdom of God shall be taken from YOU and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof”(vs 43).

In Matthew 22 Jesus told a parable in which a king “made a marriage for his son” and “sent forth his servants to call them which were bidden to the wedding”(vs 2&3) but when the king heard that a “remnant took his servants and slew them”, he “sent forth his armies…destroyed those murderers and burned up their city” (vs 6&7).

In Matthew 23 Jesus accused the “scribes and Pharisees” of killing and stoning God’s prophets. He said “Jerusalem, Jerusalem…you house is left unto you desolate” (vs 37&38).

In Matthew 24 Jesus was in Jerusalem with his disciples when he prophesied the Jewish temple being “thrown down” (vs 1&2). 

Then while sitting on the Mount of Olives his disciples asked him three questions…WHEN shall these things be (temple thrown down), what shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age (vs 3).

Jesus went on to describe “great tribulation” (vs 21), when those in “Judaea” must “flee into the mountains” (vs 16). 

He said “immediately after the tribulation of THOSE days” he would come in the clouds with his angels and the sound of a trumpet to “gather…his elect from the four winds” (vs 29-31)

 

Then he said “THIS generation shall not pass till ALL these things be fulfilled” (vs 34). 

Indicating that the destruction of the temple, the coming of Christ and the end of the Jewish age would ALL happen within the generation of those whom he addressed.

A few verses later Jesus described “the days of Noah”.

This is still part of the Olivet Discourse. Jesus was still answering his disciples first question…WHEN shall these things be? 

In vs 34 he gave a broad answer- within the next 40 years, one biblical generation (Numbers 32:13). A few verses later he clarified that no-one knew "what HOUR” the Lord would come.

Matthew 24

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

In the “days of Noah” destruction came suddenly, when they weren’t expecting it. Jesus would also come suddenly, like a thief in the night. No-one knew the HOUR of his arrival, therefore they had to be in a constant state of readiness.

In the next chapter, Matthew 25 we have the parable of the 10 virgins. 

This is still part of the Olivet Discourse. Jesus was still answering his disciples first question…WHEN shall these things be? Hence the parable of the 10 virgins carried the same message as the “days of Noah” example. 

Matthew 25

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Christ’s disciples were being told to WATCH for his return because no one knew the DAY or HOUR of his coming. He would come suddenly when many were not expecting him. He would catch many unawares.

I now want to consider the last book in the bible, the book of Revelation which really ties in with Matthew 24 and 25.

Revelation chapter 1 verse 1 says this…

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.

Shortly means quickly.

Also verse 3 says this…

3 …keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand

“At hand” means near.

When was Revelation written?

Many believe that apostle John was on Patmos during the reign of Domitian, meaning that Revelation was penned around 95 AD

Can you image John writing Revelation when in his late 80s or 90s? That would be a tall order.

It makes a lot more sense to me that John was on Patmos during the reign of Nero, therefore penned the vision between 68-69 AD.

Who was it addressed to? Who was meant to receive it?

Revelation 1

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia… 

11…Ephesus…Smyrna…Pergamos…Thyatira…Sardis…Philadelphia…Laodicea.

The seven churches mentioned in Revelation were seven literal churches existing in Asia Minor at the time John penned the book (as you can see in this map).

   

What did John write to these seven churches?

Unto Pergamos he wrote…

Revelation 2

16 Repent or I will come unto thee quickly…

Unto Sardis…

Revelation 3

3 …if therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a theif and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee

Unto Philadelphia…

Revelation 3

11 Behold, I come quickly…

Then if we continue through the book of Revelation John wrote…

Revelation 16

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth…

Revelation 22

7 Behold I come quickly…

10…seal not the sayings of the prophesy of this book for the time is at hand.

12…behold I come quickly…

20…surely I come quickly

John penned Revelation to seven churches existing in Asia Minor to warn and inform them of events that would “shortly come to pass”. Events that were “at hand”. Events that would affect THEM.

Hence Revelation is largely about the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman Soldiers. A major event that took place in 70AD and was well documented by first century historian Flavius Josephus.

The Wars of the Jews Book Six

Chapter 8

But when they (the Romans) went in numbers into the lanes of the city with their swords drawn, they slew those whom they overtook without mercy and set fire to the houses whither the Jews were fled, and burnt every soul in them, and laid waste a great many of the rest; and when they were come to the houses to plunder them, they found in them entire families of dead men, and the upper rooms full of dead corpses, that is, of such as died by the famine; they then stood in a horror at this sight…

…they ran every one through whom they met with, and obstructed the very lanes with their dead bodies, and made the whole city run down with blood to such a degree indeed that the fire of many of the houses was quenched with these men's blood. And truly so it happened, that though the slayers left off at the evening, yet did the fire greatly prevail in the night and as all was burning, came that eighth day of the month Gorpieus [Elul] upon Jerusalem…

Chapter 9

…Titus…expressed himself after the manner following: “We have certainly had God for our assistant in this war, and it was no other than God who ejected the Jews out of these fortifications; for what could the hands of men or any machines do towards overthrowing these towers?”

…the number of those that were carried captive during this whole war was collected to be ninety-seven thousand; and was the number of those that perished during the whole siege eleven hundred thousand…

BABYLON THE GREAT REPRESENTED JERUSALEM

Revelation 18 describes “Babylon the great” being “burned with fire” as part of God’s judgment upon her. 

2 …Babylon the great is fallen…

8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day,

death, and mourning, and famine;

and she shall be utterly burned with fire:

for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Revelation 11 hints at the fact “Babylon the great” was Jerusalem. 

8…the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Where was Jesus crucified? At Jerusalem.

The book of Ezekiel has many parallels with the book of Revelation. This is evident when we compare Ezekiel 1 to Revelation 4.

Revelation 4 mentions 

3…a rainbow round about the throne…

Ezekiel 1 

28…the bow…round about (the throne)

Revelation 4

6…four beasts

7…like a lion…calf…man…eagle

Ezekiel 1

5…four living creatures…

10…of a man…lion…ox…eagle

The book of Ezekiel described the destruction of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 9

8 …I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

Ezekiel 22

19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.

22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.

When we compare Revelation 17 to Ezekiel 16 it becomes clear that BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS was Jerusalem. God poured out his fury, his judgement on that city in 70AD.

Revelation 17

1 …Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 

2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Ezekiel 16

2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, 

3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem…

35 Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD: 

37 Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers… 

41 And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more. 

In conclusion:

In Matthew 21-23 Jesus was the “Lord of the vineyard” who would soon return to “destroy” the “wicked men” who beat stoned and slew his servants. Jesus was the “king” who would send forth armies to “destroy” and burn up the city of those who slew his servants. He warned the chief priests, pharisees and scribes that THEIR house would soon be left “desolate”.

In Matthew 24 Christ’s disciples asked him WHEN shall theses things be?

Jesus gave a broad answer- within the next 40 years, one biblical generation. 

Then in both “the days of Noah” example and the parable of the ten virgins he clarified that no-one knew “what hour” he would come, therefore they must WATCH and be ready.

Matthew 24

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

43…if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched…

Matthew 25

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Revelation contains the same words of warning…

Revelation 3

3 …if therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a theif…

Revelation 16

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth…

The book of Ezekiel shows us that Jerusalem was the harlot upon which God poured out his fury in Revelation.

Revelation 17

1…the judgment of the great whore…

5…the mother of harlots…

Ezekiel 16

3…Jerusalem…

35…O harlot…

41…they shall burn thine houses with fire

The writings of First century historian Josephus, confirm that Jerusalem was burned with fire by Roman soldiers in 70AD

When Jesus told his disciples to WATCH, when Apostle John warned the seven churches in Asia to WATCH…were they speaking to US and OUR generation? 

Where they telling US to Watch for the destruction of the temple, Christ’s coming and the end of age? Or were were they speaking to THAT generation?

Do we, like the 10 virgins in Matthew 25 need to WATCH for Christ’s coming? I don’t believe so. 

However we do need to be ready for our death day, our final judgement which could be at any moment. Are you ready for that?

Let us each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.