Why are the majority of believers unaware of the Lord’s presence at this time?
There are a number of reasons.
The number one reason is because the majority of professed Christians are in truth but Christians in name only, nominal Christians, neither begotten of the spirit nor led of the spirit, this despite all their professions. Many of these are actually very good moral and upstanding individuals. However what motivates such is not the Holy Spirit, but rather their emotions, feelings, many counting these as evidences of the indwelling spirit. If you have ever attended one of the more fundamental Pentecostal or Charismatic churches you would have witnessed this and seen how many are caught up into the moment, their “feelings” taking control persuading them they are being infused by the Holy Spirit.
But feelings are unreliable, yesterday at church you felt close to God; today you feel estranged from Him, Why is this? Because the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not an emotion or a feeling you have.
Not being begotten of the spirit such are yet still natural men and as such are incapable of receiving the deep things of the word of God. The knowledge of the presence would definitely fall under one of those things known only to the Lord’s true people, those begotten of his spirit and only to those who are fully awake and watching.
Even so many of these professed believers still claim to be awake and watching, however having been misled by the blind guides of Christendom they are generally found looking in the wrong direction. They have been taught to expect a fleshly or visible return of the Lord when no such return is promised. Many of these are of those whom the Lord referred to in Matt 24:26 when he mentioned that some would be looking to the desert with the expectation that there the Lord would physically set his feet down upon the Mount of Olives. Others of course would be found looking to the “inner rooms” of spiritualistic séances and etc.
But these are not the only ones who are susceptible to these errors, many of the Lord’s true children, begotten of the spirit; howbeit mere “babes in Christ” have likewise been misled and have never learned of the true object and manner of our Lord’s return, the latter part, the “manner” of our Lord’s return being paramount. These for the most part are asleep and like “foolish virgins” lacking the proper oil in their vessels (the indwelling of the spirit within themselves) they have not taken the time to “trim their lamps” (to remove the dross, the errors they have been taught by men and to searched the scriptures instead for the truth relating to the Second Advent), and thus their lamps (the Bible or Word of God) has gone out (become darkened, confused), blinding them to the knowledge of the presence of their Lord. And should this condition continue they shall shortly find the door shut to the marriage feast and they themselves locked out.
It is with these thoughts in mind that we present the following:
Why Some Christians Are Unaware of the Lord’s Presence
Luke 21:34-36 warns that when Christ returns many of the Lord’s professed people (believers) will be totally unaware of His presence. This "Day" comes as a snare upon two kinds of Christians. Some are overcharged with the cares of this life (jobs, careers, family and etc.) while others simply neglect the Word and Spirit of God and as such chose to follow leaders who misguide them (the blind guides of Christendom).
Study Luke 21:34-36. Remember that this chapter is speaking of signs of Christ's second presence and notice how those who are awake and watching are aware when the day of the Lord comes upon them; whereas both the world and negligent Christians are not.
“But you, brethren (who are awake and watching), are not in darkness (as to the day of the Lord’s presence, Greek: parousia), so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are neither of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do (who are unaware of the Lord’s return), but let us watch and be sober (alert and self-controlled).” 1 Thess 5:4-6
Our Lord says, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you [Christians] unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch [watch yourselves and also the word of prophecy] ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."
The phrase "that ye may be accounted worthy to escape" in Verse 36 of the King James Version is a poor translation. Compare the following translations:
RVS, "praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place."
Rotherham, "making supplication that ye may gain full vigor to escape all these things that are about to be coming to pass,"
NEB, "praying at all times for strength to pass safely through all these imminent troubles."
These translations indicate that the thought of the Greek* is that watching and praying Christians will receive the strength to pass through the tousles during the early period of that "day." Note that the church is still on the earth. Strength is not necessary for an experience from which the Lord removes you, but the Lord gives strength to endure the dangers Christians must encounter in the tribulation.
However, negligent Christians (those overcharged with the cares of this life and/or who are negligent in the study of God’s word, specifically bible prophecy) are ensnared by these dangers. Note well the implications of this scripture. Faithful Christians are here during part of the tribulation period, but are sustained by the strength of the Lord. (Excerpts taken from the booklet, “I Will Come Again” edited)
Continued with next post.
Return to Index
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*Both Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words and Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament observe that the Greek word in Luke 21:36 translated "accounted worthy" in the King James Version is not found in the most authentic manuscripts. Instead the Greek word katischuo appears which means "full strength." The word "escape" is a translation of the Greek word ekpheugo which means "to seek safety." Thayer defines katischuoekpheugo—"to have strength to overpower or overcome."
There are a number of reasons.
The number one reason is because the majority of professed Christians are in truth but Christians in name only, nominal Christians, neither begotten of the spirit nor led of the spirit, this despite all their professions. Many of these are actually very good moral and upstanding individuals. However what motivates such is not the Holy Spirit, but rather their emotions, feelings, many counting these as evidences of the indwelling spirit. If you have ever attended one of the more fundamental Pentecostal or Charismatic churches you would have witnessed this and seen how many are caught up into the moment, their “feelings” taking control persuading them they are being infused by the Holy Spirit.
But feelings are unreliable, yesterday at church you felt close to God; today you feel estranged from Him, Why is this? Because the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not an emotion or a feeling you have.
Not being begotten of the spirit such are yet still natural men and as such are incapable of receiving the deep things of the word of God. The knowledge of the presence would definitely fall under one of those things known only to the Lord’s true people, those begotten of his spirit and only to those who are fully awake and watching.
Even so many of these professed believers still claim to be awake and watching, however having been misled by the blind guides of Christendom they are generally found looking in the wrong direction. They have been taught to expect a fleshly or visible return of the Lord when no such return is promised. Many of these are of those whom the Lord referred to in Matt 24:26 when he mentioned that some would be looking to the desert with the expectation that there the Lord would physically set his feet down upon the Mount of Olives. Others of course would be found looking to the “inner rooms” of spiritualistic séances and etc.
But these are not the only ones who are susceptible to these errors, many of the Lord’s true children, begotten of the spirit; howbeit mere “babes in Christ” have likewise been misled and have never learned of the true object and manner of our Lord’s return, the latter part, the “manner” of our Lord’s return being paramount. These for the most part are asleep and like “foolish virgins” lacking the proper oil in their vessels (the indwelling of the spirit within themselves) they have not taken the time to “trim their lamps” (to remove the dross, the errors they have been taught by men and to searched the scriptures instead for the truth relating to the Second Advent), and thus their lamps (the Bible or Word of God) has gone out (become darkened, confused), blinding them to the knowledge of the presence of their Lord. And should this condition continue they shall shortly find the door shut to the marriage feast and they themselves locked out.
It is with these thoughts in mind that we present the following:
Why Some Christians Are Unaware of the Lord’s Presence
Luke 21:34-36 warns that when Christ returns many of the Lord’s professed people (believers) will be totally unaware of His presence. This "Day" comes as a snare upon two kinds of Christians. Some are overcharged with the cares of this life (jobs, careers, family and etc.) while others simply neglect the Word and Spirit of God and as such chose to follow leaders who misguide them (the blind guides of Christendom).
Study Luke 21:34-36. Remember that this chapter is speaking of signs of Christ's second presence and notice how those who are awake and watching are aware when the day of the Lord comes upon them; whereas both the world and negligent Christians are not.
“But you, brethren (who are awake and watching), are not in darkness (as to the day of the Lord’s presence, Greek: parousia), so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are neither of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do (who are unaware of the Lord’s return), but let us watch and be sober (alert and self-controlled).” 1 Thess 5:4-6
Our Lord says, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you [Christians] unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch [watch yourselves and also the word of prophecy] ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."
The phrase "that ye may be accounted worthy to escape" in Verse 36 of the King James Version is a poor translation. Compare the following translations:
RVS, "praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place."
Rotherham, "making supplication that ye may gain full vigor to escape all these things that are about to be coming to pass,"
NEB, "praying at all times for strength to pass safely through all these imminent troubles."
These translations indicate that the thought of the Greek* is that watching and praying Christians will receive the strength to pass through the tousles during the early period of that "day." Note that the church is still on the earth. Strength is not necessary for an experience from which the Lord removes you, but the Lord gives strength to endure the dangers Christians must encounter in the tribulation.
However, negligent Christians (those overcharged with the cares of this life and/or who are negligent in the study of God’s word, specifically bible prophecy) are ensnared by these dangers. Note well the implications of this scripture. Faithful Christians are here during part of the tribulation period, but are sustained by the strength of the Lord. (Excerpts taken from the booklet, “I Will Come Again” edited)
Continued with next post.
Return to Index
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
*Both Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words and Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament observe that the Greek word in Luke 21:36 translated "accounted worthy" in the King James Version is not found in the most authentic manuscripts. Instead the Greek word katischuo appears which means "full strength." The word "escape" is a translation of the Greek word ekpheugo which means "to seek safety." Thayer defines katischuoekpheugo—"to have strength to overpower or overcome."
