Randy said:
In my view, Jesus was using "watching" as a synonym for "being ready." If we "watch" we are in fact getting "ready" as Jesus used the term.
But as you say, these concepts are not necessarily the same unless used in a context that joins them. In this case, "watching" is "being ready."
But outside of how Jesus is using "watching," it can fall woefully short of "being ready." For example, I could be engaged in all kinds of eschatological preparation by drawing up prophetic maps, interpreting current events, and even selling some of my material belongings. But if we are not walking in step with the Lord spiritually we are not really "being ready." We are just engaging in a "prophetic watch."
Sentry duty is not necessarily "getting ready." To get ready properly we have to be walking with the Lord, and not just engaging our minds in developing prophetic calendars and schemes. To try to anticipate the signs and times in this way goes against what Jesus specifically said regarding anticipating his Return.
We are *not* to know times and seasons as our main focus in order to get ready for his Coming. Rather, we are to be engaged in the ministry we are called to presently in specific preparation for that event. We bring the message of warning to the world first, and then comes the end.
What Jesus told his Disciples of in the Olivet Discourse was a different context from his Coming, though Jesus compared these events. But in the case of the fall of the Temple, Jesus warned his Disciples that the time for that to happen had already come, that it would happen in *their generation."
But by contrast Jesus' Return is going to follow a long Jewish Exile and Diaspora that necessarily precedes his Coming. He will not Come until after they have been sent into Exile for the longest punishment in the history of the Jews. Only then will he Return.
In the meantime it is our duty to continue with this job of testifying to the Gospel and warning the world of coming Judgment. He will not come until God sees fit to do so.
To be ready for that event we are now given opportunity to relay the message that we can be converted spiritually in order to repent and be spared God's hostility towards Sin. To be "ready" therefore is to be *converted* and to remain true to this conversion spiritually and morally.
There is a difference between "knowing" by intellectual assent (ginosko) and "knowing" through an experience of the senses (eido). Both of them are used in the discourse. And both words are used in Matthew 24:33.
Mar 13:29 ISV In the same way, when you SEE (eido) these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door.
Mat 24:33 KJV So likewise ye, when ye shall SEE all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Someone said:
There is a difference between "knowing" by intellectual assent (ginosko) and "knowing" through an experience of the senses (eido). Both of them are used in the discourse. And both words are used in Matthew 24:33.
Mar 13:29 ISV In the same way, when you SEE (eido) these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door.
Mat 24:33 KJV So likewise ye, when ye shall SEE all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Randy said:
I agree that there is a difference between knowing by senses, and thus preparing, and knowing intellectually. But they can also be the same thing. This would be a distinction without a difference.
That is, I can intellectually assent to Jesus' Coming and at the same time recognize with my eyes physical evidence that his Coming is near, though that is not yet possible--we see nothing that suggests he is coming in the immediate moment.
What we must recognize is the difference between the need to physically prepare for and physically see things that are happening now, and things that are distant and in the future. The things that are happening now are our priority, and not the distant things.
I suggest that in the Olivet Discourse Jesus was comparing the relatively imminent judgment against the Jews in 70 AD and the 2nd Coming Jesus' Disciples were asking him about. The one event was already up on the calendar and had to be physically prepared for. The other event was distant and not important to try to physically prepare for or anticipate. Distant things are subject to "times and seasons" that are under the Father's care, and not our present concern (Acts 1.7).
We prepare for that distant event, ie Christ's Coming strictly by remaining ready spiritually, as always, continuing to walk in our converted lifestyle, remaining true to Christ. If we remain true to him today we are ready today, even if the event remains a long ways off.
We cannot prepare for that event physically but it is not yet of curremt concern. It belongs to the "times and seasons" category that we are not to try to anticipate and physically see or prepare for.
The lesson is, I think, to be engaged in things that are happening now, or about to happen imminently, just as Jesus' Disciples had to prepare for the relatively imminent event of 70 AD. The things that are far off we don't need to speculate on because our higher priority is in doing things now that must precede Christ's Coming.
We must preach the Gospel of conversion and we must warn the world of God's judgment against their Sin. This is our priority and must precede the actual time of Christ's Return.
In my view, Jesus was using "watching" as a synonym for "being ready." If we "watch" we are in fact getting "ready" as Jesus used the term.
But as you say, these concepts are not necessarily the same unless used in a context that joins them. In this case, "watching" is "being ready."
But outside of how Jesus is using "watching," it can fall woefully short of "being ready." For example, I could be engaged in all kinds of eschatological preparation by drawing up prophetic maps, interpreting current events, and even selling some of my material belongings. But if we are not walking in step with the Lord spiritually we are not really "being ready." We are just engaging in a "prophetic watch."
Sentry duty is not necessarily "getting ready." To get ready properly we have to be walking with the Lord, and not just engaging our minds in developing prophetic calendars and schemes. To try to anticipate the signs and times in this way goes against what Jesus specifically said regarding anticipating his Return.
We are *not* to know times and seasons as our main focus in order to get ready for his Coming. Rather, we are to be engaged in the ministry we are called to presently in specific preparation for that event. We bring the message of warning to the world first, and then comes the end.
What Jesus told his Disciples of in the Olivet Discourse was a different context from his Coming, though Jesus compared these events. But in the case of the fall of the Temple, Jesus warned his Disciples that the time for that to happen had already come, that it would happen in *their generation."
But by contrast Jesus' Return is going to follow a long Jewish Exile and Diaspora that necessarily precedes his Coming. He will not Come until after they have been sent into Exile for the longest punishment in the history of the Jews. Only then will he Return.
In the meantime it is our duty to continue with this job of testifying to the Gospel and warning the world of coming Judgment. He will not come until God sees fit to do so.
To be ready for that event we are now given opportunity to relay the message that we can be converted spiritually in order to repent and be spared God's hostility towards Sin. To be "ready" therefore is to be *converted* and to remain true to this conversion spiritually and morally.
There is a difference between "knowing" by intellectual assent (ginosko) and "knowing" through an experience of the senses (eido). Both of them are used in the discourse. And both words are used in Matthew 24:33.
Mar 13:29 ISV In the same way, when you SEE (eido) these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door.
Mat 24:33 KJV So likewise ye, when ye shall SEE all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Someone said:
There is a difference between "knowing" by intellectual assent (ginosko) and "knowing" through an experience of the senses (eido). Both of them are used in the discourse. And both words are used in Matthew 24:33.
Mar 13:29 ISV In the same way, when you SEE (eido) these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door.
Mat 24:33 KJV So likewise ye, when ye shall SEE all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Randy said:
I agree that there is a difference between knowing by senses, and thus preparing, and knowing intellectually. But they can also be the same thing. This would be a distinction without a difference.
That is, I can intellectually assent to Jesus' Coming and at the same time recognize with my eyes physical evidence that his Coming is near, though that is not yet possible--we see nothing that suggests he is coming in the immediate moment.
What we must recognize is the difference between the need to physically prepare for and physically see things that are happening now, and things that are distant and in the future. The things that are happening now are our priority, and not the distant things.
I suggest that in the Olivet Discourse Jesus was comparing the relatively imminent judgment against the Jews in 70 AD and the 2nd Coming Jesus' Disciples were asking him about. The one event was already up on the calendar and had to be physically prepared for. The other event was distant and not important to try to physically prepare for or anticipate. Distant things are subject to "times and seasons" that are under the Father's care, and not our present concern (Acts 1.7).
We prepare for that distant event, ie Christ's Coming strictly by remaining ready spiritually, as always, continuing to walk in our converted lifestyle, remaining true to Christ. If we remain true to him today we are ready today, even if the event remains a long ways off.
We cannot prepare for that event physically but it is not yet of curremt concern. It belongs to the "times and seasons" category that we are not to try to anticipate and physically see or prepare for.
The lesson is, I think, to be engaged in things that are happening now, or about to happen imminently, just as Jesus' Disciples had to prepare for the relatively imminent event of 70 AD. The things that are far off we don't need to speculate on because our higher priority is in doing things now that must precede Christ's Coming.
We must preach the Gospel of conversion and we must warn the world of God's judgment against their Sin. This is our priority and must precede the actual time of Christ's Return.
