For The Elect's Sake
By Bro David Petersen
"And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days." (Mark 13:20)
This is a study on the return of Christ that takes a post-tribulation rapture viewpoint. The post-tribulation view is an alternative to the "pre-tribulation" view which holds that Christ will call his church to meet him in the air before the start of the Great Tribulation. The alternative post-trib view sees the church being intensely persecuted by the Anti-Christ for 7 years before Christ returns to rescue it just before all are wiped out.
This lesson does not represent the official position of LMBC. No one on earth knows when Jesus will return. Therefore, I will not assume a dogmatic position on the subject. For this lesson, I hope to encourage you to do your own study of the events related to the return of Christ to this earth. I respect the opinions of my brothers and ask the Lord to lead us in our study. What I hope to do in this lesson is to present a cohesive case for a post-tribulation rapture as an alternative to the pre-tribulation rapture view. No matter what view one holds, the course of action is clear: Watch!
Mark Chapter 13 - The Return of Christ
Before we go to Mark Chapter 13, which is the focus of our study, let’s take a look at the account of the Lord’s departure in Acts Chapter 1.
Acts 1:9-11
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
What We Know About the Return of Christ:
- Jesus will return to this earth in a personal, bodily manner.
- Jesus will come with great power and glory.
- All the Lord’s saints will be resurrected in glory or tranlated at his coming.
- The return of Christ is the next big event on God’s redemptive calendar.
- The prevailing spiritual condition on earth at the time of Christ’s return will be apostasy.
- His saints will be with him.
- The instructions that he gave to his church are to watch and be ready.
What We Don’t Know:
- When Jesus will come back
- Whether he comes back at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, in the middle or at the end of it.
- If the churches will go through all or part of the Great Tribulation or not.
Mark Chapter 13
In Mark chapter 13, prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple are interwoven with prophecies regarding the second coming of Jesus. As with many prophecies in the Bible, they often have both a primary and a secondary fulfillment.
Jesus Leaves The Temple For Good
13:1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
The statement that he “went out of the temple” is significant because this was his last visit to the temple. Some people like these disciples are impressed with the outward appearances of things like magnificent buildings.
13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
This wasn’t the answer they were expecting. Today there is no temple in Jerusalem. After Jesus left, discontent among the people led to rebellions against Rome. So in A.D. 70, the Roman commander Titus came to Israel and destroyed the temple. The Wailing Wall that exists today was actually part of the outer courtyard. It is estimated that 1 million people were killed in the destruction. The survivors were scattered around the world. There was no national Israel in Palestine again until 1948.
Mark 13:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
Matt 24:3 The Disciples’ Questions Broken Out
Matthew’s account shows that the disciples’ second question was actually a 2-part question.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, (1.) when shall these things be? and (2a.)what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of (2b.) the end of the world?
As given in Mark’s Gospel, the disciples’ question was twofold: (1) “when shall
these things [that is, the destruction predicted in verse 2] be?” and (2) “what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” By comparing the account in Mark’s gospel with Matthew’s, one can see that the second part of the disciples’ question was also twofold.
The sign about which they asked, as recorded in Matthew 24:3, was concerning (1) the second coming of the Messiah (the sign of thy coming) and (2) the end of this age (the world). The Greek word there in verse 3 for "coming" is "parousia." Parousia means the “body presence”.
The disciples associated this "coming," or "parousia," with "the end of the world," and they were anxious to know more about it. They asked Jesus what the major "sign" of this "coming" would be (Matthew 24:3). After warning about "secret" coming ideas and deception, Jesus finally answered this exact question by lifting the curtain of history and fully unveiling what His high-powered and super-cataclysmic "coming" or "parousia" will really be like. My main point here is that the “coming” of our Lord has a specific meaning, the “body presence” and wherever you see this referred to in the scriptures it is always referring to the same event.
What To Watch For
Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
The Lord’s first warning is against deceit. There won’t be just a few deceivers for “many shall come in my name”. The deceivers will actually claim to be the Christ.
13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
The “wars and rumors of wars” indicate a general, worldwide increase in war and the threat of war. There will be a lot of tension in the world. In the end times, the world won’t go into a general state of peace or utopia. Then the Anti-Christ comes along and establishes a worldwide government that brings a temporary peace before all hell breaks loose.
13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Earthquakes in divers (various, diverse) places refers to a general increase in the frequency of earthquakes around the world.
13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
Verse 9 was fulfilled in the lives of the apostles who were persecuted for Christ's sake.
13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
Verse 10 contains an amazing prophecy that has already been fulfilled. The confidence that the Lord had in making this prophecy is truly remarkable. The fact that this prophecy has been fulfilled is very exciting because it shows that the Lord’s return is near. Spreading the gospel through the whole world was the primary directive that the Lord gave to his church. That is one of the major items that must be accomplished before the Lord returns.
13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Matthew’s account of this discourse shows that verse 12 refers to Christians turning against other Christians.
Mattew 24:10-13
24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. <This means Christians>
24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Verse 12 also refers to Christians. Lawlessness or 'iniquity' will be the prevailing condition in the end times. The love of many Christians for each other will grow cold.
24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Christians are going to need a lot endurance in the end times. In fact, both Matt 24:13 and Mark 13:13 say that they will need to "endure unto THE END". Now let me ask you: When does "the end" come? You got it; after everything else. That's why they call it the end. Why would he encourage the church to endure to the end, if they were going to be wisked out of the world before the Great Tribulation?
One of the general impressions that I get about this discussion from Jesus is that there is a lot of warning, instruction and encouragement to the church. Jesus never says anything that sounds like this doesn’t apply to them because they will be raptured out ahead of time. On the contrary, the Lord cautions his disciples that great endurance will be needed by them in order to get through this period.
Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
The reference to The Abomination of Desolation shows that this does not refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
13:16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
Sometimes people want to make these verses apply to Jews and not to the churches. But let's apply the rules of literary interpretation. To whom is Jesus speaking? Mark 13:3 says that he is speaking to Peter, James and John. Matthew 24:4 says that he is speaking to his disciples which is what Peter, James and John are. So why would we think that he is suddenly speaking to them as Jews. All through the whole New Testament, whenver Jesus is speaking to these men, we say that he is speaking to his church.
Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
The word "affliction" in verse 19 is a reference to the Great Tribulation.
Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
The word translated “affliction” in verse 19 is often translated “tribulation” as it is in Matthew’s account. It is important to define the word "tribulation" and how it is distinguished from God's wrath (anger and judgment). There are two Greek words most often used to describe tribulation events, and in many instances, they are used together in the same verse. The first word is diwgmos, which occurs 10 times in the New Testament and is translated "persecution(s)" in all major English translations.
This word always refers to the persecution of believers by non-believers. The second word is thlipsis which occurs 45 times in the New Testament and is translated "tribulation(s)," "affliction(s)," "anguish," "distress," "persecution," or "trouble." This is the word used here in Mark.
In 42 of these 45 occurrences, the word thlipsis refers to the suffering that believers received at the hands of non-believers. One of the other 3 refer to the sufferings of Joseph when he was sold into slavery at the hands of his brothers, another to the sufferings of people during the famine of that time, and only one refers to the suffering of those who commit evil. On this basis alone, one would seem to be on shaky ground in assuming that the great tribulation is reserved only for non-believers; since the word tribulation only refers to non-believers in only 2% of all verses.
In contrast, two different Greek words are used to describe the suffering of non-believers at the hand of God. The first word is thumos (Strong's #G2372), which occurs in 18 verses in the New Testament and is translated "angry tempers," "fierce," "indignation," "outbursts of anger," "passion," "rage," and "wrath." In nine of those 18 verses, the term specifically refers to the anger and judgment of God against the unrighteous. The other 9 refer to the anger of people against each other. The second word is orgay (Strong's #G3709), which occurs in 34 verses in the New Testament and is translated "anger" or "wrath." Twenty-eight of those verses refer to the wrath of God or Jesus against the unrighteous, one refers to the persecution of believers, and five refer to anger of people against each other.
Therefore, whereas tribulation almost always refers to the persecution of believers, wrath almost always refers to the anger of God against the unrighteous that results in punishment.
Believers will go through the tribulation and experience persecution at the hand of Anti-Christ, then they will be protected while God pours out his wrath on an unrepentant world.
Now I would like to take a whirlwind tour of the Book of Revelation and see the scriptures therein, which support this post-tribulation position.
Rev 6:9-11:
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Saints are being killed in the Great Tribulation. Who are they? Sometimes people will say that they these saints were saved during the Great Tribulation. But if the church has been raptured out of the world and the Holy Spirit taken with it, how will they hear the gospel and be convicted by the Holy Spirit? Perhaps they heard the gospel before the rapture? Maybe, but that does not eliminate the lack of a convicting Spirit in the world. How many of these saints were there?
Rev 7:9-17:
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
A 'great multitude' which no one could number came out of the Great Tribulation. Since they are also from all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues, they cannot be the 144,000 Jews.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Notice that God's saints will serve him in heaven. They will not just sit around on clouds playing harps. Instead they will continue to serve the Lord. The difference will be that they will have glorified bodies that are spiritually animated instead of being blood animated and therefore will not be working for a living (1 Cor. 15:44). They will work, serving their Lord for joy, but will not work to survive.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Above, we distinguished between persecution and wrath. I showed that in virtually all cases of persecution in the Bible, the persecution is directed against God's people. The church will be persecuted during the Great Tribulation and will be driven underground. The church will be unable to buy or sell because God's people will refuse to take the mark of the Beast. The church will face hunger, burning sun and heat (not wrath) as it hides in the wilderness, unable to buy or sell without the mark of the Beast.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The church suffered and cried during the Great Tribulation but now God will wipe away all tears. Jesus comes and rescues the church just before it is wiped out by Anti-Christ.
Rev 13:5-10
5 And there was given unto him <The Anti-Christ> a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Here the Anti-Christ is making war with the saints. Looks like the church is still around? Could these be new Christians saved after the rapture or Jewish Christians. Not likely. There is a preponderance of evidence throughout the book of Revelation that there are vast multitudes of saints (i.e. the church) throughout the tribulation.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Those saints will need a lot of endurance as they are taken prisoners of the Anti-Christ and are killed.
Rev 14:9-12
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Many see a parallel between this imagery of the EEU and Rev 17:3 which symbolizes a one-world false religion as a woman called Mystery Babylon who rides upon the Beast (Anti-Christ).
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The saints are still here in chapter 14. Notice that they appeared consistently throughout chapters 6, 7 and 13. They will need lots of endurance in order to take a stand and not worship the Beast or take his mark. They will need to be careful to know the commandments of God and keep them and to maintain their faith in Jesus under the most severe testing.
Rev 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
So all through the first half of the Great Tribulation, the saints are there and are encouraged to have patience or endurance and faith. They will need both.
Looking Forward To The Great Tribulation
Rom 5:3 "We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience."
I wouldn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to go through the Great Tribulation. Not that it’s going to be a fun time: it won’t. Americans tend to think everything has to be fun or pleasant in order to be good.
They say “Have a good day. Have fun.” Nobody ever says “Have a really intense trial of your faith that builds endurance and faith”.
The next time you are taking your leave of someone, instead of saying “Have a good day”, try saying instead: “May the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” KJV 1 Peter 1:7 (para)
It will be exciting to see the prophecies of Jesus coming true. Nation will rise against nation. Earthquakes in diverse places. Famines and pestilences. The mark of the Beast. Will I recognize the mark of the Beast and refuse to take it? Will the Lord make it apparent to me? How will God take care of us when we can’t buy or sell?
It will force us to learn to live by faith, just like the seventy did when Jesus sent them out 2 by 2. “Here is the patience and faith of the saints”.
God hasn’t asked for my vote on how I will go to be with him, but I don’t want to be translated. That is, I hope that I’m not alive when the Lord scoops us all up.
Then will come that moment when I get to give up my head for Jesus. I get to refuse to worship the beast. "When I walk through that dark, lonesome valley. My Savior will walk with me there."
Inscription to be on my headstone: “And the dead in Christ shall rise”. I want to see what it will feel like to come out of the grave. You may be thinking that he has a death wish, but that is not the case. I enjoy living. But as the Lord said “Whosoever shall lose his life shall find it.”
I’m anxious to stand in front of the throne with the great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, and to stand before the Lamb, clothed with my white robe which is my symbol of righteousness, and having palms in my hands which are symbols of victory.
It will be a great honor to be a Tribulation Saint. The Great Tribulation is a Great Opportunity to serve the Lord in an extraordinary way.
The tribulation will be the Lord’s big finale in redemptive history. And we may have the opportunity to be there. Jesus will come back in a very noisy, visible manner with a shout and with the trump of the Archangel and he will rescue his people who have made it through the great tribulation just when they think that they can't make it another step.
The Lord's church has always been persecuted. And in the end his church goes out in a magnificent blaze of intense, unequalled persecution. Yet many American Christians are actually hoping that they will miss out on it. Instead of looking forward to the opportunity to take a stand for Jesus, they are hoping that they won’t be “left behind". I am proposing an alternative view of this time. Think of it as a great opportunity to stand up for the Lord: to take his final exam and pass with flying colors. As Paul said “we glory in tribulations”.
Perhaps you would like to avoid death by being translated at the rapture. That is an exciting prospect as well. As you go through the tribulation you refuse to take the mark of the beast and then you are unable to buy or sell. Somehow through his marvelous providence the Lord provides for you. I don’t know how he will do it. Maybe sympathizers will support you; or perhaps you will live off the land or scavenge from a broken chaotic society. You experience hunger, thirst and heat as you hide in the hills, but all the while you have peace knowing that the Lord is building endurance in you. Then just about when you can’t take it anymore, when the Anti-Christ’s agents are about to overtake you, just like when Saul and his men were about to overtake David, the Lord returns with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God and catches you up to meet him in the air.
Since much of the Church believes God will deliver them prior to the Great Tribulation, many believers will be surprised when they find themselves being persecuted and killed for their faith. Their faith will be severely tested, since they may believe that God has abandoned them and that the prophecies of the rapture are not true. Under such circumstances, most believers will fall away and deny their faith to save their lives. Jesus, in fact, made just such a prophecy in verse 12 of Mark chapter 13.
If you are a Christian, be prepared to die for your faith. Even your fellow "brothers" will deliver you to the authorities to avoid their own deaths. If you are not willing to die for what you believe, you will deny your faith when threatened with death. Be aware of what Jesus said about those who seek to save their lives.
Many Christians are looking forward to the return of Christ, which will, indeed, be a glorious event. However, the time just preceding the end will not be pleasant for Christians. The watchful Christian should be prepared to join his fellow brothers under the alter of souls of those who will die "because of the testimony which they had maintained."
Luke 21:24
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. KJV
Jerusalem was under gentile control from the time of the dispersion of the Jews in 70 AD until recently. This prophecy was either fulfilled in 1967 when the nation of Israel took the city of Jerusalem, or it is being fulfilled today as we speak. The times of the Gentiles refers to the present church age where the work and mission of the Lord has been temporarily taken away from the Jews for unbelief and given to the Gentiles. In the end times, the Jews will once again play a significant role in God’s redemptive plan.
Today the stage is being set for the return of Christ:
- The gospel has been preached to all nations.
- The nation of Israel has been restored.
- Israel recaptured Jerusalem.
- The great falling away is in progress.
- The world is in great turmoil.
Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
There is a sequence of future events given here. “After” the tribulation, the sun shall be darkened. “And then” shall they see the Son of Man coming”. Have you seen the sun darkened lately? (this is not referring to a normal eclipse).
This is the exact same sequence of events given by Paul in I Thessalonians 4:15-17:
1 Thess 4:15-17
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming (parousia, body presence) of the Lord shall not prevent (go before) them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. KJV
The Greek word for “coming” in verse 15 is the same word “parousia” that the disciples used in Matthew 24:3. So Matthew 24:3 and I Thessalonians 4:17 are referring to the same event: the “body presence” of Jesus, AFTER which the saints who are alive at his coming are changed in the twinkling of an eye and are caught up to meet the Lord.
The Rapture
13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
I think that so many Christians will be killed during the Great Tribulation and so many so-called Christians will fall away that the rapture will basically go unnoticed by the rest of the world. Sometimes you will see supposed illustrations of the rapture where all these empty cars are crashing on the freeway. But I don’t think it will be like that. At the time of the rapture, most “remaining” Christians as Paul calls them will be in hiding. They will not even be missed by most people.
I have great concern for the preparedness of Christians in the days to come. A pre-tribulation rapture (God taking His church out of the world), scenario has much more appeal for Christians (since Christ delivers us before all the bad things begin to happen). However, if this interpretation is inaccurate, it can lead to a false sense of security, and a falling away by many if persecution of believers reaches unprecedented proportions before Christ's return.
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Do You Want More Information?
For more information on the end times and the return of Christ, please check out our the studies in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians.