Hi, Zane.
Hope you’re doing well.
These two dogs are watching me closely…as they’re thinking it’s about the right time for me to take off with them on my old man jog up the road, and, of course, throw balls for them to chase. What a lofty worldview! Earlier they were watching me closely when they figured it was about the right time for me to serve them their breakfast. We may have here a little conflict of perspective—I’m inclined to think these dogs are my servants—while they think that I’m theirs. Who’s right?
Bye bye. We’re off. Blessings and prayers. Tua/Ray.
Let’s revisit the original question posed by the disciples that prompted Jesus’ lengthy discourse in this chapter. Perhaps I will paraphrase the question in my own words: “Jesus, can You please tell us when You will return and how everything will play out in clear terms and in nice chronological order leading up to the end of the world?”
As a practical Bible student and believer for many years, if a question like that were asked of me, I would have to offer my best, most accurate, most educated, and most authoritative answer: I DON’T KNOW!
I really believe that this is the best answer—carrying with it the best perspective intended by the Author of this revelation. It’s not that Jesus Himself is saying, “I don’t know,” but He’s clearly implying, “You don’t need to know—that’s really none of your business!” I have to believe that He is quite aware of the room He has left in this disclosure for variations of interpretation and accompanying debate. This is another case that supports the thesis that GOD’S WORD IS INSPIRED NOT ONLY FOR WHAT IT SAYS, BUT ALSO FOR WHAT IT DOESN’T SAY. However, He has embedded in this insight two essential commands about which no one has any legitimate reason for misunderstanding. The first is in verse 42: “KEEP WATCH.” The second is in verse 44: “BE READY.” There you are, folks. That’s about all you need to know. Of course it is all to be done in line with balance that calls for FAITHFULNESS (vv. 45-46). And if we add to this the word TODAY (present tense), you have a sure-fire standard for guaranteeing your being a participant in all the great and glorious events that God intends for you whenever and however He chooses to lace them together. So KEEP WATCH TODAY. BE READY TODAY.