We all know that "at some point" He'll be back, AND last couple of years have been "inconvenient", and every time THAT happens, the "End Time Prophets" come out of the woodwork with their Doomsday prognostications.
I'll "watch for his coming" but it's been DECADES since I've taken theological "Eschatologists" and "end of the world experts" seriously.
You can if you choose. Personally, I'll take vanilla.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
I recently watched a message on Youtube from a preacher who had "88 reasons why we don't know the date or time". He began his message with references from 9 different chapters in the Bible showing that the rapture is Biblical. It was a great introduction that had me really looking forward to the "88 reasons". However, it fizzled after that. The 88 reasons for why we don't know the date and time became one reason inferred from illustration of the rapture as the bridegroom coming for his bride. His point was "it is supposed to be a surprise". That was the most sexist teaching I ever heard.
The bride is "supposed" to be beholding and reflecting the groom. If the two were dancing the groom is leading but the bride is not supposed to be tripping all over his feet, she is supposed to seamlessly follow his lead so the two move as one. I had an experience once, I was at this big training in the Bible, Christians from the entire country were there. Each of us was going to be tested by the trainer, it was "supposed to be" a surprise. There was this very pretty sister that I liked (the daughter of an elder) and after a meeting I was standing in a group waiting on something. I was looking at her from across the room. She knew I was watching her, she made sure I had a very clear view of her, yet her head was buried in her Bible diligently studying it. From that I was able to discern that I was going to be tested that night. So I studied and sure enough I was tested that night. It has always been my experience that women are much more in the know about what is going on. They may pretend to be surprised when the bridegroom comes but that is just so they don't hurt his feelings.
Luke 12:39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
Understand what? Is he supposed to know? If I was in the home security business I think I would be tuned in to when thieves come, what they are looking for, and when there is a thief in the neighborhood. This simply says the owner doesn't know what hour he is coming. No doubt he has put locks on the doors and taken other precautions to protect the house. So it should not be a surprise.
John 16:4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,
This is what the Lord is saying, we have been warned about what to look out for.
John 12:42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;
It was shocking to people that the Democrats were accusing 75 million Americans who voted for Trump of "insurrection" and wanting to "reeducate their children". But we were warned this would happen. It is shocking that they said it was unconstitutional to mandate vaccines and a few months later mandated them, but we were warned that this would be a time of lawlessness.
Matthew 24:10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
Again, we were warned about cancel culture as well. I just heard a man share how he had become a "witch" and a Catholic priest agreed to ordain him as a Catholic Priest if he in return would ordain the Catholic as a witch. He also told of how a Catholic Bishop also made the same agreement.
Luke 19:44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
We were told specifically that we are supposed to recognize the time of the Lord's coming to us. We are told specifically that we will see "the day approaching". Imagine you were the betrothed and your fiance is preparing a "mansion" (a bridal suite) for you. I would bring him lemonade and notice that the shingles were just delivered. Later I'd bring dinner and notice the carpet is being installed. I would see the day approaching. Enough with the "ding bat" jokes and "dumb blond" jokes, I am not a fool. The woman is betrothed, yes she may not know the hour but surely she knows it is coming shortly and to get ready. The house owner may not know what hour the thief is coming but surely he is paying attention to the news, seeing all the crime and knows it is coming. He should have prepared. Surely if you are aware you see them putting people out of the synagogue and you see the apostasy in the church.
Matthew 16:3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
There are signs of the times that we are supposed to be able to interpret and we will be rebuked if we can't. Weather forecasting is not perfect, and yet we do it every day. We understand that all the signs taken together have significance that can be interpreted.
Revelation 3:3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
If you are oblivious to what the bridegroom is doing do you really love him? You love sleep more than Him? So yes, you may not know the hour, but you should know the time that we are living in and realize the day of the Lord is at hand.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
This is a direct contradiction of what this brother taught. You are not supposed to be surprised, you are supposed to be in the light. Imagine the house owner didn't know what hour the thief was coming, but then his dogs started barking and he woke up. Doesn't mean he was surprised. If he had prepared and was ready for him this is not a "surprise".
A servant should be like his master. Luke 9:51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
The Lord knew when the time approached, so if you are a servant like the master then why wouldn't you? In August Mayor DeBlasio said teachers would be required to have the vaccine by September 27th. I knew this would not be rescinded because this was God's judgement. Within 24 hours I was calling to inquire the process to retire. Others were protesting, complaining, crying, and wringing their hands. They were caught by surprise. I went to rallies as part of the process of shaking the dust off my feet as a testimony against them.
John 16:21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world
The Lord's second coming is not only likened to a bridegroom coming for His bride, it is also likened to a woman giving birth to a child. The woman does not know the day nor the hour that she will give birth, that doesn't mean that giving birth "is supposed to be a surprise". Surely she knows she is pregnant. During the Revelation 12 sign that appeared on September 23, 2017 Jupiter was in the woman's womb for 42 months before coming out. That was a great sign in the heavens of what was coming.
Luke 12:42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
This is another analogy given to the Lord's return. The faithful servants are supposed to know the "proper time". Who wants a cook that is surprised when it is lunch time or dinner time? Think about Passover, they were given detailed instructions on what to prepare and when to prepare it so they would all be well fed prior to leaving Egypt.
Luke 14:17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
The Lord's coming is also likened to a great banquet that we have been invited to. If you are the Lord's servant what are you saying? Come, for everything is now ready. It isn't a surprise for you.
Matthew 21:34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
The Lord's coming is also likened to harvest time. Are farmers supposed to be surprised that it is harvest time? A real farmer is walking through the field every day inspecting the crops. A real farmer sees the day approaching. The farmer doesn't know the hour that he will reap but that doesn't mean he is surprised when the harvest does come.