Angelic Conflict part 153: Human history (Sabbath) – Luk 12; 1Th 5:1-11; 1Pe 1:13-21; 5:6-11.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 152: Human history (Sabbath) - Luk 12; 1TH 5:1-11; 1PE 1:13-21; 5:6-11.  

 

 

The Lord turns again, yet in step, to looking for His return. If you're going to be looking for something in the future, then look for His return, but not in the sense of the disciples that saw Him go up, but in the sense of being ready for Him every day.

 

It was said that the disciples soon after Christ's resurrection would turn every time someone would walk through the door, or they would stop while they were walking and look to a distant hill in the expectation of seeing Christ returned.

 

LUK 12:35 "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight.

 

LUK 12:36 "And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.

 

Jewish weddings were held at night, and a bridegroom's servants would have to wait for their master to come home with his bride and would not know the time that he arrived. The new husband would certainly not want to be kept waiting at the door with his bride! But the servants had to be sure they were ready to go to work.

 

Yet, what the Lord says next is not in accordance with tradition. The bride was treated as a queen and the groom as a king, but the Lord states that the master will in fact serve the servants.

 

Our King will minister to His faithful servants and reward them for their faithful service to Him.

 

LUK 12:37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes [not surprised]; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.

 

LUK 12:38 "Whether he comes in the second watch [9pm - 12am], or even in the third [12am - 3am], and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

 

The second and third watch are mentioned since they are times of drunkenness or sleep. Drunkenness speaks of distraction, fleshliness, and dissipation, while sleeping is representative of not being alert and therefore being surprised.

 

1TH 5:5-7

We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.

 

This passage is also in the context of the imminent return of Christ and we will look at it deeper.

 

LUK 12:39 "And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

 

LUK 12:40 "You too, be ready [be prepared]; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."

 

The word for be ready means to be ready, prepared, alert, and not taken by surprise.

 

1TH 5:1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

 

1TH 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

 

It is thus concluded that the Day of the Lord is that extended period of time  beginning with God's dealing with Israel after the Rapture at the beginning of the tribulation period and extending through the second advent and the millennial age unto the creation of the new heavens and new earth after the millennium. [Things to Come, J. Dwight Pentecost]

 

1TH 5:3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction [Tribulation] will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

 

1TH 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief [not ready or prepared];

 

1TH 5:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

 

1TH 5:6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

 

1TH 5:7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.

 

1TH 5:8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

 

1TH 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath [Tribulation], but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

1TH 5:10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

 

1TH 5:11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

 

1PE 1:13 Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

1PE 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

 

1PE 1:15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy [set apart] yourselves also in all your behavior;

 

1PE 1:16 because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

 

1PE 1:17 And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth;

 

1PE 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

 

1PE 1:19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

 

1PE 1:20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

 

1PE 1:21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

 

Now the next turn is to inform us of what we should be doing while we wait and watch for His return. We are not to watch only, but to fulfill our destiny, which was given by God.

 

LUK 12:41 And Peter said, "Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?"

 

LUK 12:42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?

 

The apostles were to give the rations of the word of God to the servants of God. Since there are no more apostles we can apply this to all of us in terms of our spiritual gift which is given to serve the body of Christ for the common good.

 

1CO 12:7

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 

We serve Christ by serving His people. As you have done it to the least of them you have done it unto Him.

 

LUK 12:43 "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

 

LUK 12:44 "Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

 

Faith in the immanency of the rapture motivates the believer to apply doctrine and execute the plan of God each day and one day at a time.

 

Yet the opposite view, that He will be a long time in coming, motivates laziness and apathy.

 

LUK 12:45 "But if that slave says in his heart, 'My master will be a long time in coming,' and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;

 

This is the one who says, "I've got time to adjust my life to the plan of God. I'll do it tomorrow, next week, next month, next year."

 

LUK 12:46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces [mode of punishment for criminals], and assign him a place with the unbelievers [apistos = unfaithful].

 

Apistos can mean an unbeliever or an unfaithful believer depending on the context and here the context is the unfaithful believer. It seems that they all will be placed together.

Levels of punishment:

 

Believers cannot lose their salvation, therefore, the unfaithful slave will not be placed with the unbelievers. Unbelievers are not going up in the Rapture, only those who are in Christ will rise. Apistos can mean an unbeliever or an unfaithful believer depending on the context and here the context is the unfaithful believer. It seems that they all will be placed together.

Levels of punishment:
 

LUK 12:47 "And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes,

 

LUK 12:48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

 

So then the rapture will not be such a joyous occasion for some believers since there will be a momentary shame or embarrassment for them.

 

1JO 2:28

And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

 

LUK 12:49 "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!

 

Fire often refers to judgment. If it were kindled then the last judgments would have begun. Judgment occur in the Tribulation, the second coming, and at the GWT. In each case these are after the cross. So this is another instance of, "Father, if it be Thy will, let this cup pass from Me."

 

LUK 12:50 "But I have a baptism to undergo [spiritual death], and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

 

 "distressed" - sune,cw [sunecho] = literally "with" and "hold". To be pressed between something or held tightly. Christ is stating that He is under incredible pressure as the cross looms ahead of Him.

 

A different word is used by John:

 

JOH 12:27

 "Now My soul has become troubled [tarasso = to stir up or agitate]; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

 

LUK 12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;

 

Luke begins his gospel with a declaration from angels at the birth of Christ which seems to contradict, but as we closely examine it:

 

LUK 2:14

"Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

 

Peace on earth - everyone gets along; everyone agrees.

 

LUK 12:52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two, and two against three.

 

LUK 12:53 "They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

 

So much rest has been left behind for God’s people and so few have taken it that so much of it remains unused. If a believer loved his Father he would desire to take as much of it as he can for it glorifies his Father.