Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3-4)
Last week I expressed my hope to hear that Last Trump and be taken to meet my Lord in the clouds. Well, I am still here and so are all my brothers and sisters that would have gone with me. There were no mass disappearances reported as one should expect with the Rapture of the church. We are all still here. In fact, things are pretty much as they were before. The Shemitah came and went and there was no crash in the stock market as some had suggested. No, the world, such as it is, continues as usual.
You might think I would become cynical after getting my hopes up for nothing. For nothing? No, it is not for nothing, and my hope is still as sure as ever. Remember what I said? “For the past 20 years or more, I have anxiously awaited this time of year.” I also said, “The Lord is not obligated to comply with my speculations.” You see, it’s not my speculations or those of anyone else in which I trust. I am fully trusting in the Word of God and in Jesus’ promise that He would come again. The truth is, that He never pinpointed a time when He would return. Instead He said, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32). So, the truth is that the Rapture of the Church could come at any time. In the meantime, Jesus expects His servants to “Occupy til I come” (Luke 19:13).
Jesus told a parable expressing His expectations upon His return (Luke 19:12-27). The parable is of a “nobleman” (representing Himself) that “went into a far country [His ascension to heaven] to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return” (v. 12, emphasis mine). He left 10 servants in charge giving them equal amounts of money with the expectation that they would put it to good use. Verse 14 says that the “citizens” hated Him and sent Him a message saying that they did not want him ruling over them. The Greek word translated “citizens” is politēs which can also be translated “townsmen.” It occurs to me that these “citizens” represent the “world” and not His “servants.” When He returns with His kingdom, He calls His servants to accounts. The first servant reports that he has multiplied what he was entrusted tenfold. The King rewards him with rulership of ten cities. The second servant reports that he has multiplied what he was entrusted fivefold, and the King rewards him with rulership over five cities. The third servant returns only what was given to him and makes excuses for his lack of productivity. This displeases the King and He takes what was given to the third servant and gives it to the first. The other seven servants are not mentioned, leading one to conclude that they cast their lot with the “citizens” who hate the King. For those the punishment is severe. “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (v. 27). We might also note that the third servant, although he was unprofitable, is not counted as an “enemy” or excluded from the kingdom.
Last week I explained the fall Feasts of the Lord taking place right now. Rosh HaShanah is past. Yom Kippur is still ahead, as is Sukkot. Many things are still stirring in the world during this month of September. Jesus’ return is imminent. He still may come sometime this month or maybe not. If not, that does not negate His promise to return. The scoffer will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:4). They will be counted as the Lord’s “enemies.” But to the faithful servant that continues in the Lord’s work He says, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath” (Luke 12:43-44).
So, Jesus did not come at the Feast of Trumpets this time as I had hoped. That only means He still has work for me – for us – to do, but I am still listening for that Last Trump.
Ernie's Musings 