CET: 10 Commands in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching

Chapter 10

Commands in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching

Contents

A) “Watch out that no one misleads you”

B) “Guard yourself against fear and make sure you are not alarmed”

C) “Always be ready for action”

D) “Watch!”

E) Wait

F) Work

Primary Points

• The very first words of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching were a command: “Watch out that no one misleads you.” Unfortunately, popular views on the Endtimes have led to this very thing.
• COURAGE will be needed for Christians to LIVE in the Endtimes in a God-glorifying way. But Christian COURAGE is also needed to face and properly interpret what God has revealed for His Church in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching.
• The only way to practically obey Christ’s command to “Watch!” is to monitor current events in our world and compare them with the first signs of the Endtimes in biblical prophecy.
• 
  God wanted signs of the Endtimes to occur in every generation because He wanted every generation of Christians to believe they could be the Last Generation of Christians.
• Christ is expecting Christians to live with two very different perspectives about their life on Earth: believing that the Endtimes could begin tomorrow, or not for another 1,000 years. It is the tension between watching expectantly and waiting patiently for His Return.
• A purpose of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching is to encourage us to have an eternal perspective on our life and to faithfully work for the rewards of serving His Kingdom and His people.

A) “Watch out that no one misleads you” Matt 24:4

The very first words of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching were a command: “Watch out that no one misleads you” (Matt 24:4 ^[1]). This warning primarily applies to not being deceived by the False Christs described in the next verse. This will be discussed more elsewhere. ^[2]

But why would Christians be deceived by such people claiming to represent Christ? One reason may be that they do not understand the biblical sequence of Endtime events that Jesus subsequently taught in His Endtimes Teaching. They believe the lie that the real Christ comes before the False Christ(s).

The Apostle Paul gave the same command to the Thessalonians: Do not let anyone deceive you in any way (2 Thess 2:3). Again, deceived about what? The sequence of Endtime events he had taught them as young converts, and repeated in this passage of Scripture (cf. ch. 5, sec. C).

Therefore, Christian, “Watch out that no one misleads you” about the substance and sequence of Endtime events. That is Christ’s command to you. This has been a primary purpose of this book, Christ’s Endtimes Teaching.

B) “Guard yourself against fear” Matt 24:6

In Christ’s Endtimes Teaching He warned:

You will hear reports of devasting wars and riots, but guard yourself against fear and make sure you are not alarmed. These horrific conflicts must happen, but My coming and the end of the age will not follow immediately. (Matt 24:6 ^[3])

The suggested translation reflects the seriousness that Jesus intended in this command. His command against fear was specifically in the context of the devastating wars that must happen in the beginning of birth pains (v. 8). These wars will be so horrific that Christians will be tempted to be alarmed. But Jesus will want you to guard yourself against fear and make sure you are not alarmed by the devastating wars, and not deceived to think the end is imminent. Because Such things must happen, but the end and more painful events are still to come (v. 6).

The devastating wars will only be the beginning of the beginning of birth pains. They will lead to unprecedented famines and earthquakes and plagues so that the people living in one fourth of the earth will die (Matt 24:7; Luke 21:11, Rev 6:8).

But again, these will only be the beginning of birth pains (Matt 24:8). They will simply set up the world to be dominated by the Antichrist who will unleash the greatest persecution of God’s elect people. It will be greater than any persecution since the world began, and it will never be equaled again (Matt 24:21 ^[4]).

Persecutions of Christians occurring in the past and today have shown us the truly terrible things God has allowed persecutors to do to His children. Enduring such things in a God-glorifying way will require a supernatural COURAGE that can only be experienced by being controlled by the Holy Spirit. This will also be discussed more in chapter 16.

COURAGE will be needed for Christians to LIVE in the Endtimes in a God-glorifying way. But Christian COURAGE is also needed to face and properly interpret what God has revealed for His Church in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching. This was explained fully in chapter 1. There you read:

If your view of what Scripture teaches about the Endtimes does not shock and deeply sadden you, because of what YOU and the Christians you love may experience, then may I humbly suggest that you need to re-evaluate your view…

Another reason for the widespread error, neglect, and confusion on this topic is that what God says about the Endtimes is painful. Therefore, we must also endure this doctrine with a brave heart. Fear will keep you from properly understanding God on this biblical topic. You will never understand the Endtimes if you are afraid to do so. (sec. B.1)

Indeed, FEAR in American Christianity is one reason for all of the popular and rather “painless,” but unbiblical views of the Endtimes. That fear has driven some teachers to develop complicated schemes of interpretation to deceive many Christians to believe Christ’s Endtimes Teaching has no relevance for the Church. And fear of what Christ predicted has driven many to look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching [and fear-controlled] ears want to hear and reject the truth and chase after myths (2 Tim 4:3-4 NLT).

It is especially fear of persecution that has driven too many Christians to ignore or distort Christ’s Endtimes Teaching. This is because in that teaching He predicted The Greatest Persecution for God’s elect people which will include the Church (Matt 24:21-22). But what did Jesus say should be our response to persecution?

“Happy are those who are persecuted because of their righteousness, because they are fortunate that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them… Be happy and very joyful about being persecuted, because great is your reward in Heaven” (Matt 5:10, 12;^[5] cf. 2 Cor 12:10; 1 Pet 3:14; 4:14).

Jesus expected His people to be happy and very joyful about being persecuted. Instead, many are so fearful of it that they ignore or distort Christ’s Endtimes Teaching to avoid any warning of it.

Likewise, in the context of persecution, the Apostle Peter told Christians, Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened (1 Pet 3:14). But again, false teachers play upon the fears Christians have of being persecuted to make their teachings attractive. The false prophets in Scripture did the same. Instead of telling people the truth about the danger that God wanted them warned about, false prophets would tell people what they wanted to hear.

Do not be afraid (Luke 1:13) is the most repeated command in Scripture. The Apostle Paul repeated it when he wrote: Do not be anxious about anything (Phil 4:6), including the Endtimes. Christians like to deny it, but worry is a sin. Even worry about living in the Endtimes. Fear is the opposite of faith. Christian, never interpret Scripture with sinful fear, but with God-trusting faith. Never respond to Scripture’s Endtimes teaching in sinful fear, but God-pleasing faith. Regarding the Endtimes, God wants us to be alert, but not alarmed. Fear will always lead you into more sin, and actually more danger, because it will always lead you outside of God’s will.

All of this is why Jesus commanded in His Endtimes Teaching, “Guard yourself against fear and make sure you are not alarmed” (Matt 24:6).

C) “Always be ready for action” Luke 12:35

In another Endtimes teaching in Luke, Jesus said:

Always be ready for action, serving, and fleeing. And keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes… It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready (12:35-38).

Always be ready for action, serving, and fleeing translates the literal Greek which reads, “Let your loins be girded” (KJV). But as NT scholar Wayne Grudem explains:

The phrase … in [literal] Greek [is] an almost meaningless phrase for modern readers unfamiliar with the ancient Oriental custom of gathering up one’s long robes by pulling them between the legs and then wrapping and tying them around the waist, so as to prepare for running, fast walking, or other strenuous activity (see 1 Ki. 18:46; 2 Ki. 4:29; 9:1). ^[6]

Accordingly, the NASB has be dressed in readiness and the ESV has Stay dressed for action (Luke 12:35; cf. NRSV). The GNT has, Be ready for whatever comes, dressed for action. Nolland writes it is “a sign of readiness for departure on a journey.” ^[7] Morris adds: “The girding of the loins is a step toward preparedness.” ^[8] Bock translates the statement to mean “a state of constant readiness to act.” ^[9] Hagner writes that “gird up your loins” in Luke 12:35 means: “let the long, ankle-length robe be adjusted by a waist-belt to ensure readiness for action or departure.” ^[10] The NET translation notes explain: “’Let your loins be girded,’ is an idiom referring to the practice of tucking the ends of the long cloak into the belt to shorten it in preparation for activities like running, etc.” ^[11] Therefore, the suggested translation: Always be ready for action, serving, and fleeing.

Likewise, scholars explain that the second phrase, “keep your lamps burning” means to be ready for action even in a time of darkness. ^[12]

This is an especially appropriate command for the Endtimes. Why do Christians need to Always be ready for action, serving, and fleeing? Because the Endtimes could begin TODAY! Are you and your family and your church ready for that?

Why must we Always be ready for action and serving? Because God will have much for us to do in the Endtimes. Why must we Always be ready for … fleeing? Because Christians will be hunted in The Greatest Persecution, and God will want us to stay alive as long as possible to be serving Him and His people. This is why, when The Greatest Persecution begins, Jesus commanded His people to immediately “flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house” (Matt 24:16-17).

Are Christians “ready for action, serving, and fleeing” in the Endtimes? Most are not because they have been taught the rather “painless” views of the Endtimes which falsely exempt them from the coming Greatest Persecution. This too will be discussed further in chapter 16. Contrary to popular views, there is a reason that Christ commanded in the context of the Endtimes: “Always be ready for action, serving, and fleeing.”

D) “Watch!”

In chapter 2 of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching you read:

There are also several practical reasons God wants us to understand the Endtimes. First, He wants His Church to be watching and ready for it when it begins. We read: Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” (Matt 24:3 NLT). In response Jesus very carefully and intentionally described many signs and events that will signal His Return.

This is why throughout Christ’s sermon on the Endtimes He said: “Be on guard! Be alert!” … “keep watch” … “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:33, 34, 37 NIV). Watch! for what? Current events in our world that would signal the beginning of the Endtimes, and that Christ’s Return is near. (sec. B)

Elsewhere, Christ rebuked the Pharisees for not understanding biblical signs. He said, “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky [to predict the weather], but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matt 16:1-3 NIV) to recognize Christ’s First Coming. Likewise, Christ would confront Christians today who cannot interpret the signs of His Second Coming.

Christ could not have been clearer. A repeated command in His Endtimes Teaching was to “Watch!” current events so that we would recognize the beginning of the Endtimes. Unfortunately, this command is widely ignored in the Church today. As discussed further in chapter 16 (sec. C), popular views on the Endtimes discourage this very thing. It is the popularity of these teachings on the Endtimes that has led to the statistic that 45% of American Evangelical Christians claim: “it is impossible to know the circumstances that will precede Jesus’ return.” ^[13] Therefore, it is impossible for such Christians to intelligently obey Christ’s command to “Watch!”

E) Wait Matt 25:1-13

It is easy to forget that Christ’s Endtimes Teaching takes up two entire chapters in Matthew. In the first part of the sermon He taught the biblical outline of Endtime events (cf. 24:4-31). In the second part of the sermon He encouraged His people to “Watch!” (Mark 13:5) and be ready (Matt 24:44) for those Endtime events to begin (v. 42, 44). But in the third part of the sermon He warned His people that these events may be a long time in coming (Matt 25:5).

[Read Matthew 25:1-13]

This parable contrasts believers and unbelievers. It is only to unbelievers that the Lord will say, “I don’t know you” (vs. 11-12). The wise virgins represent believers who took oil in jars along with their lamps (25:1, 4). These are like the wise servant in the previous verses who is faithfully watching for his master’s return (24:45). So in a sense, the purpose of this parable is also to encourage watchfulness for Christ’s Return. Indeed, Jesus ended the parable by repeating: “Therefore keep watch” (25:13). Accordingly, Carson comments on this passage: “In light of the entire parable, the dominant exhortation of this entire discourse is repeated: Be prepared! Keep watching!” ^[14]

But the parable recognizes that The bridegroom may be a long time in coming (25:5). Likewise, later in the sermon, Jesus shares another parable about His Return and says, “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them” (25:19 NIV).

Much of what is said here is repeated by Christ in another teaching and parable recorded in Luke. There we read:

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. (Luke 19:11-12)

Christ implied here that the kingdom of God was not going to appear at once. Therefore, Christ taught that we are to live with this tension between watching expectantly and waiting patiently for His Return. ^[15] Accordingly, you read in chapter 2:

[H]ere is a hard truth: Endtime events could literally begin TODAY, or not for another 1,000 years. That is the biblical truth. Scripture’s teaching on the Endtimes presents it this way. This is because God has wanted every generation of Christians to believe they could be living in the Last Generation Church. God wants us to live with this challenging tension between expectant watching and patient waiting. On one hand, to plan on living a long life. But also not be surprised if the Endtimes begin TODAY. (sec. B)

Therefore, Christians can err in two ways regarding Christ’s Return. Like unbelievers or skeptics, they can ignore Christ’s command to “Watch!” expectantly for the signs of His Return. On the other hand, in the rest of the sermon, Jesus rebukes those who would be idle or distracted from service and ministry because of their watching.

In essence, Christ is expecting Christians to live with two very different perspectives about their life on Earth. On one hand, to “keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matt 24:42 NIV). This is to live as if the Endtimes could begin Today. It is the kind of short-sighted outlook on life that the Apostle Paul encouraged when he wrote:

The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away. (1 Cor 7:29-31 NLT)

The difficulty with Paul saying this over 2,000 years ago cannot be addressed here. Nevertheless, such a lens on life would discourage any long-term planning for your life on Earth. Why get married, have children, develop a career, or plan for retirement if the Endtimes are to begin tomorrow? Indeed, in some sense, Jesus expects us to live this way with such an eternal perspective on life that is expecting His soon Return.

But Jesus did not end His Endtimes Teaching there. He went on to provide balance to only a short-sighted view of life. He shared a parable that warned Endtimes events may be a long time in coming (Matt 25:5). Therefore, Jesus also encouraged a long-term view of life, with the possibility that Christ’s Return will not occur in your lifetime. This would call for Christians to plan accordingly, seeking to make the most of a long life on this Earth.

It is biblical to live with both a short-term and long-term view on our life. This is what God wants. To be both watching expectantly and waiting patiently for Christ’s Return. But these are two very different ways to live, and pursuing both is difficult and requires wisdom. Jesus provided such wisdom in what He said next.

F) Work Matt 25:16

How are we supposed to live while we are both watching expectantly and waiting patiently for Christ’s Return? We are to be diligently serving our Lord and His people.

[Read Matthew 25:14-46]

Jesus again contrasts believers with unbelievers. At Christ’s Return the latter will be treated as a worthless servant and cast into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (25:30 NIV). This fate parallels that of the unbelieving wicked servant Jesus had spoken of earlier in the sermon (24:48-51).

Believers in the parable are described as those who put the master’s money to work and gained something more (25:16). The point of the parable is obvious. Jesus wants us to be making the most of our life and time while we wait for His Return. This same point was made with the earlier example of “the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time” (24:45 NIV).

What kind of work does Christ want us doing until His Return? Earlier in the sermon He said, this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matt 24:14 NIV). Obviously, Christ wants us to be committed to fulfilling His Great Commission before His Return.

Later in the sermon Jesus shared other kinds of works He expects us to do. This includes simple acts of kindness for even the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters (25:40; cf. vs. 35-36). Obviously, all of these things will become even more important for Christians in the Endtimes.

Jesus ends His Endtimes Teaching with a literal description of future events and not a parable. At The Great White Throne Evaluation the King will say to believers, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (v. 34). Then he will say to unbelievers “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (v. 41 NIV).

At this point, we will have entered Eternity. Jesus ends His Endtimes Teaching by saying: “Then the unbelievers will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (v. 46 NIV).

Therefore, a purpose of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching is to encourage us to have an eternal perspective on our life. We experience this as we both expectantly watch for the signs of His Coming, and patiently wait and faithfully work for the rewards of serving His Kingdom and His people.

1. Misleads (NASB, NET, DEV) is probably a better translation then simply deceive (NIV). The Greek word (planaō) can mean more than just cause people to believe the wrong things, but rather cause them to live and act in the wrong way. Luke’s “Do not follow them” (21:8) confirms this meaning. ↑
2. The most important command that Christ gave in His Endtimes Teaching was a warning not to be mislead by False Christs and false prophets in the Endtimes. This topic is discussed further in the “Challenges” section of Endtimes Essentials book #4: The Greatest Persecution. ↑
3. For an explanation of the suggested translation of Matt 24:6 see BBP ch. 14, sec. B. ↑
4. For an explanation of the suggested translation of Matt 24:21 see ch. 3, sec. E. ↑
5. (Matt 5:10, 12) “Happy are those who are persecuted because of their righteousness, because they are fortunate that the kingdom of heaven belongs to them… Be happy and very joyful about being persecuted, because great is your reward in heaven.”

   Happy … fortunate translates the Greek word makarios which means, “pertaining to being fortunate or happy because of circumstances, fortunate, happy” (BDAG). It is unfortunate that most versions translate makarios here as blessed. This misses half the meaning of what Jesus intended. To most people, “blessed” merely means to be “fortunate.” But there were Greek words available that only meant fortunate or blessed. Neither Matthew nor Luke used those words in their rendering of the Beatitudes. Instead, they used makarios which primarily means to feel happy. Accordingly, the full meaning of makarios is explained by NT scholar Darrell Bock who writes that it “refers to a sense of inner happiness because of good fortune” (571). Therefore, the NLT is especially insufficient when it has God blesses those who are persecuted, with no reference to how Christ expected such people to feel.

   Likewise, in v. 12 most versions translate chairete as rejoice. But many people interpret this as meaning “give praise.” However, the word actually means, “to be in a state of happiness” (BDAG) and is a synonym for the other word used in the sentence (agalliasthe) which means, “to be exceedingly joyful.” Thus, the suggested translation of very joyful. ↑

6. Grudem, 1 Peter, loc. 746 at 1:13, underlining added. For other uses of the idiom of “girding your loins” see Luke 17:8, Acts 12:8, and Eph 6:14. For the same idea but different Greek wording see 1 Peter 1:13. ↑
7. Nolland, Luke, 535. ↑
8. Morris, Luke, 237. ↑
9. Bock, 1174. ↑
10. Hagner, 987. He adds:

    This instruction may be an allusion to that given to the Israelites at the first celebration of the Passover: to be in readiness for a hasty exodus from Egypt and the arrival of the destroying angel (Exod 12:11, 22-23). But the expression became in the OT a common instruction for readiness to service. See 1 Kgs 18:46; 2 Kgs 4:29; 9:1; Job 38:3; 40:7.” ↑

11. Luke 12:35 NET notes. ↑
12. Bock writes of “keep your lamps burning”: “shows someone’s readiness to move about during darkness” (Exod. 27:20; Lev. 24:2; Matt 25:1-13)” (1174; cf. Nolland, 535). ↑
13. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/12/08/about-four-in-ten-u-s-adults-believe-humanity-is-living-in-the-end-times/ ↑
14. Carson, Matt, 577. ↑
15. Osborne notes: “The foolish bridesmaids live only for the moment and give little thought to contingencies. They … do not prepare for a lengthy wait” (1321). Likewise, Hagner comments on Matt 24-25: “Running through the prophecies of eschatological … events in the Gospel of Matthew are strands of imminence and delay” (711). ↑