Editorial

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Watching for Our Lord
Many believers today have some knowledge of the kingdom period of 1000 years when Christ will reign. (The length of His reign is stated in Rev. 20.) "He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet" (1 Cor. 15:2525For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (1 Corinthians 15:25)), and all the purposes of God concerning His Son—the Son of man—will be fulfilled.
It seems, however, that today the love of many has grown cold; truth is given up and even forgotten. Some that were watching for the Lord's coming have relapsed into earthly ways, and interests are taken up more with things than with the Lord Jesus Christ and His coming. At Thessalonica they had turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven. If they were looking for Him then, how much more ought we to be earnestly looking for Him now.
It is certain that the kingdom period of 1000 years will come. God has determined that and stated it emphatically, even using the past tense as God alone can do. Psa. 2:66Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6) reads, "Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion." Christ gets the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession: "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power.” Psa. 110:33Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3). Now it is the day of His patience; then it will be the day of His power.
As we now see and consider the sad and sinful condition of this world which is fast filling with violence and corruption, we understand how necessary it is that Christ come and exercise His dominion and bring in righteousness. Isa. 26:99With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9) says, "When Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." Should we at this present time expect the world to get better? Most world leaders really would like to control violence, but not all leaders are like that. We can thank God that many in power would like to put an end to violence, and some would like to suppress corruption as well. Will such governors or rulers be able to do this?
It is now the day of grace, and what can we expect from this world under grace? The next verse in Isa. 26 tells us, "Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness.”
Yet, God is, and will be gracious, keeping His people by His grace, so let us trust Him. We learn that we are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:55Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5). Surely that salvation is when we are raptured out of this wicked world before Christ comes in power to cleanse this world by His judgments.
Have we stopped watching for Him? Did not the Lord say, "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Mark 13:3737And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:37). If we are found watching faithfully when He comes, there will be a very special reward given to us. It is written in Luke 12:3737Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:37): "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." Ed.