Behold the Thief - Rumor notes 170

 Revelation 16

15 "Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn't walk naked, and they see his shame."

16 He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo.

Behold

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

One of the elders said to me, "Don't weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals." (Revelation 5:5)

Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. (Revelation 12:3)

I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)

I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (Revelation 14:14)

I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. (Revelation 19:11)

Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." (Revelation 22:7)

Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)

Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" (John 1:35-36)

Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs forth now. Don't you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of Yahweh is risen on you. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Takeaway:

Jesus is telling me to remain in rapt attention to what He is doing and about to do, for He will show up suddenly and unexpectedly. This is not to inspire fear but to urge me to keep my attention focused on who is most important in my life rather than allowing any distractions to capture my imagination and have control of my will.

I come like a thief

As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left.

Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. (Matthew 24:37-46) (More on this later.)

Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him. (Luke 12:40)

For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape. But you, brothers, aren't in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don't belong to the night, nor to darkness, so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6)

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)

In what sense is the coming of Christ like a thief? He is not the one who steals what is not His, yet He is warning us we are in danger of not being ready for His sudden appearance. When we view this in the context of being locked up as hostages or children who have been kidnapped for ransom by a criminal, the timing of a rescue operation must be kept a tightly held secret from everyone as essential for its success.

Definition of kidnap: to steal, carry off, or abduct by force or fraud, especially for use as a hostage or to extract ransom.

The ancient serpent, the great dragon kidnapped God’s precious children soon after they were created to be free, vulnerable, transparent and in joy with no hint of shame in a garden of ecstasy. Every human being born to our first human parents since then have been born into slavery to their selfish nature inherited from Adam because of the principle of reproducing after its own kind.

God was unwilling to leave us in this condition and promised in Eden to launch a rescue operation that would crush the serpent’s evil head. Jesus fulfilled that promise and neutralized the power of fear that the dragon uses to hold us hostage and manipulate our emotions (Hebrews 2:14). Yet we are still caught in the cross-fire between truth and lies being exchanged ever since. The war now intensifies over who is the real villain and who has our interest at heart. Do we continue to view our loving Father in heaven as the source of our feelings of fear, shame, condemnation, guilt and foreboding, or will we embrace the urgent alerts from the rescue team orchestrated by the One who has already confronted the devil and neutralized any credibility of his lies?

The reason this war continues unabated and is increasing exponentially today, involves the core part of each of us who are entrusted with the greatest gift possible. The goal both sides are fighting to capture is our will! Who we choose to allow access to our will determines which side gains vantage ground in the war over our soul. What we believe about the disposition of our heavenly family makes all the difference in whether or not we cooperate with the rescue operation or we sabotage the Lamb’s efforts to restore us to thrive in His love. We are the ones to decide.

Jesus has already qualified as our rescuer. He is coming again to emancipate all who identify as belonging to Him and who allow His Spirit full access to their will. Those who align with the disposition of the hostage-taker see the ways of the Lamb as a threat to their happiness, a thief threatening to steal what they guard as valuable and want to control. Hostage takers take a dim view of anyone trying to liberate their hostages, for they view their hostages as property and will fight anyone challenging their plan. Demons are possessive of the people they control, and they view the presence of Jesus with intense hostility, perceiving Him as a thief coming to disrupt their fun and to evict them from their human hosts. Yet the greater danger is when humans feel more sympathy for their captors than a willingness to be liberated. This is called the Stockholm Syndrome – when hostages side with and sympathize with their captors rather than their rescuers.

Why is it so dangerous to be caught unawares? This is about His unpredictable timing. We are not to try to calculate when this confrontation of truth/light will expose everyone but to simply stay watchful. Those who remain focused (beholding) instead of getting distracted and slipping back into unbelief, will not be deterred by delays and unfulfilled expectations.

Takeaway:

My own disposition towards what is important and valuable to me, what makes me happy, what I cherish and desire to have, will make all the difference in how I view Jesus in His efforts to save me from my sin. If I cling to sin, selfishness, pride or even my shame as what determines my worth, as the source of my identity, then I will perceive Him as a thief trying to take away what I believe is more important than what He offers me. What is valuable in heaven’s perspective is opposite to what my fallen nature considers important and valuable. My ‘flesh,’ my old identity I inherited from Adam, is to be completely discarded and considered dead by faith. I exchange it for my true identity defined in Christ, that causes me to embrace entirely different goals, values, definitions and desires.

If I see God as trying to steal what I consider as important for my existence and happiness, I will feel fearful when I think about Him coming to expose everything hidden in secret chamber of my inner soul. But if I consent to allow Him full access to bring His truth into my soul, and let His light to bring judgment that heals, saves and inoculates me against love for sin, I can anticipate His coming and live free from the power of fear and shame, for His love received into my heart willingly, transforms me to live in harmony with His desires, His instructions and His passion.

Blessed is he who watches (stays awake)

Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won't watch, I will come as a thief, and you won't know what hour I will come upon you. (Revelation 3:2-3)

What does this phrase mean, no works of your perfected? It has to do with completing what has begun, finishing something up instead of only doing it part-way. This is not about obsessing with perfectionism, for that is a decoy. Rather it involves choosing to endure, to persist, to hang in there when things are difficult and it feels easier to just quit. In this case what needs to be finished is our instruction to remain persistent in watching, despite the appearance that nothing seems to be happening, that we are just wasting our time and energy all for no benefit.

This watching is closely linked to the previous word behold. This is about our frame of mind, about how we choose to define reality and how we perceive what is seen as coming in our future. This a fight of faith, to continue believing and clinging to what God says more than what circumstances imply or our feelings that insist we are wrong and we should simply conform to expectations of the world around us and the demands of religion. This kind of watching includes the disposition of waiting tenaciously beyond reasonable expectations, having endurance, waiting expectantly even when everyone else is giving up and looking for fulfillment in other activities or options.

Yahweh, in the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly. (Psalms 5:3)

I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I don't sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me." (Psalms 39:1)

God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory. (Psalms 63:1-2)

Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come. (Matthew 24:42-44)

What does this look like? To watch our attitude, occupying our imagination with what God is doing while guarding our heart against incessant distractions that pummel us from every direction. Watching does not mean watching the news, watching what the devil is up to, obsessing over the latest conspiracy to get the inside scoop on what is about to happen. It is about watching the Lamb.

While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Most certainly I tell you, I don't know you.' Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:10-13)

Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me." He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire." He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:38-41)

Jesus begged His closest friends to join Him in watching and prayer. It would stand to reason that we could learn what it means to watch by studying how Jesus watched. Even more importantly, we could note what He was not watching so He could focus His mind and heart on what was most important.

Jesus knew better than anyone what was about to transpire in His circumstances. As a weak human being He was tempted to fish for sympathy as so many of us feel like doing when something tragic happens or is about to happen to us. But if we scrutinize everything He said to His disciples just before His arrest and scandalous trial and execution, we find a very different disposition than what we would expect from a person facing such cruel and unjust treatment.

Throughout all the detailed chapters of dialog provided by John from chapter 13 through 17, we see Jesus fixating not on foreboding and dread of the terrible suffering He is about to encounter, but rather He saturates everyone’s imagination with eager anticipation of the intense joy this experience will foster. He focuses all His attention on the joy that this experience will release rather than the shame.

Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin [distrust and unbelief of God’s heart] which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus [beholding], the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

This is a key passage to appreciate the nature of what it really means to watch in order to be ready. Jesus had to do the same thing and He is our example of how to watch. This passage in Hebrews shows us how Jesus watched and what He invites His followers to do in order to be prepared to meet similar circumstances that come into their lives as what He faced. To watch here means to focus intently on the joy that will be made more complete by enduring the fiery trials that come to us. As we focus on the joy that Jesus is with us no matter how terrible things feel or appear, we can rely on His faith more than ours. His faith is perfect, complete and can be trusted to give us what we need to endure anything for His sake just as He did for His Father’s name sake.

When it says Jesus despised the shame, it does not mean He felt resentment or animosity towards those who were heaping shame on Him and humiliating Him publicly as much as they could. The word despised comes from a Greek word that means to disesteem. What that means is to view something as have absolutely no validity, no credibility, no weight or value or truth about it. Jesus was not just discrediting the validity of the shame He was experiencing physically, but was despising all shame everywhere. He knew that the reason we heap shame on others is because deep inside we have great fear of being exposed as feeling a vacuum of value in ourselves. So in order to keep our own shame from being exposed to others, we heap shame on others in desperate attempts to deflect being exposed as feeling vulnerable and empty ourselves.

Shame has everything to do with our sense of worth and identity. Shame is actually the cause of pride, for pride is simply any attempt to mask our feelings of emptiness, worthlessness, loneliness and inadequacy by projecting a veneer of competency, inflated superficial importance or control when in reality we feel the opposite inside but don’t want to allow anyone to see that. The old adage carries a lot of truth, that hurt people hurt people. Shaming others only betrays a sea of internal shame inside those who are shaming. This is the result of believing lies about how God views us, imagining that God uses shame to motivate or manipulate us, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus disesteemed all shame. He determinedly refused to give it the slightest credibility in any form. Throughout all His life on earth Jesus refused to ever participate in the shame games we play all the time. He was always willing to risk the negative consequences of defending those who were being shamed and humiliated by others as seen particularly in His stories involving women viewed as shameful and a disgrace to society. He was willing to sacrifice His own reputation to stand up against the shame being hurled at others, while not defending Himself from being on the receiving end, unconditionally forgiving and loving wicked sinners, realizing they didn’t really know what they were doing because of their spiritual blindness. This is part of what it means to watch and be ready.

What we find here in Hebrews is the polar opposite of this. It show us how we may watch and pray like Jesus watched and prayed. Despite the enormous pressure of shame, condemnation and fear of suffering, He fixed His attention on His Father’s faithful love while refusing to give shame any power.

Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there!' don't believe it. For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. But you watch. "Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. (Mark 13:21-23)

Is it possible that in our urgency to unmask every potential scheme the enemy conjures up to gain control over the world, we may become seduced and deceived while firmly believing we are loyal to God? The word christ means any person who rescues, a leader worthy of trust to save us from danger or to make us overcomers. Jesus here is not merely referring to people masquerading as Jesus; rather He warns us of anyone other than Him we choose to trust to guide us through the maze of confusing options in our world, or to save us from what we perceive as threats coming our way.

Tell us when

It has long been popular to try and figure out the timing of future events. What is with this obsession with wanting to uncover the right formula to calculate the timing of the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the world? The disciples shared this same penchant as they came to Jesus asking when the things He had just revealed about the coming destruction of their temple, the thing that they relied on for their very identity.

Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "Don't you see all of these things? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray." (Matthew 24:1-5)

Notice the two things that were top priority in the minds of the disciples. They wanted to know when things would happen, and they wanted to know the signs to alert them to when it would happen.

Compare that with what we are learning here in Revelation 16. Demonic spirits go to the political leaders of the whole world to synchronize them in preparation to fight against an approaching rescue by the Lamb, the one sent to save us. These spirits rely on signs to impress and unite the world, for they know the time is close for a great showdown between light and darkness. Yet Jesus keeps warning us that what we need to focus on is watching, not incessantly looking for signs or trying to figure out some secret code to know what will happen and when.

Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don't know when the time is. "It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch….

Watch therefore, for you don't know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping. What I tell you, I tell all: Watch." (Mark 13:33-37)

"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning. Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so.

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him." (Luke 12:35-40)

This parable of Jesus contains a compelling parallel to what we are finding here in Revelation. Jesus says He will come like a thief. We think of a thief as one intent on stealing. While God does not steal what is not His own, He is very much into rescuing His own children. And when it comes to rescuing kidnapped children held hostage by a villain, He will spare no cost in His attempts to snatch every one back from Satan’s strongholds who are willing to be rescued.

Yahweh said to Satan, "Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn't this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?" (Zechariah 3:2)

Jesus speaks of a master of the house in relation to a thief coming to break in and plunder. Who is the master of the house, the kingdom of this world? And who is the thief intent on plundering the ‘possessions’ of this strong man? The context of this is the issue of timing and how the strong man was lacking critical information that if known, he would be used to prevent a break-in and the plundering that would happen. What is Jesus trying to tell us here?

The timing of Jesus’ coming as a thief is directly linked here to withholding critical information from the enemy slave-master who is holding God’s children hostage and who desperately wants to know when the break-in is going to happen. Jesus is planning a prison break to rescue those held hostage through fear by the prince of this world. Yet when He does arrive, He needs the cooperation of those being held hostage to complete His mission.

It is important we accept the truth that we don’t need to know when it will happen. At the same time we are urged to focus on what really is important – watching, prayer, trust in God’s faithful love and care for us and staying awake and alert to the right things. This kind of watchfulness is opposite to being anxious, for anxiety is one of the most effective distractions Satan uses that prevents us from being able to synchronize with our rescue when it does arrive unexpectedly.

How many times does Jesus have to tell us what is most important before we take Him seriously? We waste valuable time and mental energy trying to decode what Jesus explicitly told us we are not to know. This is one of the most subtle and successful strategies the enemy uses to keep us unprepared because we are occupied with seeking for secret knowledge while failing to enter into His rest of intimacy which alone prepares us to open the door immediately for Him when He does arrive.

Jesus’ metaphor of a thief is not about stealing what is not his like a thief does, but rather about a strategy of timing. So what drives us to want to know the when of His arrival? Why do so many feel obsessed with decoding this critical information?

In our angst to want to know the future, we secretly imagine we can somehow have control over circumstances. This is nothing less than vanity, for we ignore the clear instructions Jesus has given us and what is important for us to focus on to chase after the wind. We are in a very real war, the mother of all wars if compared to all others. What is described here in this chapter is one of the greatest battles of this ongoing war, superseded only by the very last battle described in chapter 20. In any battle, uncovering the strategy of opponents and the time when they plan to execute their attacks is critically important. Why then would Jesus allow His people on earth to know when He plans to interpose the schemes of the enemy with a surprise rescue of His kidnapped children?

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:35-36)

While Jesus loves His children very much, it is not safe to give them such sensitive information, for it would be impossible for them to keep it to themselves, and this would give Satan the very advantage he wants to prepare his defenses effectively. One of the most important elements of war is the timing of operations. Thus the element of surprise means that only the highest officers can be allowed access to such sensitive knowledge, while others involved are alerted at the last possible moment. In this way a greater victory is achieved. Those being rescued are the last to know the time of their deliverance, yet they need to be ready when their rescuers do arrive.

With this perspective it makes sense why the enemy would keep our minds occupied with trying to figure out the signs and times rather than soaking in the love the Father has for us. It is only by saturation in God’s love that we can be prepared to respond instantly to Him at the strategic moment the rescue arrives and He knocks on our door. If we are not watchful continually (watching our Father’s face), we will miss the signal for us to give Him immediate access to us, and His rescue plan is foiled because we were not doing what we were explicitly told to do to be prepared.

As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37-39)

What was it that the people before the flood did not know? Noah preached for years, warning them of the impending flood. Were they lost because they didn’t know the right day or hour or even year when the flood would happen? Was that the real cause of them being drowned? As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Wanting to stay in control of our own lives leads to being anxious about our needs and is debilitating. This is what distracts us from what is most important – watching and praying with thanksgiving.

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

This is the essence of what it means to watch. This is the role of the New Song that heals the hearts of those who watch the Lamb. Through watching their sins are taken away through transformation, not by desperate effort to stop sinning. Anxiety is opposite to rejoicing and thanksgiving, for anxiety results from distrust in God’s care, provision and love for us personally. And allowing an anxious spirit to dominate our spirit hardens our heart while deceiving us into believing we are doing God’s will. The antidote for an anxious spirit is what Paul presents for us here, because joy is the language of heaven that we must learn if we are to ever become ready to meet Jesus. Being ready for Jesus also makes us able to have peace in the presence of our enemies, free of all fear and shame just as He displayed while living among us.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh's house forever. (Psalms 23:5-6)

Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. (Luke 6:35)

He said, "Watch out that you don't get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I AM,' and, 'The time is at hand.' Therefore don't follow them. (Luke 21:8)

What is this title I AM really about? This is about identity. This whole war is being fought over who we will believe when it comes to our own identity. Jesus says many will come claiming to be able to give us true identity. Many also come claiming to have the inside scoop for the timing of Jesus’ coming. Yet what does Jesus say we should do? Don’t follow them! Don’t get derailed, distracted, lose focus on what is most important lest we be found unprepared when our true Rescuer arrives unexpectedly.

Keep in mind that while Jesus warns His followers that His coming will be unpredictable like a thief, it will be tragic for those unwilling to be synchronized with the Lamb. Keep in mind that this strategic timing is not designed to hurt anyone but rather to circumvent the efforts of the enemy to bring ruin and death on God’s children being held hostage and waiting for His return from heaven.

A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth; who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers; in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord. Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy. (Proverbs 6:12-15)

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of Armies. (Malachi 3:1)

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.

But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it, and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be. (Matthew 24:45-51)

If this last servant labeled as evil, is assigned his portion with the hypocrites, it implies he did not feel that way about himself. Such a person is convinced they are a genuine Christian, a loyal follower of the Lamb. Yet when His return is delayed, what becomes exposed by that delay is a hidden evil heart of unbelief that has never been fully submitted to the healing power of His graciousness. This healing requires intentional exposure to God’s fire of love that alone has the power to burn away all unbelief, fear and resistance to love. Throughout Scripture we are repeatedly reminded that the core issue is the condition of our heart. Our external appearances and actions are merely indicators, not the underlying problem, and not all fruit is necessarily genuine.

Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. (Matthew 12:33-35)

How can an evil-hearted person speak good things? It is not uncommon for people to publicly teach many good things, inspiring truths, who can share wonderful insights, even bring many to trust in Christ. Yet later, circumstances expose evil deeds or hidden abuse that gives cause to enemies of truth to discredit anything they said that was true. Yet our unfaithfulness cannot negate God’s faithfulness, but it does reveal the gapping voids that were repressed deep inside the person who resists allowing the real truth of God to expose and heal hidden pockets of sin in their heart.

Resistance to humbling ourselves so God can heal our dissonance can be caused by mistakenly thinking that if we admit our real condition, God will condemn and shame us. Yet trying to be good enough to convince ourselves and God that we should be saved, without getting honest and real and allowing the Spirit of truth full access, we become self-deceived hypocrites, thinking that our calling is to point out other people’s sins while attempting to avoid exposure ourselves.

Hypocrisy literally means play-acting. Hypocrite is a word in Greek that describes people who are professional actors that play various roles for movies or theater. What is helpful to realize is that there is deliberate hypocrisy where a person remains consciously aware they are acting out a fictional character not to be confused with their own. But there is also a hypocrisy far more difficult to discern because of deception, either from others or even in ourselves. One can become convinced that they are authentic, yet actually be blinded to their resistance to allow God’s convicting light into hidden strongholds of darkness and shame deep inside. People naturally shrink back from being exposed for fear of shame, and unless we embrace the truth that no shame ever originates with God, we will be inhibited by fear of being exposed.

Shame is the most powerful emotion that Satan uses to keep us emotionally kidnapped, for with fear and shame we can be manipulated to believe other lies that keeps us distrustful of our heavenly Father. Without a sense of worth and identity anchored securely in the only reliable external Source, our true identity in Christ, it is impossible to avoid the sinister corrosive effects of shame. Shame is a direct attack on our design to thrive in a dependent relationship with our Creator. Shame relies on a matrix of lies, both about ourselves and about God, that separates us from our only Source of hope, life and joy. This is why it is so essential we always believe what God says over our own feelings or opinions. The Spirit of truth and love alone can heal our hearts to prevent us from living as hypocrites, so long as we consent and cooperate with His work in our heart.

What makes the difference between a servant who is faithful and wise in contrast to a servant who is called evil and hypocritical? The difference eventually emerges in the symptoms revealing what we believe about the Master in our heart that is reflected in the way we treat others.

Beating fellow servants is a metaphor that goes far beyond physical abuse. This is the nature of parables. We can beat others with criticism, condemnation, shaming messages, accusations, slander and gossip and the list goes on and on. We can beat others with spiritual quotations that cause undue humiliation and intensifies despair rather than inspiring hope. Evil is not so much about breaking God’s rules but rather is living out of sync with God’s spirit of kindness, gentleness, compassion and continual forgiveness He has for every one of us. Beating up others and even ourselves misrepresents God’s disposition towards sinners and furthers a satanic agenda rather than giving life, hope and joy.

There are two kinds of servants just as there were two classes in the story of the 10 virgins. They are all included in the chosen, yet some fail to keep watching, becoming distracted and losing faith at the heart level, while the other class clings to the promises of God and hold them to the very end.

He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it. It shall be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!" (Isaiah 25:7-9)

There is a profound insight here more clearly articulated in this version.

And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 25:7-8 NAS95)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

While Jesus absorbed the full sting of death on His cross, making everyone technically freed from the power of fear, fear and death still wield much power on this planet. The dominion of death in this world is being defeated in stages, but part of this involves our cooperation with God’s salvation. This chapter describes a strategic assault against the powers of darkness, and this assault is dependent on no one knowing when it will happen. Jesus has the keys of death and hell, so ownership and ability are not the issue. What is transpiring here in this chapter is a consolidation of the powers of darkness and a polarization of everyone on earth into only two classes – those who are faithful to the instruction of Jesus to watch, and those who sink into the darkness.

The core issues at stake involve the condition of our heart, not merely right answers in our head. What is most important is a dynamic relationship with the Source of love, truth and life.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:33-36)

Keep in mind that this reference to worthy is not about perfect law-keeping but rather is an issue of trust. Will we listen and obey instructions from the One we call Lord? This is what it means to be watchful all the time. We choose to receive our identity, value and instructions from the One who purchased us with His own blood to bring us into deepest intimacy with God. Will we cooperate and keep watching? The choice is ours. All heaven is eager to assist us.

Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)

You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don't belong to the night, nor to darkness, so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6)

Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Watch yourselves, that we don't lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. (2 John 1:8)

What does it mean to watch?

Watch means holding on to God’s leftovers, not throwing them away, and completing what was started. This means continuing to behold, to focus on the Lamb and allowing Him full access to my heart. (Revelation 3:2-3) (2 John 1:8)

It involves expectancy each morning as I dialog with God, listening and responding to His communications. (Psalms 5:3)

It involves paying attention to what comes out of my mouth, for Jesus said that is what can defile me. (Psalms 39:1) (Matthew 12:33-35; 15:11)

It means watching God’s power and glory from the perspective of His sanctuary – my own heart and the hearts of all who are responding to Him. This involves quenching my intense thirst by seeking Him more intimately than ever before. (Psalms 63:1-2)

Watch incessantly, valuing the Lamb more than valuing the stuff of this world. Otherwise I resonate more with my kidnappers than with my Rescuer and not be willing to cooperate in my own rescue. (Matthew 24:42-44)

Watch preemptively, not presumptuously. That means allowing God’s Spirit to saturate all of me in preparation for the delay of His coming so I don’t come up short of ‘oil’ at the most critical time. (Matthew 25:10-13)

Watch with Jesus, not just for Him. Watch the way He watches, choosing to resist sleep instead of indulging in dozing and lose opportunities to participate and sympathize in His suffering and victory. Remain sober, clear-headed, sincere and alert. (Matthew 26:38-41) (1 Peter 5:8)

Keep watching by identifying with and relying on His faith in anticipation of His joy. Allow His example to guide my choices and shape my disposition. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Watch to guard against emotionally charged attempts of the enemy to manipulate feelings to deceive me into trusting false rescuers. Pay more attention to what Jesus said more than anyone else. Don’t waste time watching for signs as much as watching for Jesus. (Matthew 24:1-5) (Mark 13:21-23)

Watch, stay alert and pray without ceasing. Don’t get derailed by thinking I need to figure out when He is coming. He plainly said repeatedly I don’t know, so that means I don’t need to know. Spending crucial time trying to know keeps me from watching what can prepare me for His sudden appearance. (Matthew 24:35-36) (Mark 13:33-37) (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6)

Watching is not passive but engages all my capacities. I cooperate with His instructions about what He wants me to do over any other agenda. This ensures I experience His blessing and joy when He does arrive instead of being found as a hypocrite. (Luke 12:35-40) (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Don’t allow anxiety to infect my watching. It will steal faith and joy. Rather watch with rejoicing, petitions and thanksgiving in every situation. (Matthew 6:31-34) (Philippians 4:4-7) (Colossians 4:2)

Watch only the original I AM, not falling for promising incompetents. (Luke 21:8)

Watch all the way to the end when the authentic Rescuer arrives, the God who looks and acts exactly like the Lamb revealed, the One who swallows up death rather than threatens it, who rebukes and neutralizes fear rather than exploiting it. (Isaiah 25:7-9)

Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)