Jesus says “WATCH!” – I’m quoting from Mark 13, where he was talking about end times… 

(And being in the middle of the wee hours of the morning, being woken up by a strange dream, i just finished watching 10 minutes of a guy on social media who gives away watches if you WATCH and find him when he starts his live feed and you say “Love your journey” – it’s a little more than “your fifteen minutes of fame”… but whatever, he seems sweet, and it’s a great way to market a WATCH,  except I wonder why he doesn’t use the watch to time people, well an ipad just for timing the minutes it takes someone… well, too many rabbit holes in watching videos at 3am… I digress)… 

(ANYWAY  also yesterday I finished watching a very intense interview which was so fascinating – Ken Burns being interviewed about the American Revolution series on a podcast by Conan O’Brien. It was so intellectually stimulating, really good – I recommend it – especially the part where Ken Burns reminds us that there is no “they” – but individuals…. you can start to WATCH this video at the ten minute mark:

https://youtu.be/PSmSpuAHEEg?si=E5ycgr4ljUs1__Dy )

ANYWAY I double digress:

Back to the BIG WATCH!

Jesus says “WATCH”…

Jesus’ most importantly ALSO said: “Don’t be deceived!” And “Speak That which the Holy Spirit gives. ” And “Pray.” And “Do not be deceived by false christs.” And “Take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.” – wrapping up his discourse with “Take heed, watch and pray.”

WATCH AND PRAY!

There’s a lot of unpredictable things in life. But let us remember to take heed, to remember God is im control, and to remember to watch and pray. Mark 13 is a really good scripture to read in the middle of the night… it’s also good to read when you have to remember that there’s predictable to the unpredictable. Jesus says watch but don’t get hung up by the small stuff or even by wars or rumors of wars. Just continue to heed his Word to work and WATCH and PRAY… THAT’S THE BEST THING TO DO AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY!

AMEN 

—

Mark 13 NKJV

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

The Great Tribulation

“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

The Coming of the Son of Man

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Mar