ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2017 EVERY SINGLE TORNADO SIREN in the Dallas area, all 156 of them, simply went berserk. The entire incident was quickly explained away as a cyber-attack, and so it shouldn’t come as a surprise, whatever the actual cause, that there were no tornados to be found. But what caught my attention while reading the report were the number of residences who, at the time of the incident, simply found the alarms annoying to their sleep patterns. The warnings, it seems, came during the midnight hour.

Watching for the LORD’s return is a command, not a suggestion. And it’s not an accessory or option either. Jesus Himself made this absolutely clear throughout the Gospels. In fact, there are consequences for not watching – costly ones. I’ll get to those passages in a moment, because as of this writing on April 18, 2017, the sirens are sounding among God’s watchmen, all of them. Or what few remain in the ranks.

“JESUS IS COMING FOR HIS BRIDE. HIS RETURN IS IMMINENT!”

Already I can feel the pendulum eye-rollers out there, but I would rather have people say I search and watch too much, than for Christ to say I didn’t watch at all.

Yet the church for the most part has sunken into a state of spiritual hibernation, often annoyed at the very suggestion that the LORD they claim so dear is about to gather and remove them from the world they also love, where the throne of Satan resides. The internet, by its observable traffic reports, has an incredible way of revealing what people think about each day. Why is it that an article on “Watchmen” websites receives perhaps 100 readers in the entire span of its life, with reports on popular yet still credible “Watchmen” YouTube channels garnishing an additional worldwide 1,000 to 2,000 views per video, while Illuminati musicians like Rihanna, Beyoncé, Pink, Katy Perry, Jay-Z, and Adele claim millions of eager followers within hours of release?

Just take Star Wars: The Last Jedi as an example. Its first ho-hum trailer came out a few days ago as a bit of a distraction to our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, and as of this posting it’s already garnished over 30 million views. I guess what I’m saying is, in these final hours of church history, the once-respected Watchmen are now basically talking to a room full of themselves, seeing as how the bulk of those 100 web readers and 1,000 YouTube views are most-likely other Watchmen.

If it sounds like I’m whining, I’m not. Actually, I’m very concerned for my brothers and sisters. It’s just, I guess I don’t know how to go about announcing to the church, as God has commanded me to do, that our Savior is soon returning, when the very subject is continually so intrusive to the lifestyles of its congregation. We’re not only in the season of His return, but approaching the very hour. And what’s so ironic about this, if you pay close attention to the world around us, especially the daily propaganda which mercilessly assaults our eyes and ears, the enemy knows this truth even better than we! Lucifer wholeheartedly understands that his time is short, and he is acting upon it. We should do the same!

“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.” Luke 12:37

Here’s what I want you to pull away from this. According to the Scriptures, many Christians will be surprised that only those found watching for His return will receive the royal treatment. The Bible is clear on the matter. Yet this is what it’s like for Watchmen to try and alert a brother or sister in Christ into the knowledge of His soon return. Almost as if waking to an intrusive morning alarm, they’ll mumble, “What does this have to do with my salvation?” And then swat the watchman away.

Yawn.

Even more troubling for my soul as the alarms are sounding is this realization. “Christians” who do not live in light of His return may find that their invitation to the wedding feast has been cancelled, and their appointment changed, to stick it out on earth for seven years with the rest of the world who didn’t live as though Christ would one day come. I know this goes contrary to what is taught from the pulpit, typically as a means to justify one’s own busyness and distracted lifestyle until He returns, but the Bible says nothing of the sort. It’s a troubling concept, not only made known in the parable of the ten virgins and in Jesus’ letter to the Church of Laodicea, but also in the verse below.

“The lord of that servant will dome in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:46-48

Brothers and Sisters, we don’t have much time left. Be loyal, for our Master comes! And he will reward those who keeps vigilant watch.

“Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:13

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or as the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:33-37

“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.” Luke 12:37

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Matthew 25:13

“Sell that ye have, and give alms provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:33

“The lord of that servant will dome in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:46-48

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found in him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:13-14

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3