Sunday, March 3, 2019

CHRIST: BE ALWAYS ON THE WATCH


36 BE ALWAYS ON THE WATCH,
AND PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ESCAPE
ALL THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN,
AND THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND
BEFORE THE SON OF MAN.
(Luke 21:36)

5 Some of the disciples were remarking
About how the Temple was adorned with beautiful stones
And with gifts dedicated to God.
6 'As for what you see here,
The time will come
When not one stone will be let on another.
Every one of them will be Thrown Down. '

7 'Teacher,' they asked,
'When will these thing happen?
And what will be the sign
That they are about to take place?'

8 He replied:
'WATCH OUT THAT YOU ARE NOT DECEIVED.
For Many will come in My Name,
Claiming, 'I am He,' and, The Time is near.'
DO NOT FOLLOW THEM.

9 When you hear of Wars and Revolutions,
Do not be Frightened.
These things must happen first,
BUT THE END WILL NOT COME RIGHT AWAY.'

10 Then He said to them:
'Nation will rise up against Nation,
And Kingdom against Kingdom.
11 There will be Great Earthquakes,
Famines and Pestilences in various places,
AND FEARFUL EVENTS
AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN.

11 But before all this,
THEY WILL LAY HANDS ON YOU
AND PERSECUTE YOU.
They will deliver you to Synagogues (Churches)
And Prisons,
And you will be brought before Kings and Governors,
AND ALL ON ACCOUNT OF MY NAME.

13 This will result in your being Witnesses to them.
14 But make up your mind
Not to Worry before hand
How you will defend yourselves.

15 For I will give you Words and Wisdom
That none of your Adversaries
Will be able to Resist or Contradict.

16 YOUR WILL BE BETRAYED
By Parents, Brothers, Relatives, and Friends,
AND THEY WILL PUT SOME OF YOU TO DEATH.

17 ALL MEN WILL HATE YOU BECAUSE OF ME.

18 But not a hair of your head will perish.

19 BY STANDING FIRM
YOU WILL SAVE YOURSELVES.

20 When you see Jerusalem Surrounded by armies,
You will know that its Desolation is near.

21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,
Let those in the City get out,
And let those in the Country not enter the City.

22 FOR THIS IS THE TIME OF PUNISHMENT
In Fulfillment of all that has been written.

23 How dreadful it will be in those days
For pregnant women and nursing mothers!

THERE WILL BE GREAT DISTRESS IN THE LAND
AND WRATH AGAINST THIS PEOPLE.

24 THEY WILL FALL BY THE SWORD
AND WILL BE TAKEN PRISONER TO THE NATIONS.

Jerusalem will be Trampled on by the Gentiles
UNTIL THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES ARE FULFILLED.

25 THERE WILL BE SIGNS
IN THE SUN MOON AND STARS.

ON EARTH, NATIONS WILL BE IN ANGUISH AND PERPLEXITY
AT THE ROARING AND TOSSING OF THE SEA.

26 MEN WILL FAINT FORM TERROR,
APPREHENSIVE OF WHAT IS COMING ON THE WORLD,
FOR HEAVENLY BODIES WILL BE SHAKEN.

27 AT THAT TIME THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN
COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.

28 WHEN THESE THINGS BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE,
STAND UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS,
BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR.

29 He told them a Parable:
'Look at the Fig Tree (Israel)
And all the Trees.
30 When they Sprout Leaves,
You can see for yourselves
and know that Summer is near.
31 Even so, when you see these things happening,
YOU KNOW THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.

32 I Tell you the truth,
THIS GENERATION WILL CERTAINLY NOT PASS AWAY
UNTIL ALL THESE HINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

33 HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY,
BUT MY WORDS WILL NEVER PASS AWAY.

34 BE CAREFUL,
OUR YOUR HEARTS WILL BE WEIGHED DOWN
WITH DISSIPATION, DRUNKENNESS
AND THE ANXIETIES OF LIFE,
AND THAT DAY WILL CLOSE ON YOU UNEXPECTEDLY
LIKE A TRAP.

35 FOR IT WILL COME UPON ALL THOSE
WHO LIVE ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH.

36 BE ALWAYS ON THE WATCH,
AND PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ESCAPE
ALL THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN,
AND THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND
BEFORE THE SON OF MAN.
(Luke 21:5-36)

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