©1996 Don Love Ministries ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BOOKLET SEVEN |
In verses 40 and 41 of Matthew 24, we see two verses about the two apples of our Lord's eye, the two Churches (called-out ones), at the time of the Rapture. Let's read. "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left." (Mt. 24:40-41).
The one taken, of course, will be the Gentile Church—taken up in the Rapture—while the one left will be Israel; but let's take note of where they'll be and what they'll be doing at the time of the Rapture.
THOSE IN THE FIELD
Under the law, or the time of the fig tree, Israel was the field of the Lord, and she was to conduct herself in such a manner that God could bless her. In so doing, those around her would see the blessings of God and would also want to serve Him. In reality, Israel was usually in rebellion and under chastisement. Their neighbors, therefore, learned of God through fear, which, though far from being ideal, was at least the beginning of wisdom. In effect, Israel was most often used in spite of herself!
The field in the Age of Grace is the world and the followers of Christ are commanded to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel. In fact, Jesus told His disciples that the fields were white already unto harvest, and that they should pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers into the fields.
Those then in the field at the time of Christ's return, Jew and Gentile alike, will be those who are trying to do the will of God and to serve their fellow man in the name of the Lord. And notice, also, there's no gender mentioned.
THOSE AT THE MILL
Those at the mill, though, are women; and typically speaking, there are two good women in the Bible: Leah and Rachel which serve as types. As types, they represent the two Churches: Leah, the wife of Jehovah, the Israelite nation, and Rachel, the Bride of Christ, the Christian Church. In this prophecy these two women, the two churches, are at the mill grinding and that's not good. (Again, Jesus is referring to a well-known custom of the day in His teachings, for most every family of the time had a small millstone with which they would grind the family's seed into meal.) Here in prophetic language, Jesus is reminding us that, although Israel will be studying the Word and seeking light, she will still be blinded by God to the law and the prophets so that all she will be able to do with the Word is grind away. And when we consider that the good seed that brings forth life must be whole, we can conclude that the last generation of Jews, whose teaching will reflect their blinded state, will bring forth no fruit to perfection. Also, as prophesied of the Gentile Church in the later days, every wind of doctrine will be blowing from her pulpits. Consequently, the Word will be ground by this one and that one to the point that little seed with the life in it will be left intact; and if the end time will be anything like today, little of the good seed will be sown in the fields.
Jesus finishes up this short passage with: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Mt. 24:42). In effect, He's saying that even if both Churches are working in the fields and grinding away at the Word—two occurrences that must be in the end-time—this of itself is not enough to set the hour, only the stage. Nevertheless, when the Church realizes that the actors are on the stage and she sees the events start to unfold, with expectation, she should be watching the CLOCK OF THE AGES. In anticipation, she should be looking for the day that, "the one shall be taken, and the other left."
The Bible emphasizes that there is a time on God’s prophetic CLOCK OF THE AGES when Christ will return for His Bride, the Church. (This is one of the main reasons that there is such a clock.) The Bible also declares that it is important to Christ that His elect are found watching for Him when He returns. But we should note that the Church is not God’s only elect; and that Israel will also be watching for their Messiah to come to the earth, though they are taught by their elders that His next appearance will be His first. But as we'll see later, His next visit will be only one of four times He will be coming to the earth for the benefit of Israel. To help us understand these visits, we’ll need to consider the watches of Israel's night; and we’ll need to know where these watches will appear on the CLOCK OF THE AGES. But we'll begin our study of the watches by first looking at the prevailing attitudes of those for whom He is coming.
...AS A THIEF
In Matthew 24:43-51 Jesus set forth a situation and then He used it to make a point. Let's examine this passage beginning with verses 43 and 44.
(Matthew 24:43-44)
But know this, that if the goodman of the house [Israel]had known in what watch the thief [Satan]would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up[the Visitation]. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh [the Second Coming].
Let's look first at this matter of the thief in prophecy. Because Israel had rejected their Messiah, they had unknowingly made league with Satan, the real thief; and under his influence, they were accusing their own Messiah of being a thief. In Matthew 26:55 we read of our Lord's rebuke of those who came to the garden with swords and staves to take Him to Jerusalem for the crucifixion.
(Matthew 26:55)
In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
Because Jesus would not appeal to the vanity of the Jewish leaders and puff up their egos, they had no use for Him. It didn't matter that He had power over all His creation so that He could heal the sick and perform miracles, or that He spoke with untold wisdom. Because He could not submit himself to the authority of the Sanhedrin (the Jews' ruling body), the rulers of Israel chose to see Him as a usurper. In their attempts to quell His popularity with the masses, they portrayed Him to the people as one trying to make himself equal with God, as one who was trying to steal God's glory. That Jesus was crucified between two thieves can be viewed as being symbolic of the way the Jews thought of their Messiah.
...EARTH'S MOST VALUABLE POSSESSIONLet's go now to Matthew l3:45-46 and listen in on Jesus expounding the mysteries of the kingdom, for therein we find God’s estimation of the most valuable thing on this earth.
(Matthew l3:45-46)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
In this parable the pearl of great price is the Church, the kingdom of heaven in a mystery; and Jesus' death on Calvary was the awesome price that He paid for this pearl. During this present Age of Grace (which is also known as Israel's night), the Church, not Israel, has been the salt that has given the earth its savor. It has been the New Testament Church which has been the light of the world; and when it goes up, the whole world will be plunged into darkness and chaos, for with it will go the Spirit of love and of a sound mind. So in Israel's night, like a thief comes in the night, the Lord will come for the earth's most valuable possession when He comes to take away His Church. The Apostle Paul tells us of this event in I Thessalonians 5:1-4 where he explains that Jesus' return should not be "as a thief in the night" as far as the Church is concerned.
...AS EXPECTED
(I Thessalonians 5:1-4)
But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
This is the word for the end-time Church, but the word to the end-time Jew can be found in Matthew 24:44. "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." This word is for the Jews at the end of our age who will be going through the great tribulation, for those still rejecting their Messiah's first visit. Oh, they'll be expecting their Messiah; but as they watch Bethlehem for a virgin birth, it just won't happen. As they try to mesh the prophecies of the first two peaks into one, it just won't gel. They'll be looking for Balaam's star, but it just won't appear. If we'll add to these disappointments the horrible time of the tribulation, we will come up with one disillusioned Israel that will despair of ever seeing its Messiah. Nevertheless, for Israel, there will be light at the end of the tunnel: "For in such an hour as ye think not," promised Jesus, "the Son of Man cometh" (Mt. 24:44b).
…AS A JUDGE
And when He comes—well, Jesus says, in Matthew 24:45-51:
(Matthew 24:45-51)
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Remember, in this passage Christ is talking mainly of those Israelites that will hear the trump; so the question comes to mind, how can end-time Israel who has been rejected of God and dispersed throughout the world, still be a servant of the Lord? one who receives the approval of her Lord?
Well, if we'll look in chapter four of the Gospel of John at the account of Jesus talking to the woman at the well, we will see how this can be. When the disciples returned from town with food for their Lord, He told them that He had meat to eat that they knew not of; whereupon, the disciples asked one another, "Hath any man brought Him ought to eat?" Their Lord's reply was, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (See Jn. 4:31-34.). Similarly, there will be an end-time generation of Israelites that will have meat to eat of the Father. They will be that generation that must finish up the dispersion and fulfill the prophecies concerning their nation at the end of our age—a generation that will be prepared to begin the millennium with their Lord. Unfortunately, however, not all of end-time Israel will be given this honor. We're told in several places in the Scriptures that those who would smite their fellowservants and eat and drink with the drunken will be weeded out of Israel during the periods of the tribulation (Mt. 24:13) and the first ½ of Daniel's 70th Week (Zech. 13:8-9). But for those Jews whose hearts are right toward the will of God, for those who will eat the meat of preparing Israel for the kingdom, for those who will be watching for their Messiah, Christ will make them rulers with Him over all His goods (Mt. 24:47).
"As a thief" or "as expected"—how He comes will depend upon our outlook. But come He will, rather we "watch" or not! And how we will fare when He returns will be determined by the emphasis we have put on His Word; for He shall be returning "as it is written" with His rewards for those who have been doing what was written.
We’ve been looking at the attitudes, both positive and negative, of the Lord’s servants during the watches of Israel’s night. Now, let’s consider just what constitutes a "watch" and where those watches are located on the prophetic CLOCK OF THE AGES.
ISRAEL'S WATCHES IN THE NIGHT
Israel was very familiar with the watchmen placed on the city walls to watch for the enemy and with the four divisions of the night in which they were to watch. The four watches were as follows:
the first or "even watch" from sunset (6 p. m.) to 9 p. m.;
the second watch from 9 p. m. to midnight, known as the "midnight watch";
the third watch from midnight to 3 a. m. referred to as "the cockcrowing"; and
the fourth or "morning watch" which was from 3 a. m. to 6 a. m.
WHEN WILL THESE "WATCHES" BE IN EFFECT?
There are special times in the life of Israel under the fig tree of prophecy that have been assigned to these four watches. Like Daniel’s seventy weeks, there are certain conditions that must be met before the watches are in effect; and like Daniel's seventy weeks, there are two long intervals in between the watches. For Israel to be in her watches, she must be back in her home land as a nation; she must be struggling to function under the law of Moses; she is to be watching for the hand of God at work in her midst fulfilling prophecy; and, most especially, she is to be watching for her Messiah. As to the two long intervals, we’ll be able to identify them when we pinpoint the times of the four watches.
THE FIRST WATCH
The first or evening (even) watch was at the time of Israel’s Visitation. Sadly, during the three years that Christ walked in Israel in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, most of the Jews rejected Him and the ministry given Him of God. This rejection was the beginning of their night. It was this watch that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:43:
(Matthew 24:43)
"But know this, that if the goodman of the house [Israel] had known in what watch [the Visitation] the thief [Satan] would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up [the dispersion]."
THE SECOND WATCH
Israel's second watch will not begin until near the end of their dispersion among the Gentiles (we'll go into the specifics later). At the time of the second watch, Israel will again be a nation striving to function under the Law of Moses. Near the end of the "times" or the rule of the Gentiles (See booklet 4, The Ends.), God will once again begin moving on the scene for Israel. He’ll do so first incognito; but then, at the end of the second watch, at the midnight hour, the cry will be made: "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him!" From this time forward, as in the days of old, Israel and the world will again see the hand of God at work for the descendants of Abraham.
THE THIRD WATCH
The third watch will begin after the midnight hour. This watch is referred to as the "cockcrowing." The term brings to mind Peter’s lapse into the flesh at the time of the crucifixion. Let’s read from the account in Matthew 26:31-34.
(Matthew 26:31-34)
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, Yet will I never be offended.
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Here, as many times before, Jesus is talking to end-time Israel through the experiences of the disciples; and certainly Israel, like Peter, will have denied its Lord three times before the time of the cockcrowing—before their third watch. The three times that the Hebrew children will have rejected their God are:
- the Age of Promise that came to an end with Israel being in bondage to Pharaoh and loving the fleshpots of Egypt,
- the Age of the Law brought to a close with Israel hating and crucifying its Messiah, and
- the Age of Grace wherein Israel has been subjected to the cruelty of the Gentiles while it steadfastly refuses its Deliverer.
Israel’s third watch will follow these three times of denial; and it will take place during the first half of Daniel’s seventieth week which, as we’ve said, will begin with the Rapture of the Church, and end when the Lord returns to set up His kingdom.
The fourth watch, then, will come just before the dawning of the glorious day of eternity for the redeemed. It will come at the end of the Kingdom Age during the time that God will be finishing up His short work on the planet; it will be the last half of Daniel’s seventieth week. As can be seen in illustration 8, the two long intervals between the watches fall in the long valleys of the Grace Age and the Kingdom Age.
The Four Night Watches of Israel (The Fig Tree). |
Illustration #8
As we said earlier, the four watches are times when the Jews should especially be watching for their Messiah. In chapter twelve of Luke, Jesus gives us more insight into these times. At the beginning of the chapter, Jesus is seen teaching a multitude of the Jews during the time of the first watch. He warns them to beware of the doctrines of their Pharisaical leaders. Then in verses 29-34, He counsels them not to become obsessed with their earthly needs, saying that if they would seek the kingdom of God first, their needs would be met; and that it was the Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom. (The kingdom was to be given first in a mystery [Mk. 4:11, Col. 1:26], then openly [Mt. 24:45-46; Rev. 20:6].) In Luke 12, verses 35-37, Jesus began discussing Israel's watches: more specifically, He spoke of those who would keep the third watch, setting them forth as an example for those of all watches to emulate. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;" He said, "and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 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" [Shades of Joseph and his brothers in Pharaoh's Egypt!](Luke 12:35-37).
It doesn’t take much speculation to figure out why Jesus made reference to the Jews at the end of the third watch when He commanded those around Him to watch. After all, in so doing, He was referring to a generation that will have gone through the great tribulation, that will have seen their numbers dwindle during the great atrocities of that period, that will have heard the trump associated with the Rapture, and that will have seen the hand of God at work in the wilderness, keeping a remnant alive as His day of wrath unloads its fury on the remaining inhabitants of the earth. Truly, He was speaking of a grateful, expectant generation that will be prepared to receive their Messiah when He returns from the wedding!
Then in verse 38 of Luke 12, Jesus returns to the chronological order of the watches saying: "And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants." The questions here is not will He come in these two watches; but when He comes, will He find Israel watching? Again, Jesus is referring to His two returnings at the end of our age; i.e., His coming in the clouds for His Church at the end of the great tribulation and His returning from the marriage ceremony to set up His kingdom at the end of the first 3 1/2 year period of God’s wrath.
That Israel should also be watching for their Lord’s return during their fourth watch at the end of the millennium can be deduced from the prophecies for that time. We’re told in Revelation that Satan will be unlocked from his chains and released from hell at the end of the thousand years of peace so that he might deceive mankind into attempting another armed rebellion against their Maker. If this event follows the pattern for similar earlier events, then Christ will withdraw Himself from view so that those who want to be deceived might be deceived. This prophetic event seems to be couched in our Lord’s walking on the water to the disciples during the fourth watch of the night as recorded in Mark 6:45-52. As we said earlier, much prophecy recorded for those at the end of the millennium will probably remain a mystery to man until that time. However, we can reason that if Christ does withdraw Himself from His planet for a season to let Lucifer do his thing, then Christ must return to do those things written of Him. After all, just as Christ was instrumental in creating the world, so will He be the Father's right-hand man in bringing it to an end in preparation for the installation of His new heaven and the new earth, which will abide forever.
THE NEXT "WATCH"
The second watch, the midnight watch, is the next watch of prophecy. And because it and the tribulation period seem to have much in common—let’s give it a closer scrutiny. This would be one of those times that tends to speculation, so let’s speculate. The first watch, the time of our Lord’s ministry (the Visitation), covered a period of three years. The third and fourth watches are in the two 3 1/2 year periods that make up Daniel’s seventieth week. In actuality, the time of the third watch won’t be the full 3 1/2 years; for as soon as the Lord returns to the earth, the conditions for the watch are nullified—shortening the time span towards the 3 year mark. The fourth watch, though sort of hazy at this time, still tends to be a repeat in many ways of the third; therefore, perhaps the time period of this watch may be closer to 3 years than 3 1/2. In addition, the actual four watches to which the Scriptures compare these prophetic watches are in four equal increments of three each. Further, because the next watch and the tribulation period will both end at the midnight hour, and because the time of tribulation has apparently been assigned a length of time (Jesus said that if it were not shortened, no flesh would be saved), could it be that the second watch and the tribulation period are one and the same? If so, could it be that the time span for the period of tribulation was originally set to cover a three year period like the other three watches?
THE INTENSITY OF THE WATCHES
Also, before we leave the four prophetic watches assigned to Israel, we should probably make note of the intensity of the watches. At the time of His Visitation, Jesus was referring to this aspect of the watches when He asked the Jews how it was that they could look at the sky and predict the weather; yet they could not discern the signs of the time (Luke 12:56; Matthew 16:1-3).
Perhaps an illustration would serve us at this point. I’ll never forget one particular day as a lad in the strawberry fields with my family. Many times we had worked in the fields and picked the berries—hardly aware of the sky unless it happened to rain which brought a double bonus: the berries got some much needed water and we got a day off. But on this one afternoon, I’ll never forget the sky and my Dad’s concern. In the distance were rumbling, huge, strangely-colored clouds that started rolling toward us—soon filling the sky. An eerie quiet, so heavy you could feel it, filled the air, and my Dad started moving all of us towards the storm cellar. It wasn’t long until the lightning was blazing across the sky, almost endlessly. The thunder and the rain were deafening, and the wind began playing havoc with all that wasn’t secured.
As anyone knows who has lived in the Midwest and experienced its vicious storms and tornadoes, on some occasions the sky is studied more intently than it is at other times. In fact, on some days it is studied as though one's very life depends upon it—which is often the case!
So it will be in the spiritual realm in the last days. Indeed, so it is already. The foreboding signs of the time are looming on the horizon in a fearful manner. Nature can be seen going on a rampage. Sin is coming in like a flood. Irreverence and ungodliness are increasing in satanic proportions. Scoffers and doubters have become the rule instead of the exception, and the church is in disarray and disunion—seemingly just looking on in dismay with the rest of the world.
Neighbor, as we see the dark, apocalyptic clouds moving in, it’s time to run to the Rock of our salvation and trust Him to lead us through the storm to the place of safety. It’s time to avail ourselves of the salvation that our Creator has provided for us in Christ Jesus, time to receive by faith the One who stands victorious on the other side of the grave and to walk in the Spirit of His resurrection. Neighbor, it’s time for all to "watch" and pray!
