But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. – 1 Thessalonians 5:4
1 Thessalonians 5:2-9
2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.
3 Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.
4 But you, brothers, and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.
5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.
6 So then we must not sleep like the rest but stay alert and sober.
8 But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and, as a helmet, our hope for salvation.
9 For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Eve of Destruction” was written by P. F. Sloan in 1964 during a highly tumultuous period in American history. It stood out as one of its era’s most direct and provocative protest songs. The iconic rendition by Barry McGuire has resonated for decades. Interestingly, it has been linked to Bob Dylan, whose compositions became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements of that time. Dylan’s influence on American culture and music has endured for six decades. In 2020, Bob Dylan marked his return after an 8-year hiatus with the release of “Rough and Rowdy Ways.”
In a rare interview published by the New York Times in June 2020, Dylan was asked, “Do you think of this pandemic in almost biblical terms? A plague that has swept the land?”
Dylan responded, “I think it’s a forerunner of something else to come. It’s an invasion for sure, and it’s widespread, but biblical? Do you mean like some kind of warning sign for people to repent of their wrongdoings? That would imply that the world is in line for some sort of divine punishment. Extreme arrogance can have some disastrous penalties.”
“Maybe we are on the eve of destruction. There are numerous ways you can think about this virus. I think you just have to let it run its course.”
Are we on the eve of destruction? Is a return to a “normal” way of life in America even possible? Only the Father knows for sure! The children of the King should be alert. We should walk in light, not darkness, guided by the light of biblical truth.
The Scriptures are unequivocal: the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back. His return is considered imminent because it could happen at any moment. Indeed, He will set up His kingdom on earth as prophesied in the Old and New Testaments. This is the blessed hope of each child of the King.
Matthew 24:30 The sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
REFLECT & PRAY
No one knows precisely when the Lord Jesus Christ will return. However, it is paramount that we do not delay in carrying out the tasks assigned to us by the Father until the final moments.
Father You have invited each of Your children to participate in Your kingdom work. Encourage our hearts and minds to say “Yes.”
INSIGHT
We are called to anticipate His return, to be expectant, but not to set specific dates. It has been approximately 2000 years since the Lord Jesus Christ promised His return. He is right on schedule, just not on our schedule. He is on the Father’s schedule. He is never in a hurry, but rest assured, He is always on time.
In a world where many walk in darkness, mock, ridicule, or even deny the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:3-4). The signs associated with the second coming are likened to the labor pains of women during childbirth (Matthew 24:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:3). It will be a period of suffering and travail. The warning signs will increase in frequency and intensity. Ultimately, these perturbations will culminate in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment. The travail will give birth to the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth.
Paul presents us with an odd paradox. “He repeats that the coming of the day will be sudden. It will come like a thief in the night. But he also insists that there is no reason why anyone should be caught unawares. Only the person who lives in the dark and whose deeds are evil will be caught unprepared. Christians live in the light – and, no matter when that day comes if they are watchful and sober, it will make them ready. Waking or sleeping, Christians are already living with Christ and are therefore always prepared” (Barclay).
Ezekiel 33:10-11
10 Our rebellious acts and our sins have caught up with us, and we are wasting away because of them. How shall we then live?
11 I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds!
Bad choices lead to bad outcomes. As people reflect on what is happening right before their eyes, it may be a pivotal moment, creating a major paradigm shift for those who choose wisely.
The children of the King are to live in the light of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must live “with eternity’s values in view” (Wiersbe). Our priorities should be the priorities of our King and not our own. We are to use the time that remains wisely. It is essential to utilize the remaining time judiciously, making the most of the opportunities for service the Father provides. Our tasks will not reach completion before His returns! So it was for the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so it will be for us. Our mission will not be accomplished before He returns.
Matthew 10:23 I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Are we on the Eve of Destruction? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.
Eve of Destruction
The eastern world it is explodin’
Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill but not for votin’
You don’t believe in war, what’s that gun you’re totin’
And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin’
But you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction
Don’t you understand, what I’m trying to say?
Can’t you feel the fears that I’m feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there’s no running away
There’ll be no one to save with the world in a grave
Take a look around you, boy, it’s bound to scare you, boy
And you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction
Yeah, my blood’s so mad, feels like coagulatin’
I’m sittin’ here, just contemplatin’
I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation
Handful of Senators don’t pass legislation
And marches alone can’t bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin’
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’
And you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction
Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
Ah, you may leave here, for four days in space
But when your return, it’s the same old place
The poundin’ of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don’t leave a trace
Hate your next-door-neighbor, but don’t forget to say grace
And you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend
You don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction
You don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction
¯\_(ツ)_/¯9-07-2
© Dr. H 2022
Dr H Reflections 