Matthew 24:41-45

Mat 24:41 (KJB)
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

(Luke 17:35 KJV) Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Then there will be two women grinding at the mill. The women would grind the grain in a small hand mill to make flour for fresh bread. This means that they were expecting their husbands to come home from work as part of the normal routine and she would have dinner waiting for him and the family if they had one. Here like in the field, one is taken and one is left. The one that is taken, is taken to judgment. (Luke 17:37 KJV) And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. This also shows us that some will be ready for the Lord’s return because they heeded the signs but they did not sit home looking for the date or on a mountaintop waiting in white robes.

Mat 24:42 (KJB)
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

The Lord does not tell us to be oblivious of the signs but he commands us to watch while we are involved in the ministry and the daily routines which we adopted which includes working as we saw in the two women at the mill and the two men in the field. It is clear from those verses that one was ready but was still involved in their daily routine. The believer is to be vigilant and alert to the signs while continuing to do ministry and their work. In 2011 when Harold Camping’s minions were following him in their delusion of a May 21 return of Christ, some actually sold their homes and businesses and quit their jobs in anticipation of the date. When the date passed, Camping had a nice home to go back to and these people had nothing to go back to. We are never to follow anyone who claims they know the date of Christ’s return because they will be proven false when the date passes. We are to be cognizant of the signs the Lord gave and if there were no signs coming to pass yet, then we are to continue in what we are doing. Watching is not date setting or cloud watching.

Mat 24:43 (KJB)
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

The night was normally broken up into four three hour watches. If the owner of the house had prior knowledge of when a thief was going to break in, then he could have been ready at that specific time to prevent his home from being robbed. No thief will ever give a warning as to what his plans are and his timing for robbing a specific house. This is what Jesus is trying to get across that just as the thief gives no warning, His second coming will be without warning. (2 Pet 3:10 KJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. It will come without warning and it will happen fast. This also means that the sun being darkened, and the moon not giving her light and the stars falling from Heaven will also be quick simultaneous events and not a long period of time before the Lord returns.

Mat 24:44 (KJB)
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Jesus states in no ambiguous terms that the believers need to be ready because they will not know what hour the Lord will come back on. Notice that He states in such an hour ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. There will be those dates setters who will think they know when the Lord will be back. So if you are saved, you are ready for both scenarios, when you think the Lord may return or when you don‘t think the Lord will return. (1 Th 5:4 KJV) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. If a person is saved, then they are ready for that day. One reason why this Scripture verse may be worded this way is because the Lord may be back when there still seems like there is much work to be done and people groups to evangelize. The key to that is to understand that the Lord does not have to reach every single person in the world, just His Elect who are predestined to be saved from the foundation of the world. The unbelieving world has the witness of the creation. (Rom 1:20 KJV) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Mat 24:45 (KJB)
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

(Luke 12:42 KJV) And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Then Jesus goes into a narrative about the difference between a faithful servant and an unfaithful servant. Jesus poses a question in response to Peter’s question. (Luke 12:41 KJV) Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? Jesus speaks about a faithful servant whom the lord of the house made ruler over his estate and family and faithfully gives them the food and other sustenance they need on a regular basis. He does his tasks with regularity and he does them honestly and in such a way that the household is prospering plus laziness is not part of his character. The lord of that house has no qualms about leaving a wise steward in charge of his house. A good example of this was Joseph in the house of Potiphar where God blessed the house for Joseph’s sake. (Gen 39:5 KJV) And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

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