IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE

ROMANS 13:11-12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (KJV)

ROMANS 13:11-12 Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is far gone, the day of his return will soon be here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the armor of right living, as we who live in the daylight should! (TLB)

ROMANS 13:11-12 But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. (MSG)

Paul wrote the book of Romans around 57 AD and according to the above verses, which I shared from three translations, he felt the rapture was imminent. It is now 2024 AD, and approximately 1967 years have passed since Paul admonished the believers to awake. So, I hope all of you who may be reading this blog realize Jesus’ return for His bride can take place at any time.

According to how I chronologically believe the scriptures happen, first comes the rapture, where Jesus will appear in the air and believers will be caught up to meet Him. Then comes the seven-year tribulation period on earth, and lastly, Jesus returns to the earth and begins His millennial reign. As these times and events unfold, believers must remember the words Jesus spoke to the disciples in Matthew 24. He instructed them not to be deceived by people and, most notably, what we are presently experiencing and seeing, such as wars, rumors of wars, nations opposing other nations, famine, hurricanes, earthquakes, pestilence, increasing lawlessness, believers departing from the faith, false prophets, liars, treachery, and lustfulness will not get better but worse.

These experiences could lead to despair for the inhabitants of the world. Nevertheless, for believers, we have hope as we engage in spiritual warfare, casting down and relinquishing ungodly habits, for our aim is to be rapture-ready. Furthermore, using the many teaching parables Jesus shared while doing His earthly ministry, believers strive to be like the profitable servants who worked as they should and the five wise virgins who had the necessary oil for their lamps. I am part of this prepared group, and I pray that you are too, for we realize it is high time to wake out of sleep.