We may take it as a settled principle that the more obvious impending judgment is, the less obvious it is. This clearly requires qualification. It is glaringly obvious to those who know how to read a story, and it is opaque to those whose behavior calling for judgment is the driving force of the story.
When Odysseus is preparing to slaughter the suitors, nothing is more plain to the man with the book in his hands that the tension is building as is about to blow. Nothing is less obvious if you are one of the suitors.
In the 24th chapter of Matthew, the Lord is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem, but this pattern is one that He uses throughout all history — from Genesis to Revelation, and from Revelation to the end of the world. Those who live in sin while simultaneously saying “peace, peace,” are doing so when there is no peace. Those who see the unpeace that is unfolding may tell people all about it, Cassandra-like, and still not give away any secrets.
Noah was a preacher of righteousness. He did not build the the ark in a corner.
“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:38–39).
Until the water came, “they knew not.”
A few verses down, the Lord adds this.
“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,” (Matthew 24:47–50).
In short, what ought not to have been a surprise comes as a total and complete . . . surprise.
The modern church has seers who prophesy with bags over their heads. We have theologians who grope along in judicially imposed darkness. We have priests who sit at ecumenical tables covered with vomit. We are totally unprepared for anything that might make our ears tingle.
I really like this verse,
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out
of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall
dream dreams”
The thing is, will anyone still be around to listen? Sometimes I think we’ll just be so busy arguing over the meaning of the word “is” and lining up to receive our new microchip debit card, that we won’t even have the ears to hear.
If His spirit is poured out, then those upon whom it is poured will hear.
Like the believers at Laodicea?
Ha! Yes precisely. Got any other words of encouragement? ;)
Was His spirit poured out on them?
I really don’ t know? But it says “I will pour out
of my Spirit upon all flesh.” The fact that it says all flesh, leads me to conclude that many who have been handed the ears to hear, still won’t use them.
Only Dunsworth’s shadow knows.
Plenty of itching ears, though.
Doug, I think you’re being a bit hard on Russell Moore and John Piper.
Or, as we learned in Sunday school, the wise man built his house upon the rock. When the rains came down and the floods came up, the house on the rock stood firm.
Floods are easy for some to ignore, when the sky looks clear!☀️⛈
“When Odysseus is preparing to slaughter the suitors, nothing is more plain to the man with the book in his hands that the tension is building…Nothing is less obvious if you are one of the suitors.”
And thus we study the signs, from His word, daily.