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Matthew 24:36-44"But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
False Messiahs • Wars and Rumors of Wars • Natural Catastrophes • Pestilences • Signs from the Heavens • Persecutions. “No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”. Mark 13:32.
Advent is the period of waiting and preparing for the Christmas spirit which is the Spirit of Christ.
For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.
Generally speaking, United Methodists are focused on Christ and welcoming his grace--prevenient that moves us to turn to Christ for salvation, justifying that works righteousness in us and trust for salvation, and sanctifying that perfects us in lives of love of God and neighbor. We tend not to be a speculative people. Often attention to the second coming can get pretty dicey and speculative. As the children of John Wesley, we are practical people attending to Christ present in worship and in the daily life and needs of others around us. --Reverend Dan Benedict, General Board of Discipleship
Wesley and his spiritual children are not into the future in the kind of rapture/left behind approach. He and we are into the present--living in love toward God and neighbor. Our doctrine focuses on the order of salvation--prevenient grace, justifying grace, sanctifying grace and the assurance of salvation that God gives in trust. --Reverend Dan Benedict, General Board of Discipleship
42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Living the Kingdom Life: When? This day, every day Where? Bold Springs UMC, Loganville, Monroe, Winder, Georgia…where YOU go…
42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
