"Be Vigilant"

"The end of all things has drawn close. . . .Be vigilant with a view to prayers." - 1 PETER 4:7.

WHEN Jesus Christ was on earth, the theme of his teaching was God's Kingdom .  By means of that Kingdom, Jehovah will vindicated his universal sovereignty and sanctify his name.  Thus, Jesus taught his disciples to pray to God:"Please let Jehovah God be sanctified, let his Kingdom come and his will be done on earth has it is in heaven." (Matthew 4:17; 6:9, 10)That Kingdom government is very shortly going to bring an end to Satan's world and then supervise the doing of God's will throughout the earth. As Daniel foretold, God's Kingdom "will crush and put an end to all these [present-day] kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite." - DANIEL 2:44.

Because the coming of God's Kingdom was of great importance to Jesus' followers, they asked him: "What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" (Matthew 24:3)  A visible sign   would be provided in view of the fact that Christ's presence in Kingdom power  would invisible  to those on earth.  That sign would be composed of various features foretold in the Scriptures. Accordingly, Jesus' followers alive at that time could discern that he had begun ruling in heaven.  It would also mark the beginning of the period of time known in the Bible as "the last days" of the wicked system that now dominates the earth. - 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5, 13; MATTHEW 24:7-14.

Next time: "Be Vigilant" - Be Vigilant in the Last Days

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