" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4) Plainly the Apostle here tells the
followers of Jesus that if they are watching the things which the Lord
told them to watch, the day of the Lord will not come upon them
unawares, but they will mark the fulfillment of prophecy, and in the
light of its fulfillment they will discern the time of the presence of
the great King. Furthermore he says to them: "Ye are all the children of
light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of
darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and
be sober."--1 Thes. 5:5,6.
[390]We shall find that Jesus gave much evidence which enables the
watcher to determine the Lord's presence. Jesus spoke in prophetic
language. Prophecy means a foretelling of future events before they take
place; and when they are taking place the watcher can ascertain that
they are thus fulfilling the prophetic words previously spoken.
[391]Jesus gave us the positive evidence as to when to expect him. He
gave a parable of the wheat and the tares, saying, "The kingdom of
heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But
while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and
went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit,
then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came
and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from
whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.
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