I think it is evident that what Jesus said was not to be living a mean spirited, reckless lifestyle.
Yes. But the context is to His disciples, to believers, to those who are His.
I don't think He as teaching that unbelievers need not believe in Him as long as they are watchful.
Your view amounts to that.
The scriptures you referenced go into the details of what to avoid.
Yes. To the believing disciples who own Him as their Lord, thier soon to come master they should AVOID this or that.
That also is if they are serious about
the kingdom of God - His government, His administration over our lives in this age and the next,
But know this, that if the householder had known in which watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also be ready, because at an hour when you do not expect it, the Son of Man is coming.
Who better fits the analogy of a house holder wary of a thief coming to take away what is precious?
The believer in Christ or the unbeliever?
Ie.
"Righteous living is precious to the Righteous Son of Man, my Lord Jesus."
Or
"I don't believe Jesus is God's Son and care not for what He would have considered precious."
I think the first case better fits the analigy -
. . . if the householder had known in which watch the thief was coming, he would have watched ..
Furthermore the dramatic descending of Christ with trumpet blast does not fit well with a thief unaccnoucnced stealthily catching
one off guard. What thief blows a trumpet and a SHOUT to signify his arrival?
First Thess. 4:16a - Because the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, . . .
This in
Matthew 24:40-42 is the pre-tribulation of the vigilant as a reward - unexpected, at any time, after those who live as if He could arrive at any second.
In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus said not only to be watching, but also to be praying.
By watching praying even without ceasing is implied by the details of the epistles.
First Thess. 5:16-19 - Always rejoice, UNCEASINGLY PRAY,
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit;
This kind of praying becomes like a breathing - habitual and even unconscious.
It may be a simple keeping one's heart turned to the Lord.
But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, . . . (2 Cor. 3:18)
While one is working or even
sleeping his heart is turned and opened to the Lord's Spirit.
I tell you, In that night there will be two on one bed; the one will be taken and the other will be left. (Luke 17:34)
One is breathing the Lord's presence, calling with whispered prayer or meditation to the living God.
You have heard my voice; do not hide / Your ear at my breathing, at my cry. (Lam. 3:56)
The habit of abiding in Him has been built up and become daily, hourly, moment to moment and even barely conscious at times.
This is what is meant by watching there. It includes touching His presence within.
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. (Rom. 8:6)
Watching there is not gazing up into the clouds. It is watching to enjoy the drinking of the Holy Spirit and the breathing in
of the life giving Spirit. And that while carrying out legitimate duties in the office, on the construction site, preparing meals,
even dreaming while asleep in bed.
(Luke 17:34)
It is the watching of having built up the unconscious habit of denying the self to enjoy being led by the Holy Spirit.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom. 8:14)
So we need practice. So we need like any other habitual way to live PRACTICE every day.
Sudden vigilance at the last moment is risky. Continued practice from the time one is saved throughout his Christian walk
is better.
It is not grevious either. We learn of Him that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
This habitual way will even be rest unto our troubled souls.
Come to Me all who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matt. 11:28-30)
If a person becomes too legalistic in their criteria, they move their conscience from saved by grace to saved by works... and become self righteous.
I agree that lifeless, Spiritless legalism is to be avoided.
By telling the Lord
"Lord Jesus, O Lord I love You." God becomes an enjoyment rather than a code of laws.
The idea in Christianity in my view is to encourage other Christians not in a condescending way, but in a BLT way and love their neighbor as they would themselves.
I cannot do that without being filled with the Spirit of Jesus the loving One.
Left to myself I only care for myself. We need to be filled with the Spirit
He is in us as the
bountiful supply of divine life and grace.
For I know that for me this will turn out to salvation through your petition and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (Phil 1:19)
I am saying your questions, devised for the sake of argument, lean too much to the legalistic approach - of where is the line drawn, as to who is taken and who is not.
I think you may be HEARING them that way. We ought to be careful how we listen.
(Luke 8:18)
But let's say partial rapture as reward is all wrong.
Isn't it benefitial to God's kingdom that we live watching, abiding in the Lord, anyway?
Disagree with selective rapture. But to watch is superior to neglegience anyway.
The former meets our joy plus God's purpose for us.
Obviously, the two working in the field in your one vs the other are not equally watching.
Okay. That is a start. Obviously the reward of watching is contrasted to the misfortune of apathy.
That's a start.
Now we know by sad experience - Not all Christians can be said to be living such watchful lives.
You and I are both justified by faith and have the gift of eternal life. And yet if we are honest we too do not live as watching for Him.
So we need practice, patience, endurance, continuousness and that either way- full rapture, partial rapture, no rapture, before, during, or after the GT.
But what you left out is that they are not equally praying.
So you are saying
ALL Christians because they are praying will be taken in this rapture.
This is simpy not realistic.
You see the simple fact though sad, is that some believers are perpetually defeated and fewer have the
custom of overcoming.
In Corinth Paul said emphatically they all were one Body in Christ. Right?
Yet it is unavoidable the some "approved" are
manifested among some "disapproved."
For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and some part of it I believe.
For there must even be parties among you, that those who are approved may become manifest among you. (1 Cor. 11:19)
On the day or evening of pre-tribulation sudden rapture, Jesus will determine (not anyone else)
who has been manifested as
"approved." Though all have the gift of eternal redemption, not all are manifested as
approved.
Remember the principle with the taking away of Enoch. He bore testimony beforehand that his living was righteous -
well pleasing to God.
By faith Enoch was translated so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For before his translation he obtained the testimony that he had been well pleasing to God. (Heb. 11:5)
Now of course to have faith that Jesus is Son of God is well-pleasing to God.
But to live a life gradually being conformed to His image in practical living is the well-pleasingness affecting rapture.
Why would a Christian want to be taken where he would be BORED to go?
What, you know of no such Christians ??
Douggg - what
OUGHT to be with His people and what
IS with His people are not always the same.
By encouraging others to pray, it would open their hearts for the Holy Spriit to work in their life's to move them in the direction of not doing those things listed in the scriptures your referenced.
Total agreement from me here. And we need to be examples of overcoming.
May God have mercy upon us to grow into this more and more.
And we need oneness and one another to succeed.