By John Thiel

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

When this scripture was written how relevant was it then?  Are these words powerfully relevant for us just now?  It is high time to awake out of sleep.  What are the present realities that are transpiring around us on this planet?  What are they that we should be aroused out of sleep?  As the hymn says, “His word our lamp, his truth our guide, we cannot be mistaken”.  Was it a reality to the writer of this hymn back in 1886 that time will keep on going as it has?

What does scripture show as the watchman said in the previous hymn “We have found the chart and compass and are sure the land is near?”  The church and compass of Gods word is what we need to look at so we can know where we are positioned.  This is what we want to do just now.  Reflect with me on Matthew 24 where Jesus is speaking to the disciples back then.  He is speaking about the days just before his coming.

Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 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, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Here Jesus gives us a visionary example of the time in which we live.  As in the days of Noah.  From the time that Noah commenced the building of the ark, to the time of the flood, how long was that?  One hundred and twenty years.  You would think that the people who were watching Noah building this ark and hearing him say, there’s a flood coming and inviting all to come on board, would say of him, he’s wasting his money.  From the time of starting the building of the ark to the flood is what Jesus wants us to look at now.  One hundred and twenty years had passed and there is this grand monument on dry land.  Rain had never fallen before and the people were shaking their heads.  One year to go, one month to go, two weeks to go, then some strange things happen.

There were some things happening in nature.  The animals were travelling in twos boarding the ship.  The people were amazed, this is a phenomenon they had never known of before but still they slumbered on.  Then one week before, the door with a flash of light closed.  No man closed the door. They saw it close.  As they saw this phenomena, they still slept on.  We according to the words of Jesus are dwelling in a parallel situation.  When was the message proclaiming the finishing of this planet earth with fire first proclaimed?  How long ago was it first proclaimed?  1833 by William Miller and his associates.  What was the date?  In 1844 it was going to happen but in 1844, Jesus didn’t come.  It was exactly the same in Noah’s time; the ark of preparation was launched.

We come through 1844 to 1888 and there another important event took place for those who were geared to be ready like Noah. From 1888 to 2008, how many years?  One hundred and twenty?  If as in the days of Noah it took all those years for the final to take place, where do we stand today in the light of those years it’s taken for the promise of God that Jesus would come since those messages?  How close are we to the closing of the door?  Let us look at it not in terms on checking out on times and years, let us examine it by studying scriptural terms and events by which we can see how close we really are.  Follow with me when Jesus left the disciples with a message he would return.  At that time the Christians met each other with the greeting, Maranatha, the lord cometh.  They expected very soon in their lifetime Jesus would come.  But what did the Apostle Paul write?

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

We make no mistakes who he is talking about let’s read;

2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

What was Apostle Paul foretelling?  He said that the Christian church would fall into a terrible apostasy.  A falling away which would mean that those who are leaders in the church would highlight a man at the very centre who would be called in the place of God.  God on earth.  Who was that?  The title of the pope is exactly what is written there in verse 4.  He is a representative of God on earth.  He sits in his temple claiming he is God.  That is the description that takes place in the dark ages or the 1260 years.  Apostle Paul says this must happen before Jesus come.  He says don’t’ be excited about his second coming as there is going to be a huge period.  There will be a period of suffering of Gods people.

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

According to these words, people were not to be confused about the coming of Jesus yet as there is still persecution.  False prophets and teachers arose that said Jesus is coming but there was great persecution and tribulation still.  There will be false Christs and prophets.  Teachers in the church that are false teachers. Now look at when Christians should pay attention in regards to his coming.

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The dark days of tribulation which Paul says must come before Jesus comes.  But then Jesus says if those days were not shortened, there would not be any Christian left anymore.  Those people that were put at the stake, the lowest estimate was put at 50 million but many have estimated higher than that.  Gods faithful people were being destroyed.  Jesus says those days needed to be shorted.  What happened that shortened those days?  Before the 1260 days were fulfilled?  The pope was taken prisoner.  When did persecution begin to be cut short?  It was by the activity of the reformers.  Martin Luther and his team were the greatest victors that turned the tide before 1755.  This was when one of the signs which were written about the coming of Jesus was fulfilled. The reformation had cut short the persecutions.  Immediately after the tribulation of those days, immediately after it had been cut short, the three signs followed.  What do we expect around 1755 onwards?  According to this, the sun should be darkened immediately after that period.

An Historic Event According To the Word of Jesus

…the darkening of the sun and moon. What rendered this more striking was the fact that the time of its fulfilment had been definitely pointed out. In the Saviour’s conversation with His disciples upon Olivet, after describing the long period of trial for the church,–the 1260 years of papal persecution, concerning which He had promised that the tribulation should be shortened,–He thus mentioned certain events to precede His coming, and fixed the time when the first of these should be witnessed: “In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.” Mark 13:24. The 1260 days, or years, terminated in 1798. A quarter of a century earlier, persecution had almost wholly ceased. Following this persecution, according to the words of Christ, the sun was to be darkened. On the 19th of May, 1780, this prophecy was fulfilled.  {GC 306.1}

The description of the eye witnesses of the sun stated this was not an eclipse.  You can read of the strange phenomena in books.  The moon became red like blood in may 1780.  An event took place in the very centre of protestant Christianity which was all across America at that time.  Christians were escaping persecution in Europe.  Many witnessed that event.  With the ark, there was an event, something unusual.  Here is an event for people to awake that the coming of Jesus would take place.

Matthew 24:29 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Immediately after the tribulation signs would take place.  What else happened?  The stars fell from heaven.  This directly follows the 5th seal which shows the persecuted saints crying how long are you going to let this go on for.

Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Here is the same sign Jesus spoke of in Matthew.

Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The great earthquake that happened in conjunction with these other signs.  Even at the time when there was some more to be persecuted this took place and the persecution then petered out.  In 1755 was the great Lisbon earthquake.  It affected 4 million square miles.  It covered the whole known world.  It was felt up in Greenland.  It was felt in south America; it was felt all over the world.  There was the next prophecy. The dark day.  In November 1833 across the whole American continent you had the falling of the stars as it’s described in Revelation, as a fig tree casts of her figs, across the sky the shooting out of stars.  We observe from the readings of the words of Jesus that the dates of 1755, 1780 and 1833 were events that happened before his coming.  Here is exactly what is identified of what we read in Revelation, the heavens departed as a scroll.  What actually did take place after 1833?

Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Jesus here says that after those signs angels are going to be sent with the great sound of a trumpet.  If you read in the margin it says with a trumpet and a great voice.  The angel that gives a great sound across the earth, he is gathering the people.

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,  14:7 Saying with a loud voice,

Is that what was written in Matthew?  A loud voice?

Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, 9 And the third angel followed them,

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.  18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice,

What is to take place from the time of these natural events, the earthquake, the sun becoming black and the falling of the stars?  What is to happen straight after that?  The angels are gathering together Gods people with a loud voice like a trumpet.  Recall Revelation 6 and the 6th seal.  At the 6th seal there was to come another seal, the 7th.  But in between were those signs and an announcement of the coming of Jesus.  There is an interlude between the 6th and 7th seal.

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

What do you see here?  The exact words that Jesus expressed in Mathew 24 that after those natural signs the angels would go forth and gather his people.  In Revelation 6 the great day of Gods wrath is come who will stand?  And God sends an angel and says not just yet.  Don’t let the winds of Gods wrath blow on the earth just yet.  Why?  Because we the angels need to gather Gods people together and seal them. Here is chart and compass that the coming of Jesus could have been straight after those signs.  However, at the time of the coming of Jesus before he visibly comes and the wrath Gods take place, the angels are doing the work to the his people.

The third angel was identifying these people as the ones that were worshipping the beast and his image and verse 12 of Revelation 14.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

What were these angels doing?  What was this angel doing?  “Hold the four winds till we have sealed the servants of God in their forehead.”  They want Jesus to come but he is not ready to come until the angels gather and seal them.  Until we have sealed, they say.  When the third angel has finished sealing them in their foreheads we read;

Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Here he is.  When the angels have done their work then Jesus will come.  The interlude between Matthew 24:29 and 30 is this work.  That why his actual physical coming and the clouds being rolled back is not immediate after those signs, but those signs announce the work of these people for those who have chart and compass. The people like in the days of Noah and his family who recognised the voice of God and built an ark.  A place of safety.

Like the work of the angels, they are sealing and protecting them that they will not receive the plagues.  The first angels messages was the hour of Gods judgement is come – Daniel 8:14.  Daniel 7:9-14 was the judgement.  God the father sitting and Jesus coming to him. The judgement was set and the books were open.  That was the first angel announced.  As these angels are doing their work, ever since those signs of the falling of the stars of the dark day and the earthquake, this should be occupying the mind of Gods people.  These words carry great weight in which we live.

I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, “Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.”  {EW 118.1}

In the harvest time gathering together the wheat.  What is the hour in which we live right now?  When did this angel begin his work?  The first angel was being proclaimed from 1831 onwards.  The second angel came in 1844 and the third angel came in 1848.  In 1848 a world war was brooding and then suddenly it stopped.  Ever since that time the world has been under war threats. The first and second world war were prevented by the angel from doing its final destruction.  Why?  The work of the angels was not completed.  Identify the intense work that heaven is involved in from the time of 1848 onwards.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Here is the Old Testament description of what will happen in the three angel’s messages.  As those messages are being proclaimed there is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as its behind done by Gods children.  The mouth pieces of those angels is the church of God.  They are the people who receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the time when?  The sun turning to darkness and moon to blood. When wars are coming, they will herald the coming of Jesus.  Blood, fire and pillars of smoke.  In the margin it says palm trees of smoke.  Have we seen these?  Nuclear bombs.  Ever since the signs the threat of war has escalated.  The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is synchronising with the three angel’s messages.  The call of Revelation 18 that other angel that comes to help shows the intensity of the time that exists from that time onwards in Revelation 18.

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

How serious, how intense is this Revelation of chart and compass?  When did inspiration identify this extra angel coming into focus?

The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the Revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth (RH Nov. 22, 1892).  {7BC 984.6}

When was this written in 1892?  It was pointing back to the preaching of the powerful message of Christ and his righteousness in the church that proclaimed the three angels message.  There it was in 1888 this proclamation.  How long ago?  120 years to the year.

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. [SEE APPENDIX.] This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.  {TM 91.2}

This time has already commenced according to those words. That angel that comes in at the right time to give power to the voice of the third angel.  Notice the intensity of heaven.

Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory. The light which attended this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily, with a strong voice, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” The message of the fall of Babylon, as given by the second angel, is repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the churches since 1844. The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry. And the people of God are thus prepared to stand in the hour of temptation, which they are soon to meet. I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united to fearlessly proclaim the third angel’s message.  {EW 277.1}

Why do Protestants and Catholics hate the Seventh Day Adventist message?  Why?  They say we vilify them.  But what is this message?  Babylon the great is fallen; the beast and his image which is all scriptural have fallen away.  Here are these Babylonish practises, false doctrines that are confusing the people.  The cry of the Revelation 18 is that they are fallen. What is the voice under the power of the Holy Spirit?  Come out of her my people?  Why?  That you be not partakers of her sins and be not partakers of the plagues. Why?  This is going to take just before the coming of Jesus.  When did this angel commence?  1888 – 120 years ago.  The outpouring of the Holy Spirit according to Joel, how long?  120 years.  What is the warning in all this?

We shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it. {TM 507.1}

Why?  Because people are being put to sleep.  What is?  What does Jesus describe as the present situation as all these events are taking place?

Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 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,

False preachers, what are they doing?  In such an intense time of the ark, spiritually speaking, which is about to protect the people, in their heart they’re saying, oh the coming of Jesus, they’ve been saying that for years. The prophecy of the stars falling and the dark day, it will happen again, it’s coming in the future.  No it isn’t.  The future is final destruction.  The signs have happened long ago.  The signs are already overdue in their conclusion.  Where are we today?  2008.  What is Satan doing to confuse and put to sleep people?  What in reality has happened to the majority of Christians including advent believers?  What is Satan doing? Remember what the angels are doing?  They are sealing the people and gathering them together.

Satan is now using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of Gods people from the present truth and to cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth and was pure in heart was to be covered with the covering of the Almighty.  {EW 43.2}

To say in their heart, oh it’s off for a few years yet.  It’s alright.  I saw God covering like Noah in the ark.  It was already happening; the people were going into the ark of protection.  What was Satan doing as the covering was being put over;

Oh, that all could get a view of it as God revealed it to me, that they might know more of the wiles of Satan and be on their guard! I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away Gods people, just now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet sliding, because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were thus trembling.  {EW 44.1}

They are standing outside of the ark saying maybe, maybe not, this is what Satan is doing distracting Gods people.

Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, until the sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over Gods people, and they left without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues. God has begun to draw this covering over His people, and it will soon be drawn over all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter.  {EW 44.2}

How long ago was that written?  Where do you and I stand today?  What is Satan doing to us?  I have been brought up in a generation that has been put to sleep and it took me a little while to wake out of my sleep and I have become excited and intense.  You’re too intense john, I’m sorry but heaven is more intense than me. Angels are hurrying to and fro.  What are we doing?  I’m waking up now to a greater intensity than I have ever had in the past.  I have been to put to sleep by false teachers.  I’m going to stand up and be counted and let the teachers say what they like!

Many are doing the same thing today . . . because they have not had experience in the testing message comprehended in the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There are those who are searching the Scriptures for proof that these messages are still in the future. They gather together the truthfulness of the messages, but they fail to give them their proper place in prophetic history. Therefore such are in danger of misleading the people in regard to locating the messages. They do not see and understand the time of the end, or when to locate the messages. . . .The watchman is to know the time of the night. Everything is now clothed with a solemnity that all who believe the truth should feel and sense. . . . All the little things of life are but a mote now. Those that pertain to eternity are of great consequence.–Manuscript 41a, Dec. 20, 1896, untitled manuscript.  {UL 368.4}

What did we sing?  We have the chart and compass, we know. How great just now?  120 years ago.  1888.  Where are we now?  What is our position right now?  How do you stand?  Are you fully engaged, entirely, unreservedly plunging into the ark because its door is going to shut soon? Nature around us is describing what?  What is all this business about global warming?  What is all this business about the wars going on?  What is that? Global warming is a threat of the total plagues.  The sun becoming seven times hotter, the floods, it’s all there.  Is the fiery destruction about to burst?  How long are we expecting to wait?  The outpouring hasn’t happened yet we hear.  Nonsense.  It’s been falling on hearts all around us.  The Holy Spirit is drawing and calling us.  What should I be occupied with in all total concentration and deadly earnestness.  It tells us in Amos, prepare to meet our God.  That is our occupation.

There is need of close examination of self. We have no time now to spend in self-indulgence. If we are connected with God, we shall humble our hearts before Him, and be very zealous in the perfecting of Christian characters. We have a grand and solemn work to do, for the world is to be enlightened in regard to the times in which we live; and they will be enlightened when a straight testimony is borne. They will be led to earnest examination of self (Letter 12, 1909).  {3BC 1146.1}

The works that should characterize the church militant and the works of the church that has had the light of truth for this time, do not correspond. {RH, April 22, 1909 par. 15}

The very people who should be proclaiming these messages by their works do not correspond.  I’ve picked out a few short excerpts of what we have no time to do. W e should not occupy our mind with any of these things.

It is no time now to sink down beneath discouragement and trial; we must bear up under all our afflictions, and trust wholly in the Almighty God of Jacob. {CET 103.1}

Are any of you in discouragement?  There is no time!

We have no time now to spend in seeking those things that only please the senses. Close heart searching is needed. With tears and heartbroken confession we need to draw nigh to God that He may draw nigh to us.–Review and Herald, Nov. 14, 1899.  {Ev 510.2}

When you go shopping and embellish your house, are you doing things that have to do with need?  To please the senses?  We have no time for that.

We have no time now to talk unbelief and to gossip, no time now to do the devil’s work. Let everyone beware of unsettling the faith of others by sowing seeds of envy, jealousy, disunion; “–Manuscript 32a, 1896.  {2SM 71.1}

No time for that.  If you are in the case of emergency, have you time to do that?  Are you in a case of extreme emergency? It is no time now to allow our minds to be engrossed with things of minor importance. What are they?

It is no time now to tolerate sleepy watchmen, and they never should have been tolerated.  {RH, March 24, 1896 par. 7}

They never should have been tolerated.  Sleeping watchman?  No time to tolerate them.  Get together with the watchman who are saying this is the time, meat in due season. I have just described to you not so much time factors and seasons but events and what we are to be involved in and what we are not to do at this time.

Instead of living in expectation of some special season of excitement, we are wisely to improve present opportunities, doing that which must be done in order that souls may be saved. Instead of exhausting the powers of our mind in speculations in regard to the times and seasons which the Lord has placed in His own power, and withheld from men, we are to yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit, to do present duties, to give the bread of life, unadulterated with human opinions, to souls who are perishing for the truth.–Review and Herald, March 22, 1892.  {Ev 702.1}

Don’t exhaust our energies and powers of mind in regard to times and seasons.  Our full focus should be on present duties.  If you occupy your mind with, you haven’t got time for anything else.  Anything else distracts you so that you will be kept outside the door when it shuts.  Can we then see very vividly our scripture reading?  What should we be doing?  Time is finished.  There are last moments to fulfil what is written in Romans. Let these words ring in our ears and hearts;

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.

13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

Let us take hold of the present urgent message.  Imagine yourself near the ark and Noah says come aboard!  He turns his back and walks in.  Will you come aboard or turn away?  The door is about to shut!

Amen.