Before calamity strikes, God often provides warnings to prompt repentance and salvation. In Ezekiel, the prophet is commissioned to serve as a watchman, warning the wicked of impending judgment and calling them to turn from their evil ways. The wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, also cautions against pride and complacency, which can lead to a great fall. Jesus' teachings in Matthew and Luke emphasize the importance of being prepared and vigilant, lest one be caught off guard by the Lord's return, and Matthew further reminds us that it is not the body that can kill, but the soul that is at greater risk.
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“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.
When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.
As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.
For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me.
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.