PODCAST Sober and Watching

(This was shared in the context of an unscripted casual Bible Study,
yet His presence was very real and powerful.)

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober,
and watch unto prayer.”
1 Peter 4:7

We briefly touched on the rising of the fourth beast in Daniel and John’s description of the fourth beast as the culmination of the previous three described in Daniel combined. The revelation to Daniel concerning the four beasts, with John later emphasizing the fourth beast, brings further clarity concerning its nature, workings, and implications in the days we live.

To fully understand the content of this study, please first listen to the PODCAST – Daniel’s Fourth Beast Link. These things are transpiring in our day now, and God would stir the hearts of His own to be prepared as the Day of the Lord is upon us.

The Rising of Daniel’s Fourth Beast

The Nature of Daniel’s Fourth Beast is revealed in the Book of Revelation. God always seeks to warn His people of what is soon to come. May we hear and draw near to Him that we may stand “in the evil day.”

“The first was like a lion…”    Daniel 7:4

“And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear…”    Daniel 7:5

“After this, I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard…”    Daniel 7:6

John sees the same beast in Revelation 17:2.

“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
Revelation 17:2

John describes the Beast he saw arising at the end of days, revealing unto us the fullness of the first three beasts of Daniel. In the Spirit, John sees them backward as he sees them from their historical context (i.e., the leopard is the first, the bear is the second, and the lion is the last from his perspective of looking back through time). This portrayal of what arises in our day should press us to walk with discernment, understanding, and the fear of the Lord.

An Exhortation to be Sober and Watching

We now turn to Peter’s exhortation to understand what manner of people we ought to be in the face of these things.

“But the end of all things is at hand…”
1 Peter 4:7

The Epistles of Peter were written concerning the end of this dispensation of life as we know it. A burden weighed heavily upon Him as he emphasized the end and contrasted it with what we are to be because the end is near.

This view is fully summed up in his second epistle:

11. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13. Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

The press of the Spirit upon us in the “now” of our life will be according to the depth and the nature of our seeing. Regarding our life in the Spirit, what we believe may be of little consequence, Peter declares, “seeing that ye look for such things,” we are to be “found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”

This is the same language used concerning Noah.  Noah “found” grace in the eyes of the Lord. The manner of Noah’s life drew from God the grace to “see” the things that were coming, and through this revelation the word declares:

“By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,
moved with fear, prepared an ark…”
Hebrews 11:7

True faith is the mover of men. We may speak of things to come yet be devoid of the action and response only faith can accomplish. “Faith without works is dead!” A dead faith can intellectually agree that things are coming, yet without faith, we are unable to respond. Faith is the divine enablement to respond obediently to His word.

Without faith, we may know these things while failing to do what is necessary to avail ourselves of His grace.

“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
Genesis 6:8

It is with this understanding that we open our hearts to the exhortation of Peter:

“But the end of all things is at hand:
be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
1 Peter 4:7

Here, Peter is exhorting us as to what the spirit and temper of our hearts should be, whether we be of the right spirit in relation to the grace given, as those who have “found” His favor.

“And above all things have
fervent charity among yourselves…”
1 Peter 4:8

The resulting grace that flows among those who are “sober” and “watching unto prayer” is “fervent charity.”

The Greek word translated as “fervent” reveals the characteristics of true faith. It means to be stretched, strained, and intensely involved in expressing His love.

The next verse vividly demonstrates the “fervent” love we are to walk in.

“Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”
1 Peter 4:9

As John exhorts us:

“My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
1 John 3:18

Words without “deeds” are the folly of religion.

Many may “know” the times in which we live but lack the deeds that accompany salvation.

As Paul warned Titus:

“They profess to know God,
but by their works, they deny Him...”
Titus 1:16 (LITV)

In the eyes of God, a profession without the works of faith is a denial of Him.

May we receive the exhortations of God to be “found” of Him. May His grace fill us with that “fervent,” stretched-out, intense love of God whereby we love and exhort one another unto “love and good works.”

“Let us hold fast the confession of the hope unyielding, for He who has promised is faithful. And let us consider one another, to incitement of love and of good works, not forsaking the assembling together of ourselves, as is the custom of some, but exhorting, and by so much more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we are willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins.”
Hebrews 10:23-26

Characterizing those “assembling” together in His Spirit will be known by those who “provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24). There is an intensity of purpose in those who come together in the power and the Spirit of Christ.

May We be Fournd Sober and Watching

Blessings.

~ Brian Troxel