The Dressed and Ready

Introduction

Revelation 16:15 “(“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)”

7 Bowls

parenthetical blessing or beatitude

Christ speaks: First time since chapter 4, and will not see again until chapter 22

Only time in the middle of Revelation that Jesus speaks directly to his people

Tremendous word of encouragement

Premise: An unexpected return

Matthew 24:42–43 “42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.”

1 Thessalonians 5:2–4 “2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”

2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

Charge:

Pay attention

“stay awake” - not speaking of “Now I lay me down to sleep”, but spiritual alertness

Matthew 24:42 “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

Mark 13:35–37 “35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.””

Luke 21:36 “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.””

1 Thessalonians 5:5–7 “5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.”

Be prepared

“naked” - many people during ancient times slept w/out clothes to keep cool.

Clothing is spoken of in Scripture in ways that go beyond our physical wardrobe.

Speaks not of clothing but of spiritual preparedness.

Matthew 24:44 “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Matthew 25:1–9 “1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’”

Conclusion

The blessing Christ offers is for those who are spiritually watching and prepared for his arrival