How should believers prepare for God's appointed times as seen in Revelation 9:15? Context of Revelation 9:15 “So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.” • The verse sits in the sixth trumpet judgment. • The wording “prepared for this hour and day and month and year” highlights an exact, divinely-set moment. • Nothing in the unfolding of end-time events is accidental; God’s sovereignty governs every detail. The Certainty of God’s Timetable • Job 14:5—our days are “determined.” • Acts 17:31—the Lord has “set a day” to judge the world. • Isaiah 46:10—He declares “the end from the beginning.” Because God fixes these moments, believers can trust His plan and live with steady confidence. Why Preparation Matters • God’s appointed times often include both judgment and salvation (Joel 2:1, 32). • Readiness distinguishes faithful servants from careless ones (Matthew 24:45-51). • Preparation honors the holiness of God (1 Peter 1:15-16). Practical Ways Believers Prepare • Daily repentance and clean living (Revelation 3:3; 1 John 1:9). • Watchfulness and sobriety—stay spiritually awake (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; Luke 12:35-40). • Eager gospel witness—warn and win the lost (2 Corinthians 5:20; Jude 23). • Persistent prayer and intercession (Ephesians 6:18). • Consistent fellowship—strengthen one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Wise stewardship of time—“redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-17). • Full armor of God—stand firm when the appointed hour strikes (Ephesians 6:10-17). • Hope-filled anticipation—“look for new heavens and a new earth” (2 Peter 3:13). Living in Hope, Not Fear • God’s wrath never touches those covered by the Lamb’s blood (1 Thessalonians 5:9). • Judgment for the world is deliverance for the church (Exodus 12 pattern). • Focus on Christ’s promise: “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20) Encouragement from Other Scriptures • Proverbs 19:21—“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.” • James 4:13-15—plan humbly, saying, “If the Lord wills.” • Revelation 16:15—“Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him.” • 2 Peter 3:11-14—“What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives… be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot or blemish.” Final Takeaway God has set every prophetic second on His calendar. Because His timetable is certain, believers answer with holiness, watchfulness, and urgent mission, standing ready for the moment when the trumpet sounds and His purposes unfold. |
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