The Watchmans Study

I began my scriptural studies in a “Home Church” setting. Peaceful, intimate, one on one! Those are the original roots next to the cross and the resurrection of Christ, the Home Church! The mega churches need to return to the the easiest form of gathering the body. Followers and guest can sometimes get lost in a big ridiculous building, but they’re easily found in a comfortable home setting!

end-times sensationalism

> Jesus teaches us no one knows the time. yet social medi has a case of the crazys! events take place and all of a sudden it’s the end of the world next week. why cant they just stick to the scriptures?

The tension you’re identifying is real and deeply rooted in Scripture. Jesus explicitly stated that neither angels nor even the Son knows the day and hour—only the Father does (Matt 24:36; Mark 13:32). He further told his disciples it wasn’t their business to know the times the Father has set (Acts 1:7). Yet despite this clarity, date-setting has been popular since Jesus’ time, with followers convinced they could predict when Christ would return[1].

Why does this persist? Part of the answer lies in how Western culture shapes thinking about the future. The linear view of history—inherited from Hebrew and Christian tradition—sees events moving directionally toward a final goal, which naturally encourages apocalyptic thinking about history’s endpoint[2]. This differs from cyclical worldviews that don’t anchor predictions to specific dates. Additionally, attempting to predict the eschaton denies human finitude; only God, existing beyond space and time, possesses that comprehensive knowledge[1].

The practical consequences matter. Date-setting preoccupies people’s attention, detracting from living responsibly now, and breeds disillusionment from disappointed predictions[3]. Instead, Jesus’ parable of the ten bridesmaids illustrates that those who directed their whole lives toward kingdom preparation were ready when it came, while those who delayed were excluded[1].

Social media amplifies this tendency—every crisis becomes a sign, every coincidence a prophecy. But Jesus called us not to calculate dates but to live holy lives in preparation for meeting him[3]. The consistent scriptural call is to stay awake and remain ready, since the Son of Man comes at an hour we don’t expect (Matt 24:42–44).

[1] Hans Schwarz, Eschatology (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000), 309–310.
[2] Richard Kyle, Apocalyptic Fever: End-Time Prophecies in Modern America (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2012), 14.
[3] Michael Green, The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 257.

> to me when Paul spoke on who follows who, I follow Paul, I follow apollos, that has carried into the present. I’m at this church because of him/her, this is the division from the original gatherings of the home church after peters establishment as a preacher. why is this?

You’ve identified something Paul himself was fighting against in Corinth. The church there had fractured into competing loyalties, with members claiming allegiance to different leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ (1 Cor 1:10–13). The problem wasn’t the leaders themselves; all three men had strong personalities but didn’t cause the divisions, as they contended together for the faith, maintained unity in the Spirit, and exalted Jesus Christ[1]. The fracture came from the followers who built identity around personalities rather than Christ.

What’s happened historically is structural. When congregations become known for their preacher or pastor, there’s an inevitable slide into personality-shaped understanding of the church, and personality shaping quickly leads to competition among personalities[2]. This mirrors how modern churches are identified—by pastor name, denomination, or reputation—rather than by their witness to Christ.

Paul diagnosed this as “of the flesh,” arguing that jealousy and strife reveal merely human behavior rather than spiritual maturity (1 Cor 3:3–4). The remedy he offered wasn’t structural reorganization but reorientation: leaders should be understood as servants, not personalities forming divisive cultures, and pastors are called to make God-oriented, Christ-based, Spirit-intoxicated cultures that value each person as a gift and form leaders who serve[2].

The home church model you mention didn’t prevent this—it just operated at smaller scale. Human nature gravitates toward following compelling personalities. Paul’s appeal was direct: agree together and maintain unity of mind and judgment (1 Cor 1:10–13). The shift from “I follow Christ” to “I follow this pastor” happens whenever we let admiration of a leader’s gifts eclipse our primary allegiance.

[1] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (1 Corinthians) (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 23–24.
[2] Patricia K. Tull, Ken Evers-Hood, et al., “Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany,” in Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship: Year A: Advent through Epiphany, ed. Thomas G. Long et al., Connections (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2019), 251–252.

> could the 2nd coming, the rapture, battle of Jerusalem, white throne judgement, the releasing of apollian take place all at the same time?

This question touches on one of the most debated areas in eschatology—the sequencing and timing of end-times events. The short answer: Scripture doesn’t clearly support all these occurring simultaneously, and different theological traditions arrange them quite differently.

The texts you’ve provided suggest a sequence rather than simultaneity. The man of lawlessness must be revealed before the Lord Jesus kills him through his appearance (2 Thess 2:1–8), implying the Antichrist’s reign precedes Christ’s return. The tribulation comes before the Son of Man appears in heaven with power and great glory (Matt 24:29–31), and the Lord fights against nations attacking Jerusalem, with his feet standing on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:1–4)—suggesting the battle of Jerusalem occurs during Christ’s return, not before it.

The rapture and resurrection appear connected: When the Lord descends with a cry of command, the dead in Christ rise first, then those alive are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord (1 Thess 4:16–17). This happens at Christ’s appearing, not as a separate event.

The white throne judgment comes after the millennium and the final rebellion. A great white throne appears, the dead stand before it, and they’re judged according to what they’ve done (Rev 20:11–15)—this is sequential, not simultaneous with the Second Coming.

Regarding Apollyon (the angel of the abyss), he’s described as king over the bottomless pit (Rev 9:11), and his “releasing” occurs during the tribulation period in Revelation’s timeline, not at the final judgment.

Most evangelical and reformed interpretations see these events unfolding over time—some compressed, but not all at once. The exact chronology depends heavily on your eschatological framework (premillennial, amillennial, postmillennial), but simultaneity isn’t the dominant reading.

> can you provide 10 scriptures supporting this topic

Here are ten key passages that illustrate the sequential nature of end-times events:

• The rebellion and revelation of the man of lawlessness must precede the day of the Lord (2 Thess 2:1–4), establishing that certain events must unfold before Christ’s return.
• Following the tribulation, cosmic signs will occur—darkened sun and moon, falling stars—before the Son of Man appears in heaven with power and glory (Matt 24:29–31).
• When the Lord descends with a command, the dead in Christ rise first, then the living are caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess 4:16–17), showing the rapture’s connection to resurrection.
• The Lord will fight against nations attacking Jerusalem, with his feet standing on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:1–4), placing the battle of Jerusalem within Christ’s return sequence.
• Christ judges and makes war in righteousness, striking down nations with a sword from his mouth (Rev 19:11–16), describing his role at the Second Coming.
• The beast and false prophet are captured and thrown into the lake of fire when Christ’s army defeats them (Rev 19:19–21), showing their defeat occurs at his appearing.
• The martyrs reign with Christ for a thousand years, while the rest of the dead don’t come to life until those thousand years end (Rev 20:4–6), establishing a gap between resurrections.
• At the great white throne, the dead stand before it and are judged according to their deeds (Rev 20:11–15), which occurs after the millennium concludes.
• When the Son of Man comes in glory with all angels, he sits on his glorious throne and gathers all nations before him (Matt 25:31–46), describing the final judgment at his return.
• The day of the Lord comes like a thief, the heavens pass away, and afterward new heavens and a new earth appear in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet 3:10–13), showing the renewal of creation follows judgment.