Matthew 24:42, 43, 44 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
In context, Jesus gave this warning to “watch” just before He told the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25. This parable had a fulfillment during the Advent Awakening in the 1800s. Then Ellen White states,
“I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time,” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.
The above statement should really strike home to each of us. “Fulfilled to the very letter”--what does that mean? -- that half of us will be without oil and our lamps have gone out?
Great benefit can be gained from studying the prophecies—Moses, Daniel and John, etc. In fact, without the prophecies of Moses from the typical system, the prophecies of Daniel and John do not have an anchor.
“In the Scriptures are presented truths that relate especially to our own time. To the period just prior to the appearing of the Son of man, the prophecies of Scripture point, and here their warnings and threatenings pre-eminently apply. The prophetic periods of Daniel, extending to the very eve of the great consummation, throw a flood of light upon events then to transpire. The book of Revelation is also replete with warning and instruction for the last generation. The beloved John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, portrays the fearful and thrilling scenes connected with the close of earth's history, and presents the duties and dangers of God's people. None need remain in ignorance, none need be unprepared for the coming of the day of God.” RH, September 25, 1883.
We know that many of these prophetic periods of Daniel have had a fulfillment in the past. There is evidence that some of these will be repeated in literal time.
Mark 13:36, 37 “Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."