Commentary:

In the last days, worldly temptations will pull many away from following Jesus Christ. Spiritual watching and praying is not a suggestion; it is a command.

Jesus warned us that we are too easily distracted by the world around us and will be caught unaware if we do not continually discipline ourselves. In the Garden of Gethsemane, sleepiness overcame the disciples. Their physical need overpowered their desire to obey Him. He was grieved when He saw this, knowing what was ahead for them. If they did not remain spiritually vigilant, in tune with Him (John 15:5) and ready to deny the flesh, they would be overcome by the evil one (1 Peter 5:8).

Today, as followers of Jesus, we must also watch and pray. But we are easily distracted by this world, our fleshly needs and desires, and the schemes of the enemy (2 Corinthians 2:11). When we take our eyes from Jesus and His soon return, our values begin to shift, our attention wanders, and soon we are living like the world and bearing little fruit for God’s kingdom (1 Timothy 6:18–19).
He warned us that we must be ready at any moment to stand before Him and give an account of our lives (Romans 14:12; 1 Peter 4:5; Matthew 12:36).

"Wake up, Watch and Pray." We can only remain faithful when we are devoted to prayer. In prayer, we continually allow God to forgive us, cleanse us, teach us, and strengthen us to obey Him (Acts 5:29, John 14:15).

In order to keep watch, we must pray for endurance and freedom from distractions (Hebrews 12:2; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18).


We must pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

When we live with the eager expectation of the Lord’s return and expect persecution, we are more likely to keep our lives pure and our hearts ready to meet Him. (2 Timothy 3:12; Matthew 24:9; 1 Peter 4:12)

(from GotQuestions.org: What does it mean to watch and pray?)

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End Time Foreshadowings
of the Garden of Gethsemane and After
► The church today is asleep just like in the Garden of Gethsemane.
We not only know anecdotally that the end time church is sleeping, but we also know from the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1, Matthew 25:5), and from the end time Bible verses in Revelation 3:3, and 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8.

And because the church as whole is asleep, most are not mentally and spiritually prepared the tribulation ahead.
Judas is a picture of the Antichrist, and he is coming. And the Antichrist, like Judas when he surprised the sleeping disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, will surprise the sleeping church of the end times.

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► In the Garden of Gethsemane, as a young man escapes the mob coming for Jesus, he loses his linen sheet.
We are told in Revelation 19:8 , that "linen" represents "righteous deeds of the saints."

In the Garden of Gethsemane, "a young man was following Him (Jesus), wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked." -- Mark 14:51-52

These end time Bible verses explain:
"It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." --- Revelation 19:8

"Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame." -- Revelation 16:15 NASB

And in Revelation, Jesus says, "I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed;
Revelation 3:18

Will many in the end times fall asleep and "loose their linen clothes" and be ashamed? We do not want to be ashamed when Jesus comes. We want to be spotless and without blemish
(2 Peter 3:14, Philippians 2:14-16)

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► In the Garden of Gethsemane, one of the 12 disciples, Judas, betrays Jesus with a kiss. (Luke 22:47-48, John 13:2, John 13:21)
Could this foretell that about 1/12th, or 8%, of true, born-again Christians will take the mark of the beast and thus betray the Lord?
Will these go back to slavery? Will they "turn back to Egypt?" (Acts 7:39, Exodus 13:14)

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► When Judas (Antichrist figure) came up the hill, almost all the disciples initially scattered.
Matthew 26:56
Will most of the end-time church initially scatter when the Antichrist is revealed?

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► One of the 12 apostles, Peter, (representing about 8% of the apostles) initially denied Christ 3 times before repenting. (Matthew 26:34)
After the Antichrist is revealed, will about 8% of the true followers of Christ initially deny Jesus before repenting?

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► In the Garden of Gethsemane, one of the 12 disciples (representing about 8% of the disciples) used a sword against the mob.
(Matthew 26:51)
Will about 8% of followers of Christ initially try physical strength against the Antichrist?

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► After collecting themselves and after Pentecost, the disciples went on to evangelize with great zeal, amidst much persecution.
Will this happen again during the end times, after the fulfillment of Joel 2 (a later rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit)?

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► And eventually, 11 out of 12 apostles (including Paul and not counting Judas) were martyred (about 91%).
In the end times, will 91% of Christians will be martyred, leaving only about 8-10% to be raptured after the 6th seal?
This is grievous and sobering.

✦Remember what Jesus said, "I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" --- Luke 18:8

✦And also remember, God cuts the Great Tribulation short for a reason.
"And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." --- Matthew 24:22

To put this in perspective, the Great Tribulation begins at the mid-point of Daniel's 70th week or 7 year tribulation. I believe that after 2.5 years from the midpoint and after the 6th seal, the LORD will cut it short and return (the rapture). After the rapture, God will pour out His wrath for one year and ten days (a Shmita or Sabbatical year). (Romans 1:18, Isaiah 34:8)

► Of the 12 apostles (including Paul and not counting Judas), only the apostle John was not martyred.
Is that because the apostle John had patient endurance?

The bible emphasizes our need for "patient endurance" in the end times.
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. --- Revelation 3:10 ESV

Hebrews 12:1

It is also noteworthy that John described himself as having endurance:
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. --- Revelation 1:9

It is also interesting to note that all the apostles scattered and left Jesus (fullfilling scripture: Matthew 26:31, Zechariah 13:7).
Later, John was the only disciple at the cross. (John 19:26) And he was the only disciple not martyred.

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So then, will about 90-91% of true believers be martyred and about 8-10% raptured in the tribulation?

And I do NOT know if the end times will play out this way.

I do know we all "must be ready" for the Lord.
Luke 12:40

I do know we should "not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes" (whatever level of persecution that's coming our way.)
--- 1 Peter 4:12

I do know that the Lord says in His word that we "have need of endurance."
--- Hebrews 10:36

I do know that "Scriptures must be fulfilled" (Matthew 26:54)

I do know that "if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s."
-- Romans 14:8

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Footnote Credit:
** In Part from Nelson Walter's YouTube channel video: "The Passover Vigil and the End Times"