The Bible speaks about a period of time that we have labeled “The End Times” or “The Last Days” . What will the end be? Is Jesus really coming again? Are we in the last days now? There are many ideas and beliefs about all of this but I believe that the Bible is clear, Jesus will return for His people! Are YOU ready?
Jesus was talking with His disciples about this very thing. Lets get in on the conversation…Matthew 24: 3-8

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Jesus gives us some insight as to what we can expect to see as the time of His return draws near from this scripture:

  1. A warning from Jesus: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ (Messiah or anointed one) and will deceive many. In other words, there will be many false teachings or false truth claims like the ones that cause people to drive airplanes into buildings or kill unwanted babies or advocate same sex marriage or …you watch the news, you fill in the blanks!
  2. Wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Drug wars, border wars, labor union wars, war against unborn babies, Iraq, Afghanistan,  Libya, Egypt, Iran, North Korea,the war on terrorism, Yemen,  Bahrain, “Israel launched air strikes in the Gaza Strip” on Monday(3/22/2011),  and on and on the list grows!
  3. Famines: We have all seen the pictures of hungry children. World hunger is one of the worst global issues of our day!
  4. Earthquakes in various places. In 2010 and so far in 2011 there have been 36 earthquakes in various places across the world measuring 5.4 or greater in magnitude. There have been thousands of aftershocks associated with these earthquakes.
  5. Beginning of birth pains. I believe that these words of Jesus are key to our understanding of the rest of His words. Think of birth pains, they start small and far apart but grow more intense with time. All of the above mentioned “signs of the times” have always been present in history, however, I believe that as they grow more intense and more regular, we can be sure that the time for the return of Jesus is growing closer. What happens as birth pains get more intense? It results in the birth of a baby. What happens as these signs of the times grow more intense? It will result in the return of Jesus! He will come back just as He said He would!

So what should we do? Again, Jesus gives us clear instruction in Matthew 24:  36-46

36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

  1. “No one knows about that day or hour. Avoid people who say that they can predict exactly when Jesus will return. Do not be alarmed by dates that have been set. I believe we can interpret the signs and know that we are in the “season” but we cannot know the exact day or time!
  2. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man…they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. The people in Noah’s day were not at all interested in the things of God. They consumed by the pleasures of this life! God was not a priority and they had very little to do with anyone who followed God’s teachings. Sounds like today if you ask me! America is consumed by pleasure! We are way more interested in being entertained that being Godly!
  3. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Irregardless of how the event of Jesus Christ’s return will exactly happen, one cold stark reality exists, not everyone will make it to heaven! God is a God of love and He has made a way of salvation available to you! John 3:16:  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
  4. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. In other words, wake up! Do not be unaware of what God has said. Plug into His word, go to church, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior! Do not think that you will somehow take care of this later, you may never have that chance!

So that brings us back to this; Jesus is coming back to gather His people, all indications would lead us to believe that it could be very soon, ARE YOU READY?