1. The Lord’s word to His disciples concerning His Return was “Be ready”
2. The focus is not the signs but the state of readiness
THE DAY AND HOUR
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36
1. The exact day of the Lord’s Return
a) No one knows
b) Even the angels do not know
c) It is known only by God the Father
2. This cancels out anyone:
a) Who predicts the actual day of the Return of the Lord
b) Who tries to calculate the day of the 2nd Coming
AS THE DAYS OF NOAH
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:37-39
1. The days of Noah described
a) Eating and drinking
b) Marrying and giving in marriage
c) People do not believe in the 2nd Coming
2. The day Noah entered the Ark
a) They did not heed the warning about the Flood
b) Until they were carried away by the Flood
c) So, the 2nd Coming will take many unawares
ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:40-41
This text is better understood when we look at another text written by the Apostle Paul.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
1. The Return of the Lord
2. The Rapture of the believers
3. The one taken is the one raptured!
WATCH THEREFORE
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Matthew 24:42-43
1. The admonition to be watchful
a) When the Lord returns is not known
b) The challenge is to “Watch therefore”
2. Guarding the house
a) No thief will announce his movements
b) The owner of the house must be ready at all times
c) He must take all precautions against being robbed
3. As a thief in the night
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
a) “Times and seasons”
b) The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night
c) “Sudden destruction”
BE READY
44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:44
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
John 14:1-4
1. The phrase “Be ready” is the same word “prepare”
2. “Be prepared” is the challenge
CONCLUSION
1. The 2nd Coming is an Event
a) We should look forward to it
b) We must “be prepared” (“be ready”) at all times
2. The difficult circumstances in the world
a) They should not cause us to fear
b) They should spur us on to ready ourselves for the day of the Lord’s Return