BE READY FOR NO ONE KNOWS THE HOUR OR THE DAY

PROCLAMATION

“So you also must be ready, because The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”  Matthew 24:44 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to the Apostle Matthew.  As Jesus left the temple and while walking to the Mount of Olives, He told His disciples that the day was coming when all of the buildings would be torn down, and not one stone would be left on top of another. (Matthew 24:1-2)  His disciples asked Him when this would happen and what would be a sign of His returning and the end of the age? (Matthew 24:3)  Jesus said that there would be false prophets claiming to be The Messiah, there will be wars and rumors of wars, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places, and when you see “the abomination that causes desolation” standing in the holy place as prophesied by Daniel, you will know that the time is near. (Matthew 24:4-34)  Then Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour when this will happen except God, The Father. (Matthew 24:36)  He also told them you must be ready because The Son of Man will come when you do not expect Him. (Matthew 24:44)  He made reference to the rapture when He said: “Two men will be in the field, one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill, one will be taken and the other left.”  

APPLICATION

Christ is going to return, but no one knows the exact day or the hour of His return.  That is why we have been advised to be ready.  It has been said that He will come when we least expect Him.  We need to get ready now and stay ready.  When He comes there will not be time to get ready.  We do not want to be like the five foolish virgins who delayed getting oil for their lamps. (Matthew 25:1-13)   When the rapture occurs, we will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds, (1 Thessalonians 4:17) or we will among those who are left behind.  Don’t put off coming to The Lord until you “get yourself straight” because you can never get yourself straight enough to be right with Him.  Just come as you are and confess your short-comings.  For “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)