Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3 (Read Matthew 24:1-51)

Jesus’ disciples asked a twofold question. The first dealt with the destruction of Jerusalem of which Jesus had just spoken. The second part with the sign of Jesus’ second coming and the end of the age.

Notice that Jesus said the wars, the famines, the diseases and the earthquakes were only the beginning of sorrows and “the end is not yet.” There would be false Christs and false prophets who would deceive many, but it still is not the end. Persecution would arise against followers of Jesus, and times of great tribulation would come. And all this was fulfilled already in the lifetimes of Jesus’ disciples. Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed, Christians were persecuted and killed for their faith in Christ Jesus.

But when will the end come? How can we know when it is near? Jesus said: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (v. 14). When the good news of God sending forth His Son as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world has been preached and proclaimed around the world as a witness to all peoples, then the end will come.

And the fact that all these things have occurred should tell us the end is near. No one knows the day or the hour, but the time is ripe. As Jesus said, “When you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors!” (v. 33).

So, when will Jesus return and carry out His judgments upon all who have not turned from their sinful ways to Him for mercy and forgiveness? I don’t know. What I do know is that it could be anytime now — today, tomorrow, soon. Then “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (v. 29-31).

What is the point? Be ready! Don’t assume Jesus won’t come back today! Don’t live as though you have days and years to repent and come to faith in Christ Jesus as your Savior. Live as though He were coming any moment! Don’t let sin reign in your life; repent and look to Jesus for mercy and forgiveness now, before it is too late! And, trusting in Jesus, live each day and each moment of each day as though it is the one “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

Dear Lord Jesus, grant that I hold fast to You and continually await Your glorious return that I not be caught unawares and unprepared at Your coming. Grant me sincere repentance and faith in Your blood shed upon the cross for the sins of the world that I may rejoice in that day and not weep and lament because I was found not ready. Grant this for the sake of Your death and resurrection. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.