What will this terrible day be like? How much warning will we receive? Who will be ready and who will not be ready? Will anyone be looking or waiting? This follows the last study.
Matthew 24:39 And they did not know until the flood came and took them all away. So also will be the coming of the Son of Man.
24:40 Then two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
24:41 Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
24:42 Therefore watch; for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.
This clearly reveals that no one will know exactly when our Lord will return. Just as with Noah and the flood, life will go on right until the waters starts rising and the door of the ark of redemption is forever closed to them. No one got in after God closed the door. You may be working right next to a friend when the end comes. Will you be ready?
24:43 But know this, that if the steward of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be dug through.
24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for in that hour you think not, the Son of Man comes.
This just makes the point more clearly. You won’t be watching or may not even be awake. We won’t get a warning so we can get ready, we must always be ready. What does ready mean?
4:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord has made ruler over His household, to give them food in due season?
24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his Lord shall find him doing so when He comes. 24:47 Truly I say to you that He shall make him ruler over all His goods.
Ready means doing what the Lord has appointed us to do; His work, His will, obeying His commandments. God has saved us to do the very work He has prepared for us.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
Mat 24:48 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delays His coming, 24:49 and shall begin to strike his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, 4:50 the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he does not look for Him, and in an hour which he does not know.
The world, under the control of Satan, has convinced nearly everyone that since God has delayed so long, He is not really coming or does not really exist. God clearly is coming and those who deny Him, disobey Him. or don’t believe in Him are facing a terrible eternal destiny.
24:51 And He shall cut him apart and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Many false teachers deny the reality of Hell, the eternal nature of Hell, and all references to any eternal punishment in Hell. Jesus taught most of what is know about Hell and He did not fail to make it very clear. If He wanted to introduce any other understanding, such as annihilation, second chances, intermediary re-education or repentance opportunities, etc. He failed to do so.
Weeping is a very profound sorrow over a loss or injury. Gnashing of teeth is evidence of anger and rebellion. Both clearly portray a consciousness and continuance of life and the reality of eternal torment and punishment.
How have you prepared yourself for this day? Are you truly ready?