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Do you believe the end of the world is coming soon? If so, how can we get ready for it? Billy Graham said, I think of this a lot, particularly as we approach the years of 2,000. As it is true with every other question we ask about God and His will for our lives, we need to be sure that we let the Bible be our guide. Otherwise, we will only end up with personal opinions, which are not necessarily based on fact. Christ will return to establish his kingdom and at some stage in keeping with His promise. We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. Second, the Bible also stresses that we do not know the exact time Christ will intervene to bring an end to the present world. Jesus declared, No one knows about the day or hour. ...therefore keep watch, because you do not know what day your Lord will come. We do not need to spend a lot of time trying to figure out when and how Jesus will return. If we truly believe he is going to return our lifestyle will show it. At the same time, the Bible does give us a number of events and signs that will happen before Christ returns. Many of these clearly have already happened and it may well be we are truly living in the last days. Matthew 24:27 begins the Olivet discourse: For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For where so ever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. And then shall the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Here our text begins to speak: Learn a parable of the fig tree. When his branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves you know that summer is nigh, so likewise ye, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door. There is a very interesting statement found in verse 34. This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. We are told that we don't know the hour or day but there are some signs to look for. (The exact time is only known by the Father.) But as in the days of Noe were so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. They were eating, drinking, marrying and giving into marriage, till the day Noe entered into the ark. It appears no one was concerned until it was too late. A word to the wise is found n verse 42. Watch therefore, for you know not what hour your Lord does come. Are you watching and are you ready for His return? |