God’s Enduring Word Series

Now, stay with me. The generation living when the events begin that Jesus has just described will see it through to the conclusion. Jesus uses the same word translated “pass away” in VERSE 34 as He uses in VERSE 35. “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” [MATTHEW 24:34, 35]. The generation that witnesses the beginning of the Tribulation will also see the initiation of the millennial reign of Jesus. Though believers will be removed as the Great Tribulation is ushered in, those who have yet to believe will enter into that period and events will move so swiftly that the entire generation will also see the conclusion.

Either you will turn to Christ before He removes His people and are thus spared those awful days of testing, or you will witness those awful days up close and personal. In those days, one will either suffer because he chose to believe in the Christ he refused to trust before the Rapture, or he will temporarily avoid suffering through compromise. If one chooses to live in hope of Christ’s return, she will share in His glory at His return, though she will experience great trials. If you save your life, you will lose your soul.

THE CERTAINTY OF CHRIST’S WORDS DEMANDS VIGILANCE — Disciples are warned to be alert. “Concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” [MATTHEW 24:36-44].

I do not know when Jesus will return; but I am certain that He is coming again. Perhaps no one can truly know what it means should we fail to be ready, but some things are apparent. If we are not ready, we will be shamed at His coming. John encourages disciples, “Little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” [1 JOHN 2:28]. I have no idea what being shamed before Him entails, nor do I wish to discover what it might mean.

If we should be unprepared for His return, we will be exposed before the eyes of all the redeemed of God. Paul writes, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” [2 CORINTHIANS 5:10].