Evening Prayer 11-8-11

Reading:
Matthew 24:29-51

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only."  Matthew 24:36

Over the last few months, due to a particular Pastor, there has been a lot of interest in the end times.  When is it going to occur?  Will the faithful be raptured out of here?  What will it look like?  All of these questions appear to be honest questions, however, is this really what we are supposed to be thinking about.

In the verses today, our Lord is teaching us that no one but the Father knows the time of His return.  So when you hear someone telling you that they know when Jesus is coming back or that the end of the world is happening at a given time, beware of a false prophet!  We are told in these verses that we are not going to know when the Son will return for He is going to be like a thief in the night.  Our lives are going to go on as usual right up to the point of His great return.   We are told to stay awake!  We are to be ready for His return.

His first coming was missed by many because He came in great humility.  When He returns there will be no missing Him.  The sun will be darkened, moon will not give light, stars will fall from heaven, powers from heaven will be shaken. We will see Him coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!

For those that are His in the waters of Holy Baptism, where you have been given new life because your sins are forgiven, when you see Him you will be glad.  For those that are not faithful to our Lord and have not received the forgiveness of sins, to those it will be a dreadful day because they will be outside the time of grace and mercy. 

May you continue to prepare for the coming of our Lord by watching and praying.  Be ready, be awake for you know not when He will come.