The Advent In Matthew 24

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

you will be hated by all nations because of me – Though we see Christian persecution alive and well all throughout centuries and decades past, it has not yet culminated to the point that we can say “all nations” hate Christians. As a matter of fact, we see the case increasing in intensity (like birth pains, verse 8 ) with the rise of Atheism coupled with the Islamization of the west with ideology hostile to Christianity.

many false prophets – Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”

Therefore, let us not be deceived. I see the increasing coverage of the the Catholic Church’s (this church is rife of rituals that contradict scripture but nevertheless known all over the world as “Christian”) misdeeds in the media to play a role in disillusioning people from Christianity.

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand – Not yet happened according to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

2 Thessalonians 2:2 is a strong admonition to the believers to reject any contradicting theologies that claim prophecies about Christ, especially about the Second Coming have already been fulfilled followed by the words, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way”.

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again – Unequaled means unequaled. Any cataclysmic event experienced in history will 1000 times pale in comparison when it comes to biblical proportion. This has not happened yet and any instance that seemingly points to this “recurringly” happening can easily be brought down by the phrase, “never to be equaled again.”

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come – Go back to verse 32-33 – Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, right at the door.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. – Those who are convinced that most biblical prophecies concerning the Second Coming have already been fulfilled are in danger of being blindsided and even worse, obliviously pledging allegiance to the coming false messiah/man of lawlessness.

Most Spirit-filled Bible-believing Christians know the final countdown to the exactness of this event- to the point of datesetting is useless. However, knowing the ripeness of the time is key because it helps us prepare and set our priorities in order- precisely the definition of being ready in the same manner we make sure to start cleaning our houses when we are being told in advance someone is paying us a visit.

To know helps us to be ready.

[Image Credit: SE result via Guideposts – Special thanks to the OP]