Ready?

   " Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come]." [Matthew 25:13]

He will return. He said so, scripture says so and in a number of places. It never was an 'if', it's always been a 'when'. Then again... maybe you don't believe in the rapture of the church...? Granted, the word is not in scripture, but what is it Thessalonians say?

   "For we say this to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are still alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede [into His presence] those [believers] who have fallen asleep [in death]. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  

Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words [concerning our reunion with believers who have died]. [1 Thessalonians 4:15-18]

The Amplified does go back to the original and describe 'caught up' as raptured. Do you not believe in this? Have you chosen to ignore one of the greatest events in Christianity? And if your argument is that we will go through the tribulation... then how do you explain:

   "But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation. For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life].

[5:8-10]

It does not say we will have to endure His wrath for a season... or for the duration of the display of God's wrath. If you decide you know best and skip over the 'rapture'... then on to the second coming? Consider the following verses:

1. Matthew 24:36–44

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  

2. Luke 21:25–28

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

3. John 5:28–29

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 

4. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 

5. Revelation 1:7

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.  

6. Hebrews 9:27–28

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.  

7. Matthew 24:26–31

“So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days...

8. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–3

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Read More

9. 1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. R 

10. John 14:1–3

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”  

 The credit for this compilation belongs to Crossway. They also go into further depth on each of these points.

So... are you challenged, confirmed or confused? The days we live in now point even stronger that we are so very close - and yes, I know every century seems to say this. Does it matter? Yes. How will the Lord find us when He comes because it is unmistakable He is returning. I remember my Mom being concerned about this. She didn't feel worthy enough (this was over 37 years ago since she found her answer). The scripture

   

   "But He replied, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I do not know you [we have no relationship]." [Matthew 25:12]

I have no doubt that Mom found her answer: I think, without a doubt that she discovered her concern answered as she found herself in the presence of the Lord. 'Doing things' for the Lord really does come after our relationship with Him. He seeks worshippers (John 4:24). He seeks! Can we not do our part in this? He tells us what He wants...

   "Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship."  [Romans 12:1]

Are you ready?