Get Ready: What the Bible Says About Readiness

The title of today’s message is this: “Get Ready.”

In my earlier days as a Christian, I remember there were a lot of authors and radio preachers who peddled end-time theories that were pretty far out. One guy, Hal Lindsey, put out a best seller at the time. It was called The Late Great Planet Earth. He tried to unpack the symbolism of Revelation and tie it to the rise of the European Union. He later followed up with another book titled: The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon. Clearly, he got it wrong.

Edgar Whisenant was another author, who published 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will be in 1988. Wrong! The dates came and went. He tried again in 1989. And then 1993. Then 1994. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Harold Camping of Family Radio was another. He too predicted Christ’s coming in 1994, then 1995, then 2011. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Now, don’t misunderstand. Through all of history, studying Bible prophecy and the end times has been essential. As believers, our hope is anchored on God’s promise of what’s still yet to come.

But false teachers dismiss what Jesus said in the Olivet Discourse. Christ taught that setting dates for His return is foolish and misguided. Jesus said, “Concerning that day and hour, no one knows. Not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Matt 24:36, Mark 13:32

In advance, we will never know the day or hour beforehand. Nevertheless, the Bible is clear that we can know the season when the end of days is near.

Matthew 24:32-33

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Luke 12:54-56

When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

1 Thess 5:1-4

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. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

As followers of Christ, the end times should not surprise us like a thief. Just like a barometer forecasts the weather, we should recognize signals when that appointed time approaches.

I first want to unpack a few of these indicators to get us in the proper frame of mind. And I want to spend most of our time today focused on what God expects of us leading up to His return.

As for the signs, here are a few:

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

Is there moral decay in world culture? Check.

Matthew 24:12-14

12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Not only has lawlessness increased and a spiritual frost set in… but there’s not a nation on earth where the Internet and the gospel of the kingdom is beyond reach. Check.

Daniel 12:4

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.

The time of the end will be marked by increased travel; and increased knowledge. We live in an information age with artificial intelligence. Even preparing for today’s message, I can copy greek and hebrew passages, paste them into AI, get an amplified modern English translation with cross references to other places in Scripture and places in early church literature where those same original words/phrases are used.

Has knowledge increased? Check.

Has travel increased? Check.

2 Peter 3:1-13 (ESV) The Day of the Lord Will Come

1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (See Ps 90:4)

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Have scoffers come, following their own sinful desires? Check.

See verse 8. At least 11 of the early church fathers wrote in the first few centuries that they believed human history would unfold just as Peter expressed, 1000 years for each day. Barnabas, Irenaeus, Papias, Methodius, Lactantius, Commodianus, Theophilus, Tertullian, Melito, Hippolytus, and Victorinus.

The first 2 days (2000 years) from Adam to Abraham. The next 2 days (2000 years) from Abraham to Christ. The next 2 days (2000 years) from Christ to the millennial kingdom. And rounding out the week: the seventh day (1000 year millennium after Christ’s return) the earth would rest. That would put the season in which we live in the general timeframe. Check.

Luke 21:25-26

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.

Jesus speaks of cosmic disturbances, fear and foreboding. Check.

I could go on and on. But my friends, look at the fig tree. Look at the clouds. Like Jesus said, “You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” The time is near. Get ready. We need to get ourselves ready. But how do we get ready?

Be watchful : awake, and on the lookout

Matthew 25:1-13 - Parable of the Ten Virgins

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Luke 21:34-36

34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Mark 13:32-36

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning, 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

1 Thess 5:1-11

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 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. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Discussion

Jesus says to watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with the cares of this life. Which of those cares weighs your heart down?
In Mark 13 the doorkeeper is commanded to stay awake, and the master could come in the evening, at midnight, at the rooster’s crow, or in the morning. What is the point of naming all four?
Paul says we are children of light, not of the night. What does being sober look like in an ordinary week?

Be prepared : ready and waiting

Matthew 24:42-44

42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 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. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 25:10 Parable of the Ten Virgins

And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

Luke 12:35-36

Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

Revelation 16:15

Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!

No one involved in a wedding can just wing it last minute if they want things to go well. For a wedding, there’s also the dress, the tux, the guest list, the food, the music. So much preparation in advance!

The same is true for lots of things: a new job, a new home, a new school year, and each and every year at Christmas! We lay things out. We get ready.

In the same way, we need to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord, and the events leading up to it. Study. Pray, Put away sin. Seek His face. Build each other up. Invest in eternal things. Trim your lamps. Dress for action. Be ready for when He comes and knocks.

Be ready. Be waiting, Be prepared. And finally:

Discussion

In the parable, the door was shut. What is the difference between the five who were ready and the five who were not?
Study. Pray. Put away sin. Seek His face. Build each other up. Invest in eternal things. Which of those is the one you have been putting off?
What does it mean to stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, in an ordinary week?

Stand firm : patiently endure, be faithful to the end.

Eph 6 | The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers (ἀρχάς archas), against the authorities (ἐξουσίας ex-ou-sias), against the cosmic powers (κοσμοκράτορες kosmo-kratores) over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces (πνευματικὰ pneu-ma-tika) of evil in the heavenly places (realms).

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Recognize that our enemy is a “cosmic power” (kosmo-kratores) v.12

A few chapters earlier, in Eph 2:2, Paul calls our enemy “the prince of the power of the air (ἀέρος aeros), the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience”

That word for air (aeros) is the same word used in 1 Thess 4:17 where we will meet the Lord at His return, “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 (ἀέρος), and so we will always be with the Lord.”

But Paul exhorts us to take up the armor of God, and stand firm against our spiritual enemy, this cosmic power of the air. Stand firm. For the love of those around you, never give up. The shield of faith can extinguish the enemy’s flaming darts. And the sword of the spirit can pierce.

Pray, persevere, patiently endure, remain faithful to the very end: no matter the cost.

James 5:8

Be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Revelation 14:12

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Endure. Patiently endure. Hold on. Hang tight. Keep the faith.

Discussion

Paul names four kinds of opposition in verse 12: rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, spiritual forces. Why does he spend a whole verse on who the enemy is not?
Paul does not tell us to advance or retreat. He tells us to stand. Having done all, stand. What is he asking for?
Stand firm. For the love of those around you, never give up. Who is the person your endurance is for?

Something to Sit With

So in summary, we need to get ready. God has a plan. Are you dialed in?

Be watchful : awake and on the lookout
Be prepared : ready and waiting
Stand firm : patiently endure, be faithful to the end

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bible predict when Jesus will return?

No. Jesus explicitly said that no one knows the day or hour, not even the angels or the Son, but the Father only (Matthew 24:36). What Scripture does provide are general signs and seasons that indicate the end is approaching, and a consistent command to be ready at all times.

What are the signs of the end times?

Scripture describes several indicators: moral decay and self-love (2 Timothy 3:1-5), increasing lawlessness and spiritual coldness (Matthew 24:12), the gospel reaching all nations (Matthew 24:14), increased knowledge and travel (Daniel 12:4), scoffers denying Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:3-4), and cosmic disturbances (Luke 21:25-26).

What does it mean to “stand firm” in Ephesians 6?

Standing firm means holding your ground through spiritual warfare by putting on the full armor of God: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. Paul does not command believers to retreat or advance. He commands them to stand, withstand, and keep standing.

How should Christians prepare for Christ’s return?

Through spiritual readiness, not date-setting or fear. Study God’s Word. Pray constantly. Put away sin. Build up fellow believers. Stay alert and sober. Invest in eternal things. Live each day as if it could be the last, not with panic, but with purpose.

What is the Parable of the Ten Virgins about?

In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells a story of ten virgins waiting for a bridegroom. Five were wise and prepared with oil for their lamps. Five were foolish and unprepared.

When the bridegroom came, only those who were ready entered the feast. The door shut on the rest. The lesson: be ready, because the timing is unknown.