“But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left” (Matthew 24:36-41, New American Standard Bible).

Throughout the years, numerous preachers have claimed that they figured out when Jesus would return. In the nineteenth century, William Miller preached that Jesus would return in 1843 or 1844; he eventually settled on October 22, 1844. When that did not happen, some of his followers became disillusioned; others reinterpreted his predictions and said that the world had entered a new spiritual era, even though Christ had not physically returned.

Similar events have occurred in our lifetime. Around the time I became a follower of Jesus, many Christians thought Christ would return in 1988 (40 years after modern Israel became a state). Later, people began dating Christ’s return to 2000 after His birth. During the last 30 years, Harold Camping pronounced Judgment Day or the Rapture in September 1994, May 2011, and other dates.

Some Christians point to Matthew 24:36 as simply a rebuke of men like Miller and Camping: “Nobody knows the day or the hour.” That is an important part of Jesus’ teaching, but this verse is saying something even more important.

While some people are infected by outbreaks of Rapture Fever and Date-Setting Disorder, others are completely ambivalent about Christ’s return. Jesus was speaking mainly to the second group: so-called Christians who not only do not care when Jesus will return, but are also quite comfortable in this world and see no reason to even think about judgment day, Christ’s return, or eternity. Many Christians love this world. We go about our earthly business, trying to make as much money and own as many possessions as possible while having some fun along the way. Perhaps we even reject some of Jesus’ teachings when Satan and society offer an easier way to live.

Instead, we should remain alert, ready, and active in the Lord’s business. In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” If this is our desire, we should begin by seeking God’s will in our lives, so that we can live a kingdom-of-God lifestyle while in this world.

In the days of Noah, people were marrying, giving in marriage, eating, and drinking. Meanwhile, Noah was preparing for the coming judgment by building an ark. What are you doing to prepare for Christ’s return?

What can you do to prepare yourself for Christ’s return, whenever it may be?

Copyright © 2023 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.