The things we do that are important we prepare for. For instance, a lot of preparation went into Branson 2025, the church’s retreat. Because of the preparation done ahead of time, we encountered few if any unexpected problems or challenges. A committee did most of the prep work for Branson and the rest of us benefitted from their hard work.

When it comes to preparing for the return of Jesus for his bride, each of us has the responsibility of personal preparation that cannot be shifted to a committee. As your pastor, I have the responsibility of preaching and teaching the Word of God to you, but it is your responsibility, based on the Word to prepare yourself to meet the Lord when He comes. You have a choice whether to procrastinate believing you have time to prepare later or prepare now. I implore you to prepare now.

Verse 26 says, “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” We don’t know when “that time” is. How do you prepare for something when you don’t know when the event is? Based on what you know from God’s Word, you begin to make preparation for when Jesus comes even though you don’t have a date or a time.

1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2

1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,

2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Verse 27 says, “And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.”

“The formula by which the angels gather the elect emphasizes the fact that no one will be left out when the Son of Man comes, whether the person is dead or alive.”¹

1 Th 4: 16, 17

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.

Do you spend time worrying about what will happen to those that persecute the church, or simply don’t regard the church, the body of Christ, with the awe it deserves? Especially when it seems like they are succeeding when you are struggling.

In this 13^th chapter of Mark, “The fate of those who persecute witnesses to the gospel is never described at all. The prophecies mentioned formulate a message of hope, which encourages the disciple to endure the hardships that result from their testimony of the gospel. Those who do so will be gathered into the people of God, the elect.”² We don’t have time to waste on worrying about the fate of evil doers other than praying for their salvation. God doesn’t want anyone to perish and neither should we.

What does the fig tree teach us about the Second Coming of Jesus? As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.

Most of the trees in Palestine are evergreens. Evergreens don’t drop their leaves in winter. Fig trees lose their leaves in winter and only when winter is past and warm weather comes then the fig tree will bud.

“Jesus saw in the fig tree a suitable metaphor of the nearness of the end. Just as summer comes each year without human effort, so God fulfills his kingdom in his own time. The fig tree signals the nearness of summer but not its immediacy.”³

As one that raises bonsai trees as a hobby, I’ve noticed firsthand the effects of global warming/climate change. I read where 2024 was the warmest year on record and the past ten years combined were the warmest on record. I’ve had trees that would normally bud in May bud in March because of the warmer temperatures. The trees and other plants can be fooled by the weather, but God is not fooled.

Verse 30 read from the Amplified Version of the Bible says, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place.”

“The generation [that will not] pass away until all these things have happened has stirred no little controversy in NT theology. According to our interpretation, the generation under discussion is not that of the Second Coming, but the generation contemporary to Jesus that lived to witness the destruction of the temple and fall of Jerusalem.”⁴

Jesus goes on and says in verse 31, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

If Jesus told us that Kansas was going to pass away, be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah, but his word was not going to pass away, what do you think Kansans would be doing? We would be leaving Kansas. When Jesus says Heaven and earth will pass away, where are you going to go?

“How shortsighted people are who spend all of their time and energy focused on this temporary world and its possessions and pleasures while neglecting the Bible and its eternal truths.”⁵

Revelation 21:1-4

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

When is this going to happen? If I knew when, I could prepare and be ready, no surprises.

Mark 13:32-37

32 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore, keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back– whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.

36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'”

“When Jesus said he did not know the time of the end he was affirming his humanity. Of course, God the Father knows the time, and Jesus and the Father are one. But when Jesus became a man, he voluntarily gave up the unlimited use of his divine attributes.”⁶

No one can predict by Scripture or science the exact day of Jesus’ return. Jesus is teaching that preparation, not calculation, is needed.

How do we prepare for Jesus’ return? We study God’s Word and live according to it every day. When we are living in accordance to the Word of God, preparation is like breathing, it comes naturally.

Mark 13 gives us five ways we are to live as we await the return of Jesus.

1. We are not to be misled by confusing claims or speculative interpretations of what will happen. (False prophets)
2. We should not be afraid to tell people about Jesus, despite what they might say or do to us.
3. We must stand firm by faith and not be surprised by persecution.
4. We must be morally alert, obedient to the commands for living found in God’s Word.
5. This chapter was not given to promote discussions on prophetic timetables but to stimulate right living for God in a world where He is largely ignored.

Matthew 25:1-13 tells the parable of the ten Bridesmaids/Virgins.

1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

We must be like the five wise virgins who were prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom by our willingness to prepare.

Study Questions on Mark 13:26-37

1. Are you preparing for the return of Jesus? How?
2. Would our motivation to prepare increase if we had a date?
3. What needs to happen, since we don’t have a date, for us to be prepared for the return of Jesus?
4. What is the best way to prepare yourself, so you won’t be misled by a false prophet?
5. What concerns do you have about sharing your faith with others?
6. Have you experienced persecution because of your faith.
7. Do you see any similarity between the preparation scripture calls us to do and modern-day preppers?
8. Did it raise any concerns when you heard Jesus didn’t know when He would return only the Father?
9. What sign happening in the world today would parallel the fig tree budding telling us summer, the return of Christ is near?