“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. . . . Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:42,44).

Since the new millennium has arrived without any special prophetic events taking place, those who were predicting Christ to return at or before that time may well tend to become lackadaisical or even skeptical about Biblical prophecy.

But this would be a sad mistake. Regardless of just when it will happen, Christ will return, for so He promised, and He cannot either lie or fail. He has repeatedly made it plain that no one can determine the date of His coming. Not even He, while in His human limitations, knew that (Mark 13:32).

Again and again He urged us to watch and be ready for His return. He did not tell us to watch for the Antichrist or the revival of Rome’s empire or a great apostasy or a great revival or a world government or anything else—just for Him! Note some of His commands to do this (in addition to the two in our text).

“Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is” (Mark 13:33).

“Watch ye therefore: . . . Lest coming suddenly, He find you sleeping” (Mark 13:36)

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13).

In addition to such exhortations by the Lord Himself, the apostles also sounded similar warnings.

“Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).

“Abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (I John 2:28).

Space limitations preclude listing others, but again in the words of Christ: “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mark 13:37). HMM