The Lord’s return will happen suddenly when we least expect it. The Lord therefore commanded us to be alert and be ready, because if we are not prepared, we could miss it. We cannot lose our faith because of the delay and the mockers who say He is not returning. Instead, we prepare for His coming by holding fast His Word that is working in our lives to make us ready.

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Show Notes:

When Yeshua (Jesus) spoke of His Second Coming, He described end-time events, which we tend to focus on to determine the time of His return. He made it clear, however, that His return will not occur when anyone thinks it will. No matter how much we try to figure out the signs of His coming and the timing of His return, the Son of Man will appear when we do not expect Him to. Christ will appear suddenly, without warning, and nothing in current events will point to the day or hour of His return.

His emphasis was that we be ready. But the reality we face is that we are conditioned by delay. Because His return has not happened for so long, we are lulled to sleep and lose our focus. According to the Lord’s parable, the wise virgins fell asleep just like the foolish ones when the bridegroom was delayed. The difference was that the wise virgins had prepared beforehand. When the bridegroom suddenly appeared, they were ready to go into the wedding party, but the foolish virgins were running around trying to get prepared and could not make it in.

Our focus cannot be on the delay until we lose our faith because of it. What we consider delay, the Lord considers patience. He is waiting patiently because of His grace. He does not want anyone to perish and keeps giving us time and grace to get ready. When His return happens, however, it will happen suddenly and quickly when no one is expecting it. We must remain alert therefore, ready for that moment, continually trusting Him whose Word is faithful and true, allowing His purification to take place in our lives.

Key Verses:

• Matthew 25:1-13. “Be on the alert, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”
• Matthew 24:37-44. “The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:52. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”
• Luke 17:26-29. “The day Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone.”
• Mark 13:33-37. “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’”
• 2 Peter 3:2-6. “Remember the words spoken beforehand.”
• 2 Peter 3:9-10. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. “Destruction will come upon them suddenly.”
• Hebrews 10:35-38. “He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”
• Isaiah 47:6-11. “Destruction about which you do not know will come on you suddenly.”
• Isaiah 48:3. “Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”
• Isaiah 29:5. “It will happen instantly, suddenly.”
• Isaiah 30:10-13. “… whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant.”
• Isaiah 60:22. “I, the Lord will hasten it in its time.”
• Malachi 3:1-6. “The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple.”
• Revelation 22:6-7. “And behold, I am coming quickly.”
• Revelation 22:10. “… for the time is near.”
• Revelation 22:12-14. “Behold, I am coming quickly.”
• Revelation 22:20. “Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Quotes:

• “Sometimes we question, as we’re walking with the Lord, ‘Where are the blessings? Where are the promises? Where are the things that the Lord said we would have and receive and move in?’ They too seem to be under a delay, but the Lord said, ‘I will hasten it in its time.’”
• “The world leaders are able to manipulate their peoples and their economies, and they’re able to oppress Israel. We see anti-Semitism growing around us in amazing measures. But I’ll tell you, the destruction will come about which they do not know, and it will come suddenly.”
• “When God moves, it will be suddenly. Will you be ready? Let’s reach into Him and be prepared for Him to come quickly.”

Takeaways:

1. Both the foolish and prudent virgins fell asleep. What made the prudent able to participate was the fact that they had prepared beforehand, and they were ready for the sudden event of the bridegroom’s arrival.
2. There will be nothing about the day of His coming that people will understand as being different from any other day. Therefore, they will go about their normal daily function. Yet it will happen in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. Suddenly and quickly it will take place.
3. If we want to define alertness as the Lord taught it, we are to be on the alert for a sudden event that we are not expecting to transpire. That is why we must prepare.
4. Let us hold fast in our hearts the Word of God, because He is coming quickly, and blessed are those who take heed according to the Word of God.