We concluded yesterday with Jesus telling the disciples that He will return to earth right after the Great Tribulation. He told them, "At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory."
He continues, "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." (Mark 13:27) The thesaurus says that several words which describe "elect" are "chosen, appointed, commissioned, selected, called, set apart, precious, and valuable". This is how Christ views those who are His. If you are in Christ, you are chosen! If you are in Christ, you are precious!
Jesus wants those who are His to be with Him forever, so when He returns to the earth with His bride (the church) who has been with Him in heaven during the Great Tribulation, He will gather together all those who have come to believe on His name during the seven years of the Great Tribulation. He will make one family of all believers.
In Chapter 13 the disciples asked Jesus how they would recognize the signs of the end times. He informed them that wars, calamities, and false Messiahs are going to arise. He said these are the beginning of "birth pains" and, like birth pains, they will increase in frequency and intensity as the world comes closer and closer to the end. The fact that wars, calamities, and false Messiahs are going to arise even in the lifetimes of the disciples is what is in view when Jesus makes this next statement, "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: 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. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away." (Mark 13:28-31)
Jesus is not telling them He is going to return during their generation, although as we will see momentarily even Jesus Himself does not know the day God has chosen. But He's saying that even during the lifetimes of the disciples wars and rumors of wars will increase. False Messiahs will arise and try to deceive many. Earthquakes, famines, and other natural disasters will occur. The truth is, in a sense we have been in the end times ever since Christ rose from the dead, for the church age is the final age this old world will experience before the Great Tribulation. If I turned on my TV right now I'd be able to hear all kinds of bad news from all around the world. It seems like in the past decade I've heard and read about more earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and massive forest fires than ever before. The birth pains are coming closer together and are becoming more intense, leading up to the rapture of the church, the Great Tribulation, and the return of Christ to set up His kingdom. The day when He makes all things new is approaching faster and faster. The world as we know it is on borrowed time, and the birth of the new creation in the kingdom of Christ is closer today than it was yesterday.
"But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch." (Mark 13:32-34) Jesus says, "Be ready!" The clock of this world is winding down, and we need to make the most of the time it has left. We need to remain close to the Lord. We need to get the gospel out to as many people as possible. We need to, as the Apostle Paul said, make "the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil". (Ephesians 5:16) Or as the KJV puts it, we are to be busy "redeeming the time". We should use the time for something that really matters, such as bringing everyone possible into the knowledge and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter, in his discourse on the end times and the day of the Lord, says, "What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." (2 Peter 3:11b-12a)
Jesus concludes, "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. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" (Mark 14:35-37) Bible scholar James Coffman sums it up like this, "This is the order of the day for all ages of Christianity. The onward rush of mighty events; the sweep of earth's population through history; the bloody conflicts as great nations make the sword the arbiter of their destinies; the confusion, bitterness, and struggles of disciples in all times; the terrible apostasy; the rule of materialism; the secularization of humanity; rampant wickedness of all kinds; increasing indifference; and the malignant unbelief the progression of the church through history will be one of the continuing challenges and battles, and the constant need throughout time to the judgment is, for both the church and the Christian: Watchfulness!"
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