Just a few days prior to his crucifixion, Jesus spoke to his disciples about future events, including his second coming. On the Mount of Olives, he accurately predicted the destruction of the holy temple. This would occur forty years later in 70 AD. He spoke of disasters, such as nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, wars and rumors of wars. As a young person I remember periodic drills at school where we were huddled into dark basement shelters in case of nuclear attack. The 'rumors' of war were made very real when nuclear weapons were being stockpiled by the Russians off the American shores on the island of Cuba.

Jesus said that wars, earthquakes, famine and plague would increase in frequency and intensity like a woman experiencing contractions. "This is not the end," he said, "but the beginning of birthpangs." (Matthew 24:6-8).

Jesus predicted that one day there would be weapons that would make possible the destruction of all human life on the planet. Today there exists such an arsenal of biochemical and nuclear weapons as to make this terrifying nightmare a reality. Jesus was able to foresee a time of crisis in the Middle East, also predicted by the Hebrew prophet, Daniel; a time of great tribulation "unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again." He went on to say that apart from Divine intervention, "no one would survive." (Matthew 24:15-22).

As our economy booms, unemployment rates drop, and false prophets preach their courses in miracles, positive thinking, metaphysical 'new age' religion of blind optimism, universal consciousness, subliminal affirmations, psycho-spiritual 'self-help' maneuverings, saying "Peace, Peace, where there is no peace," it is easy to lose sight of history's eventual day of reckoning. Believers can look forward to the certain, realistic and blessed hope of Christ's return. But the fact remains -- the world is headed for a period of great deception and distress, to be followed by a day of Judgment. No one-world religion, universal philosophy, human wisdom, or political pulling of rabbits out of the hat will be able to right the course that is leading human history to this fearful climax. Those who pronounce that a God of love will not allow this to happen, are deceived and make Jesus a liar.

Jesus said that "as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." In Noah's day there was rampant deception, willful ignorance, and wide indifference. Today we need to be alert so that we do not allow these symptoms to overtake our hearts.

"For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:38-39 NIV).

We are told that Noah preached the gospel for 120 years, literally hammering home the message that God had a plan of salvation (the building of an ark) for those who would obediently enter into it. His neighbors chose to turn a blind eye to the remarkable and obvious work of God that Noah was participating in. "Don't confuse me with the facts, Noah. I've already made up my mind. I think your ark is an eyesore." Others said, "Don't bother me. You may have a need for something like that, Noah, but I don't." Others said, "My business is prospering, I've got a lovely wife, a family to take care of, I'm busy enough. If God wants me in that boat, He will have to put me in it."

As president-elect John Fitzgerald Kennedy was driving Billy Graham home from a golf game to the Kennedy Florida compound, he suddenly stopped the car, turned to Graham, and asked, "Do you believe in the second coming of Christ?" Graham said, "I most certainly do. It is only when Christ returns that this world will have lasting peace." As Graham explained the significance of both the first and second comings of Christ, JFK asked why he had never heard these things in his church. "This is very interesting," Kennedy said. "We will have to talk about this again sometime." Then he started the car and drove on.

Have you given the eventual return of Christ a thought today? May it be a purifying hope (1John 3:3) that will encourage:

• Spiritual readiness to meet Him
• An understanding of your accountability for all that He has entrusted to you.
• A desire to spread the good news to those around you
• A vision to pursue the worthy goal of submitting to and promoting the lasting and inevitable righteous rule of Christ (the kingdom of God).

Looking forward to The Day,