As we have said, the fact that major events must transpire before the historic return of Jesus, and that His coming will be heralded by mighty signs in the heavens, does not mean we can eat, drink, and be merry and then prepare ourselves when the time draws near.

Our preparation must start now. Even though it appears several years will pass before He returns, our readiness to meet Him will depend on our diligence during the preceding years. Lot's wife could not obey the angel because her heart was wrapped up in the community life of Sodom. Let us not think we can drift along and then suddenly prepare ourselves. The habits formed over many years will conspire to insure we cannot make a change at the last minute.

Also, we do not know when we are going to die. When the Lord returns He will bring with Him the dead in Christ. The dead in Christ! We can die at any moment. If we are not abiding in Christ, living by His Life, and then die, we will not return with Him because it is the dead in Christ who will return with Him.

The wise believer will always, always be instantly ready to be welcomed by the Lord Jesus, to hear His "Well done!"

The foolish believer will wait until the last minute. Then, when the midnight call comes, "Go out to meet Him," he will discover there is no life within himself that is able to respond to the call.

And I tell you by the word of the Lord to me that the righteous will not be able to share in that day, having only enough "oil" for themselves!

We stated at the beginning that the purpose of this essay is to suggest that the coming of the Lord is not imminent. Several major events must occur before the Lord comes, such as the latter-rain revival, the rise of Antichrist, the consolidation of his military power, and his invasion of Israel. If we stop and think, these historical movements and arrangements of people and nations cannot take place in a few days.

Then too, Israel is yet to be attacked by several nations, particularly by "Gog" from the far north.

I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 39:2—NIV)

Others may disagree with me but I do not believe Ezekiel's account refers to the Battle of Armageddon nor to the time when Gog and Magog come up against the saints after the thousand-year Kingdom Age. I think the war against Israel described in the thirty-ninth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel will take place before the invasion of Israel by Antichrist. The Battle of Armageddon, as I see it, is more than nation against nation. It is Jesus Christ and His saints against the armies of the wicked, a battle that occurs when the Lord Jesus and His saints and mighty angels return from Heaven.

If what we have said above is true, the historic coming of the Lord will not take place for some time. Nevertheless, as we have pointed out, if we are to endure throughout the coming years and finally stand before the Son of Man in victory we absolutely must begin today—right this minute—to prepare ourselves to meet Him. Tomorrow is too late. We must begin to walk before God in iron righteousness, fiery holiness, and stern obedience to the Father.

God will help us do this if we will call upon Him in Jesus' name.

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36—NIV) (from After the Tribulation of Those Days)