The End of the World: How Can We Prepare?

Judgement Day. The End of the World. Jesus’ Second Coming. However, you choose to call it that day will come and we Christians know that we must be ready. We can’t be careless and must be alert.

When Jesus returns prophecies will be fulfilled and His enemies will be punished. There will be destruction of the unfaithful and salvation for the righteous. But what can we do to be ready for that day?

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
Matthew 24:27

SIGNS AND PROPHECIES

We will not the day or the hour according to Matthew 24:42 and as such we must be on guard, always anticipating and living like it could be today. There will however be signs that it will be soon. Although let’s be honest it may not be our definition of soon.

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks on His return. In verses 6 and 7 we read there will be wars and rumours of wars, natural disasters will occur and these are just the beginning. Twice in this chapter, we read of the deceit of false prophets (Matthew 24: 11 and 24).

“For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24:24

There will be persecution of Christians and many will fall away from the faith. Jesus’ name will become hated worldwide (Matthew 24:9-10). Yet the gospel will be preached globally (Matthew 24:14)

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 24:13

Now we know some of the signs to watch out for, what practical things can we do to prepare?

Be more like Jesus

According to 1 John: 2-3, when Jesus returns we will become like Him so we shouldn’t wait for that day but every day we should strive to become more like Christ.

We must work towards sanctification and purify ourselves from sin through continual repenting. We must have self-control and resist all temptations.

“Let us be self-controlled and put on the armour of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8

Jesus was the embodiment of peace and love, we should strive to love everyone just as He did and lead peace-filled lives.

“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness – without it no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14

Be in fellowship

To be more Christlike means spending time in prayer and worship building up our faith. It means fellowship with other Christians, going to church, and encouraging each other to keep on the righteous path.

“And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25

Read the bible

We need to spend time in the Word, to meditate on God’s promises so our minds may be renewed. We ought to completely submit to the Word and let it be the light that guides us (Psalm 119:105).

Work faithfully

While we wait for the day to arrive we must continue to be faithful in the works that God has given us. We know this because of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, the virgins who weren’t prepared were shut out from the master and so it will be at the end. Those who aren’t prepared, those who don’t know Jesus will be forever separated from God. So we must do the jobs we have been given well.

We must also be faithful in our service to others, for just as Jesus was a servant so we should assume the humble form of a servant and put the needs of others above our desires. (Philippians 5-7)

Share the gospel with the world

Mark 13:10 states the necessity for preaching the gospel to the world, and we must play our part in the great commission and take every opportunity to share the good news.

Because we do not know the day or hour we must accept the uncertainty that comes with the anticipation and have a discerning mind.

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Prepare to suffer

According to Acts 14:22, we must prepare to suffer because it will be necessary to go through many hardships. This is a good thing because the hardships we face will cause us to grow in faith and place our trust wholeheartedly in Jesus. They will strengthen us and help us to better resist temptations. Every trial we go through God will use to further His kingdom.

“Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 4:17

But above all, we must not lose hope because that day will come and we will be united with our Lord in Heaven. I hope this post will help you be prepared for that day, to end I will leave you with a glimpse of our future.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars – their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:1-8

Sources:

Emmanuel Abimbola (2023) Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ: A Spiritual Guide. Available at: Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ: A Spiritual Guide (ibelieve.com)

Mike Livingstone (2019) 7 Ways to Prepare for Jesus’ Return. Available at: 7 Ways to Prepare for Jesus’ Return (Session 11 – Mark 13:24-37) – Explore the Bible (lifeway.com)

John Piper (2021) How Do We Prepare for the Second Coming? Available at: How Do We Prepare for the Second Coming? | Desiring God