The return of Jesus Christ is a central hope and a pivotal event in history, long anticipated and proclaimed since the founding of the church. His coming is not delayed, though it may seem so to us; He will return exactly when He is supposed to, at an hour we do not expect. We must remain vigilant and prepared, for His arrival will be sudden, loud, and unmistakable, like lightning flashing from east to west, accompanied by heavenly signs and a great trumpet blast. Every eye will see Him, and His return will be a time of great opposites—war bringing peace, death opening the way for life, and destruction leading to restoration under His governing wisdom. Jesus Himself warned that no one knows the timing of His return, urging us to focus not on when He will come, but on being ready at all times. He stressed the importance of watching, being expectant, and maintaining holy conduct, for if we think He delays and grow lax, mistreating others or losing faith, we risk severe judgment. His return will bring reward to the faithful according to their works and punishment to His enemies, as He comes in the glory of His Father with a multitude of angels, His face shining like the sun, to establish His Kingdom. The Feast of Trumpets prefigures this monumental event, serving as a day of proclamation to grab our attention and remind us yearly to be alert. As Jesus taught, we must daily pray for His Kingdom to come and diligently apply ourselves to God's way of life, hastening that day through our faithfulness. His second coming, initiated by His first, is the fulcrum of history, turning humanity from self-rule to the blessed reign of God, and we are on the brink of this dramatic change.

Jesus Christ commands us in Mark 13:37 with utmost urgency: And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! This is an unequivocal order from our authority, demanding strict attention and obedience. We do not know when He will return, and for each of us, His return could be at the moment of our death, which may come unexpectedly today or tonight. For those who have died, in their next conscious moment, unaware of the passage of time, they will rise to meet Christ in the air. Watching is serious business, necessary to be ready for His immediate return in our lives at any moment. While He commands us to watch as preparation for His return, He also shows us by His example what watching entails, through intense spiritual preparation and prayer. Watching involves guarding our spiritual condition with the same diligence He displayed throughout His life, never succumbing to sin. The important question is not whether we are prepared for future events leading up to His return, but whether we are prepared for His return in our lives today. Therefore, we must heed His command in Mark 13:37 to focus on our spiritual readiness above all else: And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!

As the first century waned, some in the church questioned why Jesus Christ had not returned to establish His Kingdom, with members in Thessalonica fearing they had missed His second coming. Despite apostolic reassurances that certain events must precede His return, many succumbed to the doubts spread by cynics and mockers, leading to a crisis of faith. In our time, similar scoffers, both within and outside the church, proclaim that the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings is far off, causing some members to lower their guard and drift away. Believing that the Lord delays His coming saps the motivation to overcome sinful nature and prepare for God's Kingdom. Presently, the world does not seem to signal the imminent return of Christ, with ongoing wars, disasters, and societal decline appearing as typical human struggles, and many biblical end-time signs not yet fully aligned. Yet, the New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the nearness of His return. Revelation declares that the time is near, proclaiming, "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him." Jesus Himself warns in Revelation, "Behold, I am coming quickly!" Jesus instructed His disciples that His return would not be during His earthly ministry, promising, "I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." In the Olivet Prophecy, He outlined signs preceding His return and provided principles for readiness: recognizing the generation of His return through signs, acknowledging that the exact time is known only to the Father, and continuing the work He assigned despite apparent delays. Believing His return is distant risks straying from righteousness, relaxing transformation into His image, and ignoring sins. Christians should not be caught off guard by His return, which will surprise many when least expected. We must remain aware of the signs of the times, grow in grace and knowledge, and stay prepared to meet Christ in the air. The promise of His coming is not delayed; God's plan advances, positioning events and individuals for the most remarkable prophetic fulfillments in history. We must watch, be sober, and prepare for the return of Jesus Christ.

As we near the time of the end, with spiritual darkness persisting despite bright summer days, we often seek signs of how long it will be until Jesus Christ returns. In numerous parables, prophecies, and epistles, we are instructed to watch, for the Day of the Lord and Christ Himself will come as a thief in the night. This watching is not about physical observation or closely monitoring world events, but about being vigilant in our spiritual responsibilities. Jesus emphasizes in Luke 21:36 to watch and pray always to be counted worthy to escape the coming trials and stand before the Son of Man. His command is not to focus on news or prophecy unfolding, but to be diligent in maintaining His household, ensuring all is in order for His return, regardless of whether it is early or late from our perspective. Jesus warns that if we spend our time staring out the window for His return instead of fulfilling our duties, we neglect what He has charged us to do. He repeatedly states that we will not know the timing of His return, and it will take the household by surprise. The critical point is our state of readiness and the usefulness of the household when He returns. If we are not prepared, or if we have been sleeping rather than working, we will face His wrath. In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, the cry at midnight announces the Bridegroom's presence with no time left for preparation, underscoring that spiritual readiness must be maintained in advance. Paul, in I Thessalonians, reinforces that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, at a time no one can anticipate. Yet, he assures that for those not in darkness, that Day should not overtake them as a thief, meaning God's wrath will not consume them, though it will still surprise them. We are instructed to be awake, sober, and vigilant about our spiritual state, to guard against drowsiness and deception, and to fulfill our covenant responsibilities. Simply watching for signs of the Master's return does not prepare us for anything. In His message to the church in Sardis, Jesus instructs them to be watchful and strengthen what remains, as they have relaxed in their spiritual duties to the point of near spiritual death. He warns that if they do not watch over themselves and their responsibilities, He will come upon them like a thief, and they may not be counted worthy to escape. Christ's return will be unexpected, purposefully hidden from all, and rather than discerning the timing, we must watch over all that God has given us, being faithful in the mundane and monotonous tasks, so that when that Day arrives, we are ready for the great things ahead.