Jesus tells of false Christ and how they will deceive many. He talks of wars and rumors of wars. He recaps that nations will rise against nations. He informs of great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places around the world. Then He adds in verse 8 that: “all these are the beginning of sorrows.” Christ also provides a sign of the ruin that was to come on Jerusalem and how they were to escape from it. (vs: 4,5,6,7,8,9,15,28).

Jesus also used a Parable of a fig tree, an illustration that He knew we would understand in verse 32. “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:”  Just like when you and I see trees budding and feel the pollen in the air, we know that spring is just around the corner. It’s coming. It’s a guarantee. How can we know this? Because spring has always come right after these signs.   And 

Jesus gives us this promise in verse 35: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”  Friends this promise is surer than the surety of Mother Nature. The Laws of Mother Nature will fail long before God’s Word will. The sun comes up every morning, the moon and stars give off their light at night. The seasons change. The flowers grow, the Salmon swim up stream, birds fly south for the winter. What goes up must come down. But more sure than all these signs put together is the Word of our Lord and Saviour, – Jesus Christ. And if He says He is coming again, soon, then you can bank on it! The signs have told us that His second coming is near, but are you ready?   Now there is something you must understand. This promise of His second coming is not staked on whether you accept it or not. It’s not staked on whether you believe it or not. It’s not even staked on whether you understand it or not. The promise stands because God says it. And happen it will, whether we are ready or not.   

Friends, just because 2 Peter 3:3 and 4 reports that in the last days there would be scoffers, scoffers asking where is the promise of His second coming doesn’t stop the promise from happening. He will come and the promise is He will come soon. The fact is, because there are scoffers today asking that very question is solid proof that this promise is about to take place.   Now watch this. Along with the certainty of our Lords coming is the uncertainty of when it will take place. Look at verses 36-39; “But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”  Now jump down to 42-44:  “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”   At the very time when the world is asking in mockery, "Where is the promise of His coming?" the signs are being fulfilled. While the world cries, "Peace and Safety," sudden destruction is coming. While the scoffers, the ones who reject the truths of God’s Word has become presumptuous; while the routine work in all the various moneymaking schemes are carried out without regard to principle; while the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his Bible, Christ comes as a thief in the night. And only those that are ready and watching will be saved.   

There is the certainty that the second coming will happen and there is the uncertainty of when it will happen. And the believers of God’s Word must live everyday with the certainty that the event of His second coming may come at any time and must come at some time. And it is this tension of the knowing and of the unknowing, the certainty of the uncertainty that must keep us all at our spiritual peak so that we are found ready when He comes. We must live by faith in the Word of God. Faith in His promises. Faith in His love and forgiveness. Faith that His second coming is soon.   

I heard a story once about the devil and three of his imps. It seems that the three imps were trying to devise a plan to ruin the human race. The first imp informs the devil that he would come to this earth and tell the people that there is no God. Satan says; “That won’t work, people know there is a God.” The second imp said: “I will go and tell the people that there is no hell.” Satan replied; “That won’t work either, people have a conscious. They know they have a judgment to face someday.” Then the third imp spoke up; “I will go and tell the people there is no hurry.” Satan thought for a moment and said; “That will work, go you will ruin thousands.”

Friends, don’t be worried about the certainty if He coming. Because He is coming rather you’re ready or not. But do be worried about the uncertainty of when He is coming. Because if your not ready, then it will be to late to get ready.