Mark 13:20-31

Rachel Workman: ³² “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. ³³ And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! So it's safe to say that we can stop being alarmed when we hear someone has predicted the end of times. Because the bible clearly states no one not even Christ knows when the end is coming.

³⁴ “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. ³⁵ You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. ³⁶ Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. ³⁷ I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!” This reading is speaking of the rapture but I think we can apply it to our salvation. We have no idea when we'll take our last breath.

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John Burnett:  ³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard! Be alert^[a]! You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

³⁵ “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Jesus commands us to watch for His return because it will be at a time that not even He knows.  We know that Jesus is talking about the Rapture here because it is quiet and people are living their everyday lives, vacationing, and not in despair.  His second coming will be at the end of a seven year tribulation period that is unlike any time ever seen on earth.  The stars will fall out of the sky, earthquakes like there have never been, and the sun going dark mark His second coming.  I strongly doubt there will be many roosters left to crow when Jesus comes the second time and the cool thing about it is that we get to come back with Him and get to see Him triumph over the antichrist, false prophet, and Satan himself.

Jesus says to watch.  As I watch and see the church fall away from sound doctrine, major players in prophetic wars moving into position for those wars to take place, and Romans 1 playing out right before our eyes with a rainbow colored light show at the white house, it is easy to see that God is patient and is waiting for the full number of those whom He has called to be born again before He brings His bride home.  I can’t wait.

Jesus come quickly.

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Monday's reading for Mark 14:1-11

4 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ² “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

³ While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages^[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you,^[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. ¹¹ They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.