Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous Father, the Eternal God and Creator of the universe, work in me your righteous will to make me ready for your Son's glorious return. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"You will see armies all around Jerusalem. Then you will know that the time for the destruction of Jerusalem has come. At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must leave quickly. If you are near the city, don't go in! The prophets wrote many things about the time when God will punish his people. The time I am telling you about is the time when all these things must happen. At that time, it will be bad for women that are pregnant or have small babies. Why? Because very bad times will come to this land. God will be angry with these people (the Jews). Some of the people will be killed by soldiers. Other people will be made prisoners and taken to every country. The holy city of Jerusalem will be walked on by non-Jewish people until their time is finished. "Amazing things will happen with the sun, moon, and stars. The people on earth will feel trapped. The oceans will be upset, and the people will not know why. People will become afraid. They will be very worried about what will happen to the world. Everything in the sky will be changed. Then people will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to happen, don't fear. Look up and be happy! Don't worry. Be happy, because you know that the time when God will free you is near!" Then Jesus told this story: "Look at all the trees. The fig tree is a good example. When it becomes green (grows buds), you know that summer is near. It is the same with these things I told you would happen. When you see all these things happening, then you will know that God's kingdom is coming very soon. "I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while people of this time are still living! The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed; but the words I have said will never be destroyed! "Be careful! Don't spend your time drinking and getting drunk. Or don't be too busy with worldly things. If you do that, you will not be able to thinkright. And then the end might come when you are not ready. It will come like a surprise to all people on earth. So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to continue safely through all these things that will happen. And pray that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man. " During the day, Jesus taught the people in the temple area. At night he went out of the city and stayed all night on the Mount of Olives. Every morning all the people got up early to go listen to Jesus at the temple.

Related Scripture Readings

Now, brothers and sisters, we don't need to write to you about times and dates. You know very well that the day the Lord comes again will be {a surprise} like a thief who comes at night. People will say, "We have peace and we are safe." At that time destruction will come to them quickly. Destruction will come like the pains of a woman who is having a baby. And those people will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not living in darkness (sin). And so that day will not surprise you like a thief. You are all people who belong to the light (goodness). You belong to the day. We don't belong to the night or to darkness (evil). So we should not be like other people. We should not be sleeping. We should be awake and have self-control.

Be careful! Always be ready! You don't know when that time will be.

Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all God's people.