Let us bow together in prayer and look to the Lord to help us tonight. Let us all pray. Heavenly Father, we come into Thy presence in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And Father, we look to Thee for strength and for power tonight to preach the Word of God. We pray that Thou wouldst enable us by Thy Holy Spirit, that Thou wouldst fill us with unction tonight, that we might make much of our Savior, that we might exalt His precious name that souls might be drawn even to Christ tonight as Thy Word is preached. I am trusting Thee for power. Thine shall never fail. Words that Thou Thyself hast given me must prevail. We ask in Jesus' name and for God's eternal glory. Amen. You will find the basis of the message tonight in the passage of Scripture we have read from in Matthew chapter 24. The theme tonight, or the subject is, what time is it? What time is it? How many times in one day do we ask the question, what time is it? And perhaps even tonight you're looking at your watch and saying, what time is he starting at? And more importantly, what time is he going to finish at? It is an inquiry often on our lips. In the normal course of life, we have appointments to keep. We have people to meet. We have things to do in our lives that mean we are conscious of time, of what time it is, so that we can fulfill the duties and responsibilities of life from day to day. Of course, there's the alarm clock in the morning. And that's another thing. It's time to get up. And of course, you hear it whatever time you set it for. And then you put out your hand to try and get it knocked off. And that's the whole thing over. I've done it many times, trying to get it knocked off and get another five minutes under the blankets, or I should say under the duvet, to be more polite. Of course, it used to be used more in times of places of employment. The alarm went off to indicate the working day had started. And sometimes it went off at break time to indicate there was a break time, another maybe at lunchtime, another at the end of the working day. One of the major places of employment years back in East Belfast was the rope works. And of course, you heard that roar going off whatever time it was. And it was the end of the day. And everybody would have said, that's the rope works. It's finishing for the day. Of course, it was a very loud hooter that went out all over East Belfast. And of course in school there was the bell for the break time, the bell for starting in the morning, the bell for break time, the bell for lunch time, but what I liked most was the bell for the end of the day. And of course rushing out there onto the Ravenhill Road and into the bus or wherever you were going and it was as quick as you could get out through the door at the end of the day. That was the signal for everyone to get out of school I recall being with a colleague in his car, and he went to pick up his son from school. And he had to do a lot of other things on the way back home, and his son kept saying, Daddy, what time is it? Every couple of minutes. And of course, the father was getting more and more frustrated all the time. And I don't know whether his son had an appointment at home, or maybe he wanted to see some program on the television. These things happen, of course, in the course of life. We're asking a question, what time is it? When the subject of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ comes up, someone will inevitably ask, when will these things happen? It's the same question that was on the disciples' lips just before the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. His final earthly words establish an unequivocal boundary that we must not attempt to reach. Acts chapter 1 and verse 7, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the father had put in his own power. The precise time is not for us to know. It is the business of the father alone. It is one of those hidden things in Scripture. The Bible instructions to leave those secret things in the province of God. It is not something for us to try to discover. Nevertheless, there seems to be that burning universal desire among Christians to try to figure out more precisely when these things are going to come to pass. But of the Lord Jesus Christ, He said that such speculation is sheer folly. Matthew 24, verse 36, But of that day and that hour knoweth no man. Know not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. God knows the time. because he has already established it in his sovereign plan. The when and the how of Christ's return were predetermined in the sovereign wisdom of God. The angels in heaven do not know the time. Even Jesus, in his humanity, did not have a conscious awareness of the precise time of the Lord's return. Mark chapter 13 verse 32 proves this very point. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, known not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. The Father alone. And it is only an arrogant disregard for the Word of God that leads people to think that given enough clues, we'll be able to find it out. It's simply not for us to know. Even with all the signs, and there are many of them, the exact day and hour of our Lord's coming will not be known. Of course, those signs encourage us to a more diligent watchfulness as the time approaches. But they do not signify the exact day or hour. Despite all the signs that precede His coming, when Christ appears, most people will still be unprepared for His return. Look, chapter 12, verse 40, the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not. And the question of when all these events will begin to happen is deliberately left by God in the realm of mystery. It is not for you to know the times or the seasons. Of course, he will make the same point several times a year in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. At the end of all of that discourse, he says in verse thirty-six, for example, But of the day and hour knoweth no man. Again, verse forty-four, Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not. The Son of Man cometh. Verse 50, The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, in an hour that he is not aware of. Again, chapter 25, verse 13, What's therefore? For ye know neither the day nor the hour, but in the Son of Man cometh. And so this latter part of the Olivet Discourse of Christ is a potent and focused appeal for one thing. Preparedness. We need to be prepared. We don't know the day nor the hour when the Lord Jesus Christ is going to come, but we need to be ready. Let me ask you tonight, are you ready for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? For Christ is coming when we least expect Him. Therefore, it behoves each one in this service tonight to be ready when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back again. There are some matters here that I want to draw your attention to in relation to the Lord's return that really are emphasized in this portion of Scripture when we think of what time is it. First of all, there is humility. He preemptively punctures the pride of those who set dates in relation to the Lord's return. Verse 36, Of that day and hour knoweth no man. And it takes a degree of humility to admit ignorance on such a vital point as this. That is why many of these so-called experts on Bible prophecy insist on speculation. They insist on conjecture with regard to dates and times. Their obstinate determination to make guesses about the matter on which Scripture is so decisively silent betrays their own pride. Their tendency is to sensationalize all these matters concerning the Lord's return to be presumptions in relation to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. You may ask the question tonight, why has God kept the timing of Christ's return hidden from the entire church for more than 2,000 years? Well, I can think of several good reasons tonight. First of all, for one thing, if everyone knew the precise time of Christ's return, no doubt many would be tempted to defer their obedience. If people knew, for example, that Jesus Christ was going to come back in exactly ten years, many would imagine, well, I have nine and a half years or nine and three quarter years to continue in sin. And then on those last days before Christ returns, I will get right with God." Others would see the approaching end of all things as an excuse for laziness and irresponsibility. These things happen every time a modern prophet announces that he has unlocked the secret of the timing of Christ's return. I was reading recently about a family who sold their and all their possessions and took an extended travel vacation because they were convinced that Christ was returning on a certain day that one of these date-setters had established. When He did not return as expected at that time, this man and his wife had squandered all their resources and had to start again from scratch. It is a foolish thing to set dates. in relation to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has not done that. And of course, it is partly because of God's mercy that He keeps hidden from us the timing of Christ's return. If the hour of Christ's coming were known, no unbeliever or unbeliever would be able to maintain a right perspective as to the future. It would be impossible to think or function normally. We would lose that balance both of expectancy and patience that God commands us to maintain. Furthermore, it is unnecessary for us to know the timings of Christ's return. Nothing God demands of us necessitates that we know when Christ is coming. In fact, our desire should be that He would find us faithful no matter when He comes. I wonder, will you be found faithful? Will I be found faithful when Christ returns? That's the most important thing. Will you be found ready when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back again? Here's proof of how unnecessary it is for us to know the timing of Christ's return. Even the angels. We mentioned the angels this morning in another context. The angels are not privy to the secret. Mark 13, verse 32, But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven. In his submission to the Father's will, the son himself had refrained from calling this bit of information to his conscious human mind. Does anyone imagine that the angels weren't interested in the return of Christ? We saw this morning how they searched diligently into things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you think they would have not searched diligently into the matters concerning His return? And then, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Do you think that He was not interested? Surely they would want to know the truth. After all, they were directly and actively involved in those end-time events. Even Christ Himself must have had a real, normal, human desire to know the timing of His return. Yet He humbly submitted to the Father's will. You see, the Bible tells us of that submission to the Father's will of our Lord Jesus Christ. For example, John chapter 5 and verse 30, where it says there in that portion of Scripture, the fifth chapter of John, And verse 30, it says, I can of my own self do nothing. As I hear, I judge. My judgment is just, because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me. He sought the will of his Father at all times. Again, John 6 and 38, For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And yet again, in John 8 and verse 29, For I do always those things that please Him. He did those things that were pleasing to the Father. He sought to do the Father's will. He demands the same humility from us. This is therefore the starting point for a proper perspective on the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Humility. The spirit of humility. The second thing is alertness. Christ calls us to be watchful and expectant. Look at the portion we have read from tonight in the 24th chapter of Matthew, verses 36-42. It speaks of the floods. And the flood is a perfect illustration of Jesus' point here. Most people in Noah's day were completely caught off guard. They were unprepared. By the time the flood came and they realized it, it was already too late for them. The door of the ark was shut and they were swallowed up in the waters of the flat. So shall it be when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. The days prior to the flood were days of great wickedness. You can go back to Genesis chapter 6 and discover that. Every imagination of the thoughts of man was only evil continually. They were involved in sinful activity. They were eating and drinking. They were marrying and giving in marriage. But the thing is that they were unprepared. When the flood came and swept them all away, they were caught completely by surprise. These people were smitten with a sinful, spiritual apathy. In the midst, of course, of this people, Noah lived. And the Bible describes Noah in 2 Peter 2 and 5 as a preacher of righteousness. So all the while, Before the flood came, Noah was preaching. Noah was preaching that this flood was coming. Noah was warning them. The Bible tells us also in 1 Peter 3, verse 20, the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing. And so God was longsuffering to the people during all that period of time. But these people, like many today, were heedless to the warnings that were given. They went on with their lives as usual. No doubt many of them lived with the same philosophy as the scoffers there in 2 Peter 3 and verse 4. And what did these scoffers say? And they're still saying it today. In 2 Peter 3 and 4, saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. They've been saying this all along. There's no sign of Him coming yet. That's what the scoffers are saying. The scoffers. in society even today. And the average person today is likewise totally oblivious to the inevitability of Christ's sudden return. They are not alert. They are not unprepared. They are unwatchful for His return. Matthew chapter 24, verse 42, For ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Alertness. That's the second. The third thing is readiness. Christ, here in this portion again, Matthew 24, 43-44, he likens his coming to the invasion of a thief. You'll notice the words there. But know this, that if the good men 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 do ye think not the Son of Man coming." The twofold point of the Lord Jesus Christ is simple and clear. No thief in his right mind would announce his coming. No homeowner in his right mind would leave his house unlocked and unguarded if he knew a thief was coming at a certain hour. And you can pursue it a little further if the homeowner knows for sure the thief is coming. Even if he doesn't know the time of his arrival, he will be on guard continually. He will be prepared for the thief coming. We know that Christ is coming. He's coming again. We do not know the hour of His coming. Therefore, it behoves us to be prepared at all times. Are you prepared tonight for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. Look at this verse of Scripture. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 2. And listen to what the Scripture says here. It says, For yourselves know perfectly the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Again, you have that imagery used. The thief in the night. 2 Peter 3.10. Some further verses here. 2 Peter 3.10. And again, listen to the words of Scripture, what it says. But today the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Again, the same imagery is used. Revelation 3, verse 3, the same imagery. Revelation 16, verse 15, the same imagery is used about the thief. See how this thief imagery is carried through the Word of God. How should we prepare for the Lord's return? He is calling us, first of all, for soul readiness. Is your soul ready for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? He is urging the people to be reconciled to God. The Bible says, Be ye reconciled to God. He is talking about instantly separating people from those who will be damned. Therefore, the readiness He calls for begins with salvation. Matthew 24, 44, Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. Here is the evangelistic appeal to the lost. The evangelistic appeal to you tonight in this service who are not ready to be in a state of readiness for Christ's return. Are you ready tonight? And then I want you to see there's a matter of faithfulness. Look at the end of Matthew 24, verse 44. He comes at such an hour as ye think not. Such an hour as ye think not. Again, Matthew 24, verses 45 to 51. The imagery there in the parable is obvious. The master, if you look at the parable, the master represents Christ. The blessed servant represents faithful believers. The evil servant represents unbelievers. The master's goods are metaphors for the time and the talents and resources and opportunities God entrusts us with. Remember this, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 4 and 7, everything we have has been given to us by God. And we are accountable for how we manage what God has given to us. The time will come when we shall give account. The Bible says in Romans 14 and 12, every one of us shall give account of himself to God. And the return of the master means it's time for the servants to give account. The blessed servant is one finding doing what his master has commanded. And look at verse 46. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing, being faithful in the duties and responsibilities entrusted to him. He is rewarded by being placed in charge of all his master's goods. Verse 47, that represents believers who are found faithful to the Lord. And we have a responsibility as believers in Christ to be faithful in the service and the work that God has entrusted to us to do for Him. The evil servant represents the unbeliever. Verse 48, but and if that evil servant shall sin his heart, my Lord, delayeth His coming. His lack of expectancy gives Him a false sense of security in His evil behavior. He says the Lord is delaying. He is not coming yet. I have time to continue in my sin. I have time to continue in the world. I have time to pursue my pleasures and the things of time and sense. The truth portrayed by the evil servant is a very important point. Everyone will give account for the deeds of his life. Even people who refused to acknowledge the existence of God, He gave them life. He has given them all their possessions and all their abilities. They have nothing but that which God has given them to do. They too are His stewards, albeit unfaithful ones. He has every right to demand an accounting, and He will demand it. At the end of the day, every man, every woman, every boy, every girl, every person will give account to God. You can see the nature of the punishment here in verse 51 of Matthew 24, "...shall cut him asunder, shall appoint him as portion, but the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." is an unmistakable reference to hell here. When you go to chapter 13 of Matthew, you see it again, the terms that are used here. In Matthew 13, verse 42, it says, In this portion of Scripture, Matthew 13, 42, "...and shall cast him into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." The furnace of fire, reference to Hea. Again, looking down that same chapter to verse 50, "...and shall cast him into the furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." He speaks here about the torment of hell, the weeping and gnashing of teeth, the endless sorrow, the torment of hell. The weeping, of course, speaks of grief, personal remorse over squandered opportunities, conscience pangs from the knowledge that one's condemnation is just, anguish from the realization that that judgment is final and the day of salvation has passed. What woe will be the portion of those who at the coming of Christ are unprepared? What woe? The gnashing of teeth speaks of everlasting torment. It speaks of unending pain. It speaks of lostness. It speaks of unadulterated woe. This parable is to show the folly of presuming that the Lord will delay His coming. thus eliminating the urgency of the gospel, he will say, Oh, I have plenty of time. The Lord's not coming yet. The Lord's alaith is coming. The Lord says, When he comes, such will be found unprepared, and the judgment of God shall be upon them. He shall cut them asunder. He shall appoint them as portion with hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This parable, my friend here, is not only a call to faith, but it is a call to faithfulness. Verses 45 to 47. It says, Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler of his household, to give him their meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily, I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. One who is busy, one who is devoted to the task, entrusted to the loyal and obedient servant. When the master returned unexpectedly, he was ready. He was ready. Like the wise virgins in Matthew 25. They were ready when the cry went up at midnight, Behold, the bridegroom cometh. And when the master here returned unexpectedly, he was ready because he stayed ready the whole time his master was away. He took his responsibility seriously. He stayed faithful to his task. And that's the proper mindset of the expectant Christian. Our Lord is coming. The delay doesn't mean that we can be unfaithful. The delay means that we ought to be continually faithful. The delay doesn't mean that there's no urgency about His coming. We dare not be lax. We dare not be lazy. Above all, we dare not lose our sense of watchful expectancy. He's coming. He might delay us coming. He could come sooner. But either way, he should find us alert. He should find us prepared. He should find us faithful. What time is it? This Bible tells us it's the end time. This Bible tells us it's the time of the end. Therefore, let us recognize tonight that time is short. And let us recognize tonight it is time to sing the Lord. And if you're not saved tonight, When you think about the time of the end and the end time and what the Scriptures have had to say to us tonight, may you seek the Lord while He is to be found and call upon Him while He is near. May the Lord bless His Word, His precious Word to our hearts tonight. Let us bow and pray that Thou wilt apply Thy Word to the hearts of those that have heard it tonight. We desire, O God, that Thou wilt speak through Thy Word to the hearts of every listener. We pray that there will be those that will come and trust in Christ tonight and be saved by His wondrous grace. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.