Matthew 23-25: The End of Time

'Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees,' Jesus tells them in the temple.   You hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. (Matt. 23:13 NIV)   You set up a lot of rules for others to follow but neglect the most important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness.  To everyone, you look like you're righteous, but inside you're full of greed, self-indulgence, hypocrisy and wickedness. 

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." - Matt 23:37-39 NIV

This started the disciples to thinking and as they left the temple, they asked Jesus to tell them,  "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"  - Matt 24:3 NIV

'There will be wars and rumors of wars.'  he told them.  'Nation will rise against nation, there will be famines and earthquakes.  But these are just the beginning.  Of more importance is what will happen to believers at the end.  Just like in Jesus' day, they will be persecuted.  Many believers will turn away and betray and hate each other.  There will be false prophets and many will be deceived.  The love of the believer for the beloved will grow cold.'

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.  - Matt. 24:21-26 NIV

Keep watch, Jesus told them, for you do not know the day or the hours.  Don't be fooled by a lot of predictions and speculations.  Keep about the Father's business of feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, taking care of the sick, giving the homeless a place to live, and visiting those in prison.  For those who do so,  will be told by the King of heaven and earth: 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'  - Matt 25:34 NIV

Keep watch, Jesus told them.  Keep watch over your heart.