I am an advocate for military service for young men and women. I wish that our military could persuade more young people to volunteer for at least two years of military service because the benefits of focus and discipline cannot be ignored. Matthew 24:36-44 is a passage that calls for the church to remain alert as if one is to wait for someone important to come home. It is a call by our LORD to be ever diligent, alert, and disciplined in the faith longing for and open to our LORD’s glorious second coming to judge the nations and to gather his elect to himself. Jesus' Olivet Discourse with his disciples is all about HIS parousia. His second coming will be grand indeed, but Jesus drives home the point that despite no one knowing when this will be, not even the Son of God who comes. Despite the details given in Matthew 24 [and the parallel passages of Mark 13:32-36 & Luke 21:29-33] Jesus' intent is clear in that he expects his disciples, HIS church, to be always awake 21:29-33] Jesus' intent is clear in that he expects his disciples, HIS church, to be always awake to the signs and imminent coming of our LORD again. He describes the details of the parousia with prophetic language that demands a measure of faith from the limited mind of the disciple. God the Father alone knows. He is omniscient. He is the original and primary knower of all things, especially of the day and time of the great Day of the Lord. Let's dig into Matthew 24:36-44 together