And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. Mark 13:5-7, (ESV)

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man... Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming... Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:36-39, 42 & 44, (ESV) 

One of the things that distresses me most is all of the "End of the World" and "Armageddon" talk that always seem to surround any conflict around modern day Jerusalem. The end times are discussed often within the Scriptures, both in the Old Testament and the New, but the discussions are always in the context of preparation rather than anticipation. By that I mean that God has always expected His people to live as those who are ready to meet their Maker, regardless of the time. Had God wanted us to know the date of the Second Coming, He would have revealed that information in plain and clear language within His Word.

He certainly wouldn't have put it in some mysterious "code language" or other type of prophesy that only the privileged few could understand. Had He wanted to do that, He would have told Jesus, but when asked about this very subject, Jesus plainly stated that no one knew about that day, not even the angels or the Son of God. So why would we listen to some modern day fraudster when he claims to have broken the secret code? Why do we look at the Scriptures and say we are hearing of wars and rumors of wars, but then ignore these same Scriptures when Jesus Himself states that these things must take place but that the end is not yet?

So, should we be unconcerned when there are conflicts in the Middle East? Of course not! We should always be concerned about the suffering and ravages brought about by wars, but we shouldn't think that because something is happening in the region where God's chosen people once lived, that this has any bearing on our knowledge of when Jesus will come again.

Instead, we Christians should live our lives with the understanding that this world is not our home, and whether Jesus returns in our lifetimes or we go on to meet Him prior to the Second Coming, the requirement for us is the same: Be ready!

One last thought: One thing that we can know about those who claim a special insight as to the end of the world is that they are contradicting Jesus in this. So, whether this ignorance is intentional or unintentional, it should also make us wonder as to what else they have been mistaken about. For, Jesus could not have been clearer than He was when He told His own disciples that only God knows about that day. Perhaps our time would be much more wisely spent seeking the will of God through His Word, rather than seeking for something that we have been clearly told isn't possible for mortals to know.

Are you ready?

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:44, (ESV)