About the end times (brief thoughts)

Mark 13:1-37
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked privately, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?" 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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
"But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hours, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But they one who endures to the end will be saved.
"But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard, I have told you all things beforehand.
"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I saw to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake - for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning - lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.

I find it amazing how our Lord Jesus responded to the question posed by Peter, James, John and Andrew - you notice they were interested in "when" and "what are the signs"; but the Lord Jesus had more important things to teach them. Sure, it is coming, but the "when" is not the most important. There are other more important things the Lord Jesus wanted to warn them about. I suppose we as a people of God are a type of Peter/James/John/Andrew, interested in the signs and the time, but losing sight of the more important things:
- false christs and false prophets are coming, selling you a gospel of health/wealth/prosperity, don't be deceived by them!
- Yes, there will be earthquakes, famines, wars and rumors of wars, but these are just the beginning of birth pains... (Birth of what you may ask, I believe the birth or the ushering in of a New Heaven and a New Earth)
- in these last days, you will be tortured and flogged and mocked, but endure! For he who endures to the end will be saved! Be on your guard, don't be surprised when these things happen to you.
- "when" will this happen? Even I don't know. Only the Father knows. So, keep awake, stay awake. Do not let yourself be found asleep by the master when he returns.
- Stay awake in what? I believe to stay awake in the work that God has commanded us to do, stay awake with the responsibility that God has given us charge of. And ultimately, this work/responsibility is the debt to love one another. (Romans 13)