In Proverbs, chapter twenty-seven, verse one, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” The theme verse here is similar to the scripture in the New Testament, as in James four, verse fourteen, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Because of the brevity and uncertainty of life, our plans should always be contingent on what the Lord wills, as in James four, verse fifteen, and not on our assumptions. Christ applied this truth about the uncertainty of the future to the necessity of always being ready for the hour of His return.
Mark thirteen, verse thirty-five, “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning.” Christ affirms that His return for the faithful of His churches could occur at four possible times during the night or early morning. This points to the fact that His coming for them could be at any time and emphasizes the unexpectedness and hiddenness of the first stage of His second coming, when the faithful will be caught up from the earth. Since it is imminent and unexpected, all believers must be spiritually alert.
Jesus concludes in Luke twenty-one, verse thirty-four, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” He warns not to be so preoccupied with the pleasures and cares of the world that they fail to be prepared for His coming, which is the Word for God’s people, for all ages.