Matthew 24  Jesus, on the last few days of His life, talks to His disciples about the future.  A future which will be marked with tribulation and peril and confusion.  But a future that will end with the coming of the Son of Man to reign forever!
( Now, I am not a theologian, or an expert on prophecy... I write this blog only as a follower of Jesus Christ, listening to my Shepherd's voice as I read and meditate on His Words. These are my thoughts as I seek to hear His Voice.)

As Jesus begins to answer His disciples' question about the coming of the end of the age... He warns us several times to not be mislead. V4-5 "See to it that no one misleads you.... For many will come in My Name saying 'I am the Christ', and will mislead many." And, again in v23-24 "Then, if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ' or 'There He is', do not believe him......For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." 
The second instruction that Jesus gives us is "...see that you are not frightened..." v6
Then He goes on to list a lot of frightening things!  Wars.  And more wars.  Nations against nations.  Kingdoms against kingdoms. Famines.  Earthquakes. Persecution of believers.  Hatred of believers.
False prophets.  Lawlessness.  Loveless people.  And that is just the beginning of the "birth pangs".
A tribulation so great that no one can live through it,  greater than ever before on this planet, is coming.  A tribulation greater than the flood during Noah's days.

But, then Jesus, the Son of Man, will come and cut it off!  We do not know the day or hour.. but this we do know:
v27 "For just as lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be."
v30 ".. and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory."
v33 "... when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door."
v37 "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah."
v42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."
v44 " For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."

Don't be mislead.
Don't be afraid.
Be ready!

If we are ready... if we know His voice and follow Him, the only authentic Christ....  then and only then will be able to keep from being mislead and frightened.
How can we be ready? "Blessed is that slave who his master finds so doing when he comes." The faithful and sensible slave - the one who does the master's will.  The thoughtful, mindful, careful slave, who endures to the end.  The one who is giving food - giving the Bread of Life - to those under his charge(v45-46), so that the "gospel of the kingdom" is preached in the whole world.  (v14)

Father,  we long to be ready for that day, for we long for the return of Christ, our Lord and Savior.   Help us to be faithful and sensible, doing Your will,  sharing the Word of Truth with those that come into our lives.  May we not be mislead or frightened, but may we be ready, and may we endure to the end, so that we might see You in all of Your Glory! To worship and adore You forever!
Thank You for giving us salvation by Grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man.  It is in His Name we pray.  Amen.