Mark 13 The disciples question Jesus about the things to come... the last days, the establishment of His Kingdom, the fulfillment of prophecy.  Jesus begins to teach them about the signs, yet the thing He seems to emphasize the most is that they be ready:

verse 5 "See to it that no one misleads you."
verse 9 "But be on your guard."
verse 23 "But take heed; behold I have told you everything in advance."
verse 33 "Take heed, keep on the alert;...."
verse 35 "Therefore, be on the alert.."
verse 37 "And what I say to you I say to all. Be on the alert!"

There is a lot of debate and speculation about the immanent return of Jesus.  We hear Jesus say, "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."
Yet, what are we to take heed of?  How are we to be alert?  What exactly did Jesus tell them in advance?

Verse 2 - He told them that the great temple would be torn down.
Verse 6- He told them that men would come and proclaim that they themselves are Christ.
Verse 7 - He told them there would be wars.
Verse 8 -He told them there would be battles between nations and between kingdoms; there would be earthquakes and famines in many places.
Verse 9 - He told them that they would be arrested, beaten, and tried.
Verse 12- He told them that families will be ripped apart by each other because of Him.
Verse 13- He told them that they would be hated because of His Name. And that only those who endure will be saved.
Verse 14 - He told them that there will be an "Abomination of Desolation" who will rise up.
Verse 19-  He told them that there will be a great tribulation that will surpass anything ever seen in history since the creation.
Verse 21 - He told them that many will proclaim to see Christ or to be Christ.
Verse 24 - He told them that the sun, moon, and stars will fail.
Verse 26 - He told them that THEN - He will return with power and glory.
Verse 27 - Then the elect will be gathered from the farthest ends of the earth and of the heavens.

He says that we are to take heed of what He has said. We are to be alert and watchful for these signs. That we must not allow ourselves to be deceived or afraid.  Just be ready.  Be like the servant awaiting his master's return - doing whatever the task is that He has assigned to us. To be found faithfully serving Him. So whether it is "in the evening, at midnight, at cock-crowing, or in the morning.." we will be ready.

There will be a time when those who are in Judea will flee to the mountains; fleeing for their lives with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Fleeing with their children.  And we are to pray that it will not be winter... and pray that the Father will shorten those days.

Some believe that the time is coming soon.  That ".. He is near, right at the door." ( verse 29)  May it be so!  But I also pray that we will be ready. Alert. Faithful. Enduring to the end.  And I pray that the gospel will be preached to all nations; that many more will be saved and ready for that day.

Father in heaven,  Your wisdom is perfect and Your works are wonderful.  You have saved us by the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus; the only Christ.  We look to You.  We wait for You.  Help us to stay alert.   Help us to be ready.  Fill us with the power of Your Spirit so that we will take the gospel to all nations.  Please bring salvation to those who are still lost.  I pray for my family members who are still not ready and ask that You would open their eyes, soften their hearts, and bring them to Jesus.
In Christ, the All in all, I pray.  Amen.