BE PREPARED

In some ways it seems strange. Jesus gave his disciples some pretty clear teaching when they asked "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3) His reply extends from 24:4 through 24:35. Then he says "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." People will be just as surprised as they were in the time of Noah's flood.
With all the prophecies and with Jesus' descriptive language, some believers of almost every generation for 20 centuries have been guessing that they were the ones who would see the end come. We know that in recent months misguided believers followed the misguided teaching of a California preacher and believed that he had  identified the specific 2011 date for Christ's return.
History seems to prove that none of us will "guess" correctly before the grand event. Perhaps God wanted every generation to have "a strong feeling" that the end is near. Jesus does tell us that we - every believer in every generation - need to be prepared in case the master, the bridegroom suddenly arrives. (See Matthew 24:42 - 25:30) Just because his return has "been delayed"; just because on various occasions failed predictions have been made; we have no excuse to live as though there will be no accountability. Jesus makes it very clear - we should live as though "this may be the day."
And of course, this today will be the final day for many believers. Thousands of believers will die today: some whose death is expected after prolonged illness; some who die of an accident or cardiac arrest. Since we don't know when Jesus will return nor when our death may come, we need to live as faithful managers of all He has given each of us.
Humans have become quite adept at accurately (OK, with a good number of mistakes) predicting the weather. Yet with all of the Old Testament prophecy and New Testament teaching, believers thus far have been 100% wrong in predicting the end of the age.
So I am not going to spend time guessing, but I will do my best to "manage" each day, ready to meet my Master - whether it is on that Great Day, or on my day of death. Let's all be prepared for the owner's return!