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"But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."  Matthew 24:43-44

National Geographic magazine showed through a series of color photos and drawings the swift and terrible destruction that wiped out the Roman Cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in A.D. 79. The explosion of Mount Vesuvius was so sudden, the residents were killed while in their routine: men and women were at the market, the rich in their luxurious baths, slaves at toil. They died amid volcanic ash and superheated gasses. Even family pets suffered the same quick and final fate. It takes little imagination to picture the panic of that terrible day.

The saddest part is that these people did not have to die. Scientists confirm what ancient Roman writers record - weeks of rumblings and shakings preceded the actual explosion. Even an ominous plume of smoke was clearly visible from the mountain days before the eruption. If only they had been able to read and respond to Vesuvius' warning!

With tireless regularity, every year, Christmas and Easter remind us of the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth as a babe and then, as a man, died on the cruel Roman cross for the sins of lost mankind. This also reminds and warns us that Jesus promised he would come to earth a second time, but this time it would be as King of kings and Lord of lords to put down all reign of terror and to take his true followers to be with him forever in heaven. As every prophecy in God's Word about Christ's first coming was fulfilled in minutest detail, we can be just as certain that the prophecies promising his second coming will also be fulfilled in detail.

When Jesus' disciples asked him what would be the signs of his coming again, he said that there would be many "rumblings" (warning signs); that is, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, pestilences, "Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things BEGIN to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."  (Luke 21)

Could all the wars, violence, deathly disease, disasters, and increased terrorism in today's world be part of the warning signs Jesus said would occur preceding his second coming-just as there were warnings preceding the explosion of Mount Vesuvius? Jesus is coming again. The exact day and hour we don't know, but the signs of the times may be an indication that his coming is getting nearer every day.

When he comes, it will be sudden and swift. The important thing is that we are ready NOW. For he will come when the vast majority of people least expect it. Let's not be like the people in the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in A.D. 79 who failed to heed the warnings of Mount Vesuvius and suffered a dreadful quick and final fate. Whatever you do, don't put off any longer making sure that you are ready for Christ's return.

-dick innes