Many Bible verses point out the signs and conditions which hold the return of the Lord for His own.

 Some believers are confused about when the time could be. With all the theories of a mid-trib rapture, or a post-trib  rapture, and what I believe to be correct, the pre-trib rapture flying around.

 Ok, for a moment, let's set these theories aside and take a different look. I want to show you, regardless of which rapture theory you believe, what does the Lord say  about the matter. 
 Many folks go to church, worship, pray, study and sing, but never consider the actual arrival of the Lord for His own.

 This study is very important!

 There's one verse that seems to stand out when speaking of the return of the Lord.

Matthew 24:36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, 

 I think everyone has that verse memorized. Even if we didn't have a clue to the time of His arrival, the Bible speaks very clearly about what a servant should be doing.

 It's such an important subject that the Lord Himself taught it in parables for the people to be able to grasp it.
Matthew 24:42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

(just like verse 36 ...knoweth no man)

 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

(if he had only been given  a clue to the time, he would have been watching.)

44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

(there's the catch - got to be watching)

45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? (the watchful servant)
46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. (watching)
47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 
51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 This gives us an image of a man who knew the Lord would return at some point, but he just didn't think it was going to be today!

Matthew 25:30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 He managed to get caught up in the world, and it cost him big time.
 Just like so many today. They profess "Jesus is Lord" but aren't expecting His arrival anytime soon. Even with  the signs/conditions that He told us would be at His coming. 

 Luke 6:46And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
 We see how dangerous this belief can be. If you're not looking for Him today, then you are flirting with disaster.

 Here's another parable taught by Jesus showing the importance of watching and being ready.
Matthew 25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. (virgins representing the believers) 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom/Lord tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

(Revelation 19:9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.)

11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  Left behind!

We see again, these called "foolish " knew their Lord was coming but weren't ready. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

 Notice that those virgins cried out, Lord, Lord. They know the Lord, and they are standing there at the door. But.....
Matthew 7:21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 Talk about rejection. Wow. Let me ask you this, have you prophesied, cast out devils, or done many wonderful works? These did, and still didn't make it. These left behind will be believers going into tribulation. It will then cost them their lives to enter heaven.

Mark 13:32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter (keeper of the door) to watch.
35Watch 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: 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. (slacking)  37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

 I think that by now you can see the importance of watching. Jesus certainly stresses this subject over and over!
Luke 13:24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
 Wow! Imagine that. Standing in judgment, in heaven, before all those you've read about through out the Bible, and then - being cast out. We see it can happen. It's time to get serious about the Lords coming! I believe it's  soon. Even if you disagree with that, you can still see that it's very important to be watching NOW.
Luke 21:25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads (watch); for your redemption draweth nigh. When those things begin. Not when they're well under way or passed, but when they've started happening.

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (partying), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things (judgments) that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Watch and pray! It's the only escape!
  *Notice all the verses I've used up to this point were spoken from the mouth of Jesus Himself.*

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

1Thessalonians 5:6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1 Peter 4:7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Doesn't that suggest He won't appear to those who are not looking? Just like in the parable of the virgins.
  One more time from the Lord Himself. Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.   
 Obviously saying, He will come as a thief, only to those not watching!
 Isn't that really clear? We have got to be watching!

 In every situation that the Lord speaks of, those that were not watching ended up on the other side of the door knocking, saying, Lord, Lord, let me in. By then it's too late. It will then cost your life in the name of Jesus to enter in. These watching are the only group we see entering in without death, to the marriage supper. Those that are left out, will be the brethren being killed in tribulation. 
Revelation 6:9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

 You can certainly see how important it is to be ready for whenever the Lord comes.

 There are so many verses that point to the time frame of the Lords coming, as NOW! Even if you don't believe that, you can still see the need for a watchful eye. If you're not watching and he does return then what? How are you going to feel when you first hear the news and find out millions have vanished from the face of the earth and millions of graves have burst open and those bodies are missing too? You will know exactly what has taken place, but then it's too late to do anything about it.

Don't be one of these knocking at the door saying, "Please Lord let me in". You also would be missing out on the watchers crown of 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 Do you love the thought of His appearing and leaving behind everything you have in the world? All of your hopes,  dreams and goals for your life.
 I hope this has shined a different light on the situation.
Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.