“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)
It appears that one of the problems at Thessalonica was that there was a great deal of speculation about the date of the Lord’s return. Some had even quit their jobs and sold their possessions and so had become burdens on their brethren such was their concern with being ready for the imminent return of Jesus. Paul reassured them that certain signs would take place before that happened. We can interpret these signs as heralding His return but in fact no one knows when this will actually occur. He will return unexpectedly like a thief in the night to set in place a series of events which no one can change or forestall. We who are in Christ do not have to worry for we will be spared the wrath of God which has already been poured out on Christ for us.
We believers are not to be overly concerned about the end times because that leads to speculation and idleness. Unfortunately many Christians do love to speculate about the end times. They often dwell so much on the details of the Lord’s return they forget to do God’s work and so millions go to hell because the Church neglects her task. The best thing we can do to be ready for Christ’s return is live our lives in righteousness and charity, always doing the work of the Lord. This would include spreading the good news of forgiveness in Christ, so that when the master returns He will find us doing His work.