YouTube Formatted Chapters

00:00 - Pre-sermon

00:00 - When Will the End-Times Come?

05:58 - Are You Ready for the End?

07:22 - Post-sermon

Chapter Breakdown

When Will the End-Times Come?

Human curiosity about beginnings keeps us on long journey of discovery

00:00 - 05:58

In Luke 17:2037, we find an intriguing discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees about the coming of the Parousia. Why do we want to know when the end will come? And why does it matter? A global nuclear war would utterly devastate life on Earth.

Are You Ready for the End?

Are you ready for Jesus to return at this very moment

05:58 - 07:22

Would you be ready to meet Jesus if he were to return at this very moment? What does readiness look like? It means repentance. Examine your life now. Repent now. Make things right now. Because tomorrow is not guaranteed, but grace is available today.

Summary

What if the world ended before you finished reading this sentence? Pastor confronts us with the most urgent question we'll ever face—not when the end will come, but are we ready for it? Drawing from Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees in Luke 17, Pastor reveals a startling truth: while we spend billions trying to understand cosmic origins and endings, we remain dangerously unprepared for the most certain reality of all. Jesus himself declared that the kingdom's timing cannot be observed or scheduled, yet humanity races toward potential self-destruction through nuclear warfare and global conflict. Pastor's vivid illustration of a video game's nuclear apocalypse mirrors our sobering reality—one wrong decision could end everything instantly. But there's profound hope in this urgency. God mercifully gives us time between sin and death, not for condemnation but for restoration. The question isn't whether Christ will return today or in 2 billion years when our sun expires—it's whether you're living in readiness right now. Don't wait another moment to examine your life, repent genuinely, and make necessary restitution. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed, but God's grace is available today. Are you ready to meet Jesus face to face?

Do it Now!

Luke 17:20-37

Rabbi Rev. Dr.2 Michael H. Koplitz

Luke 17:20 Now He was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, and He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” 22 And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 “And they will say to you, ‘Look there,’ or, ‘Look here!’ Do not leave, and do not run after them. 24 For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. 25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man: 27 people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, and they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, and they were building; 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 “On that day, the one who will be on the housetop, with his goods in the house, must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one in the field must not turn back. 32 “Remember Lot’s wife. 33 “Whoever strives to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 “There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. 36 [“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”] 37 And responding, they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”

Human beings have a fascinating trait: we want to know how things began. We want to trace origins, to understand where everything came from. Enormous amounts of money and resources have been spent trying to discover how the universe was created. We hear about the Big Bang Theory, and now even newer theories that are said to improve upon it. Astronomers tell us there is more matter and energy in the universe than we can observe, inferred by the way gravity pulls galaxies in different directions.

All of this sounds impressive—and it is—but sometimes we have to ask a simple question: What does this have to do with my daily life?

It is human curiosity about beginnings that keeps us on this long journey of discovery. But let me share a secret with you: I know how the universe began. God said, and it was so. God spoke ten utterances, and from them the universe came into being. I didn’t have to spend millions—or billions—of dollars to figure that out. I simply opened my Bible and read the first few chapters of Genesis.

In Luke 17:20–37, we find an intriguing discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees about the coming of the parousia. That’s a Greek term often translated as “the coming” or “the end times.” The question they ask is straightforward: When will it happen?

Why do we want to know when the end will come? And why does it matter?

The Pharisees approached Jesus with this question because there were many ideas and traditions circulating about what the end of time would look like. We should remember that when the Gospels describe “debates” between Jesus and the Pharisees or Sadducees, they are referring to a normal part of Jewish religious life. Scholars debated Scripture and theology regularly. The Pharisees were not always trying to trap Jesus; often they were genuinely trying to understand where he stood. Asking questions was how you discovered someone’s position.

So they asked him: When will the end come?

Jesus’ answer is surprisingly simple—and profoundly challenging. We do not know. The Kingdom of God does not come in ways that can be observed or scheduled. Jesus could return before this message is finished—or long after it is heard. Even Jesus himself said that the exact timing was not known.

By the end of the first century, around 100 CE, early Christians were becoming anxious. Paul had taught that Jesus would return within his lifetime. But Paul died, and the world kept going. Then the Book of Revelation emerged, and many interpreted it to suggest that the end would not occur for at least 2,000 years. That understanding helps explain why, in 1999, so many people confidently declared that the world would end at the turn of the millennium. History shows us how poorly those predictions turned out.

The truth is this: we do not know when the end will come. But we do know something else that should concern us—we may not need to wait for God to end the world. We may do it ourselves.

A global nuclear war would utterly devastate life on Earth. Humanity has poured enormous resources into developing weapons capable of destroying the planet many times over. Whenever a major conflict begins, the most terrifying fear is the possibility of nuclear escalation.

Consider the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is a nuclear power. Ukraine once was as well, but in the 1990s it gave up its nuclear arsenal as part of agreements with the West. It is chilling to imagine what might have happened had Ukraine retained nuclear weapons—how quickly escalation could have spiraled out of control. Nuclear fallout would not respect borders; it would affect the entire world.

I’m reminded of the video game Civilization, created by Sid Meier. In one version, I advanced my civilization to the point where nuclear weapons became available. Curious, I launched one at an enemy. Instantly, every other nation declared war on me, and nuclear weapons rained down on my empire. I reloaded the game to a moment before that first launch and chose a different path. This time, nuclear weapons were never used.

That game reflects a sobering reality: nuclear weapons exist as deterrents, and so far, humanity has been wise—or fortunate—enough not to use them. We should pray that it remains so. If World War III becomes a nuclear war, we may not need to wait for Christ’s return; we will have destroyed ourselves.

Astronomers tell us that as our sun ages, it will grow hotter. In about two billion years, it will exhaust its fuel and expand into a red giant star, consuming Mercury, Venus, Earth, and possibly even Mars. Long before that, rising heat will make Earth uninhabitable. The terrifying imagery the Hebrew Scriptures use to describe the “Day of the Lord” will, in some sense, become reality.

Will human civilization last that long? Sometimes I wonder how we have lasted this long already. Too often, we seem more committed to killing one another than loving one another. Imagine a world where no one fought over territory or material gain—where nations worked together for the benefit of all humanity. The money wasted on war could instead be used to heal, build, educate, and restore. What a world that could be.

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus warns us about the suddenness of the end. The most important question his message raises is not when the end will come, but are you ready?

If Jesus were to return at this very moment—would you be ready to meet him?

What does readiness look like? It means repentance. It means examining your life honestly, turning away from sin, and making restitution where it is needed.

Jewish and Christian mysticism, particularly the Kabbalah, teaches that God mercifully gives us time between sin and death—not to condemn us instantly, but to allow us the chance to recognize our wrongdoing, repent, and seek forgiveness. God is patient. He wants us restored, not destroyed.

If there is sin in your life that needs repentance—or harm that requires restitution—do not delay. Why the urgency? Because we do not know when the end will come. It could be today. It could be tomorrow. We do not know.

Do not assume you will always have another chance. Examine your life now. Repent now. Make things right now. Be ready to meet Jesus face-to-face—not in fear, but in peace, confident that you will hear the words, “Well done,” and enter into the joy and glory of God.

Because tomorrow is not guaranteed—but grace is available today.

7-Day Devotional: Living Ready

Based on the sermon about Christ's return and readiness

Day 1: This devotional is titled The Mystery of Beginnings and Endings

It is based on the scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-5

Reflection: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Just as we know with certainty how the world began—not through theories but through Scripture—we also know with certainty that God will bring all things to completion. The same voice that spoke creation into existence will one day declare it finished.

Human curiosity drives us to understand origins and predict endings, but faith calls us to trust the Author of both. We don't need to spend billions figuring out what God has already revealed.

Question for Today: Do I trust God's sovereignty over the beginning and end of all things, or do I anxiously try to control what only He knows?

Prayer: Lord, You are the Alpha and Omega. Help me rest in Your sovereignty over time itself. When I'm tempted to worry about tomorrow or obsess over the end times, remind me that You hold all things in Your hands. Amen.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Day 2: This devotional is titled When Questions Meet Divine Silence

It is based on the scripture Reading: Luke 17:20-21

Reflection: The Pharisees wanted a schedule. Jesus gave them a mystery. "The kingdom of God does not come in ways that can be observed."

Even genuine seekers sometimes ask the wrong questions. We want timelines and signs, but Jesus redirects us: the kingdom is already among you. It's not primarily about when but about now—how we live in light of His present and future reign.

God's "I don't know when" isn't uncertainty; it's wisdom. The exact timing remains hidden so we'll live every day ready, not just mark calendars and relax until the predicted date.

Question for Today: Am I more focused on predicting Christ's return or on living faithfully in His kingdom today?

Prayer: Jesus, forgive me for wanting to know what You've chosen to keep hidden. Help me focus less on dates and more on daily faithfulness. Let my life reflect Your kingdom now. Amen.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Day 3: This devotional is titled The Weight of Human Choices

It is based on the scripture Reading: Romans 8:18-22

Reflection: The sermon reminds us that we may not need to wait for God to end the world—we have the power to destroy it ourselves. Nuclear weapons, environmental destruction, and endless conflict show humanity's capacity for self-destruction.

Paul writes that creation itself groans, waiting for redemption. We share responsibility for that groaning. Our choices matter. How we steward resources, resolve conflicts, and treat one another has cosmic implications.

God's patience with our destructive tendencies is astounding. He gives us time—not to continue in sin, but to repent and choose life.

Question for Today: In what ways do my choices contribute to healing or harm in God's creation?

Prayer: Creator God, forgive us for the ways we've abused Your creation and each other. Give me wisdom to choose peace over conflict, restoration over destruction, and life over death in all my decisions. Amen.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Day 4: This devotional is titled Imagine a Different World

It is based on the scripture Reading: Isaiah 2:2-4

Reflection: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."

The sermon asks us to imagine what the world could be if we stopped fighting and started loving. The resources wasted on weapons could heal, feed, educate, and restore. This isn't naive optimism—it's the prophetic vision God has given us.

While we may not achieve this fully before Christ returns, we can begin living toward it now. Every act of peacemaking, every choice to love rather than harm, moves us closer to God's vision.

Question for Today: What small step can I take today to be a peacemaker in my sphere of influence?

Prayer: Prince of Peace, let Your kingdom vision shape my daily choices. Where there is conflict, help me bring reconciliation. Where there is division, help me build bridges. Use me as an instrument of Your peace. Amen.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Day 5: This devotional is titled The Gift of Time Between Sin and Death

It is based on the scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-9

Reflection: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

God's mercy gives us time between our sin and our final encounter with Him. This isn't delay—it's grace. It's opportunity. The space between wrongdoing and judgment is an invitation to turn around, to make things right, to come home.

Jewish and Christian mysticism recognizes this divine patience as one of God's most beautiful attributes. He could judge instantly, but instead He waits, gives space, offers chances.

Question for Today: What area of my life needs repentance? What relationship needs restitution? Why am I waiting?

Prayer: Merciful Father, thank You for not giving me what I deserve but offering me grace instead. Show me clearly where I need to repent and make restitution. Give me courage to act today. Amen.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Day 6: This devotional is titled The Urgency of Now

It is based on the scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Reflection: "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

We don't know when Christ will return. We don't know when our own lives will end. The sermon's challenge is clear: Why wait? If there's sin to confess, confess it now. If there's forgiveness to seek, seek it now. If there's love to express, express it now.

Tomorrow is not promised. But grace is available today. This isn't meant to create anxiety but to inspire action. Readiness isn't a passive state—it's an active choice made moment by moment.

Question for Today: If today were my last, what would I regret not making right? What's stopping me from addressing it now?

Prayer: Lord, give me holy urgency without anxious fear. Help me live as though today matters—because it does. Let me waste no more time in procrastination when grace and opportunity are before me now. Amen.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Day 7: This devotional is titled Well Done

It is based on the scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-23

Reflection: The goal isn't to meet Jesus in fear but in peace. Not trembling at judgment but confident in grace. The words we long to hear are simple: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master."

Readiness means living faithfully with what God has entrusted to you. It means using your gifts, loving your neighbor, speaking truth, pursuing justice, and growing in grace. It means falling down and getting back up, repenting when you fail, and pressing on toward the goal.

When Jesus returns—whether in glory at the end of the age or personally at the end of your life—may He find you faithful, not perfect, but ready.

Question for Today: Am I living in such a way that I could meet Jesus face to face today with peace rather than panic?

Prayer: Jesus, my hope and my salvation, I want to be ready to meet You—not because I'm perfect but because I'm Yours. Keep me faithful in the everyday moments. Help me live so that when I see You face to face, I'll hear "well done" and enter into Your joy. Amen.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Closing Thought for the Week:

Tomorrow is not guaranteed, but grace is available today. Live ready. Live repentant. Live loved. The kingdom of God is among you now.

Group Leader Guide

Sermon Recap 🎬

What if today was your last chance to get right with God? In Luke 17, when Pharisees asked Jesus about the end times, He gave a startlingly simple answer: we don't know when it's coming. Pastor explores humanity's obsession with beginnings and endings—from billion-dollar cosmic research to nuclear war fears—revealing that our real question isn't "when" but "are you ready?" Like the video game Civilization where one nuclear launch triggered global destruction, we're closer to endings than we think. Don't wait for tomorrow's grace when today's repentance could change everything—examine your heart now!

Ice Breaker 🧊

If you could visit any fictional universe for a day, where would you go and what would you do?

Discussion Questions 💬

In Luke 17:20-37, Jesus tells the Pharisees that the kingdom of God doesn't come in ways that can be observed or scheduled. Why do you think people throughout history have been so eager to predict exactly when the end times will happen?

Pastor mentioned that even early Christians became anxious when Paul's prediction didn't come true, and people in 1999 thought the world would end at the millennium. Jesus himself said the exact timing wasn't known.
What are some ways that focusing too much on predicting the future might distract us from living faithfully in the present moment?

The sermon suggests that humanity might destroy itself through nuclear war before Christ's return. How does this possibility change the way we should think about our responsibility to care for the world and each other?

Pastor used the example of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and described how nuclear weapons exist as deterrents, emphasizing that nuclear fallout wouldn't respect borders and would affect the entire world.
In your daily life, what are some practical ways you can be a peacemaker rather than someone who contributes to conflict or division?

Pastor said the most important question isn't 'when will the end come?' but 'are you ready?' What do you think spiritual readiness actually looks like in everyday life?

The sermon explained that readiness means repentance - honestly examining your life, turning away from sin, and making restitution where needed. God gives us time between sin and consequences to allow for repentance and restoration.
Is there anything in your life right now that you've been putting off dealing with - a relationship that needs healing, a habit that needs changing, or forgiveness you need to seek?

The message painted a picture of what the world could be like if people focused on loving rather than killing each other - using war money for healing, building, and education instead. What keeps humanity from achieving this kind of cooperation?

Pastor imagined a world where no one fought over territory or material gain, where nations worked together for everyone's benefit, describing what a wonderful world that could be.
What is one specific way you could contribute to making your community or family more cooperative and loving rather than competitive or divided?

The sermon ended with 'tomorrow is not guaranteed, but grace is available today.' Why do you think people often delay making important changes in their lives, even when they know what's right?

Pastor emphasized the urgency of not assuming we'll always have another chance to repent, make things right, or be ready to meet Jesus, since we don't know when the end will come.
If you knew you only had one week left to live, what would you want to make sure you accomplished or set right in your relationships with God and others?

Prayer 🙏

Take a moment to share any personal prayer requests.
• Ask God to help us remain ready for His return by living lives rooted in repentance and peace.
• Pray for wisdom to use our resources positively, avoiding destructive paths and promoting healing and unity.
• Seek guidance to examine our lives continually and make amends where necessary, embracing God's grace offered each day.

Group Leader Guide

Sermon Recap 🎬

Ice Breaker 🧊

If you could visit any fictional universe for a day, where would you go and what would you do?

Discussion Questions 💬

Pastor mentioned that even early Christians became anxious when Paul's prediction didn't come true, and people in 1999 thought the world would end at the millennium. Jesus himself said the exact timing wasn't known.
What are some ways that focusing too much on predicting the future might distract us from living faithfully in the present moment?

Pastor used the example of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and described how nuclear weapons exist as deterrents, emphasizing that nuclear fallout wouldn't respect borders and would affect the entire world.
In your daily life, what are some practical ways you can be a peacemaker rather than someone who contributes to conflict or division?

Pastor said the most important question isn't 'when will the end come?' but 'are you ready?' What do you think spiritual readiness actually looks like in everyday life?

The sermon explained that readiness means repentance - honestly examining your life, turning away from sin, and making restitution where needed. God gives us time between sin and consequences to allow for repentance and restoration.
Is there anything in your life right now that you've been putting off dealing with - a relationship that needs healing, a habit that needs changing, or forgiveness you need to seek?

Pastor imagined a world where no one fought over territory or material gain, where nations worked together for everyone's benefit, describing what a wonderful world that could be.
What is one specific way you could contribute to making your community or family more cooperative and loving rather than competitive or divided?

The sermon ended with 'tomorrow is not guaranteed, but grace is available today.' Why do you think people often delay making important changes in their lives, even when they know what's right?

Pastor emphasized the urgency of not assuming we'll always have another chance to repent, make things right, or be ready to meet Jesus, since we don't know when the end will come.
If you knew you only had one week left to live, what would you want to make sure you accomplished or set right in your relationships with God and others?

Prayer 🙏

Take a moment to share any personal prayer requests.
• Ask God to help us remain ready for His return by living lives rooted in repentance and peace.
• Pray for wisdom to use our resources positively, avoiding destructive paths and promoting healing and unity.
• Seek guidance to examine our lives continually and make amends where necessary, embracing God's grace offered each day.

Parent Guide

This guide is meant to equip you with discussion questions and conversation starters that you can use throughout the week to continue the conversation about what you and your kids learned on Sunday.

Sermon Summary

In case you missed it, or if you just need a refresher, here's a quick summary of what we talked about this week in the sermon:

In this week's sermon, Pastor explored our human desire to understand beginnings and discussed concepts like the Big Bang theory. He emphasized that Genesis in the Bible provides a divine account of creation through God's utterances. Transitioning to Luke 17, Pastor explored Jesus's discussion with the Pharisees on when the end times or Parousia might occur, illustrating our curiosity about the future. He highlighted the need for readiness, urging listeners to live repentantly and make amends for sins, as the exact timing of the end is unknown. The sermon also considered the potential self-destructive path humanity could take through nuclear warfare, stressing the importance of choosing a path of peace and love instead.

Conversation Starters

These are things you can talk about with your kids to help further the conversation about what they may have learned on Sunday.

Discuss at the dinner table
- What does the beginning of the universe mean to us as a family?
- This relates to Pastor's discussion of creation in Genesis.
During a car ride
- Why do you think it's important to be ready for unexpected changes?
- Derived from Jesus’s teachings about being prepared, from Luke 17.
During a quiet moment like bedtime
- What is one thing you can do to make things right with someone you’ve hurt?
- This ties into the idea of repentance and making amends as discussed in the sermon.
While doing chores together
- How can we as a family contribute to a more peaceful world?
- Relates to the message of choosing peace and love over conflict.
When watching the news together
- What role does our faith play in understanding world events?
- Refers to Pastor's mention of the current global issues like the potential for nuclear conflict.

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YouTube Formatted Chapters

Chapter Breakdown

7-Day Devotional: Living Ready

Day 1: This devotional is titled The Mystery of Beginnings and Endings

Day 2: This devotional is titled When Questions Meet Divine Silence

Day 3: This devotional is titled The Weight of Human Choices

Day 4: This devotional is titled Imagine a Different World

Day 5: This devotional is titled The Gift of Time Between Sin and Death

Day 6: This devotional is titled The Urgency of Now

Day 7: This devotional is titled Well Done

Group Leader Guide

Sermon Recap 🎬

Ice Breaker 🧊

Discussion Questions 💬

Prayer 🙏

Group Leader Guide

Sermon Recap 🎬

Ice Breaker 🧊

Discussion Questions 💬

Prayer 🙏

Parent Guide

Sermon Summary

Conversation Starters

Daily Verse for the Day