What to expect in the "End Time"

What to expect in the "End Time" - according the to Olivet Discourse

The Olivet Discourse
- The "Olivet Discourse" is the teaching of Jesus on the Mount of Olive about the End Time
- The teaching can also be found in Matthew 24 and Mark 13
  I will only discuss Matthew 24 here... because it is the most detailed of the accounts.

Text of the Olivet Discourse

The prediction as given by Jesus:

Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out and departed from the temple. And His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, There shall not be left here one stone on another that shall not be thrown down.
Mat 24:3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must occur; but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for My name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then many will be offended, and will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets will rise and deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will become cold.
Mat 24:13 But he who endures to the end, the same shall be kept safe.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come.
Mat 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).
Mat 24:16 Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.
Mat 24:17 Let him on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house;
Mat 24:18 nor let him in the field turn back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day;
Mat 24:21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And unless those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ! Or, There! Do not believe it.
Mat 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you beforehand.
Mat 24:26 Therefore if they shall say to you, Behold, He is in the desert! Do not go out. Behold, He is in the secret rooms! Do not believe it.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered.
Mat 24:29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Mat 24:30 And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When its branch is still tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near.
Mat 24:33 So you, likewise, when you see all these things, shall know that it is near, at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass until all these things are fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not the angels of Heaven, but only My Father.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark.
Mat 24:39 And they did not know until the flood came and took them all away. So also will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:40 Then two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Therefore watch; for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the steward of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be dug through.
Mat 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for in that hour you think not, the Son of Man comes.
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord has made ruler over His household, to give them food in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his Lord shall find him doing so when He comes.
Mat 24:47 Truly I say to you that He shall make him ruler over all His goods.
Mat 24:48 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delays His coming,
Mat 24:49 and shall begin to strike his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken,
Mat 24:50 the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he does not look for Him, and in an hour which he does not know.
Mat 24:51 And He shall cut him apart and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them.
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there be not enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.
Mat 25:13 Therefore watch, for you do not know either the day or the hour in which the Son of Man comes.
Mat 25:14 For it is as if a man going abroad called his own servants and gave them his goods.
Mat 25:15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his ability. And he went abroad at once.
Mat 25:16 And going he who had received the five talents traded with them, and made another five talents.
Mat 25:17 And likewise he who had received two, he also gained another two.
Mat 25:18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the earth and hid his lord's silver.
Mat 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and took account with them.
Mat 25:20 And so he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have gained five talents above them.
Mat 25:21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
Mat 25:22 He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained two other talents above them.
Mat 25:23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
Mat 25:24 And he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Lo, you have yours.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said to him, Evil and slothful servant! You knew that I reaped where I did not sow, and gathered where I did not scatter,
Mat 25:27 then you should have put my money to the exchangers, and coming I would have received my own with interest.
Mat 25:28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will abound. But from him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him.
Mat 25:30 And throw the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 25:31 But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory.
Mat 25:32 And all nations shall be gathered before Him. And He shall separate them from one another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats.
Mat 25:33 And indeed He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats off the left.
Mat 25:34 Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in;
Mat 25:36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.
Mat 25:37 Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink?
Mat 25:38 When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You?
Mat 25:39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
Mat 25:41 Then He also shall say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Mat 25:42 For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink;
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.
Mat 25:44 Then they will also answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?
Mat 25:45 Then He shall answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.

Context of the prediction
- The context is clear. The disciples asked Jesus about the End Time:
- It is interesting to see that the disciples asked about sign of Your coming - while Jesus is right there...
  It is as if they knew He will come again !

The beginning of the End Time period and signs of End Time

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many.

Before Jesus' second coming, there will be people on earth claiming that they are Jesus...
Not only that, the prediction says: they will decease many
For what reason would you want to deceive people ? Financial gain !!!

It dawned on me one day that Jesus was not only predicting that such an event will happen, but more importantly, He described the state of the world in which such an event can happen.

You see, for almost 2000 yrs, anyone who would dare to claim to be Jesus would be killed !!!

Before Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome, Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire.
Any mortal who dares to claim to be Jesus would surely be cruxified.
From Constantine to the Enlightment, the Roman Catholic Church was very powerful in controlling heretics.
Any mortal who dares to claim to be Jesus would surely be burned at the stake.

So only recently, a cultural environment (new age) emerged that wouldnot only tolerate individuals that make such a cliam, but in fact make such individual wealthy (you need have financial benefit from the claim to make it last...)

Reality Check:

This prophecy has already been fulfilled.
Here is a list on Wikipedia of people who claimed to be Jesus: click here
There is a person called "Miranda Jesus" who is benefitting financially from his pretense:
So we see Jesus' words from almost 2000 yrs ago being fulfilled in front of our eyes...
That is just incredably exciting.

Mat 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must occur; but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There are wars throughput human history, so Jesus must not be talking about war in general but specific wars...
I believe these are wars that the nation of Israel will fight; not just any nation in the world.
Now, Israel did not exist as a nation until 1948 - before this time, this prophecy cannot be fulfilled.
For a long time since Israel defeated the Arabian Armies in the Six Day War in 1967, it was relatively peaceful.
But since the 2nd Lebanon War in 2006 ( clcik here) with Hezbollah, Israel's military supremacy has been challenged and the Middle East is like a power keg - it can explode any time.
Right now in 2009, there is plenty talk (rumors) of wars. Iran is developing nuclear weapons to attack Israel, Syria wants the Golan Heights back. Palestinians want Israel to get out of the West Bank. And so on...
I think this prophecy has also be fulfilled...
This sign is about to be fulfilled !!!
The agent that will fulfill this prediction is already travelling around the globe - but surprisingly, very few people are aware of this fact
A little background first... In the 1950's, scientists have developed high-yield and desease-resistant varieties of wheat ( click here). The results were an abundance in crop yield and they called this the Green Revolution. Before the Green Revolution, wheat harvests were often attacked by deseases such as rust fungus.
Until 1999, wheat production was safe from deseases. But in 1999, a new strain of stem rust fungus has emerged that can destroy the wheat plants !!!
This new fungus is called Ug99 and it can destroy over 90% of the wheat crop. This fungus originated in Uganda in 1999 (hence the name Ug99) and in 2007, the fungus has arrived in Iran. Furthermore, the prevailing wind is eastward and will blow the fungus towards the wheat producing areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India - the "bread basket" of Asia. It may arrive in a year or two.
Resources on Ug99:
Scientists know that the Ug99 fungus will arrive in the wheat belt of Asia in a few years. When it does arrive, it will cause damage to the wheat crops - it's almost 100% effective; in other words: wheat yield is almost zero !
So this famine is not a matter of if it will happen, but when it will happen !!!
Pestinances are deseases.. more specifically, very contageous deseases.

Right now in 2009, there are 2 strains of flu viruses that can fulfill this prophecy:

The Avian flu H5N1
The avian flu has been around for several years already. It is very deadly but it is not very contageous. H1N5 has not yet (in 2009) developed the ability to pass from human to human. This ability is essential to cause a pandemic.
Wikipedia page on Avian Flu: click here
The Swine flu H1N1
The swine flu broke out quickly in April 2009 from Mexico. This flu can be passed from pig to human and vice versa human to pig. It contains genetic material from human, pig and avian viruses (yes, all 3 variants). This virus is very contageous but as in the summer of 2009, it is not very lethal. However, do not be complacent because the Spanish flu virus that caused the pandemic in 1918 started out as low levl lethal virus in the summer of 1918, but mutated into a deadlier form in the winter of 1918.
Wikipedia page on Swine Flu: click here

There is the distinct possibility that the highly contageous swine flu virus can take some genetic material from the highly deadly avian flu virus, and the result would not be pretty...

Mat 24:7 ... and earthquakes in different places.

Here are some earth quake statistics:
You can clearly see the number of earthquakes has nearly doubled in the past 20 years. If you only count the "stronger ones" (those with magnitude 4 or above), you can see the same pattern: increasing number of earthquakes.

Next: putting Christians through the ultimate test

Next (i.e., chronologically posterior), things will get much worst for Christians.

NOTE:

There is a popular doctrine called "pre-tribulation repture" that teaches that Christians will be "taken" out of this world before the persecution starts (so they will not have to suffer)

This is a lie - according to Jesus' own words, the gathering of believers happens after the tribulation:

after the tribulation of those days

He shall send His angels

they shall gather His elect

The above verses clearly says that the gathering of His elect (rapture) happens after the tribulation. This is what the Bible says. My job is to tell you the truth, nothing but the truth. It is your won choice to believe the Bible or to keep believing the pre-tribulation lie. I do know one thing: His sheep will hear His voice and will follow Him .

NOTE:

I know more than half of the readers will leave this webpage right now - these want to believe that they will not have to go through the suffering
Sorry, I cannot offer you any comfort in going through the End Time; because all I want to offer you is the truth.
In the Tribulation period, the persecution comes from Islam and the "easy way" out of the suffering is to convert to Islam - but this way will leads to hell. But.. the sad fact is that Jesus has predicted that this is exactly what many believers will do:
The easy way out of persecution (conversion) will send them to hell...
For those that remain reading, these pages will provide information and guidance to help you get through the tribulation and see the return of our Lord.

Mat 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for My name's sake.

Christians will then be singled out and persecuted
The political climate is against Christian values. In May 2009, the US Congress made it a Federal crime for preacher to preach against homosexuality: click here

The most likely scenario is this:

Christians are persecuted and are forced to convert
The true Christians will no doubt go underground.
But the weaker ones will indeed abandon their faith (convert) and in the process, will even betray their "brethren"

In the series of notes on Daniel and in the book God's war of Terror by Walid Shoebat, I conclude that the origin of persecutions is Islam.

Islam fits well as the Anti-Christ entity in the End Time predictions. The persecution of Christian in the Edn Time fits well with Islam being the persecuting agent, because Islam commands the Muslims to convert all unbelievers. (Christians are considered as unbelievers) to Islam. Those who refuse to convert will be beheaded.

Islam also fits in the End Time predictions because it teaches the coming of a great ruler (named the Mahdi) that will conquer the whole world for Allah.

Here's a great website that compares Bible and Islam teachings on the end time: click here

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets will rise and deceive many.

From my research into the End Time, the scenario will play out as follows.

Islam expects a certain "Jesus" to descend from heaven to help this Mahdi person to establish the Islamic Empire. Here is a video that give you some information on the Islam's Mahdi and the Islam's Jesus - the information on Jesus is found towards the end of the video, make sure you don't miss this nugget:

When this Islamic "Jesus" arrives, he will proclaim that Allah is the true god. This Islamic "Jesus" will perform great miracles. This is a great deception and it will fool many Christians into believing this False Christ.

Why would so many Christians believe him ? Here's why:

According to Acts 1:20, the way that Jesus will return is to descend from heaven.

What better way to persuade Christians to believe a false Christ than to come in the way that is prescribed ?

But this "Jesus" will not teach that he died for our sins; in fact, he will say that he has never died... (That's what it is taught in the Quran !)
Instead, this false Christ will proclaim that all Christians should be converted to Islam and worship Allah...

I arrived at this scenario based on Islam's teaching - it has many similar anti-parallel prediction of the coming of an Islamic Jesus: click here

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will become cold.
Mat 24:13 But he who endures to the end, the same shall be kept safe.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come.

Not much to add to these verses; they speak for themselves...

The Anti-Christ (Islamic Mahdi)

Starting in Matt 24:15; Jesus prophecised about the unvealing of the AntiChrist.

Mat 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).
Mat 24:16 Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.
Mat 24:17 Let him on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house;
Mat 24:18 nor let him in the field turn back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day;
Mat 24:21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And unless those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.

This abomination of desolation is commonly known as the "Anti-Christ" or "man of sin" or "son of perdition".

So what is he doing standing in the holy place ?

Well, the holy place is obviously the Temple of God. What he will do is recorded in 2 Thessalonians:

2Th 2:3 For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition,

2Th 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.

So this abomination of desolation will declare himself to be god.

From my research, the Islamic "Messiah" who is called the Mahdi fits the prophecies. The Mahdi will conqure Jerusalem and will rule from this city. Furthermore, the Mahdi will have the spirit of Mohammed, the holiest man in Islam. He is a prophet - the mouthpiece of Allah. What the Mahdi says will be the word of Allah - whoever disobeys the Mahdi is disobeying Allah. The Mahdi is god on earth...

NOTE:

The common belief is that the Anti-Christ will be revealed "in the middle of Daniel's 70th week":

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease, and on a corner of the altar desolating abominations, even until the end. And that which was decreed shall be poured on the desolator.

These Bible scholars read "Daniel 9:27" as:

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease, and the "abomination of desolation" is also set up at this moment... and on a corner of the altar desolating abominations, even until the end. And that which was decreed shall be poured on the desolator.

I am not completely certain of this interpretation.... I have my doubts about this because of the following verse:

Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the desolating abomination set up, a thousand two hundred and ninety (1290) days shall occur. (MKJV)

Looks like Daniel 12:11 tells us that there is a 1290 days gap between "the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away" and "the desolating abomination is set up"

This puts the timing of the "the desolating abomination set up" at the end of Daniel's 70th week ! (And not in the middle of many believed).

Needless to say that the following is going on:

The AntiChrist has just declared himself to be god;
and as god, he demands worship from everyone.
The followers of the AntiChrist will be actively seeking out "unbelievers" (Christians that say that he is a fake) and these "unbelievers" will be terminated for "blaphemy"

Jesus has in fact warned us of such a time:

Joh 16:2 But an hour is coming that everyone who kills you will think that he bears God service.

At this time, do NOT believe anyone who claim to be Christ or God. You can tell who is a fake by the his mode of arrival.

The appearance of the real Jesus will be as follows:

Mat 24:27 For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Luk 17:24 For as the lightning which lights up, flashing from the one part under heaven, and shines to the other part under heaven, so also shall the Son of Man be in His day.

(BTW, Luke 17 is the parallel passage of Matt 24, Luke 21 is NOT)

When the real Jesus returns, He will be visible everywhere with the naked eye !!!

So if you see someone descend from heaven on TV, that is a fake.

When Jesus returns, you don't need to see Him on a TV set - you can be anywhere in the world, just look up to witness His return !!!

The False Doctrine of Pre-tribulation Rapture

A popular doctrine in the US is the Pre-tribulation Rapture where the believers are "raptured" (taken out) before the Tribulation period begins.
People call this doctrine "the secret coming" of Christ.
It's a "comforting" doctrine - but I have to call it what it is:

The Olivet Discourse (taught by Jesus Christ Himself) clearly contradicts the Pre-tribulation Rapture Lie:

Mat 24:21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.

....

Mat 24:30 And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory.

Mat 24:31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (HERE is when the rapture happens).

Jesus clearly teaches that He will gather His followers (elect) after the Great Tribulation.

I know that I will not persuade anyone who has decided to believe the comforting lie about "Pre-tribulation rapture".

But I also know that those who truly loves Jesus and has been fed the "Pre-tribulation rapture" lie will reconsider - and I am sure that God will lead them to read/hear about this lie.

A warning to be watchful

After tell His disciples (and the reader) what to expect, starting in Matt 24:43, Jesus warn Christians to be alert about His coming:

Mat 24:42 Therefore watch; for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.

Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the steward of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be dug through.

Mat 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for in that hour you think not, the Son of Man comes.

I have gone over this before, although we don't know the hour (=precise time) of His coming, we can know the approximate time. That's why Jesus tell us to watch

An interesting question to ask is:
The common answer is "be prepared"
I think the answer is given by Jesus Himself in the last verses in Matt 24 and the first half of Matt 25 (remember, chapter division is not present in the original Greek maniscript - somebody in a later century inserted them for "convenience")
I believe that the first half of Matt 25 is related to the End Time warning in th Olivet Discourse

A warning to be materially prepared

Read Jesus' final exhortation:
Jesus is warning us to have food in reserve !!!

Now read the parable of the foolish virgins in Matt 25:

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Mat 25:3 The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them.

Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him.

Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

Mat 25:8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.

Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there be not enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.

Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.

Mat 25:11 Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.

Clearly the 5 foolish virgins were not prepared and the common interpretation is that "oil" represents the Holy Spirit and that they were not prepared spiritually

But notice what the virgin were told to do:

Mat 25:9 ....go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.

I for one do NOT think that you can buy Holy Spirit (in fact, Peter cursed Simon - a soccerer - when he tried to buy the Holy Spirit - see Acts 8:19)

I also believe that Jesus (Son of God) is wise enough NOT to tell a parable where the interpretation is buying Holy Spirit

So "oil" in the parable must be something other than "Holy Spirit"...

Perhaps it is related to this episode where you must submit to the AntiChrist to buy stuff:

Rev 13:16 And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads,

Rev 13:17 even that not any might buy or sell except those having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name.

If you are not food-wise prepared, then death through starvation is better than taking on the mark and buy food, because taking the easy way out leads to hell:

Rev 14:9 And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice, If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark in his forehead or in his hand,

Rev 14:10 he also will drink of the wine of the anger of God, having been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented by fire and brimstone before the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.

If you take on the mark; it is an proof positive that you love your life more than your Creator - that in fact is - in God's eyes (and only God's perspective matters) - idolatry !

God hates idolatry more than anything !

Day and hour no one knows, no, not the angels of Heaven, but only My Father

Many Christians takes this to mean we won't know the day and hour of Jesus' return
This interpretation results in contradicting statements in the Bible

Consider these verse:

Hebrews 10:25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brethren are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Revelation 3:3 If therefore thou shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and thou shall not know what hour I will come upon you.

Why would Jesus put a condition on this statement ???
What's the point of watching if we don't know when He's coming ?
Or is Jesus saying that we do know when He is coming if we watch ???
No sure about you, but when I say "if you don't stop, I will punish you"; the statement implies that I will not punish you if you do stop
So I take the verse to mean: If you will watch, then I will not come on you as a thief

People are beginning to believe that we are told about the day that Jesus will return by understanding the prophecies:

See: click here

Day that no one konws: Yom Teruah
- This Jewish Christian makes a compelling claim that the day that no one knows is the Jewish new year - or Yom Teruah
  - Can We Know The Day?: click here
  - The Significance of Yom Teruah: click here