Nobody knows when Jesus is coming back.

The well known parable in Matthew 25: 1 – 13, about the ten maidens, five wise and five foolish, Jesus taught first of all, that he will return when least expected, for no one knows the day or the hour of his return.

Secondly, he teaches that we must be ready for his return at any time of our days and lives.

The bridegroom in this parable is Jesus Christ, the heavenly bridegroom. The ten maidens are the expectant and waiting Christian church looking for the return of Christ. The lateness of the bridegroom is the seeming delay of the second coming. The sudden appearance of the bridegroom is the coming of Christ at a time when least expected. And the stern rejection of the foolish maidens is the Final Judgment.

At the end of Matthew 24 and at the start of Matthew 25,  Jesus tells us the same thing five times: that he will return when least expected for no one knows when he returns:

(Mt 24:36) "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

It is God's intention to keep the time of the second coming the best kept secret in the universe.

Do not be concerned and do not speculate about the day or hour of my return, says Jesus. Rather, concentrate on doing your work, on spreading the Good News of the Gospel, on being my witnesses, across the world.

Scripture tells us that because the day and hour is unknown, it will be totally unexpected and will be a shocking experience to many members of the Church.

Nobody knows when Jesus will return!  God has not revealed to us the day or hour of his return. Instead, he reminds us again and again that the time of Christ's return will be unexpected. That's the first important lesson Jesus wants to teach us.

The reason for this cosmic secret is also revealed.

Because we do not know the day or hour, our Lord wants to teach us that we must always, in every circumstance,  be ready, yes, every day and every hour,  to meet him and come before him.

Christian living in the Kingdom of God is simply defined as being ready to meet the Saviour at any time.

In summing up the parable of the Ten Maidens, Christ Jesus says,

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

Keep watch, all the time!