THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN / MATTHEW 24:37

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 24:37

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Ready or Not: Understanding the Coming of the Son of Man

In Matthew 24:37, Jesus gives us a sobering look into the future: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

For centuries, believers have studied these words to understand what the end times will look like. When we look closely at Scripture, we find that Jesus’ promises about His return actually carry a double reference—unfolding in two distinct stages. By looking at the three groups of people present in Jesus’ illustration of Noah’s day, we can find exactly where we stand today and how we should live in anticipation of His return.

The Two Stages of Christ’s Return

Prophecy shows us that the coming of the Son of Man is not a single, isolated event, but a multi-part promise:

The First Stage (The Rapture): Christ returns at an unknown, unexpected moment to rescue His faithful followers and take them to heaven (John 14:3; Revelation 3:10). This happens suddenly, before the world plunges into the dark years of the Tribulation.
The Second Stage (The Second Coming): Christ returns visibly and with great power after the Tribulation. At this time, He executes final judgment on the wicked and establishes His glorious kingdom on earth (Revelation 19:11 – 20:4).

To illustrate how these stages affect humanity, Jesus points us back to the book of Genesis. Within the narrative of the Great Flood, we find three categories of people that mirror the end times.

Three Groups, Three Destinies

1. The Unprepared (The Victims of the Flood)

The first group consists of those who ignore God’s warnings. In Noah’s day, people went about their daily routines—eating, drinking, and marrying—completely blind to the coming judgment.

In the end times, this represents those who continue to refuse Christ, even during the severe trials of the Tribulation. Because they reject the truth, they will not understand the times. When Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation to execute judgment, they will be caught entirely unprepared and face destruction (Matthew 24:38-39; Luke 17:26-28).

2. The Tribulation Saints (Represented by Noah)

Noah and his family represent a second group: those who come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation.

Just as God gave Noah specific timelines and commands (Genesis 7:4), these future believers will have clear prophetic signs to guide them. They will watch the global events unfolding around them and will be able to calculate almost the exact timing of Christ’s Second Coming. Because they read the signs and endure in faith, they will be prepared and physically saved when He arrives to set up His kingdom.

3. Present-Day Christians (Represented by the Disciples)

The third group represents the true Church today. Interestingly, Jesus addresses His words directly to His disciples—the foundation of the Church.

Remarkably, Jesus compares the timing of the Church’s departure not to Noah, but to the flood victims. He tells the disciples, “You do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42), matching the description that the flood victims “knew nothing” until the water swept them away (Matthew 24:39).

Like the people of old, present-day Christians will have no specific, definitive signs marking the exact day or hour of the Rapture. While we can see birth pains in society and nature (Matthew 24:1-14), the Rapture itself will happen suddenly and unexpectedly (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The critical difference is our heart posture. While the world is caught off guard to its own destruction, the Church is called to watch, pray, and be ready at any moment.

Live Ready

We live in the tension of the “unknown hour.” There is no checklist of global disasters that must happen before Jesus can catch His bride away to heaven. He could come today.

The lesson of Matthew 24 is simple: Do not wait for a sign to start living for God. Evaluate your heart today. Are you distracted by the rhythms of the world, or are you living in active anticipation of meeting your Savior face-to-face?

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the clarity of Your Word and the blessed hope of Your return. We praise You that You have not destined us for wrath, but have promised a rescue for those who love You. Lord, look into our hearts today. Forgive us for the times we have become lazy, distracted, or weighed down by the anxieties and pleasures of this world.

Awaken our hearts to the reality that Your return is imminent. Give us an urgency to share Your gospel with those who are still unprepared. Help us to live holy, intentional, and watchful lives, so that when the trumpet sounds and You call us home, we may stand before You with joy and not in shame. We fix our eyes on You, waiting for the day we see You face-to-face.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
Strong’s Concordance
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace