I started writing this series of posts about the Second Coming in September 2014. Over these past months, I've talked a lot about the difficult conditions and frightening events that will lead up to Christ's advent. But here in contrast is an interesting passage to consider:

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:37–39; emphasis added.)

That is, in spite of upheaval in the last days, life will continue on as it always has to a degree. We'll eat, drink, marry, have children, and pay the mortgage and on and on. In some ways, life will seem as it always has, although many events that we witness, either near or far, will be petrifying. Perhaps this is why the Second Coming will overtake us as "a thief in the night." We'll be preoccupied and won't see it coming.

In His Olivet discourse, the Savior spoke of the evil servant who will be caught off guard:

But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:48–51; emphasis added.)

Though devastation may be widespread, the entire earth will not be a smoldering heap when Christ comes. There may be a hint of normalcy around us, and the spiritually drowsy will not perceive the signs readily if at all.

I don't know what normal will look like in those days but it will be normal enough to catch many off guard.

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35–37.)

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