But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
Such a verse as this, along with many others similar to it, is a problem to some people.  "The night is far spent, the day is at hand"  (Romans 13:12), "The Lord is at hand"  (Philippians 4:5), "The coming of the Lord is at hand" (James 5:8), "It is the last hour" (1 John 2:18), "The time is near"  (Revelation 1:3).  What is actually meant by all such expressions in the New Testament? Throughout this series, it has been repeatedly pointed out that neither Christ nor any of the holy apostles believed that the time of the Second Advent of Christ was a thing of their lifetime.  See article, "Speedy Return of Christ," in my Commentary on 1,2Thessalonians, 1,2Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, pp. 18ff.  The entire New Testament was written as a spiritual guide for the redeemed, and it is most likely that every one of such expressions noted above was for the purpose of inspiring watchfulness and preparedness on their part.  Christ plainly said that not even he himself knew the "day or the hour" of the events of final judgment  (Matthew 24:36); and it is irresponsible for anyone to affirm that the apostles decided, in spite of this, that they knew when the Second Advent would be.  It is fundamentalist modernist scholars who insist on taking these words of the apostles literally.  The church of all ages has had no difficulty at all in construing them spiritually.  There is a simple, glorious truth in such expressions for everyone on earth.  As Barclay said: