Holy Spirit Fire

The Great Flood is considered the great divider between a wicked (not awake and alert in their spirits, spiritually dead) humanity, and God’s start towards fashioning a remnant (an awake and alert) redeemed people with the family of Noah.

We are told that at the end of time, again, humanity will be wicked (asleep), and that God’s judgement will come unexpectedly.

As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark, and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away–so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [Gen. 6:5-8; 7:6-24.]  Matthew 24:10, 12-14, 37-39 AMPC

Jesus’ second and final return comes not with flood waters but with fire, and as the waters were a divider between peoples in Noah’s day so will be His Holy Spirit fire.

I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, constrained) until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;. Luke 12: 49-51

I (John the Baptist) indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  Matthew 3:11

So, what must you do to be ready?

First, know the signs,

To begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires  2 Peter 3:3 AMPC

And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity… Matthew 24:10

Second, Jesus instructs,

And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs. Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. Keep your loins girded and your lamps burning And be like men who are waiting for their master to return home from the marriage feast, so that when he returns from the wedding and comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.

For,

Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are those servants whom the master finds Awake and Alert and watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself and have them recline at table and will come and serve them! But if that servant says in his heart, My master is late in coming, and begins to strike the menservants and the maids and to eat and drink and get drunk,…And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act as he would wish him to act shall be beaten with many [lashes]…  Luke 12:15, 31, 35-37, 45, 47,  49-51 AMPC

Therefore, respond to the invitation of Jesus.  Do not reject the righteousness He affords us for it is the only way to the Father.

… Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience] that is coming? Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart];   Matthew 3:2, 7-8  AMPC

For,

…Isaiah calls out (solemnly cries aloud) over Israel: Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, only the remnant (a small part of them) will be saved [from perdition, condemnation, judgment]! For the Lord will execute His sentence upon the earth [He will conclude and close His account with men completely and without delay], rigorously cutting it short in His justice. [Isa. 10:22, 23.] It is as Isaiah predicted, If the Lord of hosts had not left us a seed [from which to propagate descendants], we [Israel] would have fared like Sodom and have been made like Gomorrah. [Isa. 1:9.] What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did not follow after righteousness [who did not seek salvation by right relationship to God] have attained it by faith [a righteousness imputed by God, based on and produced by faith], Whereas Israel, though ever in pursuit of a law [for the securing] of righteousness (right standing with God), actually did not succeed in fulfilling the Law. [Isa. 51:1.] For what reason? Because [they pursued it] not through faith, relying [instead] on the merit of their works [they did not depend on faith but on what they could do]. They have stumbled over the Stumbling Stone. [Isa. 8:14; 28:16.]  Romans 9:27-32 AMPC

Yes, praise God,

.. it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].  1 Corinthians 1:30 AMPC

May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].  Philippians 1:11 AMPC

Yes,

he who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.  Matthew 24:13-14