Introduction--Our Lord has given an outline of events that take us to the end of the age and His return from Heaven.-The fact that He CAN do this - tell us what will happen in this world before it happens -, and that He assumes the AUTHORITY to do this, testifies to the greatness of His person. It demonstrates the truth about His identity and nature. Jesus is the Son of God.-But having done this, He now speaks to His disciples about the APPLICATION of His words.-And the concern that Christ demonstrates about the APPLICATION of His words is timeless.-THIS IS WHAT HE ALWAYS WANTS HIS DISCIPLES TO DO.-The majority of the Olivet Discourse is prophetic. It is futuristic. -There are specific aspects of it that will only be able to be applied by the people alive when the events occur. -AND YET THESE WORDS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED AND GIVEN TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF GOD FOR ALL TIME.-Why---One reason is because THERE ARE PRINCIPLES that are made evident through this kind of instruction that are NEEDFUL for ALL OF US.-The words of Christ call for an alertness and a readiness to obey that is timeless.-This morning we think about RESPONDING to Christ's promises.-We have the words of God. We have the words of Christ. How do BELIEVERS respond to those words - whether the words address what ALREADY exists, or they address WHAT WILL exist--