How do we prepare for End Times?

Many generations have thought to be living in the end of times, and obviously many generations have been wrong. Jesus gave us signs, "birth pains" to be aware of to signal the end, so why so much confusion? Evil has always been personified by true monsters of humanity; Hitler referred most often in recent decades, but the end of days will consist of a delusion so grand that the very elect could be deceived. Could we be in that time now, where evil disguises itself as good, and people believe it, and if so, how do we respond? How to we prepare for a time sure to full of despair and desperation?