Do you
know what lies ahead in your future or the future of your nation or world? Can anyone know the future for sure? We aren’t living in ordinary times. The way the world is going one can be sure
the end is nearing. Are you ready to
meet Jesus?
We’ve
all heard that Jesus will be coming back whether we are Christians or not. In fact Jesus Himself referred to His return
many times. About ½ of the Bible is
prophecy and much of it is about the end times.
These prophecies are throughout the Bible so it must be important. Therefore, it should be important to us. Actually it should be the most important
thing to us.
The
first time Jesus came in somewhat of an obscurity, but the 2nd time He
comes every eye will see Him and the entire world will witness this event. We don’t know how this will happen, but we
know we have a mighty and powerful God and nothing is impossible for Him. By His coming everything will be made right
again.
In Matthew 24 Jesus was asked by His
disciples what were the signs of the end of the age. He told them there would be birth pains and
gave some examples. There are many current
events we could call birth pains:
Rise of
false prophets and teachings
Wars
and rumors of wars
Famines
and earthquakes
Love of
many believers growing cold
Morals
becoming less accepted
People
abandoning their Christian faith
People
exchanging the truth for lies
Disunity
of fellow believers
Political
oppositions
Every
kind of evil and wickedness
Suppression
of truth
Worldwide
anti-Semitism toward Jewish people
Shameful
lust – women with women and men with men
More
people full of envy, murder, deceit, hate
God
haters, slanders, gossips
Disobedient
children
People
who know right from wrong but continue doing wrong
When
will He return? Jesus
said no one knows the day and hour. He
said He Himself didn’t know - at least while he was here on earth. He said not even the angels know. Only the Father in Heaven knows. “No one knows about
that day or hour not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the
Father.” – Matthew 24:36. People keep trying to predict the time. Think of it this way – Romans 13:11 says “… our salvation is
nearer now than when we first believed.” We aren’t supposed to try to determine the
time, but we are supposed to be ready at all times.
Would
you say you are ready by the hatred you have in your heart for those who oppose
you?
How
about the gossip and lies that come out of your mouth?
Are you
using your tongue to build others up or tear them down?
What
about all your selfish behaviors?
The
Second Coming is predicted in all 4 gospels, Acts, Paul’s epistles, James,
Peter and John. If He
is returning, shouldn’t you be ready?
You should know the signs that precede His return and not be
ignorant. “Be
always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about
to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” – Luke 21:36.
After
we see all these types of signs, the Rapture will occur. The Rapture is when Jesus calls all believers
to Himself. Jesus has gone to heaven and
prepared a place for all believers (John
14:1-6). So this could happen anytime without warning and
as fast as the blink of an eye. There
will be no sign or announcement. When
the Rapture occurs, He will raise all dead and with the living believers He
will call them up to Him in heaven. He
will bring them before the judgment seat of Christ and reward them on the works
they have accomplished. This is not a
judgment of salvation, but a reward.
Many
scholars say the timing of the Rapture will begin a seven-year period known as
the Tribulation. The Tribulation will be
divided into 2 halves with each lasting 42 months (see Daniel 9; Revelation 13). During
the 1st half the Antichrist will arise and deceive the world. The 2nd half is called the Great
Tribulation when many will not survive. “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the
beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again. If those days had no been cut short, no one
would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”
– Matthew 24:21-22. Revelation
4-16 describes visions of these end days.
After
the Great Tribulation:
“Immediately after the Great Tribulation the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens will be shaken.” – Matthew 24:29.
“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and
all the nations of the earth will mourn.
They will see the son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power
and great glory. And he will send his
angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four
winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” – Matthew 29-31.
What is
Jesus waiting for? Jesus is
waiting patiently to return, because He is giving everyone as much time as
possible to choose to follow Him. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some
understand slowness. He is patient with
you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
– 2 Peter 3:9.
When
Jesus returns, it won’t be a secret. He
will come in glory with His angels. Revelation 5:11 says there are
thousands of angels and ten thousand times ten thousand angels. “For the Lord himself
will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel
and with the trumpet call of God.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16. “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see
him, even those who pierced him; and all the people of the earth will mourn
because of him.” – Revelation 1:7. So there won’t be anyone missing it.
Then
comes God’s wrath. He will send seven angels
with seven plagues of horrible destruction. (Revelation 15-16). Then all
people left on earth will understand just who God is. There is only one real God in charge. The disagreements of who should or should not
be president will not matter. He created
everything and everyone. He rules over
all people and all nations. He is in
charge of governments, sets up outcome of elections, and the rise of kings and
dictators throughout the earth.
Are you
a believer? If
not, what are you waiting for?
Tomorrow may be too late.
Join me here next time
-- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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