We have started Advent this week, which means that there are only four weeks until Christmas.

Jesus came down to earth on, as it were, Christmas day, which is the day in which we celebrate our Lord's first coming. He is coming again, and this we call His second coming [and Second Advent]. And, all of these comings are clearly written down and prophesied by the prophets in the Bible. Isaiah especially prophesied details about the coming Messiah, including his birth. And this was written as much as 700 years before the event. In the book of Micah, the place of His birth is written very clearly. And quite a few faithful people were strongly looking forward to His birth as the time came nearer and nearer. Just like them, we should also be preparing for His coming. Though we live in a different time from those who lived then, it's good to be ready for Christmas.

Read 1 Co. 16:21-22. In this passage, we read the words "Lord, please come soon." It is the Greek word Maranatha, and they used this word in their prayers as well. Here in this part, St. Paul wrote it by himself. "Be there a curse on those who reject God." It sounds so bitter - to read. I wonder why he said such a thing. But, just think of how much work St. Paul did for the Lord and the people. We all know how hard he worked through his life. We, Christians, have the responsibility to spread out the Gospel to the people around us. Through his life, Paul did his best to bring people to the Lord. He did his best. He worked hard enough to leave the very last step up to them. All they had to do was decide by themselves. Paul did all that he ought to have done. So, he could say "Maranatha." He could say, "Lord, I'll leave you the last thing." Reverend John Wesley, the well-used evangelist was once asked what he would do if Jesus were to come back tomorrow. He calmly said, "I would do exactly the same thing as I have always been doing." Well, if it were for me, I would be in a panic! Probably, I would have to repent from many sins before I could welcome Jesus back.

I really wonder when He's coming back here. Well, you may know that there are 2500 kinds of languages in the world, including the unique languages of some small tribes. Out of these, 2100 languages have the Bible written into their own languages. Personally, I suspect that when the Bible is finally translated into every single language, Jesus will come back. Now, in Re. 22, the New World is described. There is no sorrow, no night, and no evil there. After letting John see this vision of the New World, He said "I am coming soon." This can be found in verses 7 and 12. Then He continues in verse 14 by saying that the people would be seperated into two groups. One group was to be those who had been blessed due to their deeds and given the eternal life needed to enter into the New World. The other, of course, would be the reverse.

Right now, at this time of the year, I would like to really beg you to make a decision to be among those who will be the blessed. The feature of the people who wouldn't accept God is that they were strongly attached to the evil spirits. Calling back the dead people's spirits or committing sexual immoralities, idol worshipping, or other kinds of evil deeds are prohibited by the Bible. All of those things are in fact related directly to evil spirits. Jesus encourages us to say "Maranatha!" all of the time. He knows those that those of us who can truly say this will be fully prepared for His second coming, being as they are totally seperated from evil.

This Christmas is certainly the last Christmas in the 1900's. We will finally step into the year 2000. We would like to prepare to welcome Jesus soon.

The other day, I had a chance to listen to a certain tape. It was about a church that is well-used in the gospel choir evangelism, and special gatherings for young mothers. The lady pastor of that church confessed that people are so thirsty for the hearing about the real thing at this time of the year that their hearts are often softened enough to hear the truth. We all have a responsibility for these people. Let us be awake spiritually so that we can lead them to our Saviour.

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For Shido's message based on Revelations 22:1, click

Sermon translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
For another sermon see: Oita Evangelical Christ Church
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