nor the Son, but only the Father."
(Matthew 24:36, NIV)
Scripture clearly tells us Jesus shall return just like He left. Very quickly, and in the air. "For as the lightning commeth out of the east, and shineth even unto the west: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
(Matthew 24:27)
Jesus will not appear in some city at any certain date in which men foolishly predict. Jesus shall appear in the air. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: And so shall we ever be with the Lord."
(1 Thessalonians 4: 16,17)
It will only take a split second for the children of God to be changed. In the twinkling of an eye,or, one one hundredth of a second (1/100). This is why we must watch and pray, for we know not the day nor hour, Jesus shall return. We will not have time to get ready when He appears. In Luke 21:34, it says, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares for this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."
The tremors that are leading to the greatest earthquake are now being felt throughtout the world. All the statistics are leading toward an increase in earthquakes. Headlines, continue to proclaim was, violence and people dying. The movie theaters are now full of movies concentrating on catastrophic movies. There are germs capable of destroying nations. These are new viruses that can cause a breakdown of the health of nations. Chemical and germ warfare are now a part of wars. Terrorist groups are growing with attacks on other people. More and more marriages are breaking down, with less and less morals. Pornography is on the up rise. Children are being let go to be their own boss. The Third World lives on starvation. Abortion, is on the rise. People are rejecting God and His moral order. Man is seeking his own good like a rebel, and not the good of others.
"Mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having form of godliness, but denying its power.
Have nothing to do with them."
(2 Timothy 3: 1-5, NIV)
God is a just Judge who has already forgiven our sins, if we have accepted His Grace through Jesus Christ. For the responsible, faithful Christian, judgment is not a threat, but a blessing."
"Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."
(Matthew 24:40-42, NIV)
The text warns against predictions about the time of Christ's return and cautions believers that not knowing the time of His return demands we stay ever prepared. In their unpreparedness, people will be going about the normal activities of life when the unexpected overtakes them. The good servant is prepared for the Lord at any time. Those unfaithful to Christ and unprepared for His coming face sorrow and mourning. Hypocrites, in particular, face this fate. Those unprepared cannot borrow from those who are. Failure to be ready when the Lord comes, is to be shut out from His presence and kingdom.
"There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known."
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in Hell."
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in Heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before My Father in Heaven."
(Matthew 10: 26 & 28 & 32, NIV)
"Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, "I am He," and, The time is near." "Do not folow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from Heaven."
"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of My name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of Me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life."
"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jersalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of Gentiles are fulfilled."
"There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see tha Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
"Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the Kingdom of God is near."
"I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away."
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 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 21:5-36, NIV)
"The coming of Christ with power and great glory will signal the approaching completion of redemption. Included are the consummation of personal salvation, as well as creation's redemption, the church's honor as Christ's bride, and the end of evil." When the Lord returns, the distinction between those who served God and those who did not will be made clear as all stand before the judgement seat for the great separation."
Those who are faithful and accept Jesus Christ as Savior will have crowns.
The Crown of Life (the martyrs crown) Revelation 2:10
The Incorruptable Crown (victors crown)1 Cor. 9:25-27
Crown of Rejoicing (soul winners) 1 Thess. 2:19-20
Crown of Righteousness 2 Timothy 4:8
Crown of Glory (pastors, elders) 1 Peter 5:2-4
"I Wish We All Been Ready"
© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 jlc@ix.netcom.com
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