Jesus' return
No one
knows about that day and hour. No one except the Father alone. Jesus
said on one occasion: "It is not for you to know the times or
seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. . . " But
he also said that we should be awake and ready so that that day does
not come upon us unexpectedly. So we should always be ready to wait
for Him.
Jesus is coming again!
We agree on that
truth. He himself foretold his second coming. The angels said at
Jesus' ascension: "This Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will come again in the same way as you have seen him go into
heaven."
Paul said: "The Lord himself will descend
from heaven." In several other places Paul speaks of Jesus'
second coming. So do Peter and John. In the Book of Revelation we
also have the message that Jesus is coming again. The Holy Spirit
announces to us at this time that Jesus is soon here.
Do we
know when He might be here?
Yes, Jesus himself spoke of
watching for specific signs. “And you will hear of wars and
rumors of wars; but see that you are not alarmed, for all these
things must come, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be
famines and earthquakes in various places; - And many false prophets
will arise and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will
increase, the love of most will grow cold. - And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all the
nations, and then the end will come. - Now learn a parable from the
fig tree. When its branch already becomes tender and puts forth
leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see
all these things, you know that it is near, at the doors.”
Yes,
these are Jesus’ own words. We cannot mistake these as signs of
the times that at this time testify that we are close to His coming.
“War alarms”, “rumors of wars”, “famines”,
“earthquakes”, “false prophets”, “the
gospel preached in all the world”, are precisely what we are
experiencing in our time. There are many other characteristics of
what the time will be like at Jesus’ coming. Israel has
received its land, this was also foretold in the Bible. That Jesus
can be here at any time is absolutely certain.
What will He
do when He comes?
Jesus said: “If I go away, I will come
again and receive you to myself; for I want you to be where I am.”
So He comes to bring a crowd to His home. Who are these? The
disciples! That is, those who belong to Him and are ready, who love
Him and His coming, and who look forward to that day with joy. John
writes in his letter: “And he who has this hope in Him purifies
himself, just as He is pure.” It also says in the Book of
Revelation: “But nothing unclean will ever enter it (heaven),
nor anyone who does what is abominable or false, but only those who
are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Those who
have died in faith in Christ will be resurrected from the dead, and
we who are alive then will be transformed and given new glorious
bodies. The same body that Jesus had when He ascended to heaven. With
new bodies, we will certainly be able to handle space better than
today’s astronauts.
We will be raptured by the power of God.
And forever we will be with the Lord. In a city where there is no
sin, no sickness, and no death – there will be no more mourning
or crying. No devil who can tempt or destroy God’s work in our
lives. Imagine what a future and what hope! “Hope does not let
us be put to shame.”
How have you faced Jesus’
coming?
It is a very serious question. Many of you who read
this testimony will answer differently in your hearts. Some say: I am
not ready. Others say He will delay a while longer before He comes so
that it will be arranged safely. Others say: Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!
I am ready. My soul longs and yearns day after day. Oh, that He would
soon be here, so that we would get where He is.
Therefore, I would
finally urge you, who are not ready to meet Him, to arrange this
while it is called today. Today is the day of salvation. Now is the
acceptable time.
Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be
saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you
will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” “He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe
will be condemned.” These two above-quoted Bible passages
should be taken literally. Then you will never have to go wrong.
You
who are ready: Rejoice and be glad and give Him glory, for the day is
approaching and the heavenly wedding is soon a living reality. Soon
we will be there. Stay awake for another time. Let others know that
Jesus is coming soon. May we all be able to say: Amen, Come Lord
Jesus!