Just as This Same Jesus Went Away He Is Coming Again
Another false teacher recently joined the historic cohort who've arrogantly thought they had figured out when Christ will return. This is tragic on two levels. First, there are many who were duped. Tons of people believed the prediction and invested fourth dimension, energy, and money spreading it. Secondly, it's tragic that many will now move toward the opposite farthermost. They suspected Jesus wouldn't render anytime soon and now see this fake prediction every bit confirmation he really isn't. This is an equally tragic mistake. Jesus said a lot about his return and ane of the overarching messages was His followers should proceed themselves ready and waiting.
Here are 10 things Jesus really said nigh his return.
ane. No ane knows the day or the hour of my render.
In Mark 13:32, Jesus had been teaching his disciples about his render and says, "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not fifty-fifty the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but merely the Begetter." Luke records information technology this mode, "You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hr you do non expect." (Lk 12:40).
Jesus told his disciples fifty-fifty He didn't know exactly when He would return. At this signal in history, God the Father knew the exact number of years, months, days and seconds until Christ would render and Jesus didn't. We need not speculate almost futurity details Christ himself didn't know.
Also, Jesus practical this truth to their lives, "Exist set." Jesus didn't know if he would return in their lifetimes, just his command to them is his control to u.s. near 2,000 years later. Continue watch. Stay awake.
2. At that place volition exist several signs, increasing in intensity, every bit my render draws nearly.
Christ's followers should pay attention to the signs of his render. They should speculate about the exact day or hour but should pay attention to natural events and recognize the potential fulfillment of Christ's words as they happen.
Jesus promised in that location would be wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes in various places (Matt 24:6-7). And as well, "signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will meet the Son of Man coming in a cloud with ability and great glory" (Lk 21:25-27).
Additionally, Jesus used the term "birth pains" to describe these signs. Like the pain of childbirth, these signs will become more than intense and frequent every bit the 24-hour interval draws shut. When we run into increasing numbers of earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and other natural disasters, Jesus instructs, "straighten upwards and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Lk 21:28). In one case once more, Jesus instructs us to pay attending to the signs of His render in society to exist ready when He comes.
3. Pray for the strength to escape the things that are going to take place.
In Luke 21:36, Jesus taught his followers, "Merely stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Human being." From the context, the "escaping" Jesus refers to is escaping from the judgment and wrath God will bring upon those who accept rejected Christ. Jesus teaches his disciples to pray for the strength to escape. Too many believe Christians will escape past default, just Jesus told his disciples to pray for strength to escape, and and then nosotros must.
4. It will seem like a normal twenty-four hours.
In Luke 17:26-30, Jesus compared the day the Son of Man will exist revealed to God'due south judgment in the days of both Noah and Lot. In both these times, people were going about the normal business concern of life: eating, drinking, marrying, ownership, selling, planting, and building. In the midst of this apparent normalcy, God'due south judgment and wrath fell. Jesus said this is what it volition be like when He comes. Information technology will be a not bad catholic intermission that will exist similar lightning which "lights upwards the sky from one side to the other" (Lk 17:24).
five. I will repay everyone for what he has washed.
In the last chapter of Revelation, Jesus told his followers He is coming and "bringing his recompense…to repay everyone for what he has done" (22:12). Matthew 25 describes the scene when Jesus volition sit on his glorious throne and all nations will be gathered before him to be judged (31-33). All people will stand earlier Jesus and give account for what they did in life. How glorious information technology volition be to stand confidently in the imputed righteousness of Christ in that mean solar day.
6. Not everyone who expects to make it into Christ'south kingdom will.
Some of the near sobering words of Jesus are about those who will not exist allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, merely the ane who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your proper noun, and bandage out demons in your proper name, and do many mighty works in your name?' Then will I declare to them, 'I never knew y'all; depart from me, you lot workers of lawlessness.'" What could be worse than hearing these words from Jesus?
At the end, at that place will be many people who will think they are in considering of their ministry credentials. And Jesus will say, "I never knew y'all" and call them "workers of lawlessness." Their repentance was in word merely. They acted like followers simply didn't have a saving relationship with Christ based on faith and repentance every bit the foundation of their lives. Jesus said there will exist many people in this terrifying status, living their lives thinking they were in and finding out in the concluding analysis they weren't.
seven. There volition exist great persecution and many volition autumn away.
Jesus promised corking persecution would suspension out confronting his followers and would cause many to fall away (Matt 24:9-ten). It's relatively easy to follow Christ when things are going well, but when times get tough nosotros find out what we're made of. Is our faith in Christ only as strong as the comfort nosotros savor? If God's enemies come up and accept everything will we cling to Christ or fall away? Jesus promised many would make the incomprehensible selection to fall away.
viii. Because of lawlessness, the love of many will abound cold.
Jesus promised that sin would lure many away from Him (Matt 24:12). These are people who once loved Christ warmly who have cooled in their affections for Him. They've traded in their desires for Christ for worthless idols. Sexual activity, coin, ability and other faux gods accept replaced the love of Christ in their hearts. Their love grows common cold as they lose the war against temptations to sin. Stoking the heart's fiery beloved for Christ must include destroying the wet buckets of sin that can so quickly quench it. True Christ followers must repent often and much.
nine. Exist on your guard. Keep awake.
Jesus continually told his followers to stay awake, to scout their lives, and to be gear up for his return. In Matthew, Jesus gave four parables to explicate how and why his followers should exist prepared for his coming: the homeowner and the thief (24:42-44); the good and wicked servants (24:45-51); the x virgins (25:ane-thirteen); and the talents (25:xiv-thirty). In each of these parables, Christ described readiness with working to consummate the work Christ gave the states, namely fulfilling the Dandy Commission. Every Christian is to diligently use the gifts and opportunities God provides to reach the earth for Christ.
To exist awake is to be ready and willing to exercise Christ'due south volition. In Gethsemane, Jesus' disciples slept instead of joining Him in prayer. They weren't doing what Christ asked merely slept. In the aforementioned way, many Christians today are asleep to Christ'south will. They don't seek him or enquire for his management. Instead, like the disciples in the garden, they slumber. Hear the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Awake, awake, put on force" (51:9).
Peter says information technology well, "The end of all things is at hand; therefore exist self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. In a higher place all, keep loving one another earnestly, since honey covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter four:7-8).
ten. I am coming before long!
Four times in the volume of Revelation, Jesus said to the churches, "I am coming before long!" (Rev sixteen:15; 22:7,12,xx). It was originally meant equally an encouraging give-and-take to anest century Christians suffering by the easily of Rome and has connected to encourage Christ's followers throughout the ages. Christians in every generation are to concord tightly to the hope that Christ will return presently.
As the writer of Hebrews reminds, "Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a 2nd time, non to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Heb 9:28). Similar immature children eagerly longing for Christmas morning, Christians eagerly wait for Christ to return. In doing and then, we live out Paul'due south wonderful promise to the church building in Thessalonica, "And so nosotros who are live, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and and then nosotros will e'er be with the Lord" (i Thess 4:17). Cypher is greater than to exist with Jesus Christ always and forever.
Recommended Resources
The Future of Everything: Essential Truths About the Finish Times by William Boekestein
The Last Days according to Jesus: When Did Jesus Say He Would Return? by R.C. Sproul
Triumph of the Lamb by Dennis Johnson
Source: https://cultivatingepiphanies.com/2011/05/24/10-things-jesus-really-said-about-his-return/
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