JESUS THE CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN SOON

PROCLAMATION

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.”  Revelation 22:20 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This is the twenty-second and final chapter of Revelation, the last Book of The Bible.  John was still in the spirit and the angel, who was one of the seven angels that had one of the seven bowls full of the wrath of God, showed him the river of the water of life.  This river flowed from the throne of God and The Lamb down the middle of the street.  On each side of the river stood the tree of life.  The tree yielded its fruit every month and yielded twelve different crops of fruit. (Revelation 22:1-2)  There will be no more night.  Neither will there be a need for the sun or lamps.  The Lord God will give them light. (Revelation 22:5)  Christ said to John, “Look, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:7)  This He repeated two more times. (Revelation 22:12 and 20)  John was told not to seal up the words of this prophecy. (Revelation 22:10)  Christ said that He is coming soon, and His reward was coming with Him.  He will give rewards to each person according to what they have done. (Revelation 22:12)  Then The Holy Spirit says let the one who is thirsty for The Word come; and let the one who wants the eternal life giving water come. (Revelation 22:17)  The Bible Book of Revelation ends with a warning to everyone not to add anything to, or take anything away from, this Word of God. (Revelation 22:18-19)  “… Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.”

 

APPLICATION

Jesus, The Christ, will come again soon. (Revelation 22:7, 22:12, and 22:20)  However, soon is a relative term.  To Christ, one day is as one thousand years is to us. (2 Peter 3:8)  So, from His point of view, He has only been gone for two days.  No one knows the hour or the day when He will return. (Matthew 25:13)  Therefore we should get ready, and stay ready, so that we will be ready when He comes. (Matthew 24:44 and Luke 12:40)  Repent, Christ is coming back, and the kingdom of God is at hand. (Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:7, and Mark 1:15)

 

BE READY FOR NO ONE KNOWS THE HOUR OR THE DAY

PROCLAMATION

“So you also must be ready, because The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”  Matthew 24:44 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to the Apostle Matthew.  As Jesus left the temple and while walking to the Mount of Olives, He told His disciples that the day was coming when all of the buildings would be torn down, and not one stone would be left on top of another. (Matthew 24:1-2)  His disciples asked Him when this would happen and what would be a sign of His returning and the end of the age? (Matthew 24:3)  Jesus said that there would be false prophets claiming to be The Messiah, there will be wars and rumors of wars, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places, and when you see “the abomination that causes desolation” standing in the holy place as prophesied by Daniel, you will know that the time is near. (Matthew 24:4-34)  Then Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour when this will happen except God, The Father. (Matthew 24:36)  He also told them you must be ready because The Son of Man will come when you do not expect Him. (Matthew 24:44)  He made reference to the rapture when He said: “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.”  

APPLICATION

Christ is going to return, but no one knows the exact day or the hour of His return.  That is why we have been advised to be ready.  It has been said that He will come when we least expect Him.  We need to get ready now and stay ready.  When He comes there will not be time to get ready.  We do not want to be like the five foolish virgins who delayed getting oil for their lamps. (Matthew 25:1-13)   When the rapture occurs, we will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds, (1 Thessalonians 4:17) or we will among those who are left behind.  Don’t put off coming to The Lord until you “get yourself straight” because you can never get yourself straight enough to be right with Him.  Just come as you are and confess your short-comings.  For “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

NO ONE KNOWS WHEN CHRIST IS COMING BACK

Proclamation:

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor The Son, but only The Father.  Be on guard!  Be alert!  You do not know when that time will come.”  Mark 13:32-33 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Mark as he received it from the apostle Peter.  In this chapter Mark records the words of Jesus, The Christ, as He tells Peter, James, John and Andrew about the signs of His coming and the end of the world. (Mark 13:1-37)  Jesus said that many will come claiming to be Him. (Mark 13:5-6)  He said that they will hear of wars and rumors of wars, nations will rise against nations, and there will be earthquakes in various places at the beginning of the end. (Mark 13:7-8)  He said that brothers will betray brothers, fathers will betray their children, and children will rebel against their parents. (Mark 13:12)  False messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform sign and wonders to attempt deceive the elect. (Mark 13:22)  Then people will see The Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory and He will gather His elect from the ends of the earth. (Mark 13:26-27)  Then Jesus tells them that no one knows the exact day or time when this will occur so they should be ready.

Application:

We know that Jesus, The Christ, is coming to earth again.  We need to prepare for Him now because if we wait until then it will be too late.  Since no one knows the hour or the day, (Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32) we need to be ready so that when He comes to gather His own we will not be left behind. (Mark 13:26-27 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

SIGNS THAT THE END OF THIS WORLD IS NEAR

Proclamation:

“… But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another …’ They asked, ‘when will these things happen?  And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?’  He replied ‘… many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am he’ … When you hear of wars and uprisings … Nation will rise against nation … There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places … and great signs from heaven ... they will seize you and persecute you … all on account of My name …Everyone will hate you because of Me … the heavenly bodies will be shaken.  At that time they will see The Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and glory.  When these things begin to take place … your redemption is drawing near.’”  Luke 21:5-28 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  While Jesus was in the temple, He looked up and noted rich men putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow give two small copper coins.  Jesus stated that the poor widow had put in more than all of the others because she had given all that she had. (Luke 21:1-4)  Then He told them about the coming destruction of the temple and the signs of the end times. (Luke 21:5-36)    

Application:

Many people believe that the end of this world is near.  They say that the signs which Jesus spoke about are already occurring.  There are false prophets and leaders of cults walking around claiming to be The Lord.  The news is full of wars and rumors of wars.  Nations are rising up against one another.  Earthquakes are occurring in strange places.  If the end of this world is near, that is all the more reason for people to repent and confess while there is still time.  The Son of Man will return (Luke 21:27) and woe be onto those who do not believe.

WHEN THE RAPTURE OCCURS DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND

Proclamation:

“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed … For The Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.’ … ‘It will be like this on the day The Son of Man is revealed … I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left’”  Luke 17:20-36 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter Luke continues to record the words which Jesus spoke to the crowd which included His disciples and the Pharisees.  First, He said that things will come that will cause His people to stumble and sin, but woe be unto them through whom those things come to His people. (Luke 17:1-2)  Then, after telling about them forgiving those who sin against them (Luke 17:3-4) and having faith, (Luke 17:5-6) He told them how they treat the servant who does his duty. (Luke 17:7-10)  Leaving there, as He continued on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed the ten men who had leprosy and noted that only one of them returned to thank Him. (Luke 17:11-19)  Then, in response to a question from a Pharisee, Jesus gave them a lengthy description of what it will be like when The Son of Man returns. (Luke 17:20-35)

Application:

When The Son of Man returns He will be visible in the sky to everyone like lightning in the clouds. (Luke 17:24 and Revelation 1:7)  He will come in all His power and glory.  With a great sound of a trumpet, He will gather His elect from the four corners of the earth. (Matthew 24:30-31)  We refer to His gathering of “the church” as the rapture, when we will caught up and meet The Lord God in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)  There are those who believe that when we are taken up, our clothes will be left behind.  People will be going about their normal daily activities when the believers will be instantly taken up while those that we were with at the time will be left behind. (Matthew 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-36)  Don’t be like the people in the days of Noah who were left out of the ark, or the people in Sodom when Lot left the city. (Luke 17:26-29)  Confess, believe, and repent while there is still time.

AFTER DEATH THEN THE JUDGMENT

Proclamation:

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”  Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the unknown human author of The Book of Hebrews under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter the author begins by discussing the early earthly tabernacle. (Hebrews 9:1-7)  Then he goes on to discuss the blood of Christ versus the blood of ceremonial animals. (Hebrews 9:11-14)  Then he presents the importance of the blood and concludes by stating that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. (Hebrews 9:22)  He ends the chapter stating that Christ did not offer Himself again and again as the high priest did by entering The Holy of Holies in the tabernacle each year. (Hebrews 9:25)  Christ came to earth once to sacrifice Himself for all sin. (Hebrews 9:26)  He will come again, but that time will not be to sacrifice Himself for sin, it will be to gather the believers unto Himself. (Hebrews 9:28)

Application:

As we think about the birth of Christ, we need to remember that He came to earth to redeem us and pay the price for our sins.  The price for sin is death. (Roman 6:23)  Jesus, The Christ, shed His blood and died for our sins. (John 1:29 and 19:30-34)  The next time that He comes it will be to gather His believers and we will meet Him in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)  He will also come back again to bring judgment to non-believers.  Bible scholar J. Vernon McGee put it this way, “either your sin is on you, or it is on Christ.”  If you have not accepted Christ as your personal savior then you must pay the price for your sins and you will see Him after death as judge at the Great White Throne judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)  Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

THE RETURN OF CHRIST AND THE RAPTURE

Proclamation:

"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, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The Lord in the air.  And so we will be with The Lord forever."  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul, the human writer of almost half (thirteen of the twenty-seven Books) of The New Testament of The Bible.  They were recorded in his letter to encourage the believers in Thessaloniki.  Paul told them that those who died believing in Christ would be raised from the dead, and they would meet The Lord God in the air.  Those of us who are alive when Christ returns, will meet up with them in the air.  This meeting of the believers in the clouds in the air is referred to as the rapture of The Church.  

Application:

The first time that Christ came to earth, He came as The Sacrificial Lamb, to die in our place, to pay the price for our sins for our salvation. (John 1:29, John 18:37, 1 Corinthians 15:3, and Galatians 1:4)   Jesus said that He would come to earth a second time. (John 14:2-3)  Also an angel appeared to His disciples after He ascended to heaven and told them that He would return. (Acts 1:11)  When He comes to earth the second time, He will be coming to translate and rapture His Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)  He is coming to gather all believers unto Himself.  We need to get ready now so that we can be ready when He comes back, for no one knows the hour or the day of His return. (Matthew 24:44, Mark 13:32, and Luke 12:40)  He may return sooner than we think or expect. (James 5:8)  

DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND DURING THE RAPTURE

Proclamation:

 "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of The Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.  That is how it will be at the coming of The Son of Man.  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 24:37-42 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle Matthew recorded these words of Jesus, The Christ, as He described to His disciples the things which will occur when He comes again.  Jesus made it clear that no one knows exactly when that will be except our Heavenly Father. (Matthew 34:36)  However, He stated that people will be suddenly taken up from the earth, and that some people will be left behind.

Application:

When the rapture occurs, everyone will not be taken up to meet The Lord God in the air.  Some people will be left behind.  The Bible clearly states that when Jesus, The Christ, returns, He will be coming back for His Church.  He died for The Church so that He could present it to Himself, cleaned up, without spot or blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)  He said that He was going away to prepare a place for His people. (John 14:2-3)  When He comes back, the dead in Christ will rise and meet Him in the air first, then those of us who believe and are still alive at that time will join them in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)  Only the believers will be taken up from the earth, the non-believers will be left behind.  Two people will be walking, or working together, and one of them will be taken up while the other will be left behind. (Matthew 24:40-41)  No one knows when this will happen, The Day of The Lord will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2)  We need to be ready for it.  Don't be left behind.  You do not want to be left here on earth after The Church has been taken out of this world.

JESUS IS COMING BACK

Proclamation:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in Me … I am going … to prepare a place for you … and … I will come back and take you to be with Me …” John 14:1-3 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by the Apostle John.  Here Jesus was comforting His disciples after He had told them that He would be leaving them and that they could not follow Him at that moment but they would follow Him later. (John 13:36)  He had to go first in order to prepare a place for them.  After He had completed that He would return for them and take them with Him.

Application:

These are truly words of encouragement.  Jesus is coming back for His followers, believers then and now, and He does not want us to worry in the meantime.  He has a place for us so that we can be with Him throughout eternity.  Earth is not our final destination, we are just passing through and heaven is where we are headed.  When He comes back for us, we shall be rewarded for following Him and doing His work.  "For The Son of Man shall come ... and then He shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16:27)  Our works do not save us, our salvation is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Our works just determine our rewards in heaven.  Everybody in heaven will not be equal.  No works down here on earth, no rewards up there in heaven.  Since we do not know the day or the hour when He will return, (Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32, and Luke 12:40) we should live each day as if it were our last day on earth.

FAITHFULLY WATCHING AND DOING

Proclamation:

“It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes…” Luke 12:37  The King James version of The Bible for this verse reads: “Blessed are those servants, whom The Lord when He cometh shall find watching ...”

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as reported by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Jesus was speaking to His disciples and to the surrounding crowd.  His point is that the good servant will be watching and working while he waits for his master to return.  He will be prepared when his master returns.

Application:

Since we do not know the day or the hour of our Lord's second coming, we ought to live our lives continually expecting and ready for His return.  "Be ye therefore ready also; for The Son of Man cometh at an hour that ye think not." (Luke 12:40)  We must also be ready, because The Son of Man will come at an hour when we do not expect Him.  If we stay ready then we won’t have to try to get ready when He comes.  Being faithful stewards means that we should be studying and meditating on The Word of God and living our lives according to His will. "... Who then is that faithful and wise steward ... Blessed is that servant, whom His Lord when He cometh shall find so doing." (Luke 12:42-43)  By doing that we will be ready for Him whenever He returns.  Then when we see Him we will hear Him say “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  (Matthew 25:21)

BLESSED IS HE WHOM THE LORD FINDS DOING GOOD

Proclamation:

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  But understand this; if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.  'Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.'"  Matthew 24:42-46 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle Matthew, the former tax collector, recorded this parable which Jesus spoke to His disciples regarding the end of the age, (Matthew 24:3-36), the rapture of The Church, (Matthew 24:40-41), and His return to earth. (Matthew 24:44)  He told them to keep watch and be ready, because not one knows exactly when He will return.  He then taught them using a parable that the wise and faithful servant will be doing the work which he was assigned when The Master returns.

Application:

Since no one knows exactly when Christ will return, we need to prepare now for His return.  It is said that we need to get ready now, and stay ready, so that we be ready when He comes.  If we stay ready, we won't have to worry about trying to get ready when He comes.  Just as in the days of Noah, the people would not turn from their sinful ways before the flood, and after the flood came, it was too late for them. (Matthew 24:37-39)  It would be better for us today, if we were like the good and faithful servant. (Matthew 24:45 and Matthew 25:21 and 23)  Blessed is the servant whom The Lord will find doing good works when He returns. (Matthew 24:46)  The question we each need to ask ourselves is: what will The Lord find us doing when He comes for us?

Deny The World And Follow Christ

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."  Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)

These words were part of a letter written by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, for his protege, Titus, and the people that he pastors.  Paul's point was that the people of God practice self-denial.  They should deny themselves the worldly pleasures and anything that is ungodly.  They should live in a godly manner while they await the return of Christ, who died and paid the price for their sins so they could be with Him.

Salvation brings about a personal transformation, believers are changed and become new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  We are no longer to walk worldly, we are to deny worldly lusts, and take up our cross daily and follow Christ. (Matthew 16:24)  We are to do good during our earthly lives, while we await His glorious return.  We are to live holy lives because He is within us and He is holy. (1 Peter 1:16)  We should be eager to do that which is good because our good works are our way of showing Him that we appreciate His gift of salvation. (James 2:14-26)  By our good works we give God glory. (Matthew 5:16)

We Are To Live Self-Controlled Godly Lives

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ ..."  Titus 2:11-13 (NIV) 

Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Paul wrote these words in his letter to Titus, one of his young proteges, to encourage him to tell the people of God that were to live Christ-like godly lives in this sinful world while they awaited the return of Jesus, The Christ.

This advice which Paul gave to Titus is not just for preachers and pastors, it is for all believers.  We are not to conduct ourselves as the unsaved sinners behave.   We belong to Christ, and just as He was, we are in this world but not of it. (John 8:23)  As believers we are to live self-controlled, godly lives as examples to a lost world.  One day, Christ will return and we will have to give an account of our stewardship. (Romans 14:12)  All believers will be saved, but our rewards will depend upon our works. (Matthew 25:14-23)

The Rapture Don't Be Left Behind

 "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of The Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.  That is how it will be at the coming of The Son of Man.  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 24:37-42 (NIV)

The Apostle Matthew recorded these words of Jesus as He described to His disciples the things which will occur when He comes again.  He made it clear that no one knows exactly when that will be except our Heavenly Father. (Matthew 34:36)  However, He stated that people will be suddenly taken up from the earth, and that some people will be left behind.

When the rapture occurs, everyone will not be taken up to meet The Lord God in the air, some people will be left behind.  The Bible clearly states that when The Lord returns, He will be coming back for His Church.  He died for The Church so that He could present it to Himself, cleaned up, without spot or blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)  He said that He was going away to prepare a place for His people. (John 14:2-3)  When He comes back, the dead in Christ will rise and meet Him in the air first, then those of us who believe and are still alive at that time will join them in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)  When the believers are taken up, the non-believers will be left behind.  People will be talking, or working, and one of them will be taken up while the other will be left behind. (Matthew 24:40-41)  Don't be left behind.  You do not want to be left here on earth after The Church has been taken out of this world.

Blessed Is The Servant Whom The Lord Finds Doing Good

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  But understand this; If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.  'Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.' "  Matthew 24:42-46 (NIV)

The Apostle Matthew, the former tax collector, recorded this parable which Jesus spoke to His disciples regarding the end of the age, (Matthew 24:3-36), the rapture of The Church, (Matthew 24:40-41), and His return to earth. (Matthew 24:44)  He told them to keep watch and be ready, because not one knows exactly when He will return.  He then taught them using a parable that the wise and faithful servant will be doing the work which he was assigned when The Master returns.

Since no one knows exactly when Christ will return, we need to prepare now for His return.  It is said that we need to get ready now, and stay ready, so that we be ready when He comes.  If we stay ready, we won't have to worry about trying to get ready when He comes.  Just as in the days of Noah, the people would not turn from their sinful ways before the flood, and after the flood came, it was too late for them. (Matthew 24:37-39)  It would be better for us today, if we were like the good and faithful servant. (Matthew 24:45 and Matthew 25:21 and 23)  Blessed is the servant whom The Lord will find doing good works when He returns. (Matthew 24:46)  

Our Spirit Will Live Forever

"Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her.  'Stop wailing,' Jesus said. 'She is not dead but asleep.' "  Luke 8:52 (NIV)

Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded these words which Jesus spoke to the crowd that was mourning the death of the twelve year old daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue.  He said, stop crying, she is not dead, she is asleep.  Jesus touched her hand and called to her, and her spirit returned to her, and she got up. (Luke 8:54-55)

We were created to live forever, our spirit will never die.  Once our spirit leaves our physical body, the body dies and the spirit returns to The Lord God who created it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7, 2 Corinthians 5:6 and 5:8)  So we can find some comfort in knowing that our loved ones who have died are just asleep, and they will rise again.  On that great day, when The Lord God Himself shall return, the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)  Then we will all meet up with Him in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)  We will see our loved ones again.

We Hope And Wait For That Which We Do Not Yet Have

"For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."  Romans 8:24-25 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul gives the believers in The Church in Rome a brief discourse on hope.  He states that hope is essentially faith in Christ and the things that will come to pass.  He told them that this hope is the bases of their salvation.  Hope is based upon that which they do not have, but they have no doubt that that they will receive.

One of the great principals of Christian belief is hope.  Paul's use of the word "hope" here makes it appear to be interchangeable with the word "faith".  Bible scholar Matthew Henry says that faith is the promise and hope is the thing that is promised.  He says faith is the evidence and hope is the expectation.  Either way, faith and hope are inexplicably linked.  Paul's statement about hope not being based upon that which is seen, is similar to the definition of faith which is presented by the unknown author in Hebrews.  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)  We know that without a believing faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)  Our hope and faith exist and are strong because we know that after we have done the will of God, we will receive our reward from Him. ( Hebrews 10:35-36)  Our hope is in The Lord (Psalms 39:7, Psalms 146:5, Jeremiah 17:7, and Lamentations 3:24), and in His mercy (Psalms 33:18), and in that which is to come. (1 Thessalonians 2:19)  Christ is coming back for His Church. (John 14:3, John 14:28, and 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)  We are just doing our part in kingdom building now while we wait patiently for His return.

You Should Also Be Ready

"So you also must be ready, because The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."  Matthew 24:44 (NIV)  The King James Version (KJV) renders this verse as "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not The Son of man cometh ."  Matthew 24:44 (KJV)

The Apostle Matthew, the former tax collector, recorded these words which Jesus spoke to His disciples when they asked Him about the coming of the end of this age. (Matthew 24:1-2)  After He gave them a number of things to watch for as signs that the end is near, then Jesus said to them be ready, for no one knows the exact time judgment day and The Lord God will come.

The Boy Scout motto is "be prepared."  It would be a good idea for us to be prepared, to be ready, just in case The Lord comes back sooner than is anticipated.  We know that He is coming back because He said that He would. (John 14:2-3)  We just don't know when He is coming back.  He said that He would come back when we least expect Him to come.  When He returns He is coming for His Church, and if you are not part of The Church and one of the believers in Christ, then you will be left behind.  We get ready for a lot of things, we need to get ready for the coming of The Lord.  While disaster preparedness may take hours, days, or months to complete, getting ready for Christ, to those who believe, can be accomplished within minutes.  All one has  to do is believe and accept Jesus, The Christ. (John 3:16, Acts 16:31, and Roman 10:9)  Get ready, He's coming back, "Be ye also ready ..."

The Return Of Christ And The Rapture

"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, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The Lord in the air.  And so we will be with The Lord forever."  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul, the human writer of almost half (thirteen of the twenty-seven Books) of The New Testament of The Bible, recorded in his letter to the believers in Thessaloniki that those who died believing in Christ would be raised from the dead, and they would meet The Lord in the air.  Those of us who are alive when Christ returns, will meet up with them in the air.  This meeting in the clouds in the air is referred to as the rapture of The Church.  

The first time that Christ came to earth, He came as The Sacrificial Lamb, to die in our place, to pay the price for our sins for our salvation. (John 1:29, John 18:37, 1 Corinthians 15:3, and Galatians 1:4)   Jesus said that He would come to earth a second time. (John 14:2-3)  Also an angel appeared to His disciples after He ascended to heaven and told them that He would return. (Acts 1:11)  When He comes to earth the second time, He will be coming to translate and rapture His Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)  He is coming to gather all believers unto Himself.  Get ready, no one knows the hour or the day of His return. (Matthew 24:44, Matthew 25:13, Mark 13:32, and Luke 12:40)  He may return sooner than we think. (James 5:8)  

Jesus Is Coming Back

"Behold, I am coming soon!  Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."  "Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."  Revelation 22:7 & 12 (NIV)

The Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was told to write these words and record what he saw and heard in the vision which God revealed to him future things to come.  Jesus said that He was coming back soon.  Blessed is the man who lives by and obeys the things written in The Word of God.  When He comes back, Jesus will reward everyone according to what they have done. 

The first time that Jesus came, He came to show us how to live and to save us from the penalty of our sins.  The second time that He comes, He will come to gather all of the believers unto Himself, and the non-believers will be left behind. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)  All those who lived by The Word of God will be blessed and rewarded.  We will be judged and rewarded according to what we did that gave God glory. (Revelation 14:7)