Those of us who write of
Jesus soon return have mentioned it so often I fear a great
many people have
stopped listening. Do you know that Jesus anticipated this? He said through one
of His apostles, a man named Peter, the following:
“Most importantly, I want to
remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and
following their own desires. They will
say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died,
everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4
NLT)
Aren’t we hearing almost
exactly the same words today? Are not many saying something like, “Jesus is
coming back? I’ve heard this all my life, and nothing has happened. The world
has been here millions of years and it’ll be here millions more. If He hasn’t
come in 2,000 years, He isn’t coming, so don’t talk to me about it.”
Since Jesus knew people would
have this attitude, He explained why there would be a delay, at least in our
minds. He said through Peter again,
“The Lord isn’t really being
slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your
sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
(2 Peter 3:9 NLT)
Jesus is the God of second
chances. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, so He is giving plenty of time for
those who are willing to be saved from His wrath to come. Yes, that’s right.
When He returns, it will be in judgment, but if you belong to Him, He will
remove you from all danger before His wrath falls upon this world.
Very briefly this is what is
coming:
1.
Rapture: He will
remove His bride, the Church, from the world first.
2.
Tribulation:
There will be seven years of God’s wrath upon the entire world.
3.
Christ Coming:
For the second time, He will come to earth, but this time to set up His
kingdom.
4.
Millennium: His
kingdom will be for 1,000 years upon this earth.
5.
Eternity: At the
end of the 1,000 years He will judge all who have rejected Him and they will be
sent to the Lake of Fire to spend eternity. He will provide a New Heaven and
New Earth for all who are His and we will spend eternity with Him.
Now that is a very basic,
bare-bones outline of the near future. Yes, it has been a long time since He
told us that He will return. However, every prophecy He has given has come to
pass (that would be a 100% accuracy rate), and all future prophecies will also
come to pass. He doesn’t lie.
But back to the statement
that Jesus is the God of second chances. If you still have breath in your body,
you can make a decision right now to be on the side of Jesus, the Son of God.
Otherwise, there is only certain judgement for your future.
Perhaps you are one of those
who feel that you have failed so much Jesus would want nothing more to do with
you. That just isn’t true.
“All that the Father giveth
me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
(John 6:37)
“Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
It doesn’t matter who you are
or what you have done in life, Jesus can fix it. Listen to His words in these
verses.
“Come now, and let us reason
together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah
1:18)
“And he said unto me, It is
done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him
that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 21:6)
“And the Spirit and the bride
say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst
come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation
22:17)
“Whosoever” will is you.
Anyone who wants, may come to Jesus and be saved. What about an alcoholic, or a
drug addict, or a prostitute you say? What about a church member, or a
hard-working man, or a loving mother? Anyone who comes to Jesus can be saved. Your
status in life, your accomplishments or failures, your wealth or lack of wealth
don’t matter. Jesus takes us just the way we are and gives us His
righteousness, wiping away all the stains of the past and present. He takes us
where we are and makes us somebody, a child of God.
Maybe you’re afraid your
friends will laugh at you. Jesus said,
“Whosoever therefore shall be
ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him
also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father
with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)
Only a fool would allow their
friends to deprive them of the eternal joy of knowing Jesus Christ as their
Savior and Lord. If you die without Him there is no hope. If He comes back
today and you have never asked Him to save you, there is no hope.
Whether you believe it or
not, Jesus has provided, to those who are willing to notice, signs of His soon
return. The signs are all around us and increasing each day. When He came the
first time, most ignored the signs. When He comes this second time, will the
same be said of you? Will you ignore His warning?
Don’t put off what needs to
be settled right now. The Lord is the God of second chances, but there will
come a time when there is no second chance. We will either reign with Him or be
judged by Him. Which will it be for you?
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
