Nobody likes bad news, but
unfortunately, it’s part of living. Bad news is not a welcome visitor. It
brings us down, sometimes, way down.
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
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Good news lifts us up.
Depending on the content of the good news, we could metaphorically be flying in
the clouds, from the euphoria instilled within us.
Let me get right to the
point. Is Christ’s return good news or bad news to you?
From what I’m hearing from
those who email me, a lot of folks consider it to be bad news. I say that
because, they don’t want to hear about it. Those who contact me state basically
that when they broach the subject with a friend or family member it is often
brushed aside as nonsense or depressing.
For those who consider it to
be nonsense, I am reminded of a statement the Apostle Peter made. It seems
those people were around in his day too.
“And saying, Where is the
promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue
as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:4)
I really like Peter’s
response. Maybe we could keep it in mind. It goes like this.
“But, beloved, be not
ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)
Be sure to read the entire
third chapter, because he states much more than I have shown here.
And then there are those who
think the news of Christ’s return is depressing; i.e. bad news.
You’re out of a job and the
CEO of a large company in your area is coming to see you to offer you a job.
Not just any job either, but a high paying job with all the benefits. Yeah, I
know, fat chance, but let’s pretend. Would that be good news or bad news? I
would hope you would say good news.
Now, after five years making
mega bucks at your new job (see above), you haven’t paid your taxes on your
wages or even filed a return. Guess who is coming to visit you? The tax man
cometh. Would this be good news or bad news? Think real hard.
The Bible makes it explicitly
clear that Jesus is not coming to earth this time as a lamb. When He returns
the second time, He will return as a lion to administer judgment upon His
enemies. The judgment will be so bad He will remove His bride first in what is
commonly called the Rapture, or snatching away, of the Church.
Those who are not part of the
bride (the true Church) brush this off as nonsense and simply don’t want to
hear it. Others of this same group don’t want to think about the time of
judgment (seven years of Tribulation) because of their rebellion against a Holy
God.
Those who look forward to
Christ’s return get excited. They want to hear more. Even though they have not
lived a perfect life, far from it actually, all their sins have been removed,
as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12), because they came to God
through His Son, Jesus Christ. They put their faith in Him and trust Him with
their very soul. Therefore, Christ’s return is nothing to fear, but is instead
the epitome of joy that fills the soul. “Amen, Even so, Come Lord Jesus!”
(Revelation 22:20)
His enemies don’t want to
hear about Christ’s return because their house has been built upon sand. They
are not standing upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. There is no one to stand
in the gap between them and God. They will look directly in the face of the Son
of God and be judged.
The next event on God’s calendar
to take place is the Rapture (snatching away, or removal) of the Church from
the earth, then following the Rapture is the period commonly known as the seven
years of Tribulation. The last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation is the time of
Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) or the Great Tribulation.
I often hear people make
comments that they’re going through hell. No matter how bad the times have been
upon this earth since Adam and Eve, this earth hasn’t been through anything
like the time of Tribulation that will soon befall it. It will get so bad
people will beg to die, but won’t be able to do so.
Following the Tribulation
will be a period of one thousand years called the Millennium when Jesus will
reign as Lord of lords and King of kings.
Following the Millennium
every lost soul who rejected Jesus Christ will face what is known as the Great
White Throne judgment. The true Christian will be dressed in white and standing
along-side the Lord Jesus in the Heavenly courtroom under His divine
protection, while those who rejected Him will be judged.
When I was but a lad my
siblings and I didn’t ever want to hear our Mother say, “Just wait ‘til your
Daddy gets home.” Why? Because we knew we were in trouble. We knew she would
not forget to tell him of our misdeeds, and we knew he would not just let it
slide. Judgment day would come that evening and we had to pay up. By the way,
there were no threats or 14 warnings when we were young. They said it. They did
it.
People today who just don’t
want to hear of a coming judgment upon this world, are like my sisters and
brother and me who didn’t want to hear those words of coming judgment. Nevertheless,
they were said. We didn’t want to face judgment day, but it came anyway.
Unfortunately God’s judgment upon His enemies won’t be about a parent/child
relationship. It will be God administering justice to His enemies. Even while
He cleanses His chosen people Israel during this time, they will go through
much misery before they realize He is the one who was crucified and the one they
rejected 2,000 years ago. Only one third of Israel will survive.
If you prefer to not hear of
Christ’s return, I urge you to examine your soul. It is not natural for a child
of God to not be excited about Christ’s return. Jesus’ return is good news!
It’s only bad news if you are not His child, but His enemy, since only judgment
will come upon them.
Good news or bad news. You
decide which one it will be.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
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