Thousands upon thousands of people all over the world areconvinced beyond the shadow of a doubt, that some great cataclysmic event faces the world. Many are asking, what is Bible prophecy saying about the future and the end of the world?
In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus tells us that He is coming back to this earth. Verse 3 of this chapter says, “And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
In John 14:1-3, it says clearly, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that were I am, there ye may be also.”
There you have it–from Jesus Himself. Jesus will be coming to this earth again. He says emphatically, “I will come again.”That is a promise to you and me.
The Bible offers hope for us in this sin-sick, troubled world. There are such enormous problems that confront mankind for which human solutions cannot be found. The cure for the ills of humanity is the second coming of Christ! This message needs to be proclaimed with still greater fervor as we near end of this earth’s history.
The great American evangelist Dwight L. Moody once said, “The church has had very little to say about it
The return of Jesus is mentioned more than 300 times in the New Testament. In the Scriptures, there are eight times as many references to the second coming of Jesus as to the first coming.
Great men of faith such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley, John Milton, and others believed in the imminent return of Jesus. They all embraced this blessed hope and I hope, dear friend, that you also believe this teaching with all your heart!
How will He come?
In Revelation 1:7 we read.“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him…”
Why does it say “every eye”? This indicates that it will be a literal, visible event. The whole world, those who are alive, will see Jesus. Both the righteous and the unrighteous, with their physical eyes, will see the King of Kings and Lord of Lords descend from heaven.
And not only Jesus will come, but allthe angelic host will follow. In Matthew 24: 30, 31 we read: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
For a time heavenwill be silent, as the angels accompany their Lord to earth to sound their mighty trumpets. What do we learn from this? The second coming of Christ will also be an audible event.
Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find that it will be a secret appearing. The secret rapture teaching has no Biblical foundation. There will be no secret snatching away of the saints to heaven. This teaching is one of the greatest deceptions being preached today! When Jesus comes again, everyone will know about it. That means all the living, both young and old, rich and poor, free and bond.
Years ago, an inspired author wrote about this event: “The firmament appears to open and shut. The glory from the throne of God seems flashing through. The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, and ragged rocks are scattered on every side. There is a roar as of a coming tempest. Thesea is lashed into fury. There is heard the shriek of a hurricane like the voice of demons upon a mission of destruction. The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. Its surface is breaking up. Its very foundations seem to be giving way. Mountain chains are sinking. Inhabited islands disappear.” –The Great Controversy, pp.
Can you still believe that only a few will witness the Second Coming of Jesus?
Then there are some folks who believe that Jesus has already come.
A woman came up to a preacher and asked him, “Are you the man who talks over the radio?” “Yes,” he said, “I am one such man.” “Do you believe that Christ’s coming is literal?” she asked. “Yes,” answered the man. Said she, “I wish you would come over to my town. My minister has a private séance. I will get you in for nothing. A mighty power comes. a glorious being appears. This is Jesus Christ.” “Well,” said the man, “I will not be there.” “Why not?” Said he, “I have an old book that explains all that.” He took out his Bible and read Matthew 24:26, 27, “Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
If someone should appear to you and even perform a miracle saying he is Jesus Christ, don’t believe it. Jesus will not come in that manner but will appear in the air and be visible to the whole world.
Why will Jesus come again?
Again, we go to the Bible and turn to 1 Thessalonians. 4:16-17: “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then wewhich are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Jesus comes for the purpose of raising the dead in Christ. All those who were faithful and have died since the time of Adam and Eve will be resurrected.
A miracle takes place. Millions and millions of people come out of their dusty graves. What will they look like? All come forth from their graves the same in stature as when they entered the tomb. Eachsaint is given a perfect body free from any taint of sin or disease. They arise with the freshness and vigor of eternal youth.
No longer will the blind man say, “I cannot see.”
No longer will the deaf say, “I cannot hear.”
No longer will the cripple say, “I cannot walk.”
Jesus is coming to close all hospitals and to put all doctors out of business. He is coming to close the doors of all funeral parlors. What a wonderful hope, dear friend!
I don’t know what ailments or sicknesses you are suffering from, but be assured that Jesus will soon give you a new body–DISEASE FREE! This is thrilling news!
Words cannot describe the joy of the redeemed on that day when Jesus returns. There will also be the joy of seeing again faithful loved ones who died years ago, for the coming of Jesus will reunite loved ones who have been separated by death. Little babies will be restored to their mothers’ arms.
The glorious resurrection is just before us. Christ is the Resurrection and the Life.
Those who have never died and have been faithful will be translated and meet the Lord in the AIR. They will all travel to God’s kingdom– a space journey, traveling past the moon, the sun, and the stars without the need and restrictions of spaceships, spacesuits, and rocket power.
These words of promise are no idle tales or fantasy but words of truth from God Himself.
Sadly, the wicked will not take this space journey for they will be destroyed at the coming of Jesus. “And to you who aretroubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. Those who do not obey God’s will, will not have part in God’s eternal kingdom.
There are only two classes of people—the righteous and the unrighteous. To which class will you belong at the end of the world?
One of the most important questions that needs to be answered is this: Are you, dear friend, ready for Jesus to come?
How can you be prepared forthe second coming of Jesus? It’s really quite simple.
John writes in the Gospel of John, chapter 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
I appeal to you to come to Jesus today. He understands you; He is your friend, big brother and most of all, your Savior who died for you. He loves you immeasurably. He will not reject you, if you only make that first step. Come as you are, filthy, unrighteous—a sinner in need of grace. Ask Jesus to come into your heart today. You will not regret it. It is a blessed experience to know that Jesus forgives and saves the sinner.
The time in which we are living is serious and solemn. The world cannot continue as it is much longer. It is on the verge of a stupendous crisis and the second coming of Christ.
I wish to conclude with this verse: “Christ was once offered to bearthe sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28.
Let us with hope and faith and love in our hearts prepare for the greatest event in all of earth’s history—the second coming of Christ.
