Did you know that the Bible tells us that Jesus is coming back? Well, He is! When Jesus rose from the grave and then ascended (went up) back to Heaven an angel appeared to His disciples and told them He was coming back.
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Jesus is coming back at the end of this age to gather His church and set things right in the world. All believers are eagerly waiting for Jesus to come back for us. We long to be with Him, to be released from the woes and suffering of this life. When Jesus comes back He’s bringing the armies of Heaven with Him. He’s going to give us a new body and rescue us from the evil in the world. It’s going to be glorious! At this very moment, He’s getting everything ready to receive us.
John 14:2 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. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
When is Jesus coming back? No one knows for sure. No one knows the day or the hour. If anyone says they do, please take it with a grain of salt. We aren’t supposed to know exactly when it will happen. Only God knows for sure. He designed it that way on purpose.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
The Bible gives us signs that we can look for to know when it’s getting close. Just like we know that spring is almost here by watching for signs of it. Like buds on trees, new life springing up from the ground, warmer temperatures, and my personal favorite, listening to hear the frogs for the first time after a long winter.
There are lots of signs that Jesus will return soon. That’s not for this study, though. I can dive a little deeper into that in the future. I just want to touch on the basics for now. There are many different beliefs about the end. No one has all of the answers. No one knows for sure exactly how everything is going to play out, and the timing of certain events. It’s kind of a hot-button topic.
Jesus is coming back. It’s called the Second Coming. Christians who are alive when He returns will be raptured. The word rapture is not in the Bible, just like the word Trinity, but the concept is there. The word rapture means caught up. We will be changed in the twinkling of an eye and caught up in the air to be with Jesus always. When Jesus returns every Christian, whether dead or alive, will get a new body. Christians who have died before Christ returns will be resurrected. Christians who are alive when Christ returns will be raptured.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 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: 17 Then we which 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.
When Jesus was born, He came as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, meaning He is the ultimate sacrifice for sins. When He died on the Cross He died as the Lamb of God. When He returns, He is returning as the Lion, not the Lamb. Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is coming to claim His throne, to restore everything to the way it should be. Once He does that He will rule and reign for 1,000 years. This is called the Millennial Reign. Guess what? We, as believers will reign with Him. Imagine that! Pretty exciting, huh?
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Jesus died on the Cross over 2,000 years ago. That’s a long time for us mortals. We have to remember that God is eternal. He’s not bound to time like we are. Just because it seems to us that it’s been such a long time we’ve been waiting for Him to return, that doesn’t mean He’s not coming, or that we had it wrong this whole time. Nope. It just means that for us, it’s been a long time. For God, it’s only been about two days! God delays the end because He wants every person to be given the chance to repent and be saved.
2 Peter 3:8 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. 9 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
It is comforting to know that the suffering in this world, and our lives, won’t last forever. There is an actual end to these things that are coming. It does make it easier to deal with pain, heartache, and disappointment. Next week we’ll see that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. See you then!
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