Is Jesus returning soon? Watch and wait.
“…be waiting for His Son out of the heavens, Whom He raised from among the dead, Jesus, our Rescuer out of the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)
Believers have been waiting a long time, more than 2,000 years. It is not surprising that we wonder sometimes if He is really coming again. Before the Apostle Peter died, he warned that in the “last days” there would be some who would doubt that Jesus would return.
“…knowing this first, that in the last days scoffers will be coming with scoffing, going according to their own desires and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers were put to in the grave, all is continuing as it has been from the beginning of creation…the Lord is not tardy as to the promise, as some are deeming tardiness, but is patient because of you, not intending any to perish, but all to make room for repentance." (2 Peter 3:3-4, 9)
Jesus Himself promised that He would return.
“In My Father's house are many abodes; yet if not, I would have told you, for I am going to make ready a place for you. And if I should be going and making ready a place for you, I will come again and I will be taking you along to Myself, that where I am, you also may be.” (John 14:2-3)
“...and as they were looking intently into heaven at His going, lo! two men stand beside them in white attire, who say also, "Men! Galileans! Why do you stand, looking into heaven? This Jesus Who is being taken up from you into heaven shall come again in the manner in which you gaze at Him going into heaven." (Acts 1:10-11)
And the Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus will return.
“…the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-18)
Two thousand years is a long time to wait but if the Bible is true there will be a generation that sees Jesus return - and I personally think it is my generation, for we baby boomers have seen the rebirth of the
Believers have been waiting a long time, more than 2,000 years. It is not surprising that we wonder sometimes if He is really coming again. Before the Apostle Peter died, he warned that in the “last days” there would be some who would doubt that Jesus would return.
“…knowing this first, that in the last days scoffers will be coming with scoffing, going according to their own desires and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers were put to in the grave, all is continuing as it has been from the beginning of creation…the Lord is not tardy as to the promise, as some are deeming tardiness, but is patient because of you, not intending any to perish, but all to make room for repentance." (2 Peter 3:3-4, 9)
Jesus Himself promised that He would return.
“In My Father's house are many abodes; yet if not, I would have told you, for I am going to make ready a place for you. And if I should be going and making ready a place for you, I will come again and I will be taking you along to Myself, that where I am, you also may be.” (John 14:2-3)
“...and as they were looking intently into heaven at His going, lo! two men stand beside them in white attire, who say also, "Men! Galileans! Why do you stand, looking into heaven? This Jesus Who is being taken up from you into heaven shall come again in the manner in which you gaze at Him going into heaven." (Acts 1:10-11)
And the Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus will return.
“…the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-18)
Two thousand years is a long time to wait but if the Bible is true there will be a generation that sees Jesus return - and I personally think it is my generation, for we baby boomers have seen the rebirth of the
"fig tree", which I believe to be the State of Israel! Jesus said...
"Now from the fig tree learn a parable: Whenever its bough becomes tender, and the leaves sprout out, you know that summer is near. Thus you, also, whenever you may be perceiving all these things, know that He is near-at the doors. Verily, I am saying to you that by no means may THIS GENERATION be passing by until all these things should be occurring." (Matthew 24:32-35)
But what about the Scripture that says, “concerning that day and hour no one is aware”?
“…and they shall see the Son of Humanity coming on the clouds of heaven with power and much glory…concerning that day and hour no one is aware, neither the messengers of the heavens, nor the Son; except the Father only." (Matthew 24:30, 36-37)
That was true two thousand years ago. At that time even Jesus did not know the day or the hour. But I suspect He knows now. And the Bible says that there will be some who are not "in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you...".
“Now you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you as a thief, for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Consequently, then, we may not be drowsing, even as he rest, but we may be watching and be sober...” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)
Those watching know the time for Him to return, for the evidence is all around us...
“And there shall be signs in the sun and the moon and constellations, and on the earth pressure of nations in perplexity, at the resounding of the sea and the shaking, at the chilling of men from fear and apprehensiveness of that which is coming on the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then they shall be seeing the Son of Humanity coming in a cloud with power and much glory. NOW AT THE BEGINNING of these occurrences, unbend and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near." (Luke 21:25-28)
We baby boomers have seen the budding of the fig tree, and the beginning of "fear and apprehensiveness", so I am looking up and expecting His return to be "drawing near"!
"Now from the fig tree learn a parable: Whenever its bough becomes tender, and the leaves sprout out, you know that summer is near. Thus you, also, whenever you may be perceiving all these things, know that He is near-at the doors. Verily, I am saying to you that by no means may THIS GENERATION be passing by until all these things should be occurring." (Matthew 24:32-35)
But what about the Scripture that says, “concerning that day and hour no one is aware”?
“…and they shall see the Son of Humanity coming on the clouds of heaven with power and much glory…concerning that day and hour no one is aware, neither the messengers of the heavens, nor the Son; except the Father only." (Matthew 24:30, 36-37)
That was true two thousand years ago. At that time even Jesus did not know the day or the hour. But I suspect He knows now. And the Bible says that there will be some who are not "in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you...".
“Now you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you as a thief, for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Consequently, then, we may not be drowsing, even as he rest, but we may be watching and be sober...” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)
Those watching know the time for Him to return, for the evidence is all around us...
“And there shall be signs in the sun and the moon and constellations, and on the earth pressure of nations in perplexity, at the resounding of the sea and the shaking, at the chilling of men from fear and apprehensiveness of that which is coming on the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then they shall be seeing the Son of Humanity coming in a cloud with power and much glory. NOW AT THE BEGINNING of these occurrences, unbend and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near." (Luke 21:25-28)
We baby boomers have seen the budding of the fig tree, and the beginning of "fear and apprehensiveness", so I am looking up and expecting His return to be "drawing near"!