Week 33: August 18th, 2019

Topic: The coming of the Lord - Part 1

Bible Reading: Joel 2:1-11

Introduction

Coming is the time of an act or instance of arriving. It is when something is due to happen or just beginning. Coming can also be described as the approach of something. Therefore, in the Biblical context the coming of the Lord is the time of the appearance of Jesus Christ our Savior to take the beloved home. It is the emergence of the Lord at the end of time to judge the world. Whether we like it or not, He will return to this world as promised to reward everyone according to their deeds. Either we believe or not the coming of the Lord is at hand, so be watchful.

Many of the people in the world today are not aware of the coming of the Lord. Countless of those who can perceive the coming of the Lord are neither prepare nor care, because of the vanity of this world. Majority of the believers even prioritize their ambitions, aspirations and the materialistic things of this world more than the coming of the Lord. Since Satan knew that he has a short time, he is using the worries of this world to put people in spiritual bondage, so that they will be ill-prepare for the coming of the Lord. When the Lord returns to take the beloved home, will He find persistent faith on earth? When Jesus Christ appears, how many people will He find on the earth who have faith? According to the scripture which says, “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8. Whenever the Lord returns, will He find faithfulness on earth? Will humans still be loyal to God? Hearken to this warning, the coming of the Lord is at hand.

The Lord will come suddenly when people least expect; God alone knows the day and the hour of His coming. Neither the Son nor the angels knew the particular time, however, you should not use this as an excuse to be ill-prepared for the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Messiah will be just like the days of Noah. In those days before the flood, people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered the ark. They did not realize what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away; that is how it will be at the coming of Messiah. As it is written “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” Matthew 24:36-39. Be prepared, for the coming of the Lord which is at hand. If you do not want to be unexpectedly judged with the world, you must be ready. If you do not want to be destroyed with the children of perdition, watch and pray.

The Bible stated that “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth” Psalm 96:11-13. Are you rejoicing at the coming of the Lord? Are you celebrating the return of Jesus Christ our Lord? Since the Lord is the Judge of judges, He will judge the world with honesty, integrity and justice; according to the scripture which says “Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity” Psalm 98:7-9. Inasmuch as it is inevitable for the Lord to return, are you prepare for His coming? What is your readiness for the coming of the Lord? Since it is clear that the coming of the Lord is a reality and not a fictitious tale.

When we told you about the power and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling clever stories that someone had made up. But with our own eyes we saw His true greatness and power through the wonders that He has performed, together with those that He is presently performing in our midst. We neither contrived fairy tales nor depended on crafty myths in making known to you the mighty coming of our Lord. As it is written “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we’re eyes witnesses of His majesty” 2 Peter1:16. Do not fear but be prepared. What you need now is patient endurance in order to rapture with Him whenever He returns. Hence, learn to be patient, so that you will please God and be given what He has promised, because the Lord is coming soon; It will not be very long before He returns; according to the Bible passages which says “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ‘For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry’” Hebrews 10:36-37. Do you have the endurance to weather the spiritual storm of this world? Do you have the patience to wait for the coming of the Lord?

Jesus said to His disciples “‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you love Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ For My Father is greater than I” John 14:28. Our Lord and Savior can be trusted to keep His word by returning to this world. In addition, He warned by saying “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” John 14:30. Though, Lucifer the ruler of this world has no claim on Jesus Christ our Lord, the devil neither has power over Him nor anything that he can use against the Lord. However, you need to beware, because the end is near, and we know it is the end of time; since many antichrists have appeared in the world and they are dominating most of the establishments and organizations; as it is written “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come by which we know that it is the last hour” 1 John 2:18.

Today, the antichrists are everywhere in the world, and you can identify them by their conducts. Anyone whose action is against Jesus Christ and those who are denying or fail to acknowledge the truth that Jesus Christ has come as a human are antichrists; according to the scripture which says, “And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world” 1 John 4:3. Since you are aware that there are many antichrists in the world, don’t you think it is time to move closer to God? You need to improve your relationship with your Creator, so that you will be among those who will accompany the Lord home whenever He returns. As it is written “Let not your heart be trouble; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:1-3. Be assured that Jesus Christ our Lord is coming back to get you, if you are worthy and righteous, so that you will live with Him forever.

The scripture says “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7. At the appearance of the Lord, nations of the earth will mourn because of their misconducts. They will realize their sin and guilt with anticipation of the coming wrath. However, if you are obedient, you will rejoice that it is time to go home. You will be blessed if you are spiritually ready by not defiling your soul/mind. As it is written “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” Revelation 16:15. You must not pollute your heart which is your spiritual garment, and be watchful, if you want to inherit the glorious home. Hence, Jesus is coming back to this world to reward and to bless those who heed the message of this publication; according to the Bible passage which says “Behold, I am coming quickly! Bless is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” Revelation 22:7. Please do not joke with this publication so that you will be blessed.

Who is the Lord that is coming?

Jesus Christ our Savior is the Lord that is coming to save His beloved from perdition. He is also the Word of God, and the Bible stated that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made” John1:1-3. The passages clarify that the Lord who is coming is a God, and the Creator of everything both living and non-living things. His love for His creatures and His zeal for His Father’s work made His returning to this world inevitable; because He does not want the beloved to perish with the world.

Jesus came into the world the first time as human and the Bible corroborated this fact by saying “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:14. The Trinity is one indivisible entity that is governing the heavens and ruling the earth, of which Jesus Christ our Lord is one of them. The scripture confirmed this fact by saying “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit” 1 John 5:7. The heavenly vision revealed to John made it clear that; “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God” Revelation 19:13. It is evident that,  the duty of our Lord Jesus Christ is to return to this world to save the beloved from perdition.

Our Lord is the Alpha and Omega

The scripture described Jesus Christ our Lord as the Alpha and Omega by saying “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” Revelation 1:8. Since Jesus Christ our Lord is the One who is to come: the Beginning and the End; it means our journeys of life started from Him and it will end with Him. So, He alone is able to give anyone the spiritual water of life, because He is the source of life. As it is written, “And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts’” Revelation 21:6. The Lord will give the beloved life-giving water which will permit them to live forever in His heavenly kingdom.

In addition, the Messiah is also the First and the Last; according to the scripture which says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” Revelation 22:13. Which means, there is no way to escape from the Lord, inasmuch as He is the First and the Last. For this reason, the Lord confirmed His coming by saying “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12. Since you have the verification from the Lord, be watchful and prepare for His coming.