They read: "Repent! The end is near!"
"It's the end of the world!"
"This world is going to end!"
"Judgement Day is upon us!"
People across the world have been predicting the end of days for years. Christians, Jews, Muslims, and many other religious groups have looked into the prophecies of doom and gloom and conjured up tons of theories on how and when it will happen. All the paranoia, prediction, and assumption have weighed heavily on the hearts of many and given people a feeling that we are in the last days. Scary? Or not so scary?
The Bible warns of the end of days and tells of the Second Coming in the book of Revelations (the last chapter of the New Testament). It tells us to beware and to keep our eyes open for signs that the season is near. Harold Camping was certain May 21, 2011 was the date of the Rapture (the day where all Christians and believers in Christ would ascend into Heaven leaving the world to destruction over a 7-year period). But the Bible clearly says...
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." -Matthew 24:36
What more is there to say? Jesus could not tell a lie. God could not tell a lie. The Word is true and the Word is final that only God knows that date and hour. Therefore, I say to you, do not focus on the date of December 21, 2012...for the Rapture could be before that day...or it could be 100 years after.
God does tell us that we may be able to know the season of the end though. For if you research Matthew 24 from start to finish, Jesus tells of all the things that will come to pass before the end. He says it will be like the days before Noah and the Ark where immorality was widespread across the Earth. Therefore, we must ask ourselves: Does our world today line-up with Noah and his generation?
I am not sure I can answer that. All I know is that no matter when the Second Coming may be, we must be ready.
"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." -Revelation 22:20
So, what does that tell us? It's going to happen quickly. Quickly to us may be hundreds of years (and it has been since the Birth of Jesus). But essentially what it's trying to tell us is that since we do not know the day or hour, we MUST be ready at all times. We do not want to be caught napping.
People are afraid though. People are afraid to dwell on the last days and the Second Coming though because it means this world is coming to an end. Naturally, that would scare any person that has only lived and known this life on Earth. But those that have gone beyond and are born again of the Spirit know that there is more to this world.
NOT A TIME OF DOOM AND GLOOM
What I say to those that are not born again is that there is no doom and gloom in the Second Coming. It is a time of happiness. It is a time for Jesus to reign 1,000 years. He will come again and all our tears will be wiped away. We can enjoy this life on Earth and we can make the most of it but like the Carrie Underwood song, "Temporary Home," this world is only temporary and we will be called to God's family in Heaven one day. We are God's family already. We just need to live our lives for Christ and receive the Holy Spirit. When you become born again of the Spirit, you will understand that the Lord is on our side...on YOUR side...and that if you believe in Him, you will not perish.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
No comments:
Post a Comment