“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (I Jn. 2:28).
Showing posts with label Christ's coming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christ's coming. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Sunday, December 29, 2024
About Christ’s Coming
“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Rev. 1:7).
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Behold, He Cometh with Clouds!
Behold, He Cometh With Clouds!
By Timothy McCulfor
In Like Manner. “And when He had spoken these things, while
they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And
while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men
stood by them in white apparel; 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”
(Acts 1:9-11).
When Jesus ascended to His Father He was taken
up into a cloud. When He comes back He will come in like manner: with the
clouds! We sing about the unclouded day for which we are longing, but there
must come a day of clouds and judgment before that new day dawns!
The Concurrence of the Prophets. “For the day is near, even the day of the LORD
is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen (Ezek. 30:3).
Consider how Daniel saw visions of this very event: “I saw in the night
visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven,
and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And
there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people,
nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14).
The Putting Down of All Rule and Authority. The Son of man coming with the clouds signals
the time when Jesus will “put down all rule and all authority and power” (I
Cor. 15:24) receiving everlasting dominion over all people, nations, and
languages. Jesus used the same language to identify Himself as the Son of
man who would return to judge the earth: “Immediately after the tribulation of
those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be
shaken: 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” (Mt. 24:29-30).
The Judgment of Wicked Men. When the Son of man comes in the clouds of
heaven, He will be coming to judge the wicked. It is a time when the heavens
are, so to speak, torn apart. Jesus will then be revealed to the world as
the One who has been given all power in heaven and in earth (Mt. 28:18) and who
has received honor and glory from the Father (II Pet. 1:17). He will also be
seen by the world, to their horror, as the One with whom they have to do. Jesus
even told Caiaphas, the high priest, that he would see this day. In that day
the tables will be turned and Caiaphas will see Jesus coming to sit in judgment
upon him.
“But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest
answered and said unto Him, I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us
whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast
said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man
sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Mt.
26:63-64).
Obviously, if Caiaphas will see Jesus coming
in the clouds, there will be a resurrection of the dead at that time. This is
confirmed by John's writing in the Revelation: “Behold, He cometh with clouds;
and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds
of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Rev. 1:7).
They that had pierced Christ will be raised
from their place of torment to see Jesus coming with clouds. In fact, every
soul that has ever lived will witness this great coming. And every soul is
accountable to this One who will come to judge the quick (living) and the dead
(I Pet. 4:5). This will be the cause for great wailing by those who are yet in
their sins. This will be the time for reaping the earth.
“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and
upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden
crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the
temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy
sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the
earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle of the earth;
and the earth was reaped” (Rev. 14:14-16).
All of these descriptions of Christ coming in
the clouds point to a time of judgment for the wicked. But what about the
righteous? Where will they be at this time? “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 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” (I Th. 4:16-17).
His Coming’s Climactic Nature. When Jesus comes in the clouds we will be
caught up to meet Him. The righteous dead being raised is here tied to Jesus
coming in the clouds and the resurrection. Daniel wrote of the time when
those who “sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan. 12:2). Paul gave his
testimony that there will be “a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and
unjust “ (Acts 24:15). And Jesus also witnesses, thus establishing the matter,
saying, “the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear
His voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation” (Jn. 5:28-29).
There will be one physical resurrection of the
wicked and the righteous when Jesus comes in the clouds. It will be as it was
in the days of Noah and of Lot when judgment and deliverance came on
the same day (Lk. 17:26-30). This view is consistent with Jesus’ description of
the sheep and the goats (Mt. 25:31-46), the wheat and the tares (Mt. 13:37-43),
and the fish and the net (Mt. 13:47-50). Whatever view of Christ's coming we take
must be consistent with this clear teaching of Scripture. ─Tim McCulfor
Monday, August 3, 2009
When Jesus Comes Again, by Given O.Blakely
When Jesus Comes Again
By Given O. Blakely
By Given O. Blakely
" . . . at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." (1 Thess 3:13)
There is an appointed time when the necessity of holiness will be fully known. The aim of the Apostle is to prepare the saints for that predetermined day. There is a sense in which nothing else matters but this. To be unprepared to stand before the Father on this appointed day is to be condemned. Here is the reason for our lives and our labors in Christ Jesus.
AT THE COMING. There are few doctrines so marred with the opinions of men as that of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. As if that were not bad enough, there are also few doctrines that are as rarely proclaimed with power as this one. Yet, this is one of the most pivotal teachings of the Scriptures. Upon it, the hope of the saints is suspended. There are at least 250 references to Christ's return in the New Testament Scriptures. Every Gospel contains numerous references to Christ's coming. The Epistles contain nearly sixty references to Jesus' return, and all of them are foundational and central.
Before He was betrayed, Jesus declared to His disciples, "I will come again" (John 14:3). Following His ascension into heaven, two heavenly messengers arrayed in white said to His disciples, "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" (Acts 1:11). The resurrection of the dead will occur "at His coming" (1 Cor 15:23). That is when believers will be a crown of rejoicing to those who ministered to them (1 Thess 2:19). The great despot who will work in the power of Satan will be destroyed at that coming (2 Thess 2:8). This is the "coming" for which the saints are waiting (1 Cor 1:7). The keeping and perfecting power of God is to be performed until "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 5:23). Powerful pleadings and beseechments are made on the basis of this coming (2 Thess 2:1). Perseverance and endurance are maintained in view of this coming (James 5:7).
This is the day to which faith looks, and toward which it hastens, speeding its coming (2 Pet 3:12). This is "the day of the Lord" (1 Thess 5:2), "the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1:8), and "the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30). The Divine agenda is progressing toward this day. Everything about salvation is readying believers for this day. A people who do not speak often of this day are a weak people. Preachers who do not proclaim this day are guilty preachers. Hearts that do not yearn for it are faulty hearts. Those who have no interest in this day have only confirmed the Lord is not perfecting them. They stand on the precipice of eternal disaster, regardless of their profession. If our religion does not focus on the return of Jesus and make us ready for that glorious event, it is vain and useless. As it is written, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Cor 15:19).
The aim is to be "blameless in holiness before God . . . at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." The only place in which such preparations can be made is this world, and the only time they can be made is now. Salvation is the environment in which the objective will be realized, and faith and love are the experiences through which it will be accomplished.
It is not possible to overemphasize the coming of the Lord. Of this day it is written, "He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed" (Acts 17:31). Nothing can thwart or delay the coming of that day. It is drawing closer, being "nearer than when we believed" (Rom 13:11).
WITH ALL HIS SAINTS. When our Lord returns, He will bring all of the faithful who have departed this life. Later, in an extended proclamation of this fact, Paul writes, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him" (1 Thess 4:14). These are the ones who are "absent from the body" and "present with the Lord" (2 Cor 5:6,8). They will be presented blameless in holiness before the Father. It only needs to be established whether those who "are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord" will be included in the spotless number (1 Thess 4:15).
The desire Paul is expressing in this passage is that the Thessalonians will be among those who will be gathered by the reaping angels (Matt 13:39). That is the ultimate test of whether we are the Lord's or not. Faith unites us now with this vast body of redeemed souls, "the spirits of just men made perfect" (Heb 12:23). That unity is not to be taken for granted, as though everything from that point on is automatic. There remains much work to be done in the strongest believer, and only the Lord can perform it. He will not do it without the prayers of discerning ones. Nor, indeed, will it be accomplished apart from an increasing and abounding love. The objective of the work is to be blameless in holiness when He returns. We should expect, therefore, a marked increase in holiness here and now.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the blessed hope of Christ's return. --Given Blakely
AT THE COMING. There are few doctrines so marred with the opinions of men as that of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. As if that were not bad enough, there are also few doctrines that are as rarely proclaimed with power as this one. Yet, this is one of the most pivotal teachings of the Scriptures. Upon it, the hope of the saints is suspended. There are at least 250 references to Christ's return in the New Testament Scriptures. Every Gospel contains numerous references to Christ's coming. The Epistles contain nearly sixty references to Jesus' return, and all of them are foundational and central.
Before He was betrayed, Jesus declared to His disciples, "I will come again" (John 14:3). Following His ascension into heaven, two heavenly messengers arrayed in white said to His disciples, "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" (Acts 1:11). The resurrection of the dead will occur "at His coming" (1 Cor 15:23). That is when believers will be a crown of rejoicing to those who ministered to them (1 Thess 2:19). The great despot who will work in the power of Satan will be destroyed at that coming (2 Thess 2:8). This is the "coming" for which the saints are waiting (1 Cor 1:7). The keeping and perfecting power of God is to be performed until "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 5:23). Powerful pleadings and beseechments are made on the basis of this coming (2 Thess 2:1). Perseverance and endurance are maintained in view of this coming (James 5:7).
This is the day to which faith looks, and toward which it hastens, speeding its coming (2 Pet 3:12). This is "the day of the Lord" (1 Thess 5:2), "the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1:8), and "the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30). The Divine agenda is progressing toward this day. Everything about salvation is readying believers for this day. A people who do not speak often of this day are a weak people. Preachers who do not proclaim this day are guilty preachers. Hearts that do not yearn for it are faulty hearts. Those who have no interest in this day have only confirmed the Lord is not perfecting them. They stand on the precipice of eternal disaster, regardless of their profession. If our religion does not focus on the return of Jesus and make us ready for that glorious event, it is vain and useless. As it is written, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Cor 15:19).
The aim is to be "blameless in holiness before God . . . at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." The only place in which such preparations can be made is this world, and the only time they can be made is now. Salvation is the environment in which the objective will be realized, and faith and love are the experiences through which it will be accomplished.
It is not possible to overemphasize the coming of the Lord. Of this day it is written, "He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed" (Acts 17:31). Nothing can thwart or delay the coming of that day. It is drawing closer, being "nearer than when we believed" (Rom 13:11).
WITH ALL HIS SAINTS. When our Lord returns, He will bring all of the faithful who have departed this life. Later, in an extended proclamation of this fact, Paul writes, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him" (1 Thess 4:14). These are the ones who are "absent from the body" and "present with the Lord" (2 Cor 5:6,8). They will be presented blameless in holiness before the Father. It only needs to be established whether those who "are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord" will be included in the spotless number (1 Thess 4:15).
The desire Paul is expressing in this passage is that the Thessalonians will be among those who will be gathered by the reaping angels (Matt 13:39). That is the ultimate test of whether we are the Lord's or not. Faith unites us now with this vast body of redeemed souls, "the spirits of just men made perfect" (Heb 12:23). That unity is not to be taken for granted, as though everything from that point on is automatic. There remains much work to be done in the strongest believer, and only the Lord can perform it. He will not do it without the prayers of discerning ones. Nor, indeed, will it be accomplished apart from an increasing and abounding love. The objective of the work is to be blameless in holiness when He returns. We should expect, therefore, a marked increase in holiness here and now.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the blessed hope of Christ's return. --Given Blakely
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