JESUS RETURN TO EARTH

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Expecting Jesus to return should make us watchful, diligent in our faith, and eager to live holy lives. We are not to get caught up in trying to guess the “day and hour” of these events. As Jesus Himself told us,

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:32-33

Even so, Jesus said that the signs of His return would give us a general idea and should cause us to remain watchful:

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors!” Matthew 24:32-33

This is not all that Jesus had to say about the timing of His return. In Luke 21:35, He warned that His return would “come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth”. In Matthew 24:43, Jesus explains that he will come “as a thief in the night”. But note that these are warnings are given to people who have made this world their home and refused a heavenly citizenship. For believers, it’s a different story entirely:

“But you brethren, are not in darkness, so that the Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6

For the same reason, God promises a special blessing for those who read, hear and keep the words of the book of Revelation. This blessing is not offered for any other book in the Bible:

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3

Joseph Lamb (1925-2013) was a pastor in the Chinese underground church. He faced severe persecution from the communist authorities and spent more than twenty years in prison. But the fruit of his ministry was incredible. Along with the efforts of many like him, there are now some 80 million believers in China. Consider what Lamb said about the second coming of Christ and the impact it has had on the growth of the Chinese church:

A demolished underground church in China

In the West, the church is not talking about Jesus return, it is too concerned with survival and compromise with the world and its values.

In China, the imminent return of Christ is the message the thought-police in China most want to censor. In fact, in many areas the police are registering modems and even fax machines in order to keep the end-times message of Christ’s return from being circulated.

You see, Chinese Christians believe passionately that Christ is coming again, not just someday — but ‘in this generation.’ The dragon knows he must stop this Apostolic message of hope. If somehow he can stop these New Testament-style Bible studies, he knows he will cripple Church growth in China…to the dragon [Satan]. the ‘most dangerous’ message on the Internet is the ‘Second Advent of Christ.’

In America, where pastors have the freedom to preach anything they please, thousands of churches never hear the message of the Second Coming. Not because they are forbidden by government, but because they were tricked by seminary professors into thinking it is ‘confusing’ or ‘not relevant for today’.

Satan uses different tactics in different cultures — anything that will produce silence on the Blessed Hope of Christ’s soon return. Why? Because there is no more spiritually motivating teaching in the entire Bible.

The saints will overcome. Not a word that Jesus spoke will go unfulfilled. God will honour every promise that He made both to Israel (Jeremiah 31:35-37) and to the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Jesus will return in glory, and He will reign victoriously on the earth. The price that He paid on the cross will be celebrated by all nations, and the redeemed will sit at His feet for eternity. Maranatha!

Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
~ Luke 21:28

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
~ Mark 13:37

JESUS RETURN TO EARTH

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This is an another revealing video from Nelson Walters. I met Nelson many years ago now in the USA at an End Times Conference and for over a year he was a member of the Board for a ministry that I started several years ago. It was premature but its time is fast approaching. Sadly, I have jumped the gun on a number of occasions with projects God has given me particularly when I owned and managed Christian Press and Care & Share Products. Timing is so important and we need to get it right. Much like Abraham and Sarah, I have birthed Ishmaels not Isaacs. God is good and He has always given me a second chance as He will you if you mess things up. Back to Nelson, he is always willing to listen and work with others that believe they have been called to alert the church to Jesus Second Coming and all that God has revealed will unfold at that time. You will note in his videos he will always tell you when what he is saying is conjecture or his opinion and not supported by Biblical evidence.

SUMMARY

Will Jesus set foot on earth before the Battle of Armageddon? It is not what is commonly taught. So, what does God’s Word say? Perhaps because what we currently call the Second Coming is not a single event! Could Jesus arrive an entire year earlier to take His church to heaven but also to take part in pouring out His wrath upon an unrepentant world. Is this what Scripture calls the acceptable year of the Lord? In this video Nelson examine four proofs that categorically prove Jesus is on earth prior to mounting his White Horse and leaving Heaven to fight Armageddon. What is the meaning of Jesus’ robe dipped in blood and how is it related to this concept? How are the Days of Noah involved? And does Satan know about Armageddon prior to Jesus riding the white horse? Does the Bible teach a second Exodus? Nelson does a great job of taking us to the relevant Scriptures that provide the answers we need.

CHRISTIAN MATURITY

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“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11

This prayer by Paul is important because it outlines what spiritual maturity should look like. A Christian grows in proportion to His love for Jesus. Notice it also says our love should abound more and more. Moreover, Christian love is sacrificial, giving love. In addition to being abounding love, it is also discerning love. The heart and mind work together so that we distinguish what really matters, right priorities, striving for excellence but pure and blameless. Christian love must be rooted in wisdom from God’s Word if we are to love God and man in ways honouring to God.

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” John 6:22

Good works must be an outcome of our love for God “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus”. Jesus said it like this:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Jesus made it possible for God, the Father to send the Holy Spirit to enable us to do good works, to “bear much fruit” and apart from being in Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit “you can do nothing“. How often do we quench the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and thereby grieve Him? I fear it is much more than we like to admit.

Finally this prayer acknowledges that Christ is going to return and that we should be pure and blameless for that day: “so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ“.