The Lord Will Come Again
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February 19, 2012 |
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 "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Matthew 24:32-34)
Around 2,000 years ago Jesus came to the earth to save men from sins and death. He could be resurrected from the dead since He had no spot and no sin. He was crucified on the cross and resurrected on the third day. After His resurrection Jesus promised to come again to take us into Heaven. Acts 1:11 says, "They also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.'" Then, what will happen when our Bridegroom, the Lord, does come in the air?
1. The Lord's Coming in the Air Will Be
All prophecies written in the Bible have come true so far except for the Lord's coming in the air, the seven-year tribulation, the Lord's coming on the earth, millennium kingdom, and the white throne judgment. These events will all be accomplished in the future.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 reads, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."
When the Lord comes in the air, the dead in Christ will rise first. In the Bible, they are called 'those who are asleep' as recorded in Corinthians 15:20. Their bodies that have been buried in the ground will be raised imperishable. Their bodies will also then be re-united with the spirit and soul in the air, becoming the resurrected bodies. Then, those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. It is the Rapture.
The Lord, our Bridegroom, will surely come to take us. He promised in the Bible to come to us soon. Hebrews 10:37 says, "For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay." Revelation 3:11 reads, "I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown."
But some believers as well as the worldly people have doubts about the second coming of the Lord. They condemn those who said the Lord will come soon saying, "It is the extreme of eschatology and heretic." No matter how vehemently they deny His coming, the Lord will surely come. However, we have to be wary of and stay back from some groups of people. They are the people who predict the specific date and time of the Lord's coming saying "The Lord will come at 'such-and-such an hour, day, month and in such-and-such a year."
Matthew 24:36 says, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." No verse in the Bible tells us what year, what month, what day, and what hour the Lord will come. It just tells us the signs of the end of the age so that we can realize it.
2. The Signs of the End of the Age
In Matthew 24:3, Jesus' disciples came to Him asking, "What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered as recorded in the following verses 5 through 8, "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs." He added in the verses 11 and 12, "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold." The verse 14 tells us, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."
Jesus also talked about how Israel would change by the time the Lord comes by likening Israel to the fig tree in Matthew 24:32-33. It says, "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door."
'The branch of the fig tree becoming tender and putting forth its leaves' refers to the independence of the State of Israel. It predicted the nation of Israel was to disappear and would later be re-established. Therefore, 'When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door' means that the Lord's second coming is drawing near when the Israel becomes independent.
3. Reconstruction of Israel
Israel was destroyed by Rome in A.D. 70. Not one stone of the temple was 'left upon another' as prophesied in Matthew 24:2. All people of the nation of Israel were scattered throughout the world. Roman leaders left only some parts of the temple wall standing to commemorate their victory. That wall is well-known as the Wailing Wall today.
The Israelis who lived throughout the world in the Diaspora had to suffer from persecution and being treated with contempt. Approximately six million European Jews were deported and murdered during World War II. Curses and hardships were inflicted upon them that were horrendous. But they didn't forsake God, but kept the Law. God also didn't forsake them. He prophesied in the Old Testament that He would raise them up again.
Ezekiel 38:8 says, "After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them." Isaiah 49:9 also reads, "Thus says the LORD, 'In a favorable time I have answered You, and in a day of salvation I have helped You; and I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages.'"
As the appointed time came, God gathered the Israelis and reestablished the country. It happened in May 14, 1948. The nation that had fallen completely was restored after nearly1900 years. Although Israel occupies a very small portion of land surrounded by hostile countries, it has grown up to be one of the developed nations of the world, which has caught the attention of the world.
As many leaves come out on the fig tree, we can see that the summer is drawing near. Likewise, we can realize that the Second Advent of the Lord is very near since the Israel got independent and has become a well-developed country. Therefore, we have to lead souls to the way of salvation more ardently and lead more sincere Christian lives. For such believers, the day of the Lord will not come like a thief in the night.
The wheat-like believers who love God and keep His commandments and wait for the Lord who comes again naturally adorn themselves as brides of the Lord. They are only focused on fulfilling the qualification as the Lord's brides with no spot or blemish.
But there are people who take the way of destruction and live as slaves to the enemy devil and Satan without knowing there are Heaven and Hell. Even some believers still commit sins. They still befriend the world just like the people in the time of Noah were eating, drinking, and marrying, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:27) Did they receive salvation? No, they didn't.
We now live in the end time filled with the signs of the end of the age recorded in the Bible. Thus, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will realize the end time is just around the corner and keep alert and pray and adorn yourself as a bride of the Lord.
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