More than 100 years ago, the French scientist, Berthelot, listened to two young scientists predict that in 100 years men would discover the secret of the atom and would be able to light up the heavens like the sun. In response to their idea, Bertholot said: “Gentlemen, when that time comes, God will come down with His long white beard swinging a bunch of keys and will say, as we do in Paris at 5:00 every evening, “Gentlemen, it is closing time.”
Today, modern science has discovered the secret of the atom, and an amazing amount of knowledge concerning every aspect of life has exploded upon our modern-day world such as these young scientists could never have envisioned.
Yet in God's prophetic word the Bible, spoke clearly concerning this factual phenomenon. Daniel 12:4 There is no doubt concerning the amazing truth of that prophetic statement of Daniel. God, speaking and writing through His servant Daniel over 600 years before Christ, predicts some amazing events that would take place. It says there would be an increase of knowledge: both scientific and Biblical knowledge is to increase
But sadly – Along with the discoveries and increase in knowledge in science and technology today – There has been an increase in the desperation of many as the world continues its downward spiral in the important areas of morality & religious values.
By and large – because of people's rejection of biblical truth and the study of God's Word – society has become increasingly immoral. No class of modern society has gone unaffected by the increasing array of secular ideas that threaten to obscure the blessed gospel truths of the Holy Bible.
Perhaps no truth of scripture has been more manipulated and obscured than that of the blessed hope of the 2nd coming. Jesus warned us about this very thing in: 2 Peter 2:1-3
He specifically mentions – False teachers who bring in damnable heresies. And He tells us emphatically that – "Many will follow their destructive ways."
Repeatedly we are warned about following men – especially in relationship to teachings regarding the last days.
"Through covetousness" it says – My friends, here lies the root of lots of popular theology and religion. Don't believe any man who seeks to makes lots of money off the practice of his religion. Don't listen to any preacher whose gospel is based on the acquirement of material gain.
You can't help but notice that he tells us that much of the false teaching will apparently be centered around the doctrine of the 2nd Coming. 2 Peter 3: 1-2, 3, 4 Notice carefully what we just read – v. 2, "Be mindful of the words spoken by who? "The holy prophets." Do you see the need of studying prophecy?
Then states: "That there would be "Scoffers – saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?" Apparently, the abundance of heretical material that produces a sensational response at first only leaves many saying "Where is the promise of His coming."
Why does all this happen? verse 5 emphatically states the answer in succinct – unmistakable terms. Says they are – "Willfully ignorant of the Word of God"
"Willfully" – that's the only way for some to be so (ignorant) in the last days. Because Daniel 12:4 refers to prophetic truth, as well as scientific facts.
Verse 5 emphasizes they have forgotten the Creatorship of God (Sabbath) NIV Now beloved, Jesus knew about this crisis of ideas and opinions that would engulf the religious world. He warned us . . .Matthew 24:4, 5 The very first thing that Jesus said in answer to the disciples' question about the second coming is given here in verse 3.
Matthew 24:3 Many will come in Christ's name. Even has a Christian label on it. However, no one who considers himself a "Christian" even remotely thinks he is deceived. That is the worst deception there is; false sense of security.
Christ said: "Take heed no man deceive you." The implication is clear that there will be an unusual amount of misleading information about His return. Millions have been deceived by an incredible array of false theories which have spread like wild fire among Christians.
Almost the whole of Matthew 24 is mingled with warnings about the end-time program of Satan to delude the whole world on this issue.
verse 11 "Many false Christs shall arise, and deceive many."
verse 24 "False Christs" - "False prophets" - "deceive the very elect."
Signs and wonders – A lot of popular teaching focuses almost totally on signs and wonders – we'll talk more about this later. Have such bold frauds made their appearance? Indeed they have!
Book - published by the World Bible Society
Book - 1994 - Owner of Religious Radio Network
Though not everyone believes in this, the world is being prepared for a supernatural manifestation of a counterfeit Christ.
One very popular Christian speaker, author of many books – said all would see Jesus come because of TV sets! Because of lack of biblical knowledge, millions may be ready to accept the spurious claims of an imposter.
Notice, Jesus said that the imposter(s) would not appear to any localized sector of the earth: Matthew 24:26-27
If a popular TV newsman announced that Christ appeared in London, N.Y. or Rome - DON'T believe it!! Just picture a majestic being - glistening white robe - heals sick, touches the blind, outright miracles (scientifically unexplainable). Thousands proclaim - "Jesus is come!" It's not so easy to keep from believing - people will go anywhere to witness or experience a promised miracle.
Okay - Now that we know how Jesus will NOT come - Let's discover how His coming will actually take place. How will Jesus come? A careful study of truth exposes error, Acts 1:9-11. Two angels come all the way from heaven to give the clearest declaration on record concerning the manner of Christ's return to this earth.
Some very descriptive words in these verses indicate beyond question that the ascension of Jesus was a real event.
1. They Watched
2. Their Sight
3. They Looked steadfastly
4. They were Gazing
5. They Saw
They literally watched with their eyes as Jesus disappeared into the clouds. verse 11 - "this same Jesus shall come in like manner." His return will be just as visible and literal as His going away. Since He left in a cloud, He must also come back in a cloud. The scriptures confirm that He will. Revelation 1:7
In a few brief words - Revelation reveals one of the most astounding facts about the 2nd advent of Christ. He will be seen by every living soul in the world as He descends from the heavens.
All eyes - good and evil - look up together and behold His glory. Jesus described it Himself this way in Matthew 24:30
Satan may be able to counterfeit many aspects of His coming. But he will not be able to duplicate the manner of Jesus' celestial entry into our atmosphere. Never before or again will so much glory and splendor be seen by the eyes of all man!
Matthew tells us "All the holy angels will be in attendance when He comes." Matthew 25:31 All the holy angels are coming!
According to Revelation there are over 100 million angels in heaven. All of whom will be with Jesus when He comes. Talk about a victory celebration! WOW ! Boston or New York have never seen anything like this. Nobody has ever seen anything like this! Revelation 5:11
Angels – popular subject today Magazine Art. Books - On one occasion - single angel appeared in the strength of heavenly glory and the results were devastating. One angel smote the Assyrian army - left 185,000 dead! (2 Kings 19:35)
So you see, it will be very visible to every person alive in this world. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:27 "For as lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be."
No wonder everyone will be audience to that spectacular sight. Just as a flash of lightning on a dark night is seen all across the sky. So will His coming be.
What about the Rapture? Word not in Bible – word means "Caught up" In addition to being highly visible - also very loud as one might expect. 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17
That mighty demonstration of sight and sound will be such that it wakes the dead. This is not a "Silent Shout." Every translation makes this clear.
I never played a trumpet, but I do know it's very loud. I learned that when my boy was learning. (I wasn't sleeping!). In the Bible it is used as a warning instrument. Alert (like the cavalry).
At this point, Jesus uses it to say, "Ready or not, Here I come!." But listen - it's too late now to repent. Too late for us to allow Him to change our lives - so we can live for Him. There is No 2nd chance – why we have already had one - If we blow it that's it.
Besides, friends - He knows those who haven't responded to His mercy and truth today while the Spirit pleads with hearts – And Revelation's message is going forth to all the world would not respond at a later time.
Now I realize that this is not what you may have been hearing. Some talk about secret rapture - 7 years of tribulation - Jews going to evangelize the world. They lost their chance to do this in A.D.34 at the end of the 70 weeks prophecy.
Israel in Prophecy - need to understand. More people may be lost on the misunderstanding of this crucial point than I dare think about. Let's look at a few misunderstood texts and some important points about these concepts.
Luke 17:26-36, 37
verse 30 - Son of Man "Revealed"
verse 36 - "One taken and the other left." The idea espoused so profusely today is that of the "rapture" - one goes and the other left. How do you keep this a secret? - Hey, if my wife's gone - I'm going to know about it! I'd be helpless!
verse 37 - Taken "Where Lord?" "Wherever the body is, there shall the eagles be gathered." Context of "taken" = "destroyed" (verses 27, 29, 37) Using our principle of comparing scripture with scripture, let's go to Revelation 19:15-19.
verse 21 - All "fowls" (same word as eagles) filled with their flesh. The Lord showed John in prophetic vision the dramatic scene of destruction where the world's wicked lay strewn about on the earth… They are destroyed by the wrath of the Lamb at the second coming.
Food for buzzards – what a pitiful scene – They could have been fed by the Lord Jesus at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Now go back to Luke 17:27, notice the words - "Destroyed them all" Dr. Luke is saying that Noah's day is like the day when Jesus returns. The flood did what? Destroyed them all! (taken away).
Noah & family remained (they represent the saved). Don't miss the significance of this Biblical and historical prophetic fact.
Tell me dear folk, who is destroyed? Why, the wicked of course. No second chance - certainly not - they had already had one - through the preaching of Noah. Same as in last days – Notice how Matthew puts this in Matthew 24: 37-39 Matthew says that the flood, "took them all away." The wicked are taken away in destruction.
Just what is the Lord really trying to teach us with these verses of scripture? Just the opposite of what is being accepted spiritually by many uninformed Christians today.
The urgent message that Jesus is coming to put an end to it all, has been made to say (to so many people who are putting off His coming by living selfish, indulgent lives):
"No need to repent, and live for Jesus. After the rapture, I'll get a second chance." What a deception! For them, it will be too late - just like those who didn't believe Noah - the door of opportunity had closed.
What about coming as a thief? If you are watching you would be ready for a thief. But so few are watching and waiting. They are so busy with the affairs of this world. Not paying heed to the Word of God. So they will be caught by surprise and destroyed.
The wicked are destroyed by the blazing glory of Christ at His 2nd coming. 2 Thessalonians 2: 8-10 "Destroy with the brightness of His coming." Perish because receive not "a love of the truth."
Love of world instead – nothing can change that now. verse 12 says – They are damned because they believed lies rather than the beautiful truths of the Word of God.
Now – In the Bible there are only 3 Greek words for 2nd coming.
1.) Coming - "parousia"
2.) Brightness - "epiphania"
3.) Revealing - "apocalypsis"
Notice now in 2 Thessalonians. 1:7-9
verse 7 - "revealed" verse 9 - "presence of the Lord" - parousia Compare this with chapter 2: 8 , "Brightness of His coming." The brightness of the parousia [coming] destroys the Anti-Christ. There is absolutely no way to make these refer to different events as some have attempted to do. Greek literally says the "epiphania" of the "parousia" or literally "the appearing or brightness of the coming" In Chapter 2: 1-4, Paul specifically warns us not to be deceived about all this.
Says – Antichrist to deceive the world before Jesus returns to redeem His people. So yes we will go through a time of tribulation and persecution.
Tell me – has anyone in the history of this book lived for Jesus without incurring the wrath of Satan? Listen to Paul in 2 Timothy 3:11-14
"All – Suffer persecution" Some say the church is taken out – no, listen. Paul endured – Lord delivered Him. – Just like Dan in the Lion's Den. Do you remember this story? King Darius said "God will deliver you." Daniel 6:16,20 Paul goes on to say in 2 Timothy 3:13, 14 Also, Paul spoke with utmost assurance in 2 Timothy 4:7,8
If we are faithful to our Lord and serve Him as Daniel and Paul, He will be with us to deliver us through this time of trial and test. Yes, God will prove us and test our loyalty in the days ahead.
My friends, there are some tremendous events that are coming soon. Daniel and Revelation clearly show what God allows to come upon our world. You will know exactly what's going to happen. This is what the prophecies are all about. It all right here in this wonderful book. Want to remind you of the dramatic and awesome scene at the 2nd Coming of Christ.
Revelation 16:18, 20 Imagine the universal terror which will accompany the shock waves which cause inhabited islands to disappear into the sea. Huge mountains and buildings are shattered to fragments according to the graphic words of the prophet. It's very apparent that our Lord's return is the most awesome and cataclysmic event ever to occur.
The Revelator describes the desperation of those who are not ready. Revelation 6:14-17 As Christ returns to execute judgment upon the earth – His presence is a consuming fire to all sin. The lost try to escape into caves of the mountains and pray to die rather than face a holy God. Intense and awful is their sense of shame and fear – No doubt.
Listen friends – It is not nuclear explosions or economic collapse that we should fear today. We should only be concerned about being ready to meet Jesus when He finally intervenes in the chaos of this old world. The question is what group are we going to be in? Only two Isaiah 25:9 Would you be ready if He were to come tonight? If not – why not?
This is what Revelation Reveals is for. We must get ready to meet Jesus. I am so thankful that the Bible and Prophecy tells us how. God in His great love has given us the material of Revelation to prepare us to meet Him in the clouds of glory soon. Revelation 22:7, 10
How about it – Are you getting ready to meet Jesus? That's what this life is for – nothing else really is as important. To prepare ourselves and those we love is the real reason we are still here in this world today. Let's get ready to see Him soon – What do you say?