Secret or public return of Jesus

As brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus, we believe that Jesus (Yeshua) will return from heaven to raise the dead to life and judge the world in righteousness.

How Jesus is coming back to the world can be open to debate and already opinions are formed about this.

It appears there are many shades of view that range between the secret return and the public return. There are also many who say that they are just not sure at all. Andy Walton has written an article wherein he looks at the evidence in the scriptures and tries to piece together the order of events surrounding the return of Jesus – especially from the viewpoint of those who are still alive and remain at his coming.

He looks at a the order of events of which we can be certain like Jesus returning in physical clouds whereby all mankind on earth shall witness this and trumpets shall be blown by the angels. Also we are told that the elect shall be gathered. There does appear to be some delay between the dead being raised when the trumpet sounds and the living believers being gathered to be with Christ.

We also can ask if the tribes of the earth are already mourning and have seen or are seeing the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven.

Andy Walton wonders what the “sign of the Son of man” is that causes the earth to mourn? He recognizes that we have some people with faith and some without faith. But all grow weary of waiting for Christ to return.

Revelation 1:7 says: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindred’s of the earth shall wail because of him.” The word translated “wail” here is only used 8 times in the NT. It is exactly the same word translated “mourn” in Matthew 24:30. Revelation says that Jesus comes with the clouds and every eye shall see him. We now know these are literal clouds and we also will witness this. But when the earth sees him and the angels, men wail and mourn. They literally beat their chests in grief. For me it looks strange that Jehovah Witnesses keep to their idea that Jesus has already returned, though we do not find any writings where it is confirmed that several people saw him.

Andy Walton recognizes that we often think of Jesus descending quickly to the earth. But why should he? For every eye to see him he only has to descend to earth over a 24-hour period and as the world turns everyone would see him. What if his descent took days or weeks? He wonders. Jesus will finally descend though and his feet will come to rest on the very Mount he left from – the Mount of Olives (see Zechariah 14).

We don’t know the day or the hour when Jesus shall come as a thief in the night (1
Thessalonians 5:2) andwill appear in heaven, for when he does appear, it will be too late to change the outcome. But Andy Walton thinks that to those who are watching and remain sober (verse 6), Jesus will not come as a thief because they shall recognize the great noise(2 Peter 3:10).We have to have faith now! “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

>About how Jesus might return. >

The Return of Jesus Christ – The Possible Order of Events –
For Those who are “alive and remain” at his Appearing

Click here to download the PDF of this article

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Geheime of publieke terugkeer van Jezus

Just an Ordinary Day

"Sometime some ordinary day will come,
A busy day like this - filled to the brim
With ordinary tasks - perhaps so full
That we have little thought or care for Him.

And there will be no hint from silent skies,
No sign, no clash of cymbals, roll of drums;
And yet that ordinary day will be
The very day in which our Lord will come."
- Unknown

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others;
but let us watch and be sober."
1 Thessalonians 5:6

"Looking for that blessed hope,
and the appearance of the glory of the great God,
and of our Saviour Jesus Christ."
Titus 2:13

God Our father, I ask You that I can look out with peace of mind
to the last Judgement day
and that I will have the opportunity to enter Your kingdom.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Enkel een Gewone Dag

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2013 update:

 

Related articles

• The Second Coming of Christ
• No Ordinary Day; No Ordinary Person; No Ordinary God
• Will You Be Naked on Judgment Day? By Dan Delzell , Special to CP
• Jesus, Truly Divine and Truly Human

God Watches

Is the world out of control? Sometimes it seems like it when we live in fear of terrorists, global warming, financial insecurity and minority groups that rise to power. Our futures seem so unpredictable, especially as violence and crime rise - even in our own neighbourhoods. But Zechariah has a message for us today that will help set our hearts at peace.

"For the eye of the LORD is on all mankind as well as on the tribes of Israel." (Zech 9:1[mg]) God knows exactly what is going on in the world we live in. He knew what it would be like before we experienced it, and he has a plan for the future that will right all the wrongs that are currently happening. God's plan is detailed in the rest of Zechariah 9 where he explains that he will send his King, Jesus, to proclaim peace to the nations, to save his people and to destroy God's enemies.

Hews prating at tomb of Zechariah. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The world may seen like it is out of control, but with God's watchful eye overseeing everything that happens, he will not let it go too far but will intervene at just the right time to save us from destruction. So let's not let ourselves be worried about the things that are happening. God said they would. Instead let them strengthen our faith and make us look forward all the more eagerly to the return of Christ.

- Robert Prins

Dutch translation / Nederlandse vertaling > God Kijkt toe

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2013 update:

Related articles

• Book of Zechariah
• I am confused, do I have faith?
• Nothing can separate you from GOD but yourself
• "God's Ways"
• What does it mean to 'seek justice'?
• God of Change, God of Same
• Joy In Heaven Over One Sinner Who Repents
• God's Masterpiece
• Justin Martyr: The Dialogue with Trypho - Chapter LIII. - What Jacob and Zechariah Predicted About Christ.
• The Game of Life

Coming to the end of the year

exhort from Bro John Aldersley ( NZ )

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

A little boy was counting the number of times the malfunctioning clock chimed and much to his amazement, the clock struck thirteen times. He quickly ran to his mother exclaiming, "Mother, its later than it has ever been before!"
Although the clock may be incorrect, the little boy's statement is truer than he realizes. It is later than it has ever been before. Paul put it plainly when he said, "now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
As we come to the end of each year, we realize that we are nearer to the return of our Lord than we have ever been before. Wev'e heard some complain when they hear talk like this and they almost parrot the words that Peter attributes to the scoffers which say, "where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
Now of course, no true believer would say this, yet if we become impatient when we hear of the coming of the Lord and say, "we have heard this since we were a child and he still has not come," we might not be looking for him with the eager anticipation that Paul and Peter wanted us to have.
Actually the return of Christ is only a heart beat away for any of us. For those who have died, (fallen asleep in the Lord) Christ has come, for their next conscious moment will be in the presence of their Lord. We which are alive and remain, need to feel the urgency of the times and realize that there is a day "when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." That day is nearer than it has ever been before and we are well advised to prepare for it as if it were tomorrow.

As we count down the few remaining days of each year, we should be thinking: "what have we done in the 360 plus days behind us that really mattered eternally?" We have lost count how many times we may have brushed our teeth or the number of hours we slept away, but what did we do for Jesus? When we face him at his judgment seat he will expect us to be able to answer that question. Can we answer it now? If we have trouble answering the question now, it can serve as a warning, so that we will be able to have a better answer for the days that may be ahead of us in the new year to come.

Many firms find that goals are more easily accomplished if quotas are set. They have production quotas, sales quotas, etc., and perhaps if we set a few quotas of our own we would accomplish more.

Visit a needy soul, read at least one good book every month, do our Bible readings every day. We can all think of many more to add to our list.
Now, of course, we can do these things without the aid of a formal quota but perhaps we would be more efficient in the use of our time if we rationed it out.

When it comes right down to it, we are each going to be accepted or rejected by Christ according to the way we used our time. We each have been created equal in this one respect for we all have 24 hours each day, but some place a higher value upon it than others. Our future is going to be determined by the way we spend our time.
As we see the years draw to an end, can we be accused of having filled them with eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building? None of these things are a sin in themselves but they are all things that take up our time, our energies and our thoughts. If this is all we did in the year we had better plan to put God first in our lives in the days that are ahead or we will be no better than the citizens of Sodom who were accused by Jesus of doing these things and having no time for God.

"See then that you walk circumspectly," says Paul, "not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." "Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

As each new year approaches, we wonder what will happen during the new year. It could very well be that it will be the year of the start of circumstances in Israel that will shortly lead to the return of our Lord. We are living in a great age whether or not we are of a great age. Let us each live each year as if it were our last, whether we are 16, 60 or 101.
How can we do that? By realizing that there is really only one purpose for our individual existence. When Jesus comes to call us to his judgment seat, that moment is the end of our mortal life as we know it. At that point we will either become immortal and live forever, which will make 101 seem like a tiny speck of time, or we will be destroyed; and that will mean that our entire life of however many years will have been a total waste.
We are now determining which verdict will be ours. It is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom, so we know He wants us in it.

What does the future hold in store for us that is more important than the kingdom? A new job, money, a sport, a new home? These things will seem unimportant when we face the Lord Jesus Christ and he asks us, "What have you done for me?"

How wise we are to decide to make the start of the year our year for the Lord. It will be a great year if we do. It will be a disaster if we don't, no matter what else we may achieve.
If we completely surrender ourselves to God in the new year, He will cause all things to "work together for our good" for "the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."

Some of the things that would have upset us and many of the trials that would have caused us concern will no longer bother us, for we will have learned in whatsoever state we are in, therewith to be content.
Yes, the year ahead can be the best year of our life if we live it as if it were our last. Even if it isn't, it will be better because we lived it wholly and totally for the Lord. Let us decide right now that we will do our ultimate best to surrender our lives to God. We join Paul in exclaiming, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

* * * * * * *

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Nu wij naar het einde van het jaar komen

Will Jesus ever return to the earth?

Onderwerp: This month's survey question:

Christ's coming: What does the Bible teach?

- Jesus will return to take believers to heaven.

- The return of Christ is only a metaphor.

- Jesus Christ is dead and will never return.

- Jesus will return to set up his Father’s kingdom.

- Don't know.

Go to www.thisisyourbible.com to submit your answer!

There are now many people who have come to believe that the Second Coming is a very important event.

For more information about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, click on the link below:

   "Christ is Coming!"  

The Conclusion of the System of Things

Travelingman wrote:

One day, "while (Jesus) was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" (Mt. 24:3)

Many who are familiar with this account know that Jesus didn't simply give them a date as to when the conclusion of the system of things would be. That is because at that time, "concerning that day and hour nobody (knew), neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mt. 24:36)

But in the following scriptures, Jesus did give signs that would show the time period of "the sign of (his) presence and of the conclusion of the system of things." Many of these signs we are all aware of: "earthquakes", "food shortages", "increasing of lawlessness", the preaching of the good news of the kingdom in all the inhabited earth, etc. All of these signs we have seen in significance in the time that we live in.

However, one of the signs that Jesus foretold then, I have not noticed in a significant measure and yet it was one sign that not only did Jesus mention first of all, but twice:

⁴ "And in answer Jesus said to them: "Look out that nobody misleads YOU; ⁵ for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and will mislead many."
And:

23"Then if anyone says to YOU, `Look! Here is the Christ,' or, `There!' do not believe it. ²⁴ For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.
I realize that there have been false prophets and false Christs in recent memory. But they have only been small-time crack-pots who have in sporadic incidents, misled only a relatively few people. Yet, Jesus foretold "many" being mislead, giving "great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones".
Am I merely placing more importance to this sign that is necessary, or is this a sign that we will see more prominently in the future?

To wich I reply:

Mr. Moon says he is the returned Christ, and he has a lot of followers all over the world. Followers are commonly referred to as the Moonies (after the cult's founder and leader, Sun Myung Moon). Some followers object to the name, claiming it is meant as an insult. However, the name was coined and used by members of the Unification Church itself.Currently the Unification Church goes by the name "Association of Families for Unification and World Peace," or "Family Federation for World Peace and Unification." However, the Unification Church operates under numerous names and business fronts.

I agree all other strange people who said they were the Lord, had just local followers, though some of them got also up to 2500 followers or more.

Paul Leonard writes:
The word "Christ" is the same as "anointed". You could say that many will claim to be anointed or the FDS. Basically all churches say they are "anointed/born again" and used by God. However this could be specific to the evil slave or apostate anointed as well.

Certainty in a troubled world

Be Prepared

For the inhabitants of Pompeii on a certain day in AD79 it was simply just another day, or so it seemed. Little did they realise that the very next day a volcanic eruption would bring a sudden end to their existence. Similarly the thousands of people killed by the tsunami in December 2004 were taken by surprise.

The uncertainties of life

Our lives are full of uncertainties and we do well to remember that. The Apostle James, in his usual direct manner, writes in James 4:13-15 “Go to now ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there, and buy and sell and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that': In a world of uncertainty it is important to look to the eternal and unchanging truth revealed in God's inspired and living word, the Bible.

The certainties of God's Word

The Gospel of Luke opens in chapter 1:4 with a reference to “ ... the certainties of those things wherein thou hast been instructed':

There is no question about the truth and importance of the gospel message. The death and resurrection of Jesus marks the central point of God's master plan for the world. This is still a work in progress as we await another crucial step, namely the return of Jesus. It is recorded in The Acts of the Apostles that as Jesus ascended into heaven a promise was made in the most plain and simple words as follows:

" ... 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). For all of us the return of Jesus cannot be more than our lifetime away and in fact is likely to be near at hand as the signs show.

The signs

The Bible tells us of signs indicating that the return of Christ is near. The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy in

2 Timothy 3:1-3 states 'This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, (without self-control; NKJV.), fierce, despisers of those that are good': This looks like a perfect snapshot of society today when man places himself and his desires at the very centre of God's universe.

Jesus spoke of the similarities of the days of his second coming with the days of Noah when, as we are told in the book of Genesis that the earth was filled with violence. In Matthew 24:7 Jesus speaks of the time when "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places': which ultimately will herald his return. Does that picture seem familiar? With the world economic situation full of uncertainty the words of the prophet Haggai seem relevant. "Ye have sown much but ye bring in little; ye eat and have not enough ... and be that earneth wages earneth wages to put in a bag with boles':

(Haggai 1:6).

What a good description of inflation! The plain words of Paul give certainty in a troubled world.

God will act

Paul told the Athenians that God

" ...hath appointed a day, in the which be will judge the world in righteousness by that man that he hath ordained,' whereof be hath given assurance to all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead': (Acts 17:31). Writing to the believers in Thessalonica Paul says "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night': (1 Thess 5:1-2)

While none of us knows his/her immediate future God has revealed His ultimate purpose in the pages of scripture. God is not the author of confusion but He gives us a hope that cannot be shaken and a promise that is sure and certain. Let us believe God's message in this day of our opportunity and prepare ourselves for the return of Jesus by serving him now.

RICHARD BUCKLER

Looking forward to the return of Jesus

As we come to the end of 2008 we look forward to 2009 and do hope we shall be come closer to the end of times, when Jesus shall come back.

Our prayer is that we shall soon see the coming of our Lord Jesus.

May the coming year bring to you all the blessings of peace, health and happiness.

Being enlightened concerning the significance of the times in which we are now living

Christians, above all others, should be enlightened concerning the significance of the times in which we are now living. These are the antitypical days of Noah and Lot. The Lord Jesus Christ warned that the evil and wickedness which characterized those times would distinguish society at the hour of his second coming.
 

Dutch version: 

Wordt verlicht met betrekking tot de betekenis van de tijd waarin we nu leven

Why did Christ not reveal the exact time of his second coming?

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

Why did Christ not reveal the exact time of his second coming? We may find the answer to this question in three places, the first of which, though not the most reliable, is simple logic. We are Christians, but at the same time we are human beings and it is our tendency to procrastinate when we feel that this can be done without great loss or damage. God is the Creator. He made us. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He knows that many of His followers would put off the needful preparation until the last minute if they knew exactly when Christ is coming. The danger inherent in this course of action is abundantly clear, for in our weak, human nature this would be too great a temptation for many of us.

  In his instruction, Christ made it very clear that one of the reasons his followers should watch and be alert is the fact that they do not know the hour when their Lord will come. To impress this on the minds of his disciples, Christ gave the illustration of the householder and the thief. “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would not have suffered his house to be broken up” (Matt. 24:43).

  In one respect, there is a great difference between the coming of the thief and the coming of Christ. The thief hopes that the householder will be unprepared. Our Lord desires us to be watching and ready for his appearing. “Therefore be ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.” It is hardly possible to be alert and ready at all times for the appearance of a thief. It is possible however, to always be ready for the coming of the Saviour, and this is what Christ has commanded. It is his desire that his followers be ready at all times - not because they are fearful, not because they dread his appearing, not just because he has a reward for them, but because they love him and wish to be with him.

  We are not to know the definite time for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days or for the coming of Christ. The times and the seasons God has put in His own power. Why has He not given us this knowledge? because we would not make a right use of it if He did. A condition of things would result from this knowledge among us that would greatly retard the work of God in preparing a people to stand in the great day that is to come. We are not to be engrossed with speculations in regard to the times and the seasons which God has not revealed. Jesus has told his disciples to “watch,” but not for definite time. His followers are to be in the position of those who are listening for the orders of their Captain; they are to watch, wait, pray, and work, as they approach the time for the coming of the Lord; but no one will be able to predict just when that time will come; “for of that day and hour knoweth no man.” We will not be able to say that he will come in one, two, or five years, neither are we to put off his coming by stating that it may not be for many years.

  Now let us look at our third proposition, the reason why the Lord has not already come and why we are not already in his  kingdom.

  Christ spoke to his disciples of two servants. One he called a faithful and wise servant. The other was characterized as an evil servant. The faithful servant was following his master’s instructions. He was doing the work that had been committed to him. Of the other servant Christ said, “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delays his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 24:48-51).

  What is the sin of the evil servant? Certainly it was wrong for him to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken. But these were the results of his downfall, not the cause. The greatest sin of the evil servant was the disregard of his master’s desires and commands; the inclination to do what was pleasing to himself on the theory that the master would not return soon and that there would be time to change his course of action before he returned. Notice that the evil servant did not proclaim to his fellow servants that the coming of his lord was delayed. This he said in his heart. This was his philosophy and his motivation, but he kept it covered up as much as possible. The inference is strong that this servant was a hypocrite. He pretended to be that which he was not.

  It is easy to see the sins of the evil servant. Perhaps it is not so easy to apply the lesson in the 21st century. Let us ponder the words of the servant of the Lord as we consider the reasons why our Saviour has not already returned to this earth to take up his kingdom. Had the purpose of God been carried out by His people in giving to the world the message of mercy, Christ, because of this, may have possibly come to the earth by now, and the saints would have received their welcome into the city of God.

  Perhaps the most important question that any Christian can ask himself is this: Am I ready for the Lord to come? If your answer, or my answer, to that question is not an unqualified yes, then there is no time to lose. God wants us in His kingdom. This is why He was willing to send His Son to die on Calvary. Too many of us may be like the boy who wanted to live with Jesus - but not just yet! As the story has it, two farmer lads walking barefoot on the dusty road met the new minister. Thinking to give them some food for thought, the minister greeted them and then asked, “Do you boys want to go and live with Jesus?” One answered in the affirmative, but the other dug his toe in the soft sand and shook his head. “You really don’t want to go and live with Jesus?” the minister inquired with a tone of disbelief. “No, sir.” “Do you mean to tell me you want to die and not be raised to live forever with Jesus?” “Oh no!” said the lad “I didn’t know you were talking about when I die. I thought you were making up a load to go to him today.”

  We may smile at this simple story, but we should be sure that our own experience and attitude could not be described in a similar, though more sophisticated, manner.

  Perhaps the second most important question that the Christian can ask himself is this: What am I doing to hasten the coming of the Lord? Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the world would be sown with the seed of the gospel and God’s number would be made up. Watching, waiting, and working - this is what God expects of us in these last moments of earth’s history. We should be “looking eagerly for the coming of the Day of the Lord” (2 Peter 3:12).

 John Aldersly