Friday, March 18, 2011

MARANATHA, Even so, come...


Before we continue to prepare for the coming zombie apocalypse and on a serious note, and especially in light of the tragedy in Japan, I am in serious reflection on what may be the KEY event of our generation, the return of Christ.
As a person of faith, I take this reality very seriously. Could Jesus truly return in our time?
Of course, I am not the first to ask this, many are. Even the early Church and the Apostles believed the LORD would return in their time. Both people of faith and those who do not confess in a Faith or Religion, have considered this. Prince, before his conversion and re-introduction to faith and God by Larry Graham, his mentor and the bassist for Sly and the Family Stone, sung about the SIGNS OF THE TIMES-


This post is primarily an appeal to those who do not believe to consider and to re-consider His coming.
What is an encouragement but also an alarm is that Jesus spoke of certain world events before his return. He said, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you ARE NOT TROUBLED (emphasis mine); for all these things must come to pass , but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All of these are the BEGINNING (again emphasis mine) of sorrows." Matthew 24:6-8
Now I am not surprised by the doubt and disbelief and even mocking by those who do not share this faith. In Matthew 24 Christ also states that His coming will be like the days of Noah where many did not believe and carried on life as if there was no warning. He warns, " But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." (vs. 37-39)
The Apostle Peter writes in his own letter, that Christ's coming is sure, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Peter also writes that Christ's coming will be surprising, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." (vs. 10) He therefore writes, "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godlinesss...looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;" (vs. 14)
Lastly, in the Gospel of Matthew, Christ encourages, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming," and "Therefore you also be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24: 42 and 44.
So my appeal to the believer and non-believing person is to PRAY to Christ and ask Him to reveal the truth of these matters. Ask Him to reveal Himself! He stated "Seek and ye shall find...", Matthew 7:7 and also that all who come will "in no wise be cast out" John 6:37
Let us be able to say like the Apostle John at the end of his Revelation, MARANATHA, even so "Come Lord Jesus" Revelation 22-20


2 comments:

  1. Everywhere there's war, and rumors of war. This is the topic (rapture) that makes those not of faith look at us as crazy. It's an area where, sometimes when I'm listening to political radio, someone will dismiss certain fundamentalists by saying, "They believe in rapture," and I'll think, so do, I would guess, the vast majority of Christians. Anyway, we must remind ourselves that it's real in the same way that I have a sincere notion that the devil has gotten in the way of me getting to church the past two weeks. I will say, though, that I'm not down with those who dogmatically stick to a particular view of the rapture; seems like there's enough/not enough to support any of the most notable options.

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  2. L.C.- Following the Lord within Orthodoxy, I no longer even think of or consider THE RAPTURE. What is relevant to me is being FAITHFUL. I believe historically the Church has stressed "being found doing the Master's will." I do believe you're on point in what triggers unbelief in those who do not hold the faith.

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