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“The little boy was colouring a picture and it became beautiful. The Holy Spirit is drawing in us the image of Jesus and is changing us so that we radiate His glory and holiness.”
Stella
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When will Jesus Return?
Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken”. Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matt. 24:29-31
Here Jesus continues to give signs of the End Times and of His Second Coming. The particular signs we are looking at today follow on from the tribulation that we looked at last week:
“Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened …”
We can say with certainty that these signs have not yet happened, but this does not weaken the belief that Jesus’ return is imminent, because they could happen very quickly. These words are complemented by the epistle to the Hebrews:
He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
Hebrews 1:10-12
See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven? At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe
Heb. 12:25-28
and also by Peter:
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be burned up. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:8-13
The sequence here seems to be, the distress, the signs in the heavens, the coming of the Son of Man! Come Lord Jesus, Come Quickly, Amen!
Quote of the week
I can only say, that I am more and more convinced, as I grow older — that to keep our eyes steadily fixed on the second coming of Christ is one great secret of Christian peace.
J. C. Ryle
Verse of the week
The day of the Lord is near … sun and moon will be darkened, the stars no longer shine, the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Joel 3:14-16
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, help Your people to have their hearts, minds, and eyes steadily fixed on the Second Coming of Your Son. Move us by Your Spirit to share the Good-News with all and sundry, that they too might be ready for that great and glorious day in Jesus Christ, Amen.