The Countdown Has Begun

In the third chapter 2 Peter, we read about scoffers coming in the last days saying, “Where is the promise of his (Christ’s) coming?” These casually observe the world around them and conclude that everything is the same from the beginning of time. They willing ignore Noah and the flood. They also ignore signs which Jesus told us that point to the Day of the Lord. The passing of time is no indication that Jesus will not return. God measures and values time differently from people. A day with the Lord is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. God is not willing for people to perish, but that all should reach repentance. But, the Day of the Lord will come like a thief.

The Day will come suddenly with not warning. Repeatedly, Scripture describes Jesus’ return to earth as a thief in the night. Most people will be caught off guard. They will not be ready. You, however, do not have to be surprised. You can be alert and ready.

In the third chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul describes the last days as times of stress. He wrote that people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their own parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. This, written over 2000 years ago is an apt description of people today. These signs point to the return of Jesus Christ to the earth.

In Matthew 24, Jesus answered a question concerning the end of the world. He answered, “Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. They will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death. Many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will lead many astray. Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

There are over 2000 practicing gurus calling themselves ‘Christ’ in the world. There have been over 150 major wars since the end of World War II. Over 100 million were killed in warfare during the 1990’s alone, including 1 million Tutsi in the genocide in Rwanda in 1995. 4 million people die yearly from starvation; that is 30 every minute or 40,000 every day. 1.3 billion people have no access to clean drinking water. There are constant minor earthquakes on earth. There is an average of 18 major earthquakes (7.0-7.9) every year, and one great earthquake of 8.0 or greater on the Richter scale.

There are more than 160,000 Christian martyrs yearly. Only 42% of Americans said recently that the meaning of Easter is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The gospel has been preached to over 4 billion people. The Bible has been translated into over 2230 languages. I personally know individuals who preach in Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist nations. I myself have preached in some of these nations. Christian television and radio reaches the entire planet with the gospel. Signs point the Day of the Lord.

The Day of the Lord is judgment day. When Father God determines the time, angels are dispatched with loud blasting trumpets. No one on earth will miss the event. Unready people from every nation will lament and mourn. God’s elect, Christ’s followers, from heaven and earth will supernaturally be gathered together to participate with the return of the Lord to the earth.

Christ’s followers will be judged according the works they have done while on the earth, following their salvation. Selfish works will be burned up, while eternally valued works will be rewarded. The person herself will be saved. Unbelieving persons will be brought the Great White Throne to be judged according to their works. Everyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life will be cast onto the lake of fire, which is the second death. Nothing unclean will ever enter into heaven or the New Jerusalem, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The Day of the Lord is coming. Are you ready? Further information can be found in 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; Revelation 20, 21 and 22.

Peace,

Stan