What the papers say or what the Bible says?
No news is good news- the saying goes. And if this is true the opposite is also true, and we find that it’s almost impossible to read the newspaper without seeing another gloomy headline. Only occasionally does there seem to be any good news, but this is quickly overshadowed by the latest tragedy.
We just never seem to get the news we want to hear. It’s war and sickness featuring where we would want to see peace and happiness.
Nothing but bad news!
But stop for just a minute. If we pay attention to what God says, these things will not surprise or shock us. The Bible says that these things would be so; that nation should rise against nation. Earthquakes, famines, perils, and diseases. All these, Jesus said, would take place before He returns. The World as a whole seems to be without hope. Its troubles will not go away or solve themselves. In fact, things will probably get worse.
But for those who trust in Jesus - there is hope.
Nothing but Good News!
These, we know from the Bible, are events still to come:
The rapture of the church - Christ’s return to take His church out of this world (the rapture) is imminent. All the prophecies in the Bible, which must be fulfilled before His return, are completed.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:16a)
He will descend and all believers, living and dead, will rise to meet the Lord in the air.
“... the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:16b-17)
Like an eager bride, the church waits for the final culmination of her union with the bridegroom.
The Tribulation - unrestrained evil
At the moment of the rapture, the Holy Spirit of God will be removed and with Him any restraining influence on earth so that things will be far, far worse than even today. The seven-year tribulation period will see the climax of worsening conditions, the anger of God against the wicked, and the signs of Christ’s second coming in judgment. All believers will, at the rapture, be taken up into heaven and will miss those seven horrible years
The Second coming – judgment upon the world
The Antichrist will rule wickedly. But just when it seems there is no hope, when the bottom is finally reached and evil rules, the second coming of Christ will come about and God’s Son Jesus Christ will dethrone the Beast (the antichrist)
The Millennium - God's rule over the earth
The word Millennium simply means ‘One thousand years.’ During those ten centuries of righteousness, Christ will rule on earth from Jerusalem. To add to the excitement, the Apostle John tells us, that the followers of Christ will rule with Him.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
(Revelation 20:4-6 )
A New Heaven and a New Earth
Although the Physical Properties of the new heaven and the new earth are not described in detail, what we are told is that
“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)
And that should be enough to fill us with hope and Joy.
Watch Expectantly
We do not know when the Lord is coming back, but we do know His arrival is closer today than it was yesterday! He could come at any time to take His Church to His Father’s house. There will be no time to prepare which is why we must be ready.
The requirement is that we take freely, what God offers through our repentance of sin and faith in Jesus. In return He offers us life, He offers us Joy, He offers us forgiveness in abundance through His only Son, Jesus. Jesus could come back today! Are you ready?
We should remind ourselves of this:
“For we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
(2 Corinthians 5:10)