The Second Coming
Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
We are literally witnessing the beginning of Jesus' words in this passage being fulfilled. Many are perplexed by what is happening in the earth. Economically, naturally, politically, and socially, it is undeniable that we are living in increasingly intense times. Many are unsettled, at best, about what is occurring in the earth. This is only the beginning.
Jesus told His disciples when these things begin to happen to "look up, for your salvation to draws near."
For years I thought He was speaking poetically, or symbolically. Surely Jesus didn't mean to walk around my front yard looking up at the sky?! Did He mean "buck up little guy, it will all be okay...just hang in there?!". No. Jesus was giving His people very specific directions! "Instead of being afraid, look up and know what is happening!" Jesus was offering an invitation!!
Jesus said the most interesting thing to John in Revelation:
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
This was the same invitation Jesus issued in Luke 21: look up and know. This is an invitation to draw near to God, set your heart to understand what He is doing, and begin to know the time you live in. This is an invitation to begin to see clearly the 150 Chapters in the Bible primarily written about Jesus' return. There are 89 chapters in the Gospels that talk about Jesus coming as the lamb, but there are 150 chapters throughout the Old and New Testaments that describe Him coming as a lion! How little we know about those chapters. For at least 100 years they have almost been entirely neglected by the church. Don't wait for someone to lead you into this. Take Jesus' invitation "look up and know" for yourself.
The book of Revelation is one of two places in the New Testament where a reward is promised for teaching the words in the book, the other is the Sermon on the Mount. These two books go hand-in-hand. Revelation tells the most exciting and intense story in the entire Bible...and the Sermon on the Mount tells you what to do when Revelation stirs you to want to do something to respond to Jesus! When you study the Book of Revelation, when you find out what it says and means, your heart will be stirred. It is the outline of the most brilliant Man ever, Jesus', plan to drive evil off the planet. It is the detail of His plan to use the least intense means necessary, to reach the most people, at the deepest heart level, without ever violating free will. Jesus is fully committed to love. Love requires free will. The judgment foretold in the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of His love for mankind. The rebellion of mankind described in Revelation is the blossoming of what is hidden in man's heart...it is the story of Jesus allowing mankind to have what it ultimately desires, and the evil fruit of that, separated from Jesus. It is the story of Jesus lifting His restraining hand from man's heart and allowing man to enter in to the fullness of rebellion...or the fullness of Him. It is the story of the final choice for good or evil. Revelation is the description of what the earth looks like at the time of the harvest, when the wheat (those on fire for God) and the tares (those on fire for self) fully mature.
This is essential information for this generation. Knowing what Jesus is doing, what His plans are, and how He is going to go about driving evil off the planet is DESIGNED to set your heart on fire in agreement with Him. Knowing soberly what He is going to allow to come upon the planet has the opposite affect of fear, it fills you with confidence that God is firmly in control.
There is so much to do right now. It is more than I can describe in a facebook post, but you were born into the most exciting generation to ever live on the face of this planet, IF you will take the time to find out what Jesus is doing. If not, your experience will be like He described: increasing fear, and even offense, at what He allows to take place. Look up and know!
1 Thessalonians 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
We are literally witnessing the beginning of Jesus' words in this passage being fulfilled. Many are perplexed by what is happening in the earth. Economically, naturally, politically, and socially, it is undeniable that we are living in increasingly intense times. Many are unsettled, at best, about what is occurring in the earth. This is only the beginning.
Jesus told His disciples when these things begin to happen to "look up, for your salvation to draws near."
For years I thought He was speaking poetically, or symbolically. Surely Jesus didn't mean to walk around my front yard looking up at the sky?! Did He mean "buck up little guy, it will all be okay...just hang in there?!". No. Jesus was giving His people very specific directions! "Instead of being afraid, look up and know what is happening!" Jesus was offering an invitation!!
Jesus said the most interesting thing to John in Revelation:
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
This was the same invitation Jesus issued in Luke 21: look up and know. This is an invitation to draw near to God, set your heart to understand what He is doing, and begin to know the time you live in. This is an invitation to begin to see clearly the 150 Chapters in the Bible primarily written about Jesus' return. There are 89 chapters in the Gospels that talk about Jesus coming as the lamb, but there are 150 chapters throughout the Old and New Testaments that describe Him coming as a lion! How little we know about those chapters. For at least 100 years they have almost been entirely neglected by the church. Don't wait for someone to lead you into this. Take Jesus' invitation "look up and know" for yourself.
The book of Revelation is one of two places in the New Testament where a reward is promised for teaching the words in the book, the other is the Sermon on the Mount. These two books go hand-in-hand. Revelation tells the most exciting and intense story in the entire Bible...and the Sermon on the Mount tells you what to do when Revelation stirs you to want to do something to respond to Jesus! When you study the Book of Revelation, when you find out what it says and means, your heart will be stirred. It is the outline of the most brilliant Man ever, Jesus', plan to drive evil off the planet. It is the detail of His plan to use the least intense means necessary, to reach the most people, at the deepest heart level, without ever violating free will. Jesus is fully committed to love. Love requires free will. The judgment foretold in the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of His love for mankind. The rebellion of mankind described in Revelation is the blossoming of what is hidden in man's heart...it is the story of Jesus allowing mankind to have what it ultimately desires, and the evil fruit of that, separated from Jesus. It is the story of Jesus lifting His restraining hand from man's heart and allowing man to enter in to the fullness of rebellion...or the fullness of Him. It is the story of the final choice for good or evil. Revelation is the description of what the earth looks like at the time of the harvest, when the wheat (those on fire for God) and the tares (those on fire for self) fully mature.
This is essential information for this generation. Knowing what Jesus is doing, what His plans are, and how He is going to go about driving evil off the planet is DESIGNED to set your heart on fire in agreement with Him. Knowing soberly what He is going to allow to come upon the planet has the opposite affect of fear, it fills you with confidence that God is firmly in control.
There is so much to do right now. It is more than I can describe in a facebook post, but you were born into the most exciting generation to ever live on the face of this planet, IF you will take the time to find out what Jesus is doing. If not, your experience will be like He described: increasing fear, and even offense, at what He allows to take place. Look up and know!
1 Thessalonians 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
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