This post answers the questions from the Newspaper ad: Feb. 7-13
What are the signs of Jesus' 2nd coming?
A careful, in-depth study of the book of Daniel and Revelation reveals that we are living in a period called, “the time of the end.” Nearly everything in Revelation has met its fulfillment, except the mark of the beast and the events that coincide with it.
On the other hand, reading through Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 is a simpler way to see that the signs of the end are reaching their fulfillment right now! These chapters talk about a rise of wars and rumors of war, a growing animosity towards Biblical truth, a surge of disrespect and deception and hatred, an array of false prophets, and an increase in natural disasters, famine, and pestilence. It seems as if the world is plunging into chaos and calamity right before our eyes!
Will there be a tribulation before Jesus comes?
We can be sure that we are heading right into the river’s worst rapids. How are we to survive the growing trends of evil? How much will we have to endure?
The Bible talks about a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation and that it will happen just prior to the second coming of Jesus (Matthew 24:21-22, 29-31).
Jesus said: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
There are three main ideas in the Christian world concerning a tribulationary period at the end of the world.
- Some believe that everyone living will go through "the tribulation."
- Some say believers will be raptured (taken to heaven) before "the tribulation."
- Other's believe that believers will only suffer through half "the tribulation."
We believe that everyone will go through "the tribulation," but you know what... It really does not matter. Why? Because we do not know when the next disaster, calamity, or tragedy will occur or how bad it will be. And it could happen when we least expect it. Some of us may go through a lot of tough stuff and others not so much.
Acceptance and belief in the Word of God regarding the times in which we live and the upheaval we may have to face is the first step in being prepared.
Trouble is not an unusual or rare event in this world – it happens all the time! Jesus told His disciples they would experience trouble (John 16:33). A vast array of other Bible characters found themselves in intense, life changing circumstances that both challenged their faith and their character.
We may not have thought at first, that preparing for heaven includes being prepared for difficult times, but it does. We are on a journey to the heavenly Promised Land, some of us will travel longer on this earth than others and trouble is inevitably on the horizon. Tribulation creates a crisis of belief where we may feel tempted to doubt and pressured give up. We can be overturned through strong emotions like fear, anxiety, and anger. What does the Bible teach us about how to prepare for what is coming ahead if we happen to find ourselves walking through a troublous time?
We must let the Spirit of God be our Influencer, sway our opinions, and establish us in the Biblical truth (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). The world has a million different ideas, opinions, philosophies, and teachings but only Jesus Christ has the words of life. Know that Jesus is calling us into a greater conviction, a deeper understanding of His Word, and a more concrete relationship with Him. This is vital to the survival of our faith as we move forward into the times ahead.
What will Jesus' 2nd coming be like?
When Jesus comes again, how many on the earth will see Him coming?
24) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(Additional Texts Luke 21:26, 27).
Will Jesus’ coming be audible?
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Additional Texts 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Is there a rapture?
YES! What is it and when will it occur? Rapture in this context simply means to be taken up to heaven.
It is important to remember Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 14:3...
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Jesus went to heaven to prepare a place for us, then He will come and take us up with Him like it says here in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Some Christians believe in a secret rapture that could occur before the tribulation or during the middle of the tribulation. There is no place in the Bible that teaches of a secret rapture. This theory was popularized by the fictional novel series Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.
Beware!
It is entirely risky to believe that some of us Christian's will not go through some sort of tribulation. Hoping for an early "way out" could set us up for a huge crisis of faith if we find ourselves actually going through some really intense life experiences that we thought or believed God would spare us from!
Furthermore, the secret rapture theory also has attached to it the idea that there will be a second chance for everyone who did not make the first rapture. This could ultimately set people up for a lazy approach to their Salvation... "Eh, I'll just see what happens, then I will make a decision for Christ."
It's best to be prepared by genuinely seeking to know Jesus as a personal Friend and Savior NOW!
Let's look at some Bible texts about the rapture of the saints.
What will happen to the righteous who are living When Jesus comes again?
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Check right answer.
- ____ Does the Bible say that they will be physically changed to immortal bodies and rise to meet Christ in the air? Or,
- ____ Does the Bible say that they will be physically changed to immortal bodies and remain on this earth?
What happens to the dead who died in Christ?
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Check the right answer according to what the Bible says:
- __ Those who are asleep (dead) will be resurrected and will rise to meet Jesus in the air first.
- __ Those who are asleep (dead) will not rise; they are already with Jesus.
Can we know the day and hour Jesus will come again?
Matthew 24:42-44 -- Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:13 -- Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Knowing that Jesus will come again and that we are living in the time of the end, how shall we live?
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Here we are reminded that we are not to be willingly ignorant and unintelligent of the time we live, but as Christians, we are the children of the light – we are to live in awareness, being vigilant and wise. We are to prepare to meet our Savior!
These questions are formulated from our weekly Bible study series Preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus. To learn more about it click here.