One of the biggest criticisms by those who do not hold our view of prophecy is that we are likely to do nothing and wait to get raptured. I am sad to report that is what most do. The sad part about both sides on this is that no one studies their Bible to know what is going on and how to react to it. Dr. David Jeremiah has been doing a series on his radio show on the book of the Revelation and he starts his series by giving what the correct response should be. There are ten places in the Bible that tell us what to do so if you will bear with me I will go over these.
I Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
I am seeing many people passing judgment especially on our President. We don't know exactly what is going on there and we don't like what we are seeing. But God will judge it at the right time.
1Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
We need to be participating in the Lord's supper. I won't go into that in detail because each Church does it differently but it needs to be done.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
I see a lot of Christians so upset with all the money they are losing in the markets. God doesn't want you worried about earthly things but heavenly.
1Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Our love should increase as we see the day approaching. Both for the saint and the sinner.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
We need to be preaching the word. I will go as far as to say that it is not just those called to preach. Teachers of all stripes need to be teaching the word more and more.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Notice the admonition about seeing the day approaching. The day here is the Day of the Lord. We need to be in church more often as we see the day of the Lord coming. This is not the time to skip church. We need to be more diligent in our gathering together.
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
We need to develop patience. Jesus showed patience when he we was here. We need not rush the day of the Lord but we need to wait for the early and later rain as the passage continues to say.
1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
We need to purify ourselves. If we knew that Jesus was going to take us home this afternoon, what we be doing this morning? Who do you still have to make things right with?
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Why don't we do a lot of things the world wants us to do? Because we are looking for the blessed hope of his return.
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Are you spending time in prayer and in the word? Someone asked what I would do if I know the Lord was coming tomorrow and my only response was from an old Joke I heard. An Old man was sitting on his front porch rocking and every time a young man walked by the house he saw him in his Bible. Finally the young man asked him what he was doing. The old man's response was, "Cramming for my finals". We should have to cram for the finals, we should be abiding in him so that when he appears we are already best friends.
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
How is your witness? This is probably the critical one. If you know the Lord is coming and coming soon and Judgment is to follow, you would be pulling people out of flame. This is the awesome purpose of missions. We have to go tell the world and find that one soul before the Lord returns. It has driven more missionaries and evangelist then any other passage.
Finally
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The classic passage used for the rapture. Notice verse 18. Comfort one another. In midst of what you are going through. Comfort one another with the words of this prophecy. 1 Thes 5:9 says God hath not appointed us unto wrath. There is a lot of comfort in knowing the end. With all the tribulation coming, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Tim 1:12
We have an Awesome God who has an Awesome plan for your life. If you don't know him please write me and find out more about him. If you know him, then read over these verses again and again and understand where you need to live today. Everything I am seeing says that Jesus' return is very soon. We are in the birth pangs. Earthquakes, wars, pestilences, economic and political upheavals are all coming together like never before. It is time to get your life right. You might not have tomorrow.
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