Five Unmistakable Truths To Live By

Five Unmistakable Truths to Live By

Truth Number One - The Second Coming


Truth? Who needs it today? In a society and generation that believes that there is 'no absolute truth" and that "what is true for you may not be true for me", God's Word flies "smack dab" into the face of such uncritical and hedonistic thinking. God's Word reveals to us that truth can be known, and gives us a blue print for where we can discover truth. John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." 

According to the Bible, truth can be known for truth is contained in the pages of the Bible, and also in person of Jesus Christ. "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."(John 14:6) So how about living according to God's truth throughout 2011 and beyond. In a society with Icons such as Oprah Winfrey, who believes and support New Age teachings, and Steve Jobs, who has elevated technology to the status of "god" (heard of "ipod", "iphone", "ipad"?), why is knowing and following truth so important. Why not just pick a little here and some there and try to make it through life on whatever philosophy, world view, or self-chosen theology works for us? I mean, not all of the super rich believe in Jesus or the Bible, as Russell Simmons the rap music and entertainment mogul (with over 100 million dollars) states in his new book "Super Rich" in which he recommends reaching a "blissful state of happiness and abundance" through meditation, without the need of God or Jesus. 

Russel Simmons philosophy on happiness sounds a lot like Hinduism and the New Age: "Look within yourself to find your Christ consciousness through meditation". That would be a great way to live your life except for the following two Bible verses: 

“ The heart is deceitful above all things,
      And desperately wicked;
      Who can know it?  Jeremiah 17:9


"There is a way that seems right to a man,
      But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12

No, Eastern Philosophies will not work or do the job for us, since we discovered that the teachings of Jesus go against the teaching of Hinduism, Buddhism (Sorry Tiger Woods!), and the New Age. Jesus taught that God is a personal being, that sin is real, that repentance is necessary, and that friendship with God is personal and real, and not mysterious, vague, and impersonal. 
 
So what philosophy work for us? Will looking within ourselves help us to "be happy" and reach a blissful state? We have concluded that the New Age, Hinduism, and Buddhism are bankrupt and offer no real solution to the greatest need of humanity: Forgiveness. Only Jesus Christ can offer us the peace, forgiveness, and hope that we need. 

Acts 4:12
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:5


"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."

John 14:6
'Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

So how about focusing on "Five Unmistakable truths" from the Source of all truth, "The Bible", to get us back on the right path of exercising faith in Jesus? After all, God's last day people will be those who "keep the commandments of God" and "have the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 12:7;14:12). Are you ready to embark the journey together?


Five Unmistakable Truths


"Five unmistakable truths from the Word of God, the the Bible, that can help revolutionize your world paradigm and perspective for the rest of 2011. What are they? The truth of the Second Coming of Christ, the truth of the State of the Dead, the truth of the Heavenly Sanctuary, the truth of the Spirit of Prophecy, and the truth of the Seventh-day Sabbath. Today, let's look at the first Unmistakable Truth, The Second Coming of Christ.


The Second Coming of Christ


There are over 2500  references or allusions to the Second Coming of Jesus throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, there are 1,835 references to Christ's Second Coming. In the New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, that is 1 out of every 30 verses. In the New Testament, twenty-three of the twenty-seven books refer to the Second Coming of Christ, and for every prophecy referring to Christ's first advent, the there are eight which look forward to Christ's Second Advent! This is the first "Unmistakable Truth" you can't afford to be without. Once you accept and believe what the Bible and Jesus teaches on the Second Coming of Christ, you will be "anchored" and ready to live as a "child of God" who awaits the "Blessed Hope" or Christ's Second Coming.


In the New Testament, the Greek Word that refers specifically to Christ's Second Coming is the word "parousia" = coming. There are two other greek words that allude and refer to the Second coming of Christ. They are the words "apokalupsis" = revelation and "epiphaneia" = appearing. While there is much confusion about the manner of Christ's Second Coming, certain things are are clear as day. Let's discover them together!

Gems regarding the Second Coming of Christ

The first gem that we discover from the Bible about the Second Coming of Christ is that it is the most anticipated and welcomed even in all of the Bible. For instance, notice these verses that announce, celebrate, and proclaim the Second Advent of Christ.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:1-3

while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

Our God comes
   and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
   and around him a tempest rages." Psalm 50:3

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones." Jude 14

The second coming Jesus is the most celebrated event in the Bible. It has gotten Christians excited throughout history. The question is, are you excited about Jesus coming back too?

The Manner of Christ's Coming

So how will Jesus come back? Will it be spiritually, personally, or secretly? It's true that Jesus wants to enter our heart and live in us through the Holy Spirit. However, this is not the "parousia" that the Bible writers and even Jesus referred to. It is not conversion or becoming spiritually alive as a result of accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. Instead, the "parousia" is the literal, physical, audible, and visible second coming of Jesus in the clouds of Heaven. Let's look at the Bible texts that teach this.

Literal Coming

An important event happened after Jesus rose from the grave. He ascended to Heaven. Acts 1:9-11 records what happened at the moment of His Ascension.

"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

The Angels who appeared the mesmerized disciples revealed the first gem regarding Christ's Second Coming. His coming will be a Real and Literal Event, and not just a spiritual coming into our hearts. What is the second gem? 

Visible 


The Bible gives us a second gem regarding the Second Coming of Jesus. Notice the following two Bible verses.

" “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
   and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
   and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
            So shall it be! Amen." Revelation 1:7

"For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Matthew 24:27

In these clear teaching of the Bible, we discover that the coming of Jesus will be a visible event. Everyone will be able to see it, not just a select few. Therefore, His coming can not be secret or silent, for just as lightning is visible, His coming will also be visible to all mankind. Never forget this. 

Audible

How many of you love music? Loud music? Well, I have good news for you. The Bible teaches that when Jesus returns the second time, it will be the noisiest day in the entire world! Notice these verses.

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." Matthew 16:27

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it." Matthew 24:23

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Talk about noisy! When Jesus comes there will be the sound of "God's Trumpet", a "Loud Command", and the "Voice of the Archangel".  That sounds a like of noise and activity to sleep through and be unaware of. There is no way that Jesus could come back secretly and silently with all of that noise. That is why Matthew 24:23 says that if someone tells you Jesus has come back and is in a certain place, "Do not believe it!" That isn't Jesus, for when Jesus returns, the whole world will know since they will both see Him and hear Him. 

Personal

Ok, Big deal? So we know Jesus is coming back in a literally, physically, visibly, and audibly. So what? I'm glad you asked that question. You see, Jesus isn't coming back just to fulfill the Bible prophecies regarding His Second Coming. The real reason He is coming back is because He loves you and can't wait to see you, hug you, and kiss you! Bear hug anyone? Jesus is coming back because personally for you! Did you know that Jesus actually prayed for you so that you will be with Him in Heaven when He returns the Second Time? Keep this promise in your heart for the rest of your life. 

 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message."John 17:20

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." John 17:24  

Jesus is coming back for you! That is the real reason He has taken so long to come back. 2,000 years is a long time! To us, but not to God. 

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9

Jesus can't wait to see you! In fact, He has your picture in Heaven. He is praying that you will give your heart to Him and surrender yourself completely to Him so that He can get you ready for Heaven. He wants to pack your bags, so that if His Coming is today, tomorrow, or one year from now, you will be ready to go when He comes. Get ready! The King is Coming Back Soon!


Conclusion

Today is the best day to get ready for Jesus' Second Coming. The invitation is made to us in God's Word.

"For he says,
   “In the time of my favor I heard you,
   and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
   I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2

How should we prepare for Heaven today, so that when Jesus comes we will not be afraid but instead be filled with joy and happiness? 

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:44

The best way to get prepared and stay prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus is to "abide" or stay with Jesus today. Have you asked Him to the Lord of your life? Have you asked Him to be the Savior of your life? It's never too late. Why not surrender your life today for the plans He has for you? 

Practical Steps

 1. Live every day as though Jesus was coming back today. Spend more time praying, reading the Bible, and telling others what you got out of the two. 

2. Develop a friendship and relationship with Jesus today! When He returns, He will say to you, "I've been waiting to see you personally. Let's go home! Heaven is waiting for you!"

3. Get rid of the stuff in your life. Simplify your life. Get rid of the gadgets and things that crowd your spiritual life. Make time for Jesus by getting rid of things, PEOPLE (i.e., boyfriends, acquaintances), or anything that robs you of your time and friendship with Jesus.

4. Let your life be a sermon to everyone who meets you that Jesus is coming again. Be nice to people, give liberally and generally to the needy and worthy causes, and have the joy of Christ's soon coming in your heart always! 



~ Pastor Sal Garcia