Some have asked about whether the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is a sign of the end of the world and the Second Coming of Jesus. My response is ... Yes and no. Collectively, it is. We see an increase in "intensity" and "frequency" in natural disasters that are like "landmarks" or "signposts" reminding and telling us that the the greatest event in the world is about to take place.
And what exactly is that GREAT EVENT about to take place? It is the Return of Jesus Christ to this earth as King of kigns and Lord of lords. However, this isolated earthquake and tsunami event is not THE SIGN of the coming of Jesus. The Real Sign is the "Everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ" going to all of the world as a "witness" to all nations as recorded in Matthew 24:14.
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Then the end will come!As Christians and Seventh-day Adventists, we believe that Jesus could have come anytime since the 1840s. The parable of the 10 virgins tells us that the reason the bridegroom (Jesus) delays his coming is for at least 3 reasons:
1) God wants more people to come to ......the saving knowledge and relationship wtih Jesus as Savior and Lord. (2 Peter 3:8)
2) The Church, the body of Christ, is not spiritually ready and reflecting God's character of love to the world (Rev. 3:19-21; 7:1-6; 14:1-5 )
3) The Gospel has not been preached as a "Witness to all the world" (matthew 24:14)
There is no time or date. However, the increase in intensity and frequency of these "ladmark" signs, announce that Jesus is coming soon! The real sign is the "preaching of the Gospel to all of the World". So no, Jesus is not coming on May 21, 2011, or May 21, 2012, or December 21, 2012. He will come when the church is ready and when the world is ready. Maranatha! Jesus is coming again!
While we love all people, Heterosexual, Homosexual, bisexual, gays, lesbians, straights, etc., Billy Graham once said,
"If God does not judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."
Today, we see too much on Television, Men kissing other men, and women kissing other women, to think that the life is just business as usual. No, Jesus will come for His blood bought children and those who have accepted and responded to His invitation of salvation as a free gift. I believe that what we see in the world today, in natural disasters, tsunamies, earthquakes, etc., is in the words of the late E.E. Cleveland (the Greatest African American Seventh-day Adventist Evangelist) ...
"Mother Nature at War with Her children!"
... We have destroyed the earth, so naturally it is responding back to us. However, this world wil not be destroyed by a tsunami, earthquake or nuclear war. God will step in before that ever happens. Just some thoughts. It is just time to continue to "draw closer to Jesus our Loving Savior". Let us do it not because we are afraid or scared, but because We love Him because He first loved us!
~ Pastor Sal Garcia
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