I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
� John 9:4
As we look at how dark our culture is today, we wonder if we can ever really make a difference. It seems so overwhelming. It seems as though darkness is spreading and light is receding. It is like the time Isaiah described when he said, "What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter" (Isaiah 5:20).
To illustrate that very point, I could cite movies that are popular right now. We celebrate that which the Bible says is wrong and offensive to God, and we laugh at that which the Bible holds forth as standards we should live by. The good news is that the same Holy Spirit who set the early church in motion can use us if we are willing.
It's interesting to note that in the first century, the question on the disciples' minds was, "Is the end of the world near?" That same question is on the minds of many today. What Jesus essentially said to His disciples was, "This isn't the time for that. My purpose is to rule and reign in the hearts of people. Don't be so concerned about when I am going to do that. Rather, be concerned about what you should be doing while you wait."
The same principle holds true for us. Don't worry about when. He will return when the time is right. What we should be committing ourselves to, what we should be interested in, is what we are supposed to be doing as we await the Lord's return.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy :angel:of the gospel of Christ.
Colossians 3:1
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above:angel:, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
In the New Testament's 260 chapters, Christ's return is mentioned no less than 318 times. Statistically, one verse for every 25 pages of the Bible refers to the return of Jesus Christ in some way, shape, or form. Make no mistake about it: Jesus Christ will come back again, and God has given us specific instructions for what we are to do while we wait.
First, we are to be watching for Him. "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching" (Luke 12:37 NKJV). We shouldn't get caught up in the things that dominate the minds and hearts of nonbelievers, such as what we will eat, drink, and wear. Instead, we should be consumed with our pursuit of the kingdom of God. We should seek, above all, the rule and reign of Jesus Christ in our lives.
Second, we should be ready to go. Let me ask you this: If Christ came back today, would you be ready to go with Him? If Christ came back at that moment, would a place where you're about to go or a thing you're about to do cause you to be ashamed or embarrassed in any way? If so, then you need to change what you're doing. If you are not living in a way that is pleasing to Him right now, then His return will come as a great shock and surprise to you.
Third, we should want to become more like Jesus Christ each day. According to 2 Peter 3:11-14, "You ought to live HOLY:angel: and godly lives. . . . So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him" (NIV). If you have a real sense of His imminent return, then it will impact the way you live:angel::hearts: and will cause you to purify yourself, even as He is pure (1 John 3:3).
Fourth, we should anxiously await His return. Have you ever been looking forward to seeing someone? You wait for the sound of that person's car in the driveway. You pull the door open before your friend can even knock. That's what it means to "anxiously await" someone's arrival. If anything would cause us hesitancy in saying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20 NKJV), then we need to carefully examine:angel: our lives.
Finally, we should be working:hearts: (Luke 12:43). While watching is the evidence of faith, working is the evidence of faith in action:hearts:. Watching for the Lord's return will help us prepare our own lives, but working will assure that we will take others with us.
My answer is the same to almost every situation in this life.
Mat 28:18 And coming up Jesus talked with them, saying, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.
Mat 28:19 Then having gone, disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.
Rev 13:5,7,8,10: 666 will exercise his authority for 42 months {which is also Time ,Times and 1/2 time -Dan7:25}...666 will be given authority over *EVERY* tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship 666--all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb...This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints.
Matt 24:9,13: Jesus says, "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by ALL nations because of Me... But he who stands firm to the End will be saved!"
The antichrist is called a *BEAST* 36 or 6X6 times in Revelation 11:7; and 13:1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4,5,8,12,12,14,14,15,17,18; 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2,10,13; 17:3,7,8,8,11, 12 13,16, 17; 19:19,20,20; 20:4,10.
Revelation 13:11-17: The False Prophet will speak very deceptively like Satan the Dragon.
The False Prophet will exercise all the authority of 666 on his behalf.
The False Prophet will perform great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men {On Worldwide TV?}
Because of the signs the False Prophet will be given power to do on behalf of 666 he will deceive the inhabitants of the earth and will order them to build a statue of 666 that will miraculously speak.
The False Prophet will order that everyone who refuses to worship 666 and his statue {On Worldwide TV?} will be killed.
The False Prophet will order that no one will be able to buy of sell anything unless they have the name of 666 {Nero Caesar} or the number of his name {666}on his right hand or his forehead.
Revelation 16:13-16: About several weeks before the Last Day: Satan, 666 and his False Prophet will order the kings of the world and their armies to come to an area called Armageddon which is about 55 miles North of Jerusalem.
Then 666 and his armies will come to Jerusalem and kill God's 2 witnesses {Moses & Elijah} right where Jesus was crucified. This will take place about 3 1/2 days before the Last Day when the 7th and Last angel will sound his trumpet at the 2nd coming of Jesus and when all His saints will be resurrected. {See Revelation 11:3-18}
There will be 2 comings of Jesus on the same Last Day. The First Coming will be *FOR* His saints and His Second Coming will be *WITH* His saints on heavenly white horses right after they celebrate the Marraige Feast of the Lamb in heaven.
Revelation 17:12-14: The kings of the earth will give their power and authority to 666. They will make war against the Lamb but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers!
Revelation 19:6-8,11,14,19-21; 20:10:
Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns..The wedding of the Lamb has come, the bride has made herself ready, Fine Linen, bright and clean will be given her to wear...I saw heaven standing open and there before Me was a white horse, whose Rider is called Faithful and True...The armies of heaven were following Him riding on white horses and dressed in Fine Linen, white and clean...Then I saw the Beast {666} and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the Rider on the horse and His army.
But the Beast will be captured, and with him the False Prophet who had performed the malicious signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the Mark of the Beast and woshipped his statue. The two of them will be thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them will be killed with the sword that will come out of the Rider on the horse...And the Devi:devil:l who deceived them will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where the Beast:devil: and the False Prophet:devil: had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever!
