As Christians, how many of us have thought about how Jesus is going to return? For most of my life, I've always wondered how the whole world would know about Jesus' comeback. I knew he's supposed to descend, but I never understood how we'd know he came down if we were indoors or sleeping or simply not paying attention when it happened. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's wondered about this, so it's something I'd like to address. I don't know why churches don't spend a little more time explaining what the Bible says about Jesus coming back, but they should and I hope this can help facilitate some thought and conversations surrounding Christ's return.
What better place to start than the words of Jesus? In Matthew 24, Jesus is teaching his disciples about signs that he's coming back. He told them to watch out for liars claiming to be him, for "wars and rumors of war", famines, earthquakes, persecution of Christians, false prophets, and a far more wicked, cruel, cold world than ever before. Not only that, but some "abomination that causes desolation" will be built in the temple in Israel. We don't know exactly what this abomination will be, but it will be so atrocious that God calls his people to leave Judea immediately when this happens, not even going back for a coat. Then, Jesus will come back.
You know how you can see lightning strike, even if it's miles away? Jesus teaches that his return will be like that. He also quotes the words of Isaiah, warning us that "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." Revelation 6 tells a very similar story when Jesus opens the sixth scroll, saying that the sun will turn black, the moon turn red, the stars fall to the earth, and the sky will recede like a scroll. Then people from kings to slaves will hide as they realize the wrath of God is coming. Going back to Matthew, Jesus says that's when he'll appear in the sky. A loud trumpet will announce to the world that he is coming from the clouds. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4 says that God himself will call down from heaven at this point to raise his people from the dead, and that after that, the "elect" or those who have completely dedicated their lives to Jesus will gather together with him in the sky. From then on, the elect will be in the presence of God and no longer face the trials and pains of this world.
Some people will disagree with me on this, but based on my understanding of Scripture, this is the key moment that will trigger the tribulation that Revelation warns us about. The mark of the beast, the antichrist, all the plagues and punishments God has in store for the wicked, those will all take place after the rapture.
Growing up, I wondered if God's people, if Christians, would have to live through all of the punishments God has planned for the ungodly people of this world. I've studied what the Bible says about this a lot lately and have found comfort in believing that God will bring his people to him before the punishment takes place. As for everyone else, they had the chance to believe before (Matthew 24 says the gospel's been preached everywhere before the tribulation), but chose not follow God and must suffer the punishment God has in store for the wicked. I believe that this should urge Christians, now more than ever as the world continues to grow in wickedness and evil, that we ought to take the Great Commission and live it out relentlessly. Jesus told his disciples (in Matthew 28) to "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The end of the age is coming. Maybe tomorrow, maybe not for another thousand years, but it's coming. We've got to be ready for it. Are you ready?
Also: If you want to hear more about Bible prophecy and the end times, I've been listening to the Prophecy Pros podcast lately and recommend it to anyone seeking more information about these. I'll gladly talk to you and answer questions as best I can, but they're a great resource as well.
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