Christ’s Return

Acts 1: (8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (9) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel: (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

2 Peter 3: (3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (4) And saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.

 

I used to watch the old television series, Gomer Pyle. He would often use the phrase, “Surprise, Surprise!”. He would most often say that to Sargeant Carter when Carter was expecting one thing and something totally different would occur. Well, just like in the old series, this world is going to get a “Surprise, Surprise!” That great noise spoken about in verse 10 will be the trumpet of God. When that trumpet blows, which everyone will hear, the end is come and Christ will appear. When that trumpet quickly and loudly blows whatever state a person is in, sinful or holy, that will be the condition they will be in for eternity. Revelation 22: (11) He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. (12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

 

That reward will be either eternal life or eternal damnation.

 

When Christ said in verse 12 that he will come quickly, he was not referring to quick years. he was referring to quick time. Too quick for anyone to repent who has not already done so. He will come in the blink of an eye. A blink of an eye is a milli-second, couple that with the element of surprise and you readily see what verse 11 in Revelation is talking about. That is not enough time to repent. Repentance should have already taken place. As verse 11 in 2 Peter lets us know, we ought to be holy in conduct and exercise ourselves in godliness.

 

Time is fleeting fast because it is hurrying to meet eternity. That is why time is going by so fast. Everyone sees that time is going by fast but not everyone knows why. Do you remember the old cassette tapes? They would play whatever was recorded on it, spinning around and around at the same speed. But when the recording was over, the remaining tape would increase speed to the end and then just suddenly stop. The recording on this world’s cassette tape is almost all evil and will suddenly stop. Jesus said his return would find the earth just like it was in the days of Noah, evil throughout the land. Even our government is rife with evil and corruption.

 

My admonition to you reader, if you have not already done so is to run for your life. Meaning what? Run to Jesus, sick of sin, sick of the “can’t help its”, sick of the devil running and ruining your life. Run to him with Godly sorrow for the sins you have done, repent and he will forgive and wash your sins away and give you grace and power to not return to them. Jesus would never tell you to do something that he would not give you the grace to do. He told Mary Magdeline to “Go, and sin no more.” If he would not and could not empower her to do so he would have simply said, “Go.” 

 

Remember, the cassette tape is still turning, repent while you can before the Surprise, Surprise!