Is Christ’s Return
Imminent?
Part 1
Although
there are men and women who are so audacious as to make known (their
guess) the exact date of the end of the world we must not be taken in by
these types. The ones voicing such predictions have many reasons for
their actions. Either their greed for wealth, power over the minds of
men and women, fulfillment of sexual desires sets forth but a few of
their misguided reasons.
Matthew 24: 36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Although no one knows the actual time of the end of the world is to come we are instructed to be ready all the time.
Matthew 24: 32"Now
learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender
and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
The question is, are we “right at the door?”
Only God knows the answer but we may be closer than you realize.
As Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives His disciples came to Him asking for the time upon which the end would come.
Matthew 26: 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives,
the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will
this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of
the age?"
The answer given is difficult to understand.
You may ask, ‘Why.’
This is addressed in Romans.
Romans 8: 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
It
is man’s human nature to sin and not want to submit to the type of laws
that God has delivered to him. Unless men change their rebellious ways
the end, although imminent, will be in God’s time, not man’s.
When
Christ does return he will change the human nature of men and women and
stop the deception wrought upon man at the time of this sermon.
Currently the whole world is deceived and this includes many of the
religious leaders. There are but a few that have their human natures
changed by their denying sin to rule their lives.
Revelation 12: 9The
great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or
Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and
his angels with him.
Satan
roams this world seeking to devour many souls. This devouring can be
seen as deceiving through the many man made doctrines imposed on
worshippers by the many religions claiming to be Christian yet are not!
It is only when men are prepared to submit to God by surrendering to His
will that He will return.
If
Christ does return before too long it will be that He has determined
that man just cannot rule in accordance to His will. It will be His
imposition of His will upon mankind that will radically allow a change
to men’s thinking that will allow proper rule by Jesus Himself as set
forth in God’s Word.
Hebrews 2: 7You
made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and
honor 8 and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under
him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do
not see everything subject to him.
This
means that Christ will save atheists, Hindus, Catholics, Protestants,
Muslims and all of humanity as He sits in judgment of all.
Most
of the religious men that preach what they pass off as ‘Christianity’
are themselves, confused. They preach their own thoughts instead of
God’s Word. In doing so the message God has set forth is rejected and
many people, thinking they are being taught truth are deceived!
Matthew 24: 4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many.
The
failure of men that claim to teach true Christianity lies in their
failure to understand that Matthew 24 is one of the most prophetic
messages Christ gave while here on earth. Although they continually preach of the Person of Christ they fail in preaching Christ’s message set forth in Matthew.
Christ
taught of the wars, famines, pestilence and natural disasters
(earthquakes, hurricanes, etc) that lead up to the sign of His second
coming.
Matthew 24: 6You
will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not
alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Many
claim that the current wars and calamities are those spoken of but fail
to see that there are far worse terrors ahead. I fear the wars to come
will be ever increasing in violence and destruction thereby hastening
Christ’s return.
Brothers
and sisters this will be but the beginning of the sorrows we must face.
There will be thousands of so-called Christians (lukewarm) killed or
hated. We must prepare ourselves physically and most of all, spiritually
as we are truly the hatednChristians.
Matthew 24: 9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
Believe
you when I say, earthly death, however set upon you, will be far less
severe than spiritual death. Pain and anguish of our earthly bodies can
last only a short while. Paradise is forever!
Many false prophets, both religious as well as secular will deceive and be the persecutors as they are led by Satan!
Matthew 24: 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
You
and I are among those that are hated and this is sad. However those
that are among the lukewarm and weak of faith will be subjected to
persecution as well. They will fall from grace.
Matthew 24: 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
When
love grows cold it doesn’t do that instantly. It starts out hot, gets
warm then lukewarm. This is the stage where so many begin to turn on the
righteous and wickedly attack them. I am very aware of the ‘lukewarm’
stage as I have had ‘friends’ that had been ordained but began to preach
‘Christianity’ in such a manner so as to entertain their congregations
instead of teaching them truth. When I continued to preach God’s Good
News and the need of repentance these same ‘friends’ became cold to me
and even began to speak out against the Christianity I preach.
The
‘saved’ spoken of is not the ‘saved’ so many claim to be possessed of.
The truly saved are those that have truly repented to God and from the
wickedness of men.
I
ask each of you to remain strong in your faith, do not fall prey to any
that would teach you anything not in God’s Word. Have any that seek to
teach you prove every lesson taught with Bible proof!
In
ensuing sermons I will continue to give you my interpretation of the
question raised in this sermons title. That title being, “Is Christ’s
Return Imminent?”
(Closing prayer)
Heavenly
Father, Lord of all, please hear our prayer. Father, we praise You and
lift out hearts to You. You are the focus of our worship and our
devotion. We are Your children and pray that You will keep us strong and
not allow any of us to falter in our belief of You. We also ask that
the many true believers in the world be strengthened by You as the El
Gibbor.
You
have given us Your Word, which is our Bible and we thank You for doing
so. It is with faith that we stand firm on Your Word against those that
speak out against us or even seek to cause us harm. Be with us O Lord
and protect us with Your Mighty Power.
Lord,
we ask that we be kept hot in our faith and love for You and never fail
You in the slightest way. You are our God and there is no other.
These
things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Your
Son, and the Holy Spirit who are One with You and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever,
Amen, amen and amen.
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