The King is Coming Back (Acts 1: 8-11)
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 steadfastly 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.
Men and brethren, my question to you as you read this is “Are you prepared for His coming?”
Many have said he is not coming again. Many have said he probably didn’t come any time before. Many are now derisively discounting the second coming of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ spewing doubts to the hearts of men. But let me assure you without a doubt- Jesus is coming back! The King is coming soon.
See, dear reader, the heaven and the earth may pass away, but a single jot in the written words of our Lord will not pass away.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Matt 24: 40-42)
At the end of it all dear friend, there is here and there is a here-after. There is life and there is an after-life. After all of the race, the hustle, the bustle and the marathons, the winnings and the losses, after the billions and houses and cars, there will be an end. After it all, there will be death or the coming of Jesus- whichever comes first. Are you prepared to meet your Lord? Is He even your Lord at all? Or will He be excited to meet with you?
Life is given as a ransome for the purchase of the after-life. The moment is given as a seed for the planting and harvest of the here-after. Today is a down-payment for the purchase of the future. How are you using your own down payment?
As Paul says in his letter to the Church in Corinth:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Cor 15;51-52)
It shall be a momentous day. As the trumpet goes off, the dead in Christ shall first be raised. They will be changed from their earthly corruptible cloak and put off the flesh which is a product of the dust. They will then be clothed in an image that the Bible describes as incorruptible.
The Bible speaking of this transfiguration says “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” ( 1 John 3:2)
In Mark Chapter 9; Peter James and John were taken up the mountain to a far seclusion for a glimpse of that glory. In a moment the three saw Elias and Moses even as the glory descended on Jesus. Peter exclaimed- Let us make tents in this place- one for Elias, one for you and one for Moses so we can continue to reside in this glory. How amazing! Even without a home Peter was ready to stay in that glory. Peter touched the glory of the heavenly realms and he did not desire to return to the earthly anymore. Such is the indescribable glory of what is to come.
As I close let me encourage you dear reader: do not miss heaven for anything- nothing at all! Nothing is worth missing heaven for. The end shall come. All men will go the way of all mortals. At the other side of eternity we shall give account of our lives. Do not be caught off guards. Do not appear before your maker to begin to explain because at that time, it would be too late.
As you get started in 2023, add one more possibility to your preparations. Add the possibility of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Say it to yourself- if he appears today shall he meet me in glory?
Happy new year to every reader of this bulletin and I wish you a most prosperous 2023 ahead.
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 steadfastly 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.
Men and brethren, my question to you as you read this is “Are you prepared for His coming?”
Many have said he is not coming again. Many have said he probably didn’t come any time before. Many are now derisively discounting the second coming of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ spewing doubts to the hearts of men. But let me assure you without a doubt- Jesus is coming back! The King is coming soon.
See, dear reader, the heaven and the earth may pass away, but a single jot in the written words of our Lord will not pass away.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Matt 24: 40-42)
At the end of it all dear friend, there is here and there is a here-after. There is life and there is an after-life. After all of the race, the hustle, the bustle and the marathons, the winnings and the losses, after the billions and houses and cars, there will be an end. After it all, there will be death or the coming of Jesus- whichever comes first. Are you prepared to meet your Lord? Is He even your Lord at all? Or will He be excited to meet with you?
Life is given as a ransome for the purchase of the after-life. The moment is given as a seed for the planting and harvest of the here-after. Today is a down-payment for the purchase of the future. How are you using your own down payment?
As Paul says in his letter to the Church in Corinth:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Cor 15;51-52)
It shall be a momentous day. As the trumpet goes off, the dead in Christ shall first be raised. They will be changed from their earthly corruptible cloak and put off the flesh which is a product of the dust. They will then be clothed in an image that the Bible describes as incorruptible.
The Bible speaking of this transfiguration says “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” ( 1 John 3:2)
In Mark Chapter 9; Peter James and John were taken up the mountain to a far seclusion for a glimpse of that glory. In a moment the three saw Elias and Moses even as the glory descended on Jesus. Peter exclaimed- Let us make tents in this place- one for Elias, one for you and one for Moses so we can continue to reside in this glory. How amazing! Even without a home Peter was ready to stay in that glory. Peter touched the glory of the heavenly realms and he did not desire to return to the earthly anymore. Such is the indescribable glory of what is to come.
As I close let me encourage you dear reader: do not miss heaven for anything- nothing at all! Nothing is worth missing heaven for. The end shall come. All men will go the way of all mortals. At the other side of eternity we shall give account of our lives. Do not be caught off guards. Do not appear before your maker to begin to explain because at that time, it would be too late.
As you get started in 2023, add one more possibility to your preparations. Add the possibility of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Say it to yourself- if he appears today shall he meet me in glory?
Happy new year to every reader of this bulletin and I wish you a most prosperous 2023 ahead.
