He Coming Soon

Matthew 24:3-14

How blessed I am, since early` childhood I’ve been told about Jesus and how much He loves me, that He knows all about me, in Him is all truth, in Him is all knowledge, in Him is wisdom, in Him is love, and in Him is life.  I’ve also been taught that He is coming back to rule this earth for a thousand years, and the Bible has given us enormous amounts of information about His return.  So it should not be surprising that His disciples while sitting on the Mount of Olives would ask this question: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3b)

“And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:4-14)
I am reminded that the Scriptures are living, God does not change, and that the disciples experienced much of what is written in these verses.  It would seem that many believed that in 70 A.D. Jesus was coming back, and I know from history many in and out of the church believed both World War 1 & 2 was Jesus soon return.  And are we not once more in history where we are looking to the eastern sky, with expectation of our Lord’s return.

Jesus told us: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)  At no time in history, to my knowledge, has this happened more than it is today, and yet be very careful not to set a time line, for Jesus has made clear the day and the hour is set by the Father.  Matthew records these words of Jesus: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”  (Matthew 24:36)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice