The Second Coming

"Teacher, when will the world come to an end?" That is a question that Jesus' friends once asked Him.

What did He answer? He said, "Take heed that no man deceive you, for many shall come in My Name, saying, "I am Christ" and shall deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you be not troubled... This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Is Jesus coming back to earth again? Yes, God's Word promises many times that Jesus will return.

But it is a long time since that was written. Are you sure that He will return? Listen to these words from the Bible: "One day is with the Lord as a thousand years; and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise...but is longsuffering toward us; not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Is Jesus coming back soon? Nobody knows when He will return. When Jesus returns, He will immediately take those who are ready for Him, and they will go to live in heaven. That is why Jesus said, "Be you therefore ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man will come." There will not be time to prepare after He comes.

Will Jesus do anything else when He comes back? Yes, He will judge the world. Then He will punish His enemies and reward His true followers. Jesus will then be King over all the earth! How will Jesus reward His followers? He warned, "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but He who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven." "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus will examine the deeds of all His true followers. Every true Christian's deeds "shall be made manifest...because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad."

How can I prepare for His coming? First, be sure that your sins are forgiven. If you don't receive Jesus as your Saviour now, He will be your Judge when He comes back. Then you will have to go with Satan to the place of torment. After you have received Jesus, you should live to please Him...just as if you were eagerly expecting Him very soon.

Matt. 24:4; II Pet. 3:8,9; Matt. 24:44; II Cor. 5:10