When Christ Returns
But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Matthew 24:29-31
I hear people speaking about end times and ministers preaching that the end is near and Christ will return. According to scripture no one knows when Christ will return except the Father. But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Mark 13:32) God hasn’t given us the time when Christ will return but he has given events in the book of Revelations leading up to end times. World events correlate with the words written in Revelations and indicate we are getting close to Christ’s return. Close could be now, 10 years, 50 years or longer. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24: 44)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14) The Lord is waiting for every soul to have the opportunity to come to repentance and accept Christ. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)
According to Matthew 24:29-31 when Christ returns it will be a cosmic event that every living soul will experience and know that Christ has returned. How do think the world will react? How do think you will react? The Word says every knee will bow to Christ. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:10) Written in Revelations is the fearful response to the souls that did not know Christ. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” (Revelations 6:16) The souls who accepted Christ as their savior will be with the Lord before the final destruction of the world. We will be with the Lord in heaven and only the lost souls will remain on the earth, and their souls will live with Satan and his demons forever.
Today know that you will someday experience Christ’s return. Let this thought help you to be eternally minded and to be Christ-like. Everything we do can have eternal consequences. Knowing Christ will return can help us see life from the big picture, from God’s view, and help us see ourselves through the eyes God.
Prayer: Lord I wait for your return, for that great day you will come and take me home. Guide in the Spirit so I can be confident on day of your return. Give me strength and wisdom to live this day for your glory and to overcome Satan’s attempts to steal my soul. In Jesus name, Amen