Jesus’ Return
Also referred to as - ‘The Coming of the Lord.’ ‘Jesus’ Second Coming.’ ‘The Day of The Lord.’
Please also see: ‘Death.’ ‘End Times.’ ‘Eternal Life.’ ‘Prophecy.’ ‘Resurrection.’
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
Many Rabbis in Jerusalem and throughout Israel have stated that this generation is in the last days before the Messiah appears. Jesus’ second coming is mentioned over 1000 times in the Bible. In Matthew 24 alone there are twenty signs referring to Jesus’ return.
Romans chapters 9 &10 speak of the Restoration of Israel, (but not to be the chosen nation again in this era), the restoration of the Jewish people coming home, and also restoration of the land with crops, all of which began happening in recent times, are signs of the end times. Israeli / Jewish people are now only saved by relationship with GOD through Jesus.
When we add the following to end-time Bible prophecies; global economic crisis, natural disasters, earthquakes, wars, re-emerging and new diseases, people running to and fro on land, the sea and in the air; scientific and technological knowledge increasing, and prophecies, including those concerning Israel, currently being fulfilled; it is apparent that we are in the last days of the end times just before Jesus comes to take GOD’s children home to heaven.
It is assumed that Jesus return will be through the star systems ‘Pliades’ and ‘Orion.’
His feet do not touch the ground; we meet Him in the air, in the clouds of heavenly angels who accompany Him. He came to dwell with us the first time, His second coming will be to take us (His Bride) to live with Him for a thousand years in Heaven, to live in the mansions that He has prepared for those who love Him. After the thousand years, the New Jerusalem (Heaven) comes to the new earth which will be our new home.
Isaiah 2:10-11 & 17-21 ‘Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendour of HIS majesty. The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.’
‘The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendour of HIS majesty when HE rises to shake the Earth. In that day people will throw away, to the moles and bats, their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship. They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendour of HIS majesty, when HE rises to shake the Earth.’
Isaiah 25:8-9 ‘GOD will swallow up death forever. The sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; HE will remove HIS people’s disgrace from all the Earth. The LORD has spoken.
In that day they will say, “Surely this is our GOD; we trusted in HIM, and HE saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in HIM; let us rejoice and be glad in HIS salvation.”
Job 19:25 “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the Earth.”
Isaiah 35:5-6 ‘Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.’
Jeremiah 25:33 ‘At that time those slain by the LORD will be everywhere --- from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or burned, but will be like refuse lying on the ground.’
They will be slain by the brightness of His coming, because those who do not love Jesus and GOD will not be able to stand the brightness of His presence, and will fall down dead.
People who do not want to hear about and talk about Jesus and GOD, and the core truth of Christianity; but might think they will be alright – OK – acceptable in GOD’s eyes; will suffer the ultimate shock and horror when Jesus returns to resurrect and take GOD’s people home to heaven. It will then be too late for them, they have been refusing relationship with GOD, so the decision has been made. It will be an extremely sad and tragic time for all those left behind; unless they are quite sure that they do not want eternal life in new bodies and to live in absolutely perfect, magnificent conditions as members of GOD’s Family.
Habakkuk 2:3 ‘For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’
Zephaniah 1:2-3 “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth” declares the Lord. “I will sweep away both people and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off people from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
Zephaniah 1:17-18 “I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind people, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’S wrath. In the fire of His jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for He will make a sudden end of all who live in the Earth.”
Zephaniah 2:3 ‘Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’S anger.’
Malachi 3:16 – 4:6 ‘Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written ion HIS presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honoured HIS NAME.
“On the day when I act,” says the LORD ALMIGHTY, “they will be MY treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.
And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve GOD and those who do not. Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD ALMIGHTY. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere MY NAME, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its rays - his wings. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves released from the stall. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD ALMIGHTY.
“Remember the law of MY servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away (depart) from Me, you evildoers.”
This is showing us that many who think they have earned their way into heaven, by various means, will be rejected; because it is only gained through Jesus sacrifice and GOD’s mercy and grace, and our loving relationship with Him.
So who is Jesus talking about in these verses.? He's obviously talking about people who think they are Christians or at least think that they are good people.
Matthew 16:26-27 “What good would it be for someone to forfeit their soul to gain the whole world. What can anyone give in exchange for their soul.? For the Son of Man is going to come in His FATHER’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.”
Matthew 23:39 Jesus said “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you (Jerusalem – Israel) say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Hebrew: ‘Baruch Haba B’Shem Adonai.’)
All who will be eligible for heaven and eternal life will hear these absolutely magnificent words from Jesus when He comes to take GOD’s children (those who love HIM), home to Heaven.
Matthew 24:13 ‘The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.’
Matthew 24:23-33 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!” or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, ‘There He is out in the desert,’ do not go out; or ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
Immediately after the distress of those days “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, right at the door.”
Matthew 24:36-39 Jesus said “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the FATHER. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
Jesus’ return will be visible absolutely everywhere on Earth. How can that be – I don’t know – I just believe, trust, and have faith in GOD’s Word.
Matthew 24:42 & 44 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”
Matthew 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Always be prepared:
Matthew 24:43-44 The parable of the man who was not prepared when the thief broke into his house.
Matthew 25:1-12 The ten virgins, five of whom had foolishly not prepared their lamp with sufficient oil -The Holy Spirit - for the coming of the Bridegroom - Jesus.
Luke 12:37-38 The diligent servants who were ready to meet their master.
Matthew 25:31-34 “When the son of Man (Jesus) comes in His glory, and all the angels (described as the clouds because of the millions of angels appearing as a white mass) with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory, All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Matthew 26:64 “Yes it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the MIGHTY ONE and coming on the clouds (of angels) of heaven.”
Matthew 25:31-34 ‘When the Son of Man comes in His glory; and all His angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
‘Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by My FATHER; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Verses 35-46 Describes the coming of Jesus (Yeshua) and all the angels – also referred to elsewhere as the clouds, because there will be so many of them. The judgment of the nations shows the crucial importance of us helping those in need.
At the allotted time He will return in the clouds of angels to take all of GOD’s children home to heaven to join GOD’s eternal family.
When the gates of heaven are thrown open to admit GOD’s children, the words of the King of heaven – Jesus – will be heard like the richest music:
Then the redeemed will be welcomed to the home that Jesus has prepared for them. Their brothers and sisters – friends – companions – will be those who have overcome Satan and all of his Earthly influences in every way; and through GOD’s grace have formed perfect characters. Every sinful way and imperfection have been removed by the blood of Christ Jesus; and the excellence and light of His glory exceeding the suns brightness, is imparted to them. The moral beauty and perfection of His character shines through them; and now, before the great white throne, without fault; they share the dignity and privileges of the angels.
In the light of this glorious inheritance, what can anyone give.? They may be poor yet they possess a wealth and dignity that the world could never bestow. Such a soul; redeemed and purified from sin; with all the noble powers dedicated to serving GOD, is of surpassing worth. There is joy in heaven in the presence of GOD and the holy angels, expressed in songs of holy triumph, over every redeemed soul.
Mark 13 Luke 21 Both explain signs of Jesus’ return to collect His Bride = ‘the children of GOD’, and take them home to heaven, where He has prepared mansions for them in His FATHER’s House, and the things we can watch for, to know the season, even though no one except GOD will know the day and hour of Jesus arrival. Matthew 25:13 Acts 20:31
1 Thessalonians 5:6 All contain additional warnings that we should be alert.
The following is magnificent news of Jesus’ return to gather GOD’s people; which is mentioned 331 times in the New Testament
Mark 13:24-26, 32-33 “But in those days, following that distress, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds (of angels) with great power and glory.
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the FATHER. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
A similar prophecy is in Revelation 3:12-16.
Mark 14:62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the MIGHTY ONE and coming on the clouds (of angels) of heaven.”
Luke 12:40 ‘You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.’
This means that on the day Christ returns, it is not only too late, but thoroughly unnecessary to collect anything of yours, whatever situation you are in at that moment, just answer to the leading, directions and demands of Christ Jesus. Forget your own affairs completely, and only look ahead, do not look back.
Luke 17:24-33 ‘For the Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by His generation.
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting, and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.”
Luke 21:8 Jesus said: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.”
Please read the rest of the details in Luke 21:20-25 in ‘The End Times.’
Luke 21:26-28 ‘People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man (Jesus) coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because you redemption is drawing near.’ (The cloud/s will consist of many millions of angels.)
Luke 21:34-36 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
John 3:16 ‘For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only Son, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life.’
On that day when Jesus returns to gather his bride, GOD’S people --- HIS children --- HIS family; Those who are dead will be raised up, and those still living will all be changed in an instant, and together with those who were dead, all will have new, perfect, eternal, everlasting bodies.
In reality, from the personal perspective of each of us, Jesus’ second coming is never further away than a moment after our death, because death, being a totally unconscious sleep, means that we close our eyes in death, and whether one week or a thousand years pass by, the next thing we know is when Jesus raises us up in new bodies at the resurrection. So His coming (return) is never, to us, more than a moment after we die.
Jesus’ return will be visible absolutely everywhere on earth.
John 5:28-29 ‘Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out; those who have done good will rise to live and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.’
John 14:1-3 ‘Jesus said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in GOD; trust also in Me. In my FATHER’S house are many rooms (mansions); if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me, that you also may be where I am.”This is speaking of heaven.
Jesus ascension home to heaven, following His first time on Earth:
Acts 1:9-11 ‘After Jesus said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white (angels) stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
Romans 6:23 ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
During the Millenium – the thousand years in heaven, following Jesus’ return.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 ‘Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease, where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, I will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror (dimly); then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, just as I am fully known.
And now these three remain, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.’
Many people say that they have many questions to ask GOD, however in light of the above scripture, all fundamental questions (at least) will have instant answers by way of the fullness of understanding and knowledge which GOD will give HIS children. This means that then we shall know in the same detail that GOD knows us; which is in every detail, including every hair on every head; which is, in our present state of being, beyond our comprehension.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 ‘I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of GOD, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.’
1 Thessalonians 3:13 ‘May HE (GOD) strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our GOD and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.’
The date and time of this is only known by GOD, not even Jesus will know until the day GOD sends Him from heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ‘Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of the people, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that GOD will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of GOD, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.’ (This applies to the true Christians.) When we meet Him in the air, it is clear that Jesus will be taking us home to heaven where He has prepared mansions for us, just as He said He would; John 14:2-3 Many other scriptures give the impression that we will be residing with Him here, but this is not so because they apply to the time after the millennium. There are many scriptures which clearly indicate that the earth will be in an ‘un-liveable’ mess; as described in: ---
Jeremiah 4:23-29; 2 Peter 3:10-11; Zephaniah 1:2-3; and that the remainder of humanity will be destroyed by the light of His coming, which they are unable to withstand.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 ‘For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you dear brothers and sisters (committed Christians) are not in darkness so that this day (of Jesus’ return) should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.’
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ‘May GOD Himself, the GOD of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One Who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.’
2 Thessalonians 2:8 ‘And then the lawless one (Satan) will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendour of His coming.’ (Verses 1-12 for more detail.)
Titus 2:11-13 ‘For the grace of GOD that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope --- the glorious appearing of our great GOD and Saviour, Jesus Christ.’
Jesus (Yeshua) told many parables to help us know the time = the general season, of His Second Coming.
Signs of Jesus return.
Until Jesus comes there will be massive compromise, crime, violence, and degradation – physically – morally – environmentally. There are pockets and places of beauty in the world. However we need to remain aware and mindful of reality, while keeping our eyes on heaven and on our future eternal life in unimaginable beauty and perfection.
To be able to look forward to being included among those who Jesus raises from the dead and takes home to heaven, is the most infinitely magnificent privilege we can possibly have.
Jesus said that when we hear of wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences = diseases & plagues, the end is not yet: Matthew 24:6-9. These are the beginning of sorrows that will precede the Great Tribulation and The Day of The Lord. The world is facing unprecedented strains on food production and distribution, but the Black Horse of Famine’s ride Revelation 6:5-6 will be a famine of global and unprecedented proportions.
In Matthew 24 Christ outlines the order of events that will precede Christ’s return, events that precisely parallel the seals in Revelation 6.
The First Seal is religious deception and religious wars:
Matthew 24:5. Revelation 6:1-2.
The Second Seal is regional and ethnic war throughout the earth: Matthew 24:6-7. Revelation 6:3-4.
The Third Seal is unprecedented famine:
Matthew 24:7. Revelation 6:5-6.
The Fourth Seal is pestilence and mass death:
Matthew 24:7. Revelation 6:7-8.
The first four seals will bring about the sudden collapse of much of the Western world: Isaiah 30:12-13. 1 Thessalonians 5:3-7. This will swiftly lead to the opening of the Fifth Seal, which is The Great Tribulation: Matthew 24:21-22. Revelation 6:9-10. The ‘ten kings’ of Revelation 17:12-14 will be subordinate to a dominating ruler known as the ‘Beast’ v13 and the King of the north: Daniel 11:40-41. Under the influence of a powerful false religion, this ‘king’ will make martyrs of GOD’s people: Revelation 17:1-6.
The final revival of the ancient ‘Holy Roman Empire will be led by a so-called ‘great nation’; a cruel and merciless people from north of the Holy Land Jeremiah 6:22-26. the ‘rod’ of GOD’s anger: Isaiah 10:5-6. Reeling from the first Four Seals, the modern ‘Israelite-ish’ nations will fall suddenly: Jeremiah 15:1-8. and their cities will be laid waste: Ezekiel 12:20. Survivors will be taken captive throughout the world: Deuteronomy 28:68. Ezekiel 27:12-13. Revelation 18: 9-13.
GOD will refine the entire ‘house of Jacob’ in the furnace of affliction Isaiah 48:1-12. Deuteronomy 28:43-52. Ezekiel 5:11-17. GOD expects His church to preach the good news of the gospel of the coming Kingdom of GOD Matthew 24:14. Mark 16:15. and also to warn everyone, ‘ancient Israel’s modern descendants’, that we will suffer national punishment unless we repent: Ezekiel 33:1-11. Tragically, most will not listen to the warning to repent and keep GOD’s law: Jeremiah 6:10-19.
Jesus must remain in Heaven until the time comes for GOD to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.
Hebrews 9:28 ‘Christ will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.’
Hebrews 10:25 ‘Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’
James 5:7-8 ‘Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.’
1 Peter 5:4 ‘And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.’
2 Peter 3:9-13 ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. (Suddenly and unexpectedly.) The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and GOD-ly lives as you look forward to the day of GOD and speed His coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.’
1 John 2:28 ‘And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.’
1 John 3:2-3 ‘Dear friends, now we are children of GOD, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies themself, just as He is pure.’
Jude 1:14-15 ‘Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesies about these men: “See the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones (angels) to judge everyone and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Jude 1:21-25 ‘Keep yourselves in GOD’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear; hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
To HIM WHO is able to keep you from falling and to present you before HIS glorious presence without fault and with great joy; to the only GOD our saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen.’
Revelation 1:1-20 ‘The revelation from Jesus Christ, which GOD gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending HIS angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything He saw – that is, the word of GOD and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and is to come, and from the seven spirits before HIS throne, and from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the Earth.
To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His GOD and FATHER – to Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
Look, He is coming with the clouds (clouds of angels), and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all peoples on Earth will mourn because of Him.” So shall it be. Amen. (True Christians will be overjoyed to see Him.)
I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the LORD GOD, WHO is, and WHO is to come, the ALMIGHTY.”
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the Island of Patmos because of the word of GOD and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and /I heard behind Me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna. Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest. The hair on His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and coming out of His mouth was a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever. I hold the keys of death and Hades.
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Revelation 3:3 & 11 ‘Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.’
‘I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no man will take your crown.’
Revelation 6:15-16 ‘Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free person hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 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.” For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’
This is telling us that all those who rejected Jesus and GOD, who thought that because of their influential or privileged position in life, or their wealth, they did not need GOD. It also includes the poor and lowly who also rejected GOD.
Revelation 11: parts of 17-18 ‘Jesus; The One who is and who was and who is to come. Who will destroy those who destroy the Earth.’
Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake (alert) and remains clothed (with the Holy Spirit), so as not to go naked (without the Holy Spirit) and be shamefully exposed.”
Revelation 19:7-9 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory. For the wedding of the Lamb (Jesus) has come, and His bride has made herself ready. (meaning all those who are GOD’s children – born again – in true relationship with Jesus and GOD.) Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of GOD’s holy people.) ‘Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are the true words of GOD.”
For those who are saved:
Revelation 21:4 ‘HE (GOD) will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’
Revelation 22:7 “Look, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keep the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
Revelation 22:12-21 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes, take the free gift of the water of life. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds anything to them, GOD will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, GOD will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with GOD’s people. Amen.’
Jesus’ return in the clouds - of millions of angels - will be very different from, and a far more magnificent event than that of the small number of angels who appeared to the shepherds when His birth - His first coming - was announced; and that of His being taken up to heaven by clouds of angels, 40 days after His resurrection.