Glorious Appearing

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          The disciples asked Jesus Matthew 24:3-5, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"  He answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’”  We are not to set dates, but we should know that 33, “When you see all these things [earthquakes, military conflicts, famines, persecution of believers, brutal crimes, apostasy, and accumulating wealth], you know that he is near, right at the door.”  The glorious appearing is approaching, so we must be trusting in faith on the atonement of Christ—it is the only way to be ready.

          There is more false teaching than ever, but the Bible gives the true definition of grace.  Titus 2:11-14 ”The grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind, training us to renounce ungodliness and all the pleasures of this world, and to live sober, upright, and pious lives at the present time, in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope—the Appearing in glory [glorious appearing] of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us to purchase our freedom from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people who should be specially His own, zealous for doing good works.”

          Bible prophecy was fulfilled when Israel became a nation in 1948.   Israeli General Moshe Dayan gave the Muslims control of their Dome of the Rock in order to keep peace, even though Israel had won the war—this fulfilled prophecy concerning the time of the Gentiles.  Surrounded by enemy nations, Israel will use any force necessary to defend themselves, even though Jesus said John 13:34 "As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”  As the glorious appearing approaches, more and more people will reject God’s truth and accept Satan’s lie.

          “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” 1 Timothy 4:1.  Most professed believers are looking for ministers who say what they want to hear 2 Timothy 4:3.  There is so much deception and false teaching, Jesus had to warn: "Watch out that no one deceives you.”

          The Laodicean church was neither zealous nor cold, but indifferent and uninterested in spiritual matters.  It is the only church of the seven that receives no commendation Revelation 3:16.  Many today hear the message of God’s Truth, but most do not practice the Word, nor meet circumstances of life as the Bible instructs.  Jesus will have to say Luke 13:27, “‘I don’t know you or where you come from.  Away from me, all you evildoers!’”

          Satan is more determined than ever to deceive people with false teaching.  The Parable of the Sower Matthew 13 is a warning that growing in faith and trust on God is a must—not an option.  All too many professing Christians live like the world—trusting in everything, any plan, or any policy but God. 

The supernatural power that raised Jesus from the dead, is the divine power of God to heal our bodies without drugs, to supply our needs without stored assets, to protect us without human devices, and to correct injustices without legal court action.  That is practicing God’s Word and being a disciple of Jesus Mark 3:35.

God has predicted that Isaiah 35:1-2, “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.  Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.”  Since 1948, rainfall has increased remarkably in Israel, and the nation has produced larger crop yields.  Reports say that fruits and vegetables are now grown in Israel that are larger than those from California.  The Israeli desert is beginning to burst into bloom—God is blessing His land.

          Ezekiel prophesied that an army, with many allies from the north, would attack the Jews.  They are determined to annihilate Israel, but Ezekiel predicted that God would destroy the attacking armies.  Most agree that Gog and Magog refers to modern-day Russia and her allies.  Ezekiel 38:18, “When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

          Magog was the second son of Japheth (Noah’s son) who settled north of the Black Sea.  Genesis 9:27 ”May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem."  Ezekiel 38:2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.”

          God says to Gog Ezekiel 39:2, “I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel.”  Bible directions are given in relation to Israel—north is north of Israel, south means south of Israel, etc.   Russia is north of Israel.  Gog’s allies, Persia, Libya, Gomer [Turkey], Ethiopia, and Togarmah, are all Islamic and Russia’s allies who hate Israel.

          The apostle describes the Glorious Appearing 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, “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 Rapture is similar to when Genesis 5:24, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”  Or 2 Kings 2:11 ”As [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.”  The Rapture is the blessed hope, Titus 2:13 “the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

          The Bible speaks of the Second Coming of Christ in two stages.  Christ first returns in the air to rapture His people—but not to the earth’s surface.  Believers are caught up to be with the Lord.  2 Corinthians 5:10, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body,” but John 3:18 ”He who trusts in Him does not come up for judgement.  He who does not trust has already received sentence, because he has not his trust resting on the name of God’s only Son.”

          After the seven-year Tribulation on earth is over, Jesus will complete the second stage of His coming by returning all the way to the earth to set up His Millennial Kingdom.  Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.  The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

          After mentioning the true faith of true believers, the apostle commends them for turning 1 Thessalonians 1:9 “to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”  Satan has millions of substitutes as idols to deceive the world.

          The apostle said 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ”—but we are required to be trusting in faith on His shed blood.  Since the Tribulation is the time of God’s wrath, and since God would not allow His true children to go through this time of serious persecution, then His true church will most definitely be raptured before these horrible troubles begin.  Scripture indicates that the Rapture occurs before the tribulation and the Glorious Appearing—after.

          A pre-Tribulation rapture is supported by the fact that the church is mentioned seventeen times in the first three chapters Revelation 1-3, but is not mentioned after chapter 4.  In says Revelation 19:7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”  This is the Glorious Appearing of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

          The Rapture is the sudden gathering of all God’s people, who are trusting Him in genuine faith, from sincere and believing hearts.  “No one knows the day or hour,” Jesus said, so we must live every hour like He could arrive any minute.  The only way to ready, is to be trusting on the blood of Christ, “because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” Matthew 24:44.

Believing in, and trusting on, the shed blood of Christ for the change of heart we need—change from rebellious unbelief, to believing faith, is the all-important issue—and that includes trusting God for health, healing, supplies, protection and every other issue—not trusting on human power, plans, pills, and policies like the world does.

We are saved by grace, and true grace Titus 2:11-13 “has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind, training us to renounce ungodliness and all the pleasures of this world, and to live sober, upright, and pious lives at the present time, in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope—the Appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

          Trusting God in faith every day, includes claiming our atonement rights in Christ every moment, for physical healing without drugs Acts 3:16, for daily supplies without stored assets Matthew 6:19, for divine protection without human devices Psalm 140:4, for justice without legal counsel Romans 12:19, and trusting God for every other gift James 1:17–gifts that are free, but received by a trusting faith on the sacrifice of Christ.

          We do not set dates, but we do watch for signs, and we keep our trust on God.  Jesus promised Matthew 10:22 “Those who endure to the end will be saved.”  So 2 Peter 3:13-14, “In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.  Since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” 

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