The Bible says Jesus will come again someday, and the world, as we know it, will come to an end. There are many ideas and opinions about the end-times, but the Bible tells us exactly what will happen. Most questions have a clear answer in the Bible and Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour gives us a picture and a revelation of what is going to happen prior to His second coming. It is my wish and prayer for each one of you who reads this article to take your spiritual preparation seriously because Jesus is coming and He will come sooner than we ever thought.
Has Jesus forgotten us? Recently, I read an interesting story about how, on an expedition to the Antarctic, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew ran into trouble. Their ship was crushed by the ice pack, and their only hope was for a small team to strike out for help in a small boat, leaving the rest of the men stranded amid the snow and ice on Elephant Island. With heroic efforts, the leader of the expedition, along with five others, made an extremely perilous journey to a distant Island where they obtained another ship and the needed supplies. Then Shackleton started back for his men. At first, fog, storms, and ice packs blocked the way repeatedly, but Shackleton ran his ship through it all getting his men on board and the ship back out just before the ice pack closed again. The time he had in which to effect his hazardous rescue was just half an hour!
When the excitement was over, Shackleton asked a young cadet, “how did it happen that you were all packed and ready for my coming? You were standing on the shore ready to leave at any moment’s notice.” The rescued man replied, “Sir, you said you would come back for us, so we never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was partly free of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and packed our things, saying, maybe Shackleton will come today. We were always ready for your coming.”
One of the most beautiful and well-known passages of the Bible is found in John 14:1–3. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Is it God’s purpose to leave us in this world of pain and suffering, my friends? When we look around this world today we see a lot of suffering. Some are tormented by sickness, some are consumed by worries; many have to struggle for their daily bread. Some have problems at home. Many are disappointed by the ones they love. Many feel like slaves at work. For many more life has turned into a heavy burden, my brothers and sisters. Jesus longs to delivers us from all our troubles and to have us with Him in heaven.
When I open my Bible and read words of hope to grieving people, it is there that we find the only hope to which we can turn to when considering the ultimate dilemma of death. We have the hope of Jesus’ promise to return; and this is a comfort for all believers. The Bible tells us about a Man who has promised to free us from the bondage of sin. Is this not good news, my friends? Do we not eagerly wait for that day when Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven to take His people home? But, you may ask, where is Jesus today? Has He forgotten us? Many people today do not believe in Jesus’ promises. They are not sure enough what the future holds. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
Angels confirmed the promise of Christ’s return when He ascended. On many occasions, while on this earth, Jesus had promised the disciples that He would come again. As He was ascending to heaven, two angels appeared to remind the disciples of the promise. You can imagine how the disciples must have felt after the events of the previous week, never mind the past three and a half years. They had travelled all across the countryside as they listened to, and learned, from Him. They had witnessed many of His miracles. The Apostle Peter offers more assurances to us when he wrote, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:16, 19
Yes, Jesus is coming, my friends. Someone has estimated that the Bible records more than 1,500 prophecies of Jesus’ second coming. For every prophecy of His first advent mentioned in the Old Testament there are eight texts predicting His second coming. The return of our Lord is mentioned in one out of every 25 verses in the New Testament. We have just ended one more year in our lives, and there is now set before us a new year. What plans do you have for this New Year? Are you planning for eternity? Do you still love Jesus’ second coming? How is your faith? Revelation 1:7 tells us that, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” There is a way to escape eternal death and find yourself in the New Earth. But there is only one way, and that is by thoroughly trusting the One who has gone before us, Jesus Christ our Saviour.
We live in a perilous time—a time in which both the conditions within the church and outside are tremendously dangerous. There is so much evidence in both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy which show us that many of God’s people are neglecting the needful preparation, and many people in the world do not show any interest in taking a stand for Jesus.
I would like to share with you just four signs which tell us that Jesus is coming soon.
First of all, when we look at the efforts that world leaders put towards peace, have you noticed how fragile peace treaties are these days? The Middle East is a tinderbox waiting to explode.
Christ, upon the Mount of Olives, predicted the fearful judgments that were to precede His second coming: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: . . . Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:6–8. “While these prophecies received a partial fulfilment at the destruction of Jerusalem, they have a more direct application in the last days.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 753
The second sign is regarding the moral condition in society. It will deteriorate rapidly. Even a casual view of what is going on in our society indicates that something is tragically amiss. Violent crimes are increasing like a plague. Teenage crime is out of control. God’s servant wrote about these difficult times. “The terrible reports we hear of murders and robberies, of railway accidents and deeds of violence, tell the story that the end of all things is at hand. Now, just now, we need to be preparing for the Lord’s second coming.” –Last Day Events, p.23
“The nations are in unrest. Times of perplexity are upon us. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear of the things that are coming upon the earth. But those who believe in God will hear His voice amid the storm, saying, ‘It is I; be not afraid.’” –Signs of the Times, October
9, 1901. Amidst all this chaos, we have a wonderful promise, my friends. God has promised to be with us amid these difficulty times.
The third sign is regarding the natural disasters, such as famines, fires, floods, and earthquakes which have become more commonplace. In Luke 21:25 Jesus mentions the roaring sea and waves as a sign. Famines are commonplace today. Two-thirds of all the children born into our world are born in countries that cannot supply them with the nutritious food they need to live a healthy, happy life. Approximately 57 million people die each year because of famine.
“We are not now able to describe with accuracy the scenes to be enacted in our world in the future, but this we do know, that this is a time when we must watch unto prayer, for the great day of the Lord is at hand.” –Selected Messages, book 2, p. 35
“What mean the awful calamities by sea—vessels hurled into eternity without a moment’s warning? What mean the accidents by land—fire consuming the riches that men have hoarded, much of which has been accumulated by oppression of the poor? The Lord will not interfere to protect the property of those who transgress His law, break His covenant, and trample upon His Sabbath, accepting in its place a spurious rest day.
“The plagues of God are already falling upon the earth, sweeping away the most costly structures as if by a breath of fire from heaven. Will not these judgments bring professing Christians to their senses? God permits them to come that the world may take heed, that sinners may be afraid and tremble before Him.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, p. 311
The last sign I want to mention is that the interest in spiritualism, psychic phenomena and astrology will increase dramatically. The Bible predicts a mighty false revival just before the coming of Jesus. Conditions in our society fit that prediction. If some self-proclaimed prophet suddenly arose and began drawing crowds with stirring messages, healing the sick, raising the dead, bringing fire from heaven, and revealing knowledge of your personal secrets—would you believe in him or her? The question is, should you believe? Your ultimate destiny just might be tied directly to your ability to distinguish between true and false prophets. So it is very important to know what the Bible really says about this timely subject.
Many people go into forbidden places in order to know about their future and the destiny of this planet. Many false prophets are arising in these last days with false teachings, my friends. Do not go after them, but go to the Bible and see for yourself what the word of God says regarding Jesus’ coming and last day events on this planet Earth. Go read the prophecies and see for yourself what is said about those things which God has spoken to us through His prophets regarding the time in which we live. I have met people pretending to be prophets, saying they have a message from God. Should we believe them? Of course not, if they are not speaking according to the Bible and Testimonies.
I can tell you from my personal experience that, if you are sincere and are searching the Scriptures daily to see what the word of God tells you, He will reveal the truth to you. If you want to be a part of God’s remnant church, waiting for Jesus’ coming, there is hope and there is comfort. The hope is found in the soon return of our Master, the second coming of Jesus. Now is the time to make a decision and cling to the Rock of salvation—Jesus Christ. Accept God’s invitation today, my friend.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15–17. Amen!
Nicholas Anca