Matthew 24:42-44, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:13, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Mark 13:33, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Revelation 22:20, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
YES, JESUS may come today! Christ's return is imminent: it may occur at any moment, day or night, without any signs or delay. Here are some encouraging words from Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) concerning Jesus' imminent return...
There is not a single event prophesied in the Bible which must come to pass before the Saviour returns. As far as we can know, no event, either political, economic or spiritual, need occur before Jesus comes. Not another war need be declared, not another gospel sermon preached, not another soul be saved, as far as can be told from the Scriptures, before the Saviour comes to catch up His saints into the air for the marriage supper in Heaven. ...
At any moment we may expect Christians to be caught up into the air to meet Christ in the first promised phase of His second coming. We do not know when. We bring reproach on the blessed hope by speculation, but we can watch because Jesus said we should.
SOURCE: Jesus May Come Today!, Dr. John R. Rice, pp. 4-5; Sword Of The Lord Publishers, ©1943
Dear reader, the Scriptures do not discuss any signs that might precede the coming of Christ but rather the fact that He may come at any moment. That is the important thing! What saith the Scripture? Matthew 16:4, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” The Lord tells us why a wicked generation seeks for a sign of Christ's return, because they are adulterous. If you knew that your life would end next month for certain, how would it affect you? Would you suddenly feel compelled to get right with God? Would you sow your wild oats in sin while you still could, partying in your last days?
I read last week about actor Dustin Diamond, who was diagnosed for the first time with stage 4 cancer in January of 2021 and died just 3 weeks later. He began to feel pain all over his body while in Florida, which was found out to be cancer. The doctors and everyone were surprised how quickly Dustin perished. Usually a person diagnosed with cancer lives anywhere from a few more months, to decades if in remission. I remember when Cardinal Joseph Louis Bernardin (1928-1996) in Chicago was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and died 6 months later. It is sad to me as a born-again Christian, because according to the Bible neither Dustin Diamond nor Cardinal Bernardin went to Heaven, if they died in their false religions. Dustin was a follower of Judaism, which rejects Jesus as the Christ. Likewise, Romans Catholicism perverts the Gospel, adding Seven Sacraments to get to Heaven, which is not faith alone in the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Life is so short dear friend. I heard today in the news that 100 cars and trucks crashed in Fort Worth Texas due to ice on the road, killing at least 6 people so far. You can see part of the deadly crash here. There's no way that the person in that little black car survived being smashed by a speeding 18-wheeler semi truck going at high speed. It is so tragic and sad! This is what Jesus meant in Luke 13:5, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he opened the floodgate of sin and death upon the world (Romans 5:12). Bad things don't happen to most people because of any particular sin that they committed, but because humanity as a whole is depraved under the curse of sin since Adam. We were all born into the world with a sin-nature. No one needs to teach a child how to throw a tantrum, lie, get angry, blame, fight, disobey and rebel; it comes natural because of our inherent sinful nature as humans.
The following Bible passage associates the motivation to live righteously as believers, with our expectation of Jesus' imminent return (i.e., the Rapture)...
1st John 3:1-3, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
What a beautiful Scripture passage! Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be made the adopted sons of God. Who am I that a King should bleed and die for? I am so grateful for the gift of eternal life through faith alone in Jesus Christ!
If you are saved friend, you are a child of God. The world does not recognize that, because they do not recognize the Holy Spirit. John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” I love that! I love that! I love that! Every believer has God's indwelling Holy Spirit living inside (1st Corinthians 3:16-17; Romans 8:9; 1st John 3:20). I love the Holy Spirit!!! By the way, many Scripture references that writers cite are worthless, but the ones I give you are 100% reliable. For example: Many heretics cross reference John 3:5 about being born of water, with verses on water baptism, which is a false gospel. Did you know that Matthew Henry preached Baptismal Regeneration? Sadly, he did.
Dear reader, JESUS MAY COME TODAY! I believe the Bible teaches a pretribulation Rapture. That is, I believe that the Bible teaches Christ will return before the Tribulation period. There is a new trend today in Baptist churches called “The New Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement” (or “new IFB”). This movement essentially includes all of the followers of Pastor Steven Anderson. I love and support Brother Anderson, because he is a truth-telling and soulwinning pastor. Yet, I think he is wrong on the doctrine of the Rapture.
Respectfully, according to Pastor Anderson Jesus' Second Coming is the Rapture. He says they are the same event. I totally disagree with that idea. If we take the Days of Daniel literally, then we can only conclude a 7-year Tribulation period. Since Jesus plainly stated that no man, nor even angels, know WHEN He is coming back, only a pretribulation Rapture makes sense...
Mark 13:32-37, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
Jesus could come back right now! Are you ready dear friend? One man asked me why I keep calling him my “friend.” Did not our dear Lord even call Judas His “friend”? Matthew 26:50, “And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.” Either we are a friend to all, or a friend to none. The Lord was not a respecter of persons, He treated everyone with love and kindness, telling them THE TRUTH. I am being your best friend every time I preach THE TRUTH to you. I understand that you may not be my friend, but I certainly am being a true friend to all my blog readers. Thank you for allowing my ministry to be a part of your life, dear friend. Jesus may come today! Let every preacher preach it! Let every church believe it! Let every child sing about it! Let every Christian hope in it! JESUS MAY COME TODAY!!!
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