In these times, let us be reminded of the passage from Matthew 25:5, which is the story of ten virgins. Five were wise and five foolish. The verse says that "while the bridegroom tarried" or another translation says "the bridegroom was late in coming." I like this one because it fits exactly what is going on right now. Many think Jesus should have come already, so in their minds he is late and in some respects it certainly does seem this way, but we can't become like the five foolish, who went back to sleep and were not ready when Jesus finally did come to snatch his bride away.
Having said this, this does not mean Jesus did not give us some idea of when he would return. We need to remember as well that Jesus also said, "when you see all these things start to occur," in Luke chapter 21, meaning the earthquakes, roar and fury of the sea, signs in the heavens etc., along with even the way people will be acting, are all the signs that will signal his soon return. Because life is seen as not normal toward the end of the tribulation period after so much destruction, and we know he is coming at a time when normal life is going on, we know it has to be very soon. So don't look for just one sign, that is wrong to do. Whether it's the UN voting against Israel, some Jewish holiday or what have you, that is not the way, because there isn't just one sign. It's the culmination and convergence of all of them together that will bring Jesus into the clouds soon to collect his followers who are ready for it. The scoffers, lukewarm and fake Christians will soon be left behind to face the Antichrist, but we who are ready won't. Instead we will escape God's coming wrath early as seen in the many escape verses of Luke 21 and Revelation's Philadelphian church. Our bride groom Jesus appears as if he is late in coming and perhaps he is, but this too was prophesied. Perhaps after many have let their guard down and decided Jesus isn't coming now, is precisely when he will come. Jesus was also asking if people would be practicing the true faith when he returns. In the Greek it says "the faith". Many people have faith today, but most of it is backing the wrong horse, or is a faith that is nothing like what the original 1st century church had. Most today have an extremist view of their own favorite doctrines and this results in an unbalanced "Christian" faith if it is Christian at all. Jesus is returning for those who believe all scripture and are living the one true faith, not for those who claim Christ as their head but live or preach another way. Also the many today in Christendom who attack others in Christendom for talking about his soon return or the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said they are engaging in the "beating of his fellow servants" and they will be in for quite a surprise when Jesus returns and they are left behind to see if they can get it right through the last tribulation period. We need to make sure we are not counted in that number. |
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