He Will Return - Part 2
by Pastor Bill Pevlor
I hope you had an opportunity to read last week’s Good News. I began to
share a few of the prophetic” highlights” found in God’s Word, the Holy
Bible, concerning the second coming of Christ. The Bible is packed, cover to
cover, with promises of Jesus’ first coming (the reason for our Christmas
celebration) as well as His return.
As I wrote last week, no one knows exactly when Jesus will return except
God, the Father. Jesus made it clear that even He didn’t know when He said, “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.” (Mark 13:32-33) If the angels in heaven don’t know, and Jesus
himself doesn’t know, you can be sure that neither I, nor anyone else on this
earth, know exactly when Jesus will physically return. I don’t know the day or
the hour, but I am certain, without the slightest shadow of a doubt, that He is
coming back.
Even though Jesus said only the Father knows, He encouraged His disciples
to be waiting and to watch for the “signs” that would indicate His return
was at hand. In Matthew 24, beginning in verse 32 Jesus said “Now learn
this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves
come out you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things,
you know that it is near, right at the door.” By watching the changes in
nature we can easily tell what season is approaching. In the same way, when we
see the events (“all these things”) that the Bible says will take place just
prior to Jesus’ return, we know the time is near; “right at the door.”
One important event in the timetable of Christ’s return was the
reestablishment of the state of Israel in 1948. The regathering of the Jews to
Israel is a clear “sign” predicted in both the Old and New Testaments. In
Ezekiel, chapter 37, verses 21 and 22 say “This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will
gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make
them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.”
The geographical area known today as Israel is the “promised land”
given to the Jews by God as part of an everlasting covenant with Abraham,
patriarch of the Jewish race. The Jews had not been in control of the land since
Jerusalem was captured by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. In fact, before the rebirth
of the state of Israel, the Jews had no land; they had no nation. Since 1948
Jews have been immigrating back to their homeland at unprecedented rates. They
are being gathered from every part of the world. There are now more than six
million Jews in Israel. God’s promise to gather His people is being fulfilled
before our very eyes.
Another event to watch for is the rebuilding of the God’s Temple in
Jerusalem. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and other prophetic scriptures refer to a temple
in Jerusalem. The last temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70
A.D. For some of the prophecies concerning the end times to be fulfilled the
temple will have to be rebuilt.
Plans have already been drafted for the rebuilding of the temple. The Institute
for Talmudic Commentaries has published 25 textbooks dealing with the issues of
rebuilding the temple. An organization known as the Temple Institute, after
having researched ancient genealogies are training elite members of the Jewish
priesthood for service in the temple. Many of the tools and furniture needed to
revive the rituals of temple worship have, and are being, recreated. They are
being careful to fashion each article to exact, Old Testament standards.
These are just a few of the pieces of the last days puzzle that are
falling into place. As I mentioned last week, there is so much more, but space
and time will not allow me to share. My hope is to inspire you to dig into your
Bible, study what it has to say about the events of the last days. Allow the
“light” of God’s Word to illuminate the truth of Christ’s second coming.
Though we don’t know the precise day and hour, when Jesus does return it should not be a surprise to His Church. These signs are given so that, as we carry out the work the Lord has appointed to each of us, we will also be watching with anticipation for His glorious return. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:4 “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” These are exciting times.
Victorious
Faith Ministries
219 State Street, Algoma, WI 54201
Phone: 920-487-5775
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