The angels who appeared at Jesus’ ascension said in Acts 1: 11, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” This is consistent with what Jesus said in Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21: 33, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Why will Jesus come again?
Acts 17: 31 says, he (God) has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Jesus’ second coming is to judge the world. Romans 2: 16 says, on the day, according to my gospel, through Christ Jesus, God will judge the secret thought of all. Only Jesus is ordained to judge the world. 1Peter 4: 5 says but they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
Jesus’ capacity is stated in John 5: 22-23, the Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. It is certain that Jesus shall be the final judge. Jesus said in John 12: 48-50, the one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge… What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.” Jesus has been loving enough to give us clues to his return and we must listen to him.
Who will qualify to join him?
Matthew 25: 32 says all nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Jesus is that shepherd to separate the sheep from the goats. He said in John 10: 14, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own knows me. Jesus knows the genuine hearts.
To qualify, John 3: 16-19 say, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. The sheep are the righteous whilst the goats are the sinners.
To the sheep, Jesus assured in John 14: 2-3, in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. In Matthew 25: 34-40, the sheep are those who love the Lord and the needy.
How can we prepare for Jesus?
Acts 16: 31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Non-believers will not be saved on the second coming of Jesus. This is because 2Corinthians 5: 17 says, so if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! It is those washed anew by the blood of Jesus who will be saved.
1John 1: 8-10 say if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Acts 2: 21; Romans 10: 13 say, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Have we called the name of Jesus to save us from our sins? Have we truly confessed our sins to Jesus and abstained from them entirely?
Ezekiel 18: 21 says, but if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. We also read from Ezekiel 33: 14, again, though I say to the wicked, “You shall surely die,” yet if they turn from their sin and do what is lawful and right–if the wicked restore the pledge, give back what they have taken by robbery, and walk in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity– they shall surely live, they shall not die. Upon our truthful self-evaluation, will we die or live when Jesus comes?
Why must we be ready or prepared?
Sinners will be condemned to eternal darkness, full of tears and sorrow. Jesus said in Matthew 8: 12, the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus repeated this in a parable where Jesus describes sinners in Matthew 22: 13; 25: 30 as worthless slave, bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Some of us do not know that we are lost. Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25 say, there is a way that seems right to a person, but the end is the way of death. Others also think they can overreach God. However, Galatians 6: 7 says do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. Others believe in themselves as invincible but Romans 11: 18 says do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that supports the root, but the root supports you.
Reflection for the moment
Are we living by the Lord’s statutes of life? 2Peter 3: 10-12 say, but the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire?
What is the state of our hearts before God? 2Peter 3: 14 says, therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish. JESUS IS COMING SOON!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, may your word of caution always remind us of your second coming. Help us to escape the deceptions of this life so we may always be devoted to you. Make us ready at the sound of the trumpets when we will be gladly caught up with you in the skies. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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