When is Jesus Coming Back?
By PASTOR ERNEST MARTINEZ
There has always been a fascination with prophecy, even among non-Christians.
Everyone wants to know when Jesus is coming back. The tabloid magazines report
on the return of Jesus at least once a year it seems. The main stream media does
television shows on the life of Jesus just before the Christmas holiday. They
have "scholars" and "theologians" commenting on the "real" Jesus, or so they
report. Everyone wants to know, it seems, when Jesus is coming back.
But as Christians, should we be preoccupied with the return of Jesus Christ?
The whole book of Revelation is a declaration from the Son of God that He is
coming "quickly." (See Revelation 3:11 & 22:7) Jesus pronounces a blessing to
all who hear, read, and put into practice those things that are found in the
book of Revelation. He tells Christians that He is coming quickly and in the
last chapter of Revelation He tells us that we are blessed if we keep the words
of prophecy contained in the book of Revelation.
There are many Christians that are so hung up on trying to figure out the
"signs" of the times. I applaud them for their effort, but according to
Scripture the time of His arriving will not be a surprise to those who are
waiting. For someone to wait, does not mean they read "prophecy" into every
earthquake and thunderstorm. In 2 Timothy 4:8 Paul tells us that the Lord has a
"crown of righteousness" for Paul that will be given by the "righteous Judge" on
the day of His appearing. Paul goes on to say that not only will he receive a
crown, but to all? "who have loved His appearing."
Does loving His "appearing" mean that we will be knee deep in prophetic
literature and "scholarly" theology books? Does it mean that we will try to
connect every prophetic dot and figure out who the "False Prophet" is? I don't
think there is any greater motive to live a holy and godly life than the
expectant desire to see Jesus come back. Jesus didn't teach His disciples to
figure out who the Anti-Christ is or what nations will be part of the so-called
"New World Order," but He commanded us to make disciples of all nations,
teaching them to obey the Scriptures.
When Jesus does come back it is going to be an awesome event. I pray that He
will find me waiting and not caught up in the affairs of this world. Where will
He find you when He comes back? Studying world affairs or studying the Word of
God?
Copyright ? 2005 Access Christian
