Coming Soon?

I was deeply saddened last night when I watched a clip from the 11 o’clock news about a so- called Christian group in California that is placing billboards around the country that read, “ HE IS COMING BACK…MAY 21, 2011.”

I am saddened that the movement's leader, Harold Camping, says he has determined the exact date for The Rapture through his own interpretation of the Bible. My qualm with this comes directly from scripture.

When Christ was asked by his disciples to let them in on the end of the age, he tells them in Matthew 24 the things that will transpire before the second coming of the Lord. There will be wars, rumors of wars, famine, earthquakes, pestilence and great tribulations against the chosen of God….but he says these are just the birth pains…and then, Christ gives them the true prophetic word regarding Daniel’s prophecy of the abomination of desolation and tells them that unless those tumultuous times are cut short, all mankind will perish.

In Matthew 24: 29-31, 36, Christ gives us all the final word on his glorious return, when he says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather the elect form the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. But concerning that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels of heaven, nor the SON, but the FATHER ONLY.” (My emphasis)

Did you catch all that? No matter how devoted a believer, how well-versed or learned you may be as a Bible scholar or how sincere you may be in your worship and adoration of the Father and His Son….You nor I WILL NEVER KNOW the day, the hour, the second of His return….if God won’t tell His only begotten Son, why would he tell a preacher in California?

So what can we take away from this….to live in fear and uncertainty that stifles us or to be constantly striving to be prepared for a quick exit …Jesus has promised that He is coming again to gather those who belong to Him and though He does not know the time or day, I am sure that He is anxiously waiting for the sound of the trumpet and the loud voice of the archangel to announce that He is coming in all His glory to gather His own.

So don’t be mislead or sidetracked by false prophets or those who might claim to have received a “heavenly visit or vision” regarding the coming of our Lord….that precious secret is safe…Safe in the perfect will of the Father….at just the perfect time, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN TO RECEIVE HIS OWN….

My prayer today is that you are one of HIS and you are prepared for His return.

Working and Waiting….Looking toward the Eastern sky,
WPQ

Poem for the Day:
Starting each and every day
With the breaking of the sun;
Knowing Jesus could return
Before my day is done…

So I will spend each moment
Living in such a way…
That all will know I’m heaven bound
If this should be the day!

WPQ @ January 2011