The first time Christ came to earth was in humility to give the New Covenant. He is returning again. When he does it will be in great power and majesty. All will see him and most will mourn because of him since they have not believed in him. Hebrews 10:31says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
If you do not know Christ, the Easter season is a perfect time to learn about him and invite him to govern your life. Find a Bible faithful church near you. Read the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. At that first Good Friday he went to his death quietly like a lamb to a slaughter. He knew he must obey his mission and suffer the curse of crucifixion so that we can claim his blood as the covering for our sins when God asks why we are worthy of Heaven. In ourselves we surely are not. His death is God’s unimaginable gift to each of us. Please accept it.
Week 7
Scripture text—Luke 16:23–24
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in torment in this flame.
Jesus talked much about Hell. It is a real place that God created as punishment for Satan and the angels that rebelled with him (Matt 25:41, Rev 12:9). It will be a hot place where people that fail to recognize Jesus as Lord will spend eternity.
In the final chapter everyone will get bodily resurrected and face God’s judgment. Hopefully you will have the blood of Christ to atone for your failings so he will allow you into his blessed presence. Have faith in his blood to save you.
The story in Luke 16 should be studied in its entirety from 19–31 to get the full gist of the story. The point is that the rich during their lives often do not recognize a need for God while the poor more often cry out to the living God. Worship of material items and prestige push God aside. “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matt 19:24, Mark 10:25).
The story also shows that upon death our fate is settled. The rich man went immediately into the flame and Lazarus, the poor beggar, was with Abraham enjoying Heaven. The rich man’s plea for a drop of water was denied. The chasm between Heaven and Hell is fixed. He also asked for his living brothers to receive a visit from Lazarus’s ghost to warn them. This request was denied as well. Abraham reminded the condemned man that the word of God has already warned them. There are other places in scripture where God reminds humankind that nature itself declares God loudly to the creatures of the earth (Ps 19:1, Rom 1:19–20). Get on the winning side.
Week 8
Scripture text—1 Thessalonians 4:16–18
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
These words refer to the rapture (transport) of the church of Christ. I wanted to write this so that if one day suddenly millions of people are missing from the earth, those left behind will know that the event has been predicted in the Bible. The explanations that will surface after the event will be false.
All prophesies in the Bible come to pass. We can know with confidence that God will complete the plan he outlined in his Word. Many books have been written on this topic. Study Bible prophesies to know. What a pleasure to learn that God has given us our history in advance.
Rapture is a man-made name given to the event of transportation described in many places throughout scripture. A few places to study are Matthew 24, 1 Corinthians 15:51–52, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. Transport is the clear message. Throughout human history two people have been transported in this way without facing physical death. Enoch and Elijah were favored by God and taken by him directly, the way Christians can expect to be taken before God’s wrath is unleashed on our planet. Learn about Enoch in Genesis 5:24 and Elijah in 2 Kings 2:1–11.
In story after story in the Bible, God’s own are removed prior to his wrath. It is not a fantasy of escapism but God’s modus operandi. The kingdom of God will be played out as he told us. Jesus will be the ruler on earth as he is in Heaven. Do we not pray this in the Lord’s Prayer practically without thinking about the meaning of the words?
It will be such a blessing to be among his before the rapture. It will be terrible for those who decide for Christ afterwards during the time of the great tribulation. It is all available to know. The Bible can be confusing. If you have trouble, use a prophecy guide that will point you to the places to study in the Word.
Do not wonder. Know that you can count yourself worthy to escape the wrath to come. Trust in Christ for your life.
Week 9
Scripture text—John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
This may be a hard truth for some to swallow but until a person has been cleansed by the blood of Christ, he/she cannot enter into God’s presence with prayer. Only Christians can expect access to God in prayer because in his eyes we are no longer sinners but saints. The penalty that belongs to us (death—Rom 6:23) has been laid on Jesus Christ so that those who believe that truth may appear sinless before God.
God knows the state of each heart. He will measure our true devotion. His ear is open to his own. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus was speaking and he said that many that pray do so out of habit not having any intimate relationship with him. He calls their prayers vain repetitions and he refers to the people praying as heathens. They should save the effort. God is not listening. Find the perfect antidote to your sin problem (gift of the cross) and then enter the throne room freely. Those of us who know and follow Christ are not heathens but heirs to the throne of God with Christ our Savior (Rom 8:14–17).
It is discouraging to know that so many people pray to a God that is unknown to them. They wonder why their prayers are not answered and their lives do not improve. Time and again, folks plead their case with a vague spirit in the sky and do not study the Bible to find out who he is or what he wants from us. The feature verse of the week describes it. He wants worship and obedience. He will hear you if you trust in his plan of salvation and appreciate his astonishing gift. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23b). Consider the grim truth in Matthew 7:21–23:
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Trust in Jesus Christ. Get to know him through scripture study and prayer. Then know that you are heard since you are a member of his family. Even better news for those that are born again (by the Spirit—John 3:3–6), we have the help of the Holy Spirit making up for our failings and confusion. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom 8:26). That is a heavy promise and a peace bringing truth.
Week 10
Scripture text—Luke 10:18
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