Main text: Matt 24:9-14
Summary: The return of Jesus will happen publicly, not privately, so don’t be deceived. The return of Jesus will happen once, not twice, so be prepared to endure suffering. The return of Jesus will happen suddenly so be ready.
Father, we gather as Your children. We’re all on the same level. You just want to hear from You, Lord Jesus. We pray that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached today. Not the partial gospels that are out there, but the gospel, the full gospel of the kingdom would be preached today. Teach us about the return of Christ. That is the culmination of all of history and all of our lives. We want to understand more so that we can be prepared for the return of Christ. Speak now. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen
Today, I want to talk about the return of Jesus. You probably heard sermons about the end times and you probably even watched some videos about the end times. And I want you to purge all of that out of your mind. Get it all out of your mind. Because I think when a certain view is established and they teach students in seminary a particular interpretation of end times and that view gets taught in all the churches, when a certain interpretation becomes popularized, it is really hard to see the words for what it says. So let’s pretend we never heard anything about the end times. I pray that the Lord speaks today.
First, let me say that someone like Derek Prince offers some helpful general advice. He says when it comes to pre-millennial, post-millennial, pre or post-tribulation, amillennialism, all these different camps, he says, let’s just all be humble. Let’s just all be humble because God has a way of bringing things together in a way that nobody could see coming.
The same way that Jesus, He was from Bethlehem. Also, He came out of Nazareth and Egypt and you read these prophecies in the Old Testament and you think how could these three be talking about the same person? But you track the movements of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus and they were actually in those three cities/areas.
I also feel a little bit comforted by the fact that my interpretation is in line with John Piper. Not saying that John Piper is a 100% right about everything, but I feel like that is good company to be in.
Matt 24
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
From my reading of this chapter, I have three statements. The first is the return of Jesus will happen publicly, not privately. Publicly. So don’t be deceived. The second point is the return of Jesus will happen once, not twice, so be prepared to endure suffering. And lastly, the return of Jesus will happen suddenly so be prepared.
The first one — the return of Jesus will happen publicly, not privately, so don’t be deceived.
Matt 24
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”
Matt 24
11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
You might not realize this but there’s one true Jesus and there are a multitude of false Jesus’s out there in the world. We understand the reality of Jesus saying there will be many false prophets and teachers that will lead many astray. We know that today there are many false teachers and prophets. Toward the end, there will be an explosion of antichrists with a lowercase “a,” and they will lead many astray and it will be so chaotic and confusing in the end that people will say, I am Jesus, I have come.
If somebody says, I am Jesus, then you already know that they’re lying. If somebody comes to you and says, I know Jesus, He visited me and He’s staying at my apartment so let’s go, let’s go talk to Him. He’s teaching me things I’ve never heard before. Let’s go to my house. Let’s listen to this Jesus. If that happens, you already know that guy is lying to you. He’s a false teacher and whoever is in his living room is a false Jesus.
How can I say that so confidently?
Matt 24
23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Jesus doesn’t come privately. Jesus doesn’t hide in an inner room. Jesus doesn’t come to a segment of the world population. If somebody says, I met Jesus and He’s in my room, why don’t you come, then you know that person is lying. Because when Jesus comes, everybody in the world will see Him simultaneously. You will see the Son of Man in the sky. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. That means Jesus will come from the eastern sky to the west and it’s as clear as lightning.
Everybody will see it simultaneously and you may think, how is this possible that we can see the Son of Man simultaneously as He travels in the sky from east to west? You might say it doesn’t make sense with the time zones and all of these things. When Jesus comes in the sky from east to west, everybody will be able to see Him. It is not hidden. Don’t let anyone deceive you that it’s hidden. Jesus coming will be a world event.
All of us will see Him and there will be only a few who won’t see Him. Maybe if you’re sleeping, you won’t see Him. Maybe if you’re staring at your phone, you won’t see Him. Maybe if you’re watching your favorite TV show and binge watching, you will not see Him. We need to get out there and look up and you will see Him.
I am concerned for the next generation because we have our faces buried in the screen. We need to get outside. We need to look up and expect you will see on one particular day, Jesus will appear and He will come from east to west. You will not be able to miss it. That’s why it’s not hidden. That’s why it’s not just one country seeing it or just one town seeing it or one person seeing it. When Jesus comes, we will all see it simultaneously. We will see it. The return of Jesus will happen publicly, not privately. So don’t be deceived.
Secondly, the return of Jesus will happen once, not twice, so be prepared to endure suffering. This one is a little trickier because nobody disagrees with Jesus coming once in the beginning and then the second coming of Jesus, but there’s some confusion about whether or not Jesus comes in the middle privately to rapture His church.
As far as I read Scripture, I cannot see it. The closest thing is 1 Thessalonians 4 where we will meet Him in the air and you will be raptured. You’ll be taken up in the air and the dead in Christ will rise up from their graves first and those who are here but are believers will also be called up next and we will meet Him in the air.
And you might say, okay, this is the rapture. You might say it’s such good news because the tribulation sounds horrific and thank the Lord that He raptures me so that I don’t have to go through the tribulation. You see why this kind of teaching would be popularized because who wants to go through suffering? Then according to some, Jesus even alludes to a possible rapture when he says in verse 40
Matt 24
40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
But that’s in the context of staying awake. Not, thank the Lord, I’m in the air. I’ve escaped the tribulation. I don’t have to suffer. Thank the Lord. No, He’s saying that because those who are not awake, those who are not alert, those who are sleeping, will be left behind to be judged during the final judgment of the world.
Matt 24
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
According to my reading, this is not saying that you will avoid the tribulation because of a rapture. This says if you are considered worthy to suffer the rapture and He is almost apologizing in advance, that if you are nursing mother, He knows how difficult that’s going to be but you must flee at the first sign.
He talks about an abomination of desolation and that it’s going to happen in Jerusalem in the temple that will be rebuilt before the end. And you might say well, okay. I understand that because of the Babylonians in 586 BC. The first temple of God was demolished by the Babylonians, but it was rebuilt. And then in Jesus’ day, there was the great temple. Jesus said this thing is going to come down and then in 80 or 70 AD because of Rome, that temple was destroyed again.
Then we know history that Israel as a nation disappeared. Somehow by God’s plan, it was rebirthed as a nation. This has never happened before where a nation disappears from the face of the earth and then returns. Now even our embassy is moving to Jerusalem. The signs. are there that a third temple is going to be rebuilt. A third temple is going to be rebuilt and you have to read Daniel to see how it’s going to unfold. You’ve got to read Revelation that there’s going to be a human, political, religious figure who everybody in the world rallies around and there’s going to be one world under this one leader.
There’s going to be three and a half years of peace. According to the prophecy in Daniel, the great tribulation will occur during the 70th week. And a week equals 7 years. The first half of the week, everything is fine under some political figure controlling the world. Then, during the second half of the week, in the final three and a half years, the abomination of desolation occurs. It is something so blasphemous and it happens in the temple of God. These final three and a half years is the great tribulation.
Did you know that Jesus went through His tribulation? How long was his earthly ministry? It was three and a half years. Jesus is saying, I went through my tribulation. I invite you brother and sister, that you also must go through it for three and a half years. Whoever is considered worthy enough to represent Christ at the end, we will go through three and a half years of the hardest years imaginable.
Matt 24
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
When I read the news, I don’t know what is around the corner, but it does not look good. It seems like there are some people in this country that actually love war. They will try to stir up things so that we are engaged in a war. It could be with Russia. It could be with China. It could be with North Korea. There are people in this world that are trying to bring about a war.
And there’s going to be famine. I’ve been hearing reports that due to so much flooding around the world, food prices will be doubling or tripling in years to come. Imagine with a shortage of food, you will realize in the end that when you are just trying to survive, all the things that we worry about are really not important when you’re just trying to make it through the day.
I think there’s going to be some in the body of Christ like Joseph in the Old Testament when he was elevated to the governor of Egypt and God used him in a time of famine. There was a wisdom that was given to him and there was a wealth that was provided through him. Through Joseph, all of Israel was fed in Egypt.
I believe there are some in the body of Christ who are aware that there is a famine that is to come and they are preparing even now. You will realize that in the end, the things that I stress out about really don’t matter. Once there’s a famine, it doesn’t matter. If you have a luxury home overlooking the ocean but you can’t feed yourself, nothing matters.
Matt 24
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
And where will this delivering over to our death during the tribulation, where will this attack come from? It will be coming from those who used to call themselves Christian or maybe those who are following a false Christ. Those people in the church, they will turn on us and turn us in and they will betray us. The person we called our brother or sister, the person we had meals with and prayed with, maybe people in our own home. They will turn on you and turn you in.
Can you imagine a day when all the nations hate you because of Jesus? There is a preparation when you know that this is coming. There’s a preparation that needs to happen even now. Some people miss one meal and they’re upset. You will not survive a famine if you’re this kind of person who gets upset because you missed a meal.
Somebody who wants to be loved by the nations or known by the nations, or be respected by a lot of people and have a lot of friends, you will not be prepared when everybody turns on you. There’s a preparation we need to go through. If you’re easily offended or if you’re easily stumbled, if you easily get scared or you’re fearful, you will not be able to endure.
Matt 24
12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
We don’t just endure for the sake of enduring. We need to endure with love for Jesus. You endure because you love Jesus. You endure because you can’t wait to see Jesus. You’re so excited to see Jesus. And when everybody in the world is shaking in their boots because they have no food, because there are wars, because they are being turned over because you showed up on Sunday and there are police who are ready to arrest you, but if you love Jesus, there’s actually a part of you that is excited because that means He’s right around the corner. He’s at the gate. He’s that close. So you’re not fearful. You’re not complaining. You’re not saying, my life is ruined. No, you’re saying my life is about to begin.
Matt 24
13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
When you turn on the news and you look at what evil people are getting away with and you see what filth is coming out of Hollywood, there’s a part of every believer that our love grows cold because there’s so much lawlessness, so much iniquity, so much sin. There’s a part of us, our hearts that start to shrivel up.
But we need to find ways to stir up our love for Jesus so that it will not grow cold because you need this love to endure this type of tribulation. You need it. The love that you had at the very beginning is not enough. You need more love for Jesus.
And this is the Full Gospel of the Kingdom. We look at Jesus in the past and what He did for us, but did you know that is just a partial gospel? That’s not the full Gospel if that’s all that you talk about. You will not be ready for this type of tribulation because the full Gospel of the kingdom includes everything that Jesus is talking about here. Jesus is saying, this is what you need.
You need to be an overcomer. You need to endure to the end. Your love for Me has to be so great that you will gladly go through this. You will even be excited because that means the end is so close and you can see Him with your own eyes.
Matt 24
29 “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 the heavens will be shaken. 30 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. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
See, Jesus comes publicly. You cannot miss it. He’s riding on a cloud. You will see Him come from the eastern sky to the west. You cannot miss it. You will see it is public and it’s happening just one time. There’s no secret rapture. There’s no second secret coming and then actually what we know as the second coming should be relabeled a third coming. No, there’s nothing like that. When Jesus comes, it is once and everything is done. One time, Jesus will return and He will burn up the world in fire and there will be a new heaven and new earth that is established. A Garden of Eden 2.0, a New Jerusalem.
The world was destroyed once through the flood and God says, never will I do it again through water, but He will do it again this time through fire. If we’re all raptured, then why is He talking about the elect? Why is he talking about cutting the days short for the elect?
Jesus went through his tribulation three and a half years of ministry culminating in a cross then an ascension. We, too, will go through our tribulation. We’re not being raptured from it because if you’re raptured from it, all of this teaching about endurance makes no sense. Like why do I have to endure? Why do I have to get tough? The toughest time in history, Jesus is going to just rapture me. I don’t have to go through this. Why do I have to prepare?
And that’s why we just preach a partial gospel looking back at what Jesus did 2000 years ago. 1 Corinthians 11 says that when we partake in the Lord’s supper, and we will in a moment, we are doing this in remembrance of what Jesus did in the past, but we are looking forward in full view of His return and we are proclaiming His return. That is the gospel of the kingdom.
And lastly, the return of Jesus will happen suddenly so be ready.
Matt 24
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The return of Jesus will happen suddenly. When you see the signs of wars and rumors of wars, you see the rising hatred over free speech and conservatism, you know that at the end, they are coming for you and me.
Right now it’s just a battle. It’s a couple steps removed. But know this, they are coming for you and me. The hatred of the nations are rising. The famine is coming. These are all signs. When you see the signs, we should be so encouraged. The Bible is true. The Bible is so true. And we need to put away all our preconceived notions because you’ve heard sermons. But just take Jesus at His word. Just get rid of all that you heard before and look at these words with fresh eyes. Take Jesus at His word.
This is just a little trivia I’m going to throw in there. When it says the moon will not give its light, that’s a bad translation. It says the moon will not give her light. It’s a feminine light. When the Bible talks about the sun, it’s a masculine light. The moon is a feminine light. You can see it in the King James translation as clear as day. Ask the Lord, why is that here? Ask the Lord.
You have to take away all the glasses that you’ve received throughout your life that colors the way that you read Scripture. Just assume you didn’t know anything and you were born on an island and all that you had was the Bible. You will come to such a different view of the world if all that you had was Jesus’ words.
The return of Jesus will happen suddenly and there are many false teachers who will never teach you about any of this. We’ll just look in the past about what Jesus did and now go enjoy your life. Be famous, find your purpose, a Purpose Driven whatever and enjoy your life. They will not tell you the actual full Gospel of the kingdom.
And you might say, well we’ve been waiting two thousand years. Obviously, Jesus is delayed. But a thousand years to the Lord is like a day to the Lord. It’s only been two days. He is not delayed. The Father knows exactly when He’s going to give his Son the green light to return. Why is He delaying? He’s giving us more time.
He’s not delayed in a sense that we can just forget about this. He’s giving us more time and I’m so thankful. I need more time for myself. I need more time for my family. I need more time for my friends. I want them to meet Jesus.
A faithful and wise servant is someone who just brings out the food at the proper time. I think this is both physical and spiritual, that in the end when we’re in a famine, how can we survive?
How did the widow at Zarephath survive? God supernaturally multiplied the bread and the oil when Elijah visited and prayed over her household. It was her last meal. He thought she was going to die with her child and God met her through Elijah and multiplied the food and they survived the famine. I think there are going to be people like that and we’re going to see some miracles.
It is up to the body of Christ. Are we the kind of people who gladly will share in those days or will we be hoarding the food because it’s just about me and my survival and my family. I’m going to bolt the door. Shut it from everyone. Or are we the kind of person we let everybody in if you’re my brother or sister, this is God’s food. This is His miracle to share.
And it’s also the spiritual food. Obviously someone who preaches the fullness of the Gospel of the kingdom, which tells us we are not in the kingdom yet. We are behind enemy lines. The ruler of this kingdom is Satan. That’s why you’re hated. That’s the only reason why you’re hated. You don’t belong here and yet why do we struggle trying to belong here and trying to be famous here, trying to be somebody. It’s ludicrous.
Joseph was a slave in Egypt eventually becoming somewhat successful, but it’s not because of him. God raised him up for a purpose during a time of famine. Imagine if he trained his sons and said, I want you boys also to be successful so that you can be famous in Egypt. Is that the message that Joseph is going to teach his kids? And yet why do Christian parents teach their kids to be famous in a kingdom ruled by Satan? It makes no sense.
We are in a clash of kingdoms. We’re not in the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven yet. That’s why every time we bump against this world, we clash. We don’t belong. It’s like oil and vinegar. It just doesn’t mix. And if you have that clear boundary, when the world and all the nations hate you, you will not be destroyed by it because you’ve been preparing. You know clearly, I don’t belong here. I’m not trying to be somebody here. I’m not trying to store up more wealth here. That’s not the point of life.
Return of Jesus will happen publicly. Don’t be deceived. There are some people in the church who don’t even post their sermons because they think, well, the world won’t understand this sermon. This is just for us. This is a members-only sermon and we’re going to teach you things. Nobody else teach you, just us. It’s a premillennial whatever – there’s only one person in this church that can explain it. Nobody else can explain it. We’re not going to put the messages publicly. That’s how they operate. And let me just tell you, Jesus is not private. There’s nothing private in the Word of God. Everything is public and when Jesus returns, it is public. Everyone will see him from the east to the west. Don’t be deceived.
Secondly, the return of Jesus will happen once, not twice. That means get ready. If we are the last generation and we will go through this type of tribulation, we must have some grit in us. And that’s why when I see the boys complaining about doing something that’s a little bit physically difficult or that they’d rather just stay home and it’s comfortable and they don’t want to go outside, I I force them to do certain things. They might not understand why. I’m trying to get them ready for this type of world.
And if they are endtime warriors, may they say of their dad, my dad got me ready to fight and to not be a coward. The return of Jesus will happen once so be prepared to endure suffering before he returns.
And lastly, the return of Jesus will happen suddenly so be ready. The best way to be ready is to know Jesus. I met Jesus in 1993 and it was such a powerful encounter with the Lord. I didn’t hear an audible voice. I didn’t see a figure appear before me as some do but it was such a powerful encounter with the Lord that I loved Him.
Like you meet somebody and then you just fall in love with Him. And that carried me for the first few years of my journey of being a Christian. I loved Him. Then because of some poor teaching and some poor discipleship that I received, I stopped loving Him. I started loving the church. I started loving ministry. And I was given a false Christ and I was not taught that I need to fall in love with Him and keep meeting Him. It was a false Christ.
And if Jesus were to return in those middle years, I don’t know if I would be ready or not. My love for Jesus had grown cold because I stopped meeting Him the same way that you in the beginning love your spouse-to-be, when you’re in your courtship, you’re just meeting as often as you can. And then what do many married couples do is they stop meeting each other. They get busy with life and they get busy raising kids and they can’t remember the last time they actually connected, and you fall out of love because you haven’t met. The same thing can happen with Jesus and if you don’t meet Him, of course, your love will grow cold.
And so our number one prayer everyday is, Lord Jesus, I want to meet you. Even if we have a fun day and we do all these things. We accomplished things. But if we didn’t meet the Lord Jesus, it’s a waste of a day. But if I meet Jesus, that’s a great day. Everything can be terrible. But if I meet Jesus, it’s a great day.
Return of Jesus will happen suddenly so be ready. And so I will say this to Dongyoon and Elaine as they have a little one and a little one on the way, I remember how difficult those years were. You’re sleep-deprived. You’re tired. You’re cranky. It’s difficult, but I would say to them, be ready for Jesus. No excuses. We just have to be ready. Whatever season we’re in, be ready.
I’ll say the same thing to Timothy who could be busy in his own way trying to prepare for college. I’ll tell Timothy the same thing and to all my boys, be ready for Jesus’s return.
We have newlyweds-to-be, busy with wedding planning and the wedding is right around the corner. I remember how busy and chaotic my life was leading up to our wedding. I’ll say to you as well, be ready for Jesus’ return.
There are always excuses that we can make. The same way that in Noah’s day, there were plenty of excuses. They were eating and drinking. That’s an excuse. I have no time to love Jesus because I’m busy eating and drinking. And it says being married and given in marriage, that is a busy time.
Somebody bought a field. Some had oxen. People have all kinds of excuses and they’re all the same. But Jesus says, I can come anytime. Be ready. A wise and faithful servant is someone who is always ready. And you have to believe Jesus is not delayed. He can come at any moment. I am watchful. You actually have to leave your phone. Turn off your TV. Go outside. Look up. Is today the day I will see Him in the air? Is today the day I’m going to meet Him in the air? Is today the day I can see the love of my life?
Let’s pray.
The return of Jesus will come publicly so don’t be deceived. It will happen once so be prepared to endure suffering and tribulation. And it will happen suddenly so be ready.
Father, nobody knows the day or the hour, not the angels, not the Holy Spirit, not even Jesus Christ Himself knows the day or the hour. Only person in all of the universe that knows the day or the hour is You. Heavenly Father, we understand that You’re not sleeping on the job. It has only been two days to You. It’s been such a short time for an infinite God outside of time and space. You’re so gracious and merciful. You give us more time to get ready.
We are living in turbulent and exciting times that we read about in Matthew 24 and Revelation. We read Daniel and we see things unfolding before our eyes. That there are people in Israel today preparing for the construction of the third temple. Even now the rabbis are preparing pupils to be able to do the sacrifice exactly the way they did in the Old Testament. It’s happening right under our noses. It’s a fulfillment of everything that You said.
So Lord Jesus, we don’t want to be deceived. There’s only one Jesus. There are many false Christ’s, many antichrists who speak enough of the truth that we listen to them but we don’t realize it’s not the true Jesus that they’re teaching about. We want to meet You, the true Jesus and not be deceived. Lord, You’re going to come one time and one time only. It is a second coming. It is a single return.
That means we will have to go through tribulation. That means there are things in our life now that you’re trying to help us to overcome. And we keep getting stumbled by these small pebbles in our way when there’s a boulder that’s rolling toward us.
Father, we want to be ready for this type of tribulation. All of the hatred of the nations, the wars and famines, they are coming. This may be the final generation, it might be us. It might be the kids’ generation. The Lord is coming soon.
Lord, we don’t know the day or the hour, but we know it will be sudden. And only people who love You will be ready. Everybody else who’s just playing church will not be ready. Anyone who’s so busy serving the church will not be ready. Only people who truly love You will be ready. May that be all of us here.
May we love You. May our love for You not grow cold as the iniquity and lawlessness and sin increase all around us. Thank you, Lord Jesus that You Yourself are keeping us and fighting for us and defending us and going after us when we’re lost. Thank you. We trust in the shepherding love of King Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
We partake in the Lord’s Supper, and every time we do this, we look back 2000 years ago to what You did for us. Your body that was broken symbolized by the bread, and the blood that was shed on the cross symbolized by the cup. But we don’t just look in reverse. We partake in this Lord’s Supper as we look ahead into the future and proclaim that Jesus, You are coming. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen