At the end…

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, accepting Him as the only way to God the Father and eternity in heaven, then you have no reason to fear the Day of Judgment. As a Christian, you are assured that your eternal future in glory has already been secured. Far from dreading the Second Coming, you can joyfully anticipate Christ's return.

While the exact day and hour is unknown, Jesus gave signs to watch for to anticipate His return. Wars, famines and earthquakes will be some of the birth pains, alerting us to the nearness of the Second Coming (see Matthew 24). Christ told us these things not only so we would be prepared for His return, but so that we would not be deceived by false messiahs. Christ's return will not be a quiet, rumoured incident. We will not learn about it on the evening news. The next time this world sees Christ, it will be such a spectacular event that no one will miss it.

When Jesus first came into Jerusalem, He came humbly on a donkey and with tears. During Jesus' last evening with his disciples, He told them not to let their hearts be troubled because He was going away to prepare a place for them and promised that He was going to come again. When Christ returns it will not be in tears but as a triumphant warrior in charge of the armies of God to bring about the purposes of God. At the end time, He will gather together God's people, and he will bring final judgment on those who don't belong to Him. Christians believe history is working relentlessly and inexorably toward the consummation of God's eternal purposes and these purposes will be brought to pass at the glorious triumphant return of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus - the Word of God also became the Lamb of God. The one who will come to judge has earned the right to judge because He accepted the wrath of God for the sins of the whole world, went down into death, and was raised again triumphant. The end times will see Jesus ruling the nations in truth and righteousness as King of kings and Lord of lords. 

The question to consider is my name in the Book of Life because I have repented of my sin, humbled myself before God, and received the gift of eternal life through Him? What if Christ returned tomorrow? Would that change how you spend the rest of today? Would you continue to keep silent about His love and judgment, or would you boldly and lovingly share about His return? Commit yourself to living a lifestyle that eagerly anticipates the appearance of King Jesus.

Serious Matter

The reality is that sin is very serious to God. In fact it’s so serious that he sent Jesus to take the penalty for our sin, that we might be forgiven. He sent his son to die to save us from the penalty of sin (and from the power of sin). That shows how seriously God takes sin. And it shows us how much he loves us. To us, sin doesn’t seem such a big deal sometimes. We wonder why God doesn’t just wipe it out. But God sees sin as it really is, a violent, destructive, evil force, which seeks to deny him his place as Lord over his creation. It must be dealt with, and dealt with permanently. Even if we don’t see it now, the reality of hell shows us how serious sin is.

I agree that sometimes it seems unfair that God would send people to hell, but I wonder if that’s coming at it from the wrong direction. What we all deserve, you and me included, is to be punished. If anything’s unfair, it’s that God allows anyone to be completely forgiven when we sin, through Jesus death on the cross. That means we don’t get what we deserve; it means we get forgiveness and eternal life, rather than judgment for our sins. That is unfair, don’t you think so, but in a good way! And the gift of forgiveness is available to anyone who will put their trust in Jesus and follow him. The gospel is the power of salvation, and the revelation of God’s righteousness is the solution for the sin. God has acted to rescue people, to save them, to restore them to righteousness.

As Christians, we are saved because our sins are forgiven. Rather than spiritual death, we have eternal life. Instead of God's wrath and the second death, we will have deliverance and reward before Christ, "...Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25.21 KJV bible). In Christ, we are saved from all types of spiritual condemnation, being resurrected from death, and delivered from wrath, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5.24 KJV bible). So we understand the manifold riches and grace that is being given to us as servants of Christ, who continue to walk by faith, and not worldly sight.

The Antichrist

One of the appealing factors of many sporting contests is that the winner of a game is not decided until the very last play of the game as time runs out. The tension and anticipation are part of what makes such contests exciting to watch. There is a war being waged between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan. But unlike sporting events, the winner is already known.

We believe that the Antichrist will be revealed after the rapture of the Church, when Christ will come to take His followers to heaven. As Christians, we are reminded of our need to be faithful to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. And we are reminded we are to take a stand against the spirit of antichrist that is already in this world by witnessing for Christ. We can warn others that those who follow the antichrist in rebelling against God will suffer eternally and invite them to share in the triumph of Christ’s kingdom.

One day antichrist will be revealed. While we believe this will not occur until after the rapture of the Church, the spirit of the antichrist is at work in the world even today. So we must set our hearts on being faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our perseverance will be tested. We should remember several principles when we are tempted to turn our attention from Christ.

Be alert, always seeking God for spiritual discernment. Satan is constantly on the prowl to derail us, often in subtle ways.

Be faithful in studying and applying God’s Word in preparation for present and future spiritual battles.

Keep an eternal perspective, remembering that the trails of today are temporary while glories of heaven lasts forever.

Call on God, who stands ready to help and empower when we call on His name.

The power of evil will test our faith in coming days. We must prepare to respond with determination, reaffirming our commitment to Christ.

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour… Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life... His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.