WILL JESUS COME SECRETLY AND SHOCK PEOPLE?
The second coming of Jesus Christ is probably on the near horizon. Many surprises are up and coming no doubt, but will the second coming of the true Messiah be one of them? What is the clear biblical answer to this question? What does this mean for us the true believers?
Matthew 24:23-26 NKJV 23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 24 "For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 "See, I have told you beforehand. 26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.
Jesus says do not go looking for a hidden or secret Christ. Why ?
Matthew 24:27-29 NKJV 27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
In spite of this verse people still audaciously promote themselves or others as the hidden Messiah who is in Miami or the desert. Jesus went further and explained.
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Their will be nothing secretive about the second coming of Jesus.
Matthew 24:31 NKJV 31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Is there a Holy Day to celebrate this very, very special day in history of mankind? There is and we should all celebrate it.
ALL BELIEVERS SHOULD KEEP TRUMPETS OUT OF LOVE FOR JESUS
The Biblical Feast of Trumpets is a celebration of the second coming of Jesus. Christ, leading an invading army of angels with the signal for attack blown by the trumpeter, is theme of the Holy Day. Jesus' second coming unlike, his first will be to conquer all the forces of evil. The spiritual forces behind evil will bel locked away by these angelic forces and all nations forced to obey God's goodness and laws leading to good behavior. Jesus will come in possibly, during a lull between crises and catch the evil world by surprise.
Matthew 24:36-40 NKJV 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ..., until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
We should gladly celebrate the Feast of Trumpets knowing that the trumpets announces the end of evil and the beginning of reign of the Messiah. This will be a time of peace and prosperity at all levels. Something this world has never experienced. It will also be the moment of our crowning and being elevated into God's family. Wow!
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NKJV 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
It will encourage us each year at the Feast of Trumpets, to know that our reward is coming. Jesus wins in the end and for all times.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Paul gave these words to encourage the Thessalonians. They will also encourage us each year at the Feast of Trumpets.
CHRIST'S SECOND COMING WARNINGS WILL HELP STABILIZE US
During Jesus talk about the time of his coming and the trump of God he continued and gave vital advice. Several analogies or stories are used to instruct and warn us.
Matthew 24:44-46 NKJV 44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
Jesus warns us to stay ever ready like the boy scout motto. The biblical holy days such as Trumpets helps remind us of the surprising return of Christ. We must never let down and get caught up in the world of sin. Each year at this time of year we can be reminded of the danger of lethargy.
Matthew 24:49-51 NKJV 49 "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Another example given by Jesus is to have some spiritual reserves. One should avoid doing the bare minimum.
Matthew 25:3-8 NKJV 3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
Our covenant relationship with God is often pictured like a marriage covenant. Half of the brides to be had no reserves. They took only the minimum. Keeping the Feast of Trumpets will help us prepare for the second coming. This parable of the ten virgins is given by Jesus to prepare us for dangers regarding his second coming and our salvation. Every year as we celebrate Trumpets we are reminded of this message. Christ like the bridegroom may not come at the expected time.
"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming;... 8 "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
Spiritual reserves and closeness to God cannot be acquired at the last second. We cannot necessarily rely on others to carry us over the finish line.
Matthew 25:9-10 NKJV 9 "But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
Trumpets should help us remember to be prepared for Jesus' return in power and glory.
Matthew 25:12 NKJV 12 "But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Clearly our goal is always to know the true God as deeply as wecan. How can a believer live in such a manner as facilitates God knowing them? Keeping God's Holy Days which include the weekly and annual Sabbaths are vital to this process.
Keep the Feast of Trumpets this fall! Remember Christ's coming will undoubtedly catch many by surprise! Hopefully we will know that it is close but stay alert, stay close to God!
