The Kingdom Light – Episode 1083
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Folks, I tell ya, every single day it looks more and more like we’re living in the end times. So on today’s program, we’re gonna talk about the last days. Are we in them right now? We’ll see what the Bible says about this subject, next…
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Welcome to The Kingdom Light, where CHRIST is KING and TRUTH MATTERS! Our mission: To shine the Kingdom Light in an otherwise dark world!
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Okay, as far back as I can remember, people have pondered about the end times. There have been countless predictions and theories as to how the world will end going back for ages. But lately – whoa – have we ever been witness to some truly crazy stuff?!
[clip: Miami mall footage, directed energy weapon, etc.]
It’s hard NOT to think we must be getting really close to the end. Could it be that the end really is near?
I don’t know about you, but personally, I have been more intently watching the skies recently. There was a lot of hub-bub a month or two ago about the solar eclipse over the US. A little later, we had a few nights of amazement with the northern lights being seen in the southern part of the states. They told us it was a geomagnetic storm caused by solar fares. Sure, okay.
[clip: MIB swamp gas]
Rather than go into a lot of the weird occurrences of late – ’cause that really could take a while to cover, and I don’t want to go down a bunch of rabbit holes in this particular episode – instead, let’s go straight to our most reliable source of truth…God’s Word. No matter what anyone else says, we can trust the Bible to give it to us straight.
There are some very straightforward passages on the last days, though people often misquote and convolute the scriptures for their own purposes. Let’s look at three particular areas of the Word where we’re given some clear indications of what to look for in the last days…
The Coming of the Son of Man, Matthew 24:29-31
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.”
First, it indicates that Jesus’ return will follow immediately after tribulation. (pause) I’m just gonna leave that one alone. But it all seems to start with the darkening of the sun. Hold up. Don’t get excited yet, y’all. We’ve had several eclipses over the years, and I don’t think something as brief as a solar eclipse is at all what this is referring to. Further, the moon won’t give light, the stars fall, and all heaven will shake. This will be a much bigger deal, okay. It’s gonna grab everyone’s attention at once.
Next, there’s gonna be something appear in the skies that will leave no doubt as to what’s coming. The sign of the Son of Man – an unmistakable, supernatural sign of Christ – will be seen over the whole earth. People of all nations will bear witness, and many will begin to weep in knowing – this is IT. All will see Jesus Himself coming in the clouds with power and glory, and THAT is when He’ll send angels to collect His people from all over the world.
Woooo, now THAT’s exciting stuff! But wait, what about those who are crying about His return? Why are they weeping? Let’s get a little more insight from the next passage…
Revelation 1:7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
So, to whom is this referring? This scripture mentions “those who pierced Him.” Does this mean even the Roman soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross, and the one who pierced His side with a spear – even THEY will see Him? Pay attention to the part which states that “every eye will see Him.” Now, I believe this really is a literal statement. It doesn’t say that SOME will see Him – no, EVERY eye will see Him. That’s every single person, alive or dead, anyone who is or ever was. Not only that, but it would also seem to indicate that there will be NO ONE blind when it happens. Every eye will be opened, and all will see. Now, you may not believe it that way – and that’s okay – but I do.
Back to the weeping, though. It says there are gonna be a lot of people wailing at the sight of Jesus’ return. Those who have rejected Him, those who have aligned themselves with the enemy, all those who have continued to persecute His people – they will look up and see Him coming back, and it will be conclusively certain that time for them is up. It’s too late. No more chances to repent, turn back, and get right with God. His seemingly unending patience reaches its end, and all hope for forgiveness is finally over. Yeah, that’s definitely cause for some serious weeping. At that point, crying is all they’ll have left.
As sad and heartbreaking as that is, let that not be so of us! And let it serve as reason for us to witness to those around us as we are called to do, so that they may be saved. Indeed, for those who believe and have found grace and favor in the eyes of the Lord, this will be a day of never-before-seen rejoicing! Look here at this passage…
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Come on with me as I break this down. Jesus will come down from heaven, there will be a loud command for His people to be joined with Him, a trumpet call even. And can you imagine the sight!?! All those who died serving Him will rise up from the earth. We who are alive will SEE that! WOW!!!
[clip: Owen Wilson “wow”]
But just as that amazement has a chance to set in, we start leaving the ground ourselves! Folks, if you’re alive to witness that day and you serve the Lord, you are gonna fly up into the sky to meet with Jesus in the clouds! Wooooo! Are you kidding me?! If that doesn’t get you shouting happy, nothing will.
Hey, we still haven’t gotten to the best part though. After that, it says “and SO we will ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD!” From that day forward, we’re gonna be with Him, in His presence, FOREVER! Let me tell you that, if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that IN GOD’s PRESENCE is the greatest place we can ever be. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than IN His awesome presence, y’all. And it’s gonna last for all eternity.
Finally, verse 18 says that we should therefore encourage one another with these words. I can’t think of anything anymore encouraging than having the knowledge that I will forever be with my God – that the life to come will be so much more amazing than this life could ever be. Think of it: no more crying, no more pain, no more anxiety, no more worries, no more sickness or death – just abundant life in the presence of our Redeemer. I’d say I’m looking forward to it, but that’s putting it quite mildly.
So keep looking up, y’all. Keep watching those skies. But also keep being about the Father’s business. Keep spreading the Good News to others. No matter how crazy the times may seem now, or what happens in the days ahead, know that God will not forsake His people. We may indeed be close to those final days, but the end times don’t have to be something to be feared or dreaded for those who’s God is the Lord.
Be blessed, and keep spreading the Kingdom Light!
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