What kind of world will it be before Christ returns? I know some who believe, with all that's happening in the middle east, that Jesus return is imminent. So what exactly will that world be like?
"37 as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, 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." (Matt 24)
People will be going about their lives. Many oblivious to the destruction that will soon take place. Refusing to believe that something catastrophic is about to descend upon them. That life as it seems to have always been will suddenly come to a halt.
"scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water." (2Peter2)
Denial of one's own demise is rampant today. Death is sugar coated with all sorts of niceties. "He's in a better place now" or "doesn't she look nice" Excuse me, they're dead. Life has ceased. You will never see that person again. Of course there's the view of "justification by death." Everyone (like every dog) goes to heaven. Except of course someone like a Hitler, or Ben Laden or a very nasty, mean person.
"12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Words from Peter the Apostle in Acts 12. Peter had been with Jesus. Peter had healed the sick, raised the dead. Performed miracles. Denied the Lord when threatened over his assocation with Christ. Jesus even scolded him saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." The Lord's reaction to Peter's rebuke of Jesus, when he said, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” When Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (Matt 16)
Scripture tells us God has appointed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness by the man He has ordained. (acts 17) The resurrection proved He was/is that man. Without it our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. (1Cor15)
Christ came that we might have life. And have it more abundantly. A life appropiated in the present, on this earth and in the new heavens and earth to come. "20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body...."(phillippians 3)
What do we anticipate will be the time of the end of this present evil age (this present world system) Jesus said only the Father knows the day and hour. But when His disciples asked Him "what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” Jesus responded with "many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. [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. [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. (Matthew 24:14 ESV)
The end will come. Called the day of the Lord. (1 Cor 1:8; 5:5; 1Thess 5:1-3; 2Peter 3:10 the day of the Lord) The day of God. )(2 Peter 3:12; Rev 16:14 day of God) The day of Christ. (Phil. 1:6; Phil 1:10; Phil 2:16; 2 Thess. 2:2) Some say they're not all the same day. Yet they all point to a time when Jesus Christ will return in glory for His own. The day of his visitation. (1 Peter 2:12) Jesus does seem to point to a general resurrection of the dead in John 5:28-29; Daniel in the Old Testament Daniel 12: 2; And Paul in Acts 24:15;
But whatever you might believe about this doctrine of the second coming one thing is certain. Jesus Christ will return. Matthew says "the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him...(Matt 24) It will be a time of judgement.
Rev 21: [15 ] Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood....the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, (Rev 22)
"at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "(Phil 2)
All those who have not confessed Christ shall be told "Depart from me, I never knew you." And as The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thess 1: These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Yes it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. That's the bad news. But the good news.....
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures...( 1 Cor 15)
"as many as received Him..... if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead.... to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name....you will be saved.
Why Christ Jesus?
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
Christ Jesus will judge the world. The dead will be raised. One of two places await all people. The old order of things will pass away. "the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." ( 2 peter 3)
A new heavens and a earth await the redeemed.
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:
“ In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6)
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