Date of message: 08 March 2003
Subject: The Sign Of The Times - Maranatha, Come
Lord Jesus
Shalom, Boker-tov (good morning),
Some time ago there was an environmental report by one conservationist
stating that the amount of natural resources left on planet Earth could
only sustain human life up to the year 2050. The study was made using
projected population growth rates and projected consumption patterns and
the report went further to state that some countries would be experiencing
acute shortages as early as in the next decade.
I was surprised to read an article in The Straits Times newspaper a couple
of weeks ago of old manuscripts, donated by one Israeli collector and
now kept in the Jerusalem Museum, that were writings by Sir Isaac Newton
and where he, after studying the Bible, made mathematical calculations
and said that the Earth will not last past the year 2060. Sir Isaac Newton
was a great mathematician and theologian who lived between 1643 and 1727.
Did that surprise anyone? The apostle Paul, in writing Romans 8: 19 -
23, described how the whole earth had been in pain waiting the revealing
of the children of God.
19. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the
revealing of the sons of God.
20. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because
of Him who subjected it in hope;
21. Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage
of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs
together until now.
23. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption,
the redemption of our body.
The Earth was created for Man to enjoy but when Adam sinned, he committed
high treason and his dominion over the whole earth was handed over to
Satan and in the hands of Satan, the earth had been deteriorating. It
had never been the same since.
But praise the Lord, the situation will be turned around. One day when
our Lord Jesus comes back to reign on this Earth, He will restore everything.
Satan had been defeated when Jesus died on the cross. He knows that, and
he also knows that he will be banished forever into the eternal fire of
Hell. That will all happen at the Second Coming of Christ. But before
the Lord returns, he will make his last stand and it will not be a pleasant
sight.
The Bible teaches that some Believers will not experience physical death
but be taken up into heaven. To the Believer, physical death is not final
but only represents a transition into the spiritual realm and Jesus Himself
calls this "sleep" as when he described the state of Lazarus
in John 11: 11. Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 15: 51 - 54: -
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,
54. so when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal
has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
Again Paul wrote in 1Thessalonians 4: 15 - 17: -
15. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive
and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those
who are asleep.
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.
17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always
be with the Lord.
I believe we are entering into that season. The Lord is coming back very
shortly for His children. We may not be able to know the exact day He
will come for us but certainly, by looking at the things happening around
us, we can tell that we are in the right season.
Paul wrote that we will all go up to heaven at the sound of the trumpet
and then we will hear the voice of the Lord saying, "Come up here".
In an atomic second (that is how long the twinkling of an eye takes),
our bodies will be transformed into our eternal bodies and we will rise
up to heaven to meet the Lord and be with Him forever.
When we believed in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our souls have been
saved. God the Father sends His Holy Spirit into our lives to guide, teach
and prepare us to live with Him in heaven. But we continue to live in
our corrupted bodies until we experience physical death or, as in this
instance, when we are transformed on the way up to heaven at His bidding.
The early Christians were so excited about the prospect of not experiencing
physical death and being transfigured into heaven that they went around
with an unusual greeting, "Maranatha, the Lord is coming." They
sincerely thought that Jesus would come back for them in their lifetime
and hence the expectation.
I know some would ask how I can be so sure that the Lord is coming soon.
Am I not committing the same error as the early Christians to think that
He was coming in their lifetime? One thing I know for a certainty, we
saw the creation of the State of Israel. This is one prophecy that they
did not see the fulfillment of and hence we are nearer, almost at the
doorsteps.
Are you ready for Him when He comes? Have you believed in Jesus, the One
Who had died for you and taken away your sin? The Bible teaches that it
is only to those who have believed in Jesus as their Lord and Savior who
will enjoy this blessing have in Jesus. Because of our position as children
of the Most High God we are now able to enter into His awesome Presence
and enjoy His blessings for us. We will not be judged for our sins because
Jesus took our punishment on the cross.
Why not take this opportunity to receive Him and join us as children of
the Lord. The Bible tells us that we become children of God the moment
we believe in Jesus and welcome Him into our hearts. Read John 1:12 and
be comforted. The Lord does not lie. For Him, whatever He speaks comes
to pass and He had promised us in the Bible that those who have put their
trust in Him will not be condemned but have passed from death into life
(Romans 8: 1). Pray this simple prayer of faith and invite Him into your
heart and immediately you will experience the peace coming your way.
Our Heavenly Father, thank you that You love us so much You sent Your
only Beloved Son Jesus into this world to take our place and to die for
all our sins.
Lord Jesus, thank you that You came, You obeyed the Father, You died for
all on the cross, You conquered death and You rose again on the third
day. And now, because of Your death and resurrection, we, who believe
in You as our Lord and Savior, will no longer have to die but we receive
Your eternal life. Thank you for coming into my heart and making my heart
Your home.
Thank you that what You have accomplished for us on the cross has qualified
me to become a child of God the Father. Thank you that I am now eternally
forgiven, greatly blessed, highly favored, deeply loved and completely
protected in the Lord and in Your most precious Name, Yeshua Ha' Meshiah,
I pray. Amen.
If you have prayed that prayer for the first time, welcome to the Family
of the Father (and it is a very large universal family). It is important
that you are not alone facing your personal trials but that you can obtain
good help wherever you are. Why not take the time to find your own local
Christian family (local church) and worship the Father together? You will
be greatly encouraged when you meet together to worship the Father, for
fellowship and for the study of the Word of Christ.
Start receiving the blessings of the Father as you walk with Him in faith.
It is your inheritance in Christ and He wants you to start enjoying these
blessings right now and there is more from where they come from.
The Lord blesses you and keeps you,
The Lord makes His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and all
your loved ones,
The Lord lifts up His countenance upon you and gives you His shalom peace.
Numbers 6: 24 - 26
Have a blessed week ahead, Shavrou-tov
Shalom,
Andrew L W Lee
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