Tag Second Coming Christ

Expect the Unexpected

Allen Frederick Leave a comment



For four hundred years the heavens were silent. “The word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation” (1 Samuel 3:1). From Malachi to Matthew, no prophet spoke, no angel appeared, and generations were conditioned to believe nothing would ever change. Yet at the appointed time, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son” (Galatians 4:4).

Zechariah & Elizabeth

They prayed for a child. Years of barrenness and advancing age convinced them it was no longer in the cards. Discouragement? Perhaps. Resignation? Certainly. Biology said it was too late. Yet Gabriel appeared in the temple and declared, “Your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13). Heaven answered a prayer long thought dead. Their doubts remind us that God’s timing often collides with our resignation. His mercy surprises us when we least expect it.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Mary

Mary wasn’t seeking an immaculate conception. She wasn’t imagining herself as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. She was simply living quietly in Nazareth. Yet Gabriel greeted her: “You have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). Her first response was confusion: “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34). Mary’s bewilderment shows us that favor often comes wrapped in impossibility, and surrender is the only doorway to miracle.

Joseph

Joseph’s world collapsed when he learned Mary was pregnant. Human reasoning told him the obvious: she had been unfaithful. He resolved to end the betrothal quietly, because he knew how this works… except heaven interrupted. “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20). Joseph’s wrestling reminds us that obedience often requires us to lay down logic and trust God’s word above our assumptions.

Shepherds

Shepherds were the lowest of the low, never picked first, always picked last. They weren’t expecting anything spectacular to happen in their lives. Yet God needed a witness. “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10). The angelic choir split the skies above their fields, not the palace or the temple. The shepherds remind us that heaven’s glory often comes to the overlooked. God delights in choosing those who are last to be first. (Matt 20:16)



The Admonition

None of them were looking. None of them were expecting. Yet each was chosen for a divine appointment. Heaven broke silence, history shifted, and God did what man could not.

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not (John 1:11). More missed His birth than experienced it. The angelic choir did not awaken the whole town; only the shepherds saw. The world slept while heaven sang. And so it will be again. “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, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:38–39).

Beloved, this is not a season for nostalgia. Advent is not merely remembrance of Bethlehem—it is readiness for the skies. “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet… the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

With all these witnesses and with the Scriptures as our foundation, we know Jesus will soon appear. We do not know when, but we are without excuse—for He told us He would return, and He told us how. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself” (John 14:3). “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).

Therefore, we must believe and be ready. “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching” (Luke 12:37). “Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37).

The Watchman’s Call

Do not be lulled to sleep by ritual or routine. Do not be distracted by the noise of the world. Heaven broke silence once, and it will break silence again. Expect the Unexpected. Believe His word. Be ready for His appearing.

It’s The End of the World As We Know It

Allen Frederick 2 Comments

 

Well not so much.  For it is written:

“No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows. “When the Son of Man comes again, it will be exactly like the days of Noah. In the days before the flood, people were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship. They were not aware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again. Matthew 24:36-39 (GW)

According to the Mayan calendar December 21st 2012 is supposed to be the end of the world. This is not the first time the end of the world was predicted. All the earlier predictions were wrong and I am certain this prediction will be wrong as well. Had the Mayans had some sort of special knowledge of what was going to happen in the future they would not have suffered the loss of their own kingdom.

But be certain of this, that if the master of the house had knowledge of the time when the thief was coming, he would have been watching, and would not have let his house be broken into. Luke 12:39 (BBE)

If the Mayan’s were unable to predict their own end how could it be said that they possessed a certain knowledge of things to come concerning the end of the world? Like others who have predicted the end of the world before, this too will be proven to be a false prophecy.

The problem with these false prophecies of doom is that they embolden the skeptics to mock and ridicule God and his holy people. There is coming a doomsday that has been prophesied by Holy Scripture, but with all these phony prophesies coming forth every few decades or so it makes it easy for unbelievers to become skeptics, which is exactly what will happen before the real doomsday prophesied by scripture takes place.

First, you must understand this: In the last days people who follow their own desires will appear. These disrespectful people will ridicule {God’s promise} by saying, “What’s happened to his promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of the world.”

They are deliberately ignoring one fact: Because of God’s word, heaven and earth existed a long time ago. The earth {appeared} out of water and was kept alive by water.

Water also flooded and destroyed that world. By God’s word, the present heaven and earth are designated to be burned. They are being kept until the day ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.

Dear friends, don’t ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed. 2 Peter 3:3-10 (GW)

And remember Jesus said that no man knows the day or the hour of his coming. This is information that God himself retains. Only God knows when He has had enough of our sinfulness.

Like I said before had the Mayan’s had some sort of insight into future events they would have not suffered the destruction of their own kingdom.

Most of us do not even know when our last day on earth is going to be, and yet we seem to fall for these end of the world prophesies over and over again. Do not be alarmed nor distracted by all this talk about the end of the world. Heed what Jesus said to his disciples about those days.

but give attention to yourselves, for fear that your hearts become over-full of the pleasures of food and wine, and the cares of this life, and that day may come on you suddenly, and take you as in a net: For so it will come on all those who are living on the face of all the earth. But keep watch at all times with prayer, that you may be strong enough to come through all these things and take your place before the Son of man. Luke 21:34-36 (BBE)

So what will you be doing tomorrow? Will you be found enjoying the pleasures of this world? Will you be doing last-minute Christmas shopping? Will you be wining and dining at a holiday party or two? Or will you be seeking Christ in the midst of all this Christmas glitter and end of the world clamor? Will you be found searching His word for answers to life’s problems? Are you watching for and expecting the eventual return of our Lord and Savior?

So whether you fell for the end of the world prophesy of the Mayan calendar or not, know this; tomorrow we will be one day closer to the real return of the Lord Jesus, and the eventual end of the world as we know it.

Until then Carpe Diem.

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This is a view from the nest. What say you?

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

Along for the journey

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This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.

 

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