Articles
Will You Be Ready?
Will You Be Ready?
By Greg King
The second coming of Jesus Christ is a favorite topic of speculation in the religious world today. The Scripture has been misinterpreted and bent to support the various claims by self appointed prophets, claiming to know when the second coming will occur. This is nothing new. I recently heard of one denomination having a prophecy seminar to discuss current day events and the end times. There are quite a few who call themselves preachers, prophets, church leaders, etc., who claim to know when the second coming will take place. Anyone who claims that the time of the second coming has been revealed to them either through study or direct Divine revelation is a False Prophet. "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” (Deut. 18:22) The Hebrew word used for 'afraid,' in this verse, means to abide with, assemble with, or follow. Clearly, God says to get away from such teachers. Under the Old Law these people were to be stoned to death. Under the New Covenant we know that God will deal with them. Men in their arrogance, set dates for the second coming even though God's Word clearly states we will not know. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matt. 24:36)
The second coming of Christ is a fundamental doctrine of the Christians faith. We do what we do and are what we are because of the hope that is ours. Peter answered the scoffers of his day by saying, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:9-12)
The Lord doesn’t want any to perish. His desire is that all would obey Him. That ALL come to repentance. We have His promise that He will return and judge the world. The earth as we know it and everything in it will be destroyed. The Lord’s desire is that we prepare for that day. It will be a sad day for some. Many will be surprised and not ready. Preparation can be made. What manner of person are you being?
