The King is Coming, by Murray Johnson

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By CGI New York | December 8, 2015 | Category Kingdom of God

The King is Coming

Now, when Christ returns to Earth the second time, he won’t be as a little child to suffer at the hands of men, rather He’ll return with all the divine power and might that He used to create the universe. As we see in Romans 1, the divine nature and invisible qualities of God can clearly be seen in every aspect of His Creation. The vastness, order, and precision of the universe are manifestations of God; thus, those who refused to believe in Him have no excuse.

Everything in the universe is orderly, follows a precise pattern, and is endless. There is no disorder or confusion; everything runs as God has set in place and commanded. There is no mystery about this. God reveals His nature to all those who want to see. God doesn’t hide Himself. He makes clear that His only begotten Son came the first time to die for our sins and the second time He’ll come to redeem us and put a stop to sin. He also outlined a chain of events leading up to His Second Coming.

We’ve all heard the term secret rapture. The word ‘rapture,’ however, doesn’t appear in the Bible. The Greek word translation of the word means “snatch out or catch away.” Even though the word never appears in scripture, we read that the saints will meet Christ in the air, in the clouds at His Coming. We know this will happen; however, let’s be clear on when this will happen-what is the timeline, and what will happen afterward?

There’s a certain segment of Christian thought today that believes the rapture will take place before the Great Tribulation. The term for this is Pre-Tribulationism. They believe the rapture of the saints and the Coming of Christ will occur at 2 different points in time, between 3.5 to 7 years, and that the tribulation will come in the middle of these 2 events. They often call the first part of Christ’s Coming the secret rapture, since Christ’s Coming for the saints is ‘as a thief in the night’. It will supposedly be accompanied by no signs, except the disappearance of the saints.

The second part of Christ’s return, according to some churches, is the coming in great glory to establish the Kingdom of God and rid the world of the anti-Christ. In Matthew 24; Mark 13; and Luke 21, Christ says that the sign of the Son of Man will appear in Heaven and then all the tribes of the Earth will mourn and will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30).

Also, Christ compares the time just before His Second Coming as in the days of Noah when the everyday lives of people went on as usual: two men in the field one will be taken the other left; two women grinding, one is taken, the other is left.
Pre-Tribulation thought claims these events must take place at two different times. The upheaval in the heavens and the ordinary everyday lives of people on Earth can’t happen at the same time, can they?

We read in Genesis, that in Noah’s time there was widespread violence and corruption. Human calamity was so great that God was determined to destroy all flesh except, Noah and his family. Yet, even with all this mayhem around him, Noah and his sons were still able to build the Ark in relative peace. As we can see, life still goes on amidst tribulation. Look at today’s news and we see floods, drought, famine, crime, war, global warming, injustice, and the threat of terrorism-nevertheless, life goes on. Here is the order of events leading up to Christ’s return, as stated in the book of Matthew:

1. The Great Tribulation
2. Spectacular Heavenly Signs immediately follow the tribulation of those days.
3. The Day of the Lord-Christ is seen coming with power and great glory.

When we see all these things happening we will know that the end is near. The Kingdom of God is about to be established (Luke 21:28, 31).

Christ speaks of the day and hour when we will see Him coming in the cloud of heaven. But He also says,

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only…” (Matthew 24:36).

Only God, the Father knows the exact hour when Christ will return. So we are told to watch-not necessarily CNN or reading the newspapers to see what events are fulfilling prophecy, but to watch ourselves to make sure we don’t fall for the pleasures of this world, rather to stay the course in Christian mind and deed. For those whom God is calling, your duty before God is to repent and be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

The book of Joel also speaks of the signs and wonders that will appear in the heavens at the end time.

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.” (Joel 2:1-2)

We see in Matthew 24, Christ speaks of “tribulation” and “great tribulation” upon Jerusalem, then speaks of the events leading up to His Return.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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.” (Matthew 24:29-30)

Similarly, Mark speaks of the heavenly signs that occur in those days after the tribulation in Mark 13:24. Here is the sequence of events:

1. Tribulation and Martyrdom
2. Heavenly Signs appear
3. Men’s hearts fail from those things that are happening on Earth as the Day of the Lord approaches.

The distress on the Earth during the tribulation is brought about by human actions, inspired by Satan the devil. But God will step in and put a stop to it for the elect’s sake. God does not cause the tribulation but He allows it to show the futility of humanity.

The book of Revelation makes mention of the time of tribulation and the signs of heaven.

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelations 6:12-17)

As we see from the Old Testament, through to the New, there will be signs and wonders in the sky, all laid out in a linear fashion when the Great King Christ makes his triumphant return to establish the Kingdom of God. Humanity will be in fear when the wrath of God is unleashed on a sinning world, but these things must come to pass before Christ will appear. Remember also, the people of God will be caught up in the air-but not before all this trouble is upon us.

Therefore, when see these events unfolding we must have faith and courage for we know our redemption is coming. Don’t try to figure out which day He will appear. But stay awake, stand fast, keep your mind on the things that God is concerned about. Put on the full Armour of God so that you can take your stand on that day when the King comes. If you haven’t repented of your sins, now is the time to answer God’s call so you will be ready for the return of the King of kings.