The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST in scripture is often referred to as The Good News. Some have even called it The Great News!
The good news is that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins and gave HIS perfect, sin-free life as payment for our sins. JESUS sees our belief in HIM and in HIS promises and HE not only gives us the "free gift of salvation, but HE gives a reward for those of us "eagerly awaiting" His appearing (Philippians 3:20). The Apostle Paul even goes on to tell us that there is a specific crown for those who "have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). Please know that this reward is not a salvation issue, but the promise of a special recognition for those who live in anticipation of Jesus' imminent appearing, even if it doesn't happen in their lifetime.
In our day, there's an even greater cause for rejoicing. We not only have the opportunity for SALVATION, but we have an opportunity for REWARDS! To make it event better, we won't have to wait too much longer for these rewards. We live in an unprecedented time when a myriad of signs point to the soon onset of the Tribulation period and thus to the Rapture.
Believers today have a valid anticipation of being alive at the time when Jesus appears. Paul wrote that when the Rapture occurs, Jesus will transform the bodies of the living saints into imperishable ones and then catch them up to meet Him in the air (1 Corinthians 15:47-55; 1Thessalonians 4:17).
JESUS’ PROMISES
I love the promise that's embedded into Jesus' words to the church at Philadelphia as recorded in Revelation 3:10-11: Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
The word "kept" immediately captures my attention. In the Greek, it signifies the idea of guarding something so as to keep it in its current state. It denotes a treasuring of Jesus' words such as His promise recorded for us in verse 11, which accurately translated is "I am coming quickly."
This is the Rapture. It's Jesus protecting His Church from the time of testing that will come upon the entire earth, to test "those who dwell on the earth." He does so by "coming quickly" to take us to the place He's preparing for us. The Second Coming is not a sudden event, but rather an extended event where Jesus and His host, which will include us, parades across the sky, defeats the armies rallied against Jerusalem, kills the antichrist, sets up thrones, and raises the dead Tribulation saints (Revelation 19:11-20:4).
In Revelation 3, Jesus promises to come quickly for us and reward those who hold on to His words until He appears. When the apostle began writing about the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:10, he claimed that his words came directly from the Lord. Our anticipation of Jesus' imminent return to take us to glory is based on Jesus' direct promise to us (see also John 14:2-3).
Regardless of the ridicule, false teaching, and silence from the pulpits in churches today regarding our hope, our anticipation of Jesus' soon appearing rests on solid ground. In fact, Jesus' preeminence verifies our hope in His soon appearing.
Bible scholar and author, Dr. David Reagan, recently said, "We are living on borrowed time."
He is so right. How much longer can it be before the Savior appears to take us to the place that He's preparing for us??!!
Take heart! It's not easy keeping our focus on Jesus' appearing; so many factors war against it. However, Jesus is coming for His Church just as promised. And He will reward those saints who remain steadfast in watching and waiting for His appearing.
Our hope rests in Jesus, the great Promise Keeper. He is coming for us in the near future; He will not fail to keep His Word to us, recorded throughout the New Testament, regarding His appearing to take us home to glory.
Jesus' Promise for Those Who Wait Expectantly
As saints eagerly awaiting Jesus' appearing, we sail through uncharted seas. There's never been a time quite like this. Never before has there been so much evidence pointing to the nearness of Jesus' appearing than today. At the same time, never in recent history has there been so much unawareness and disbelief regarding Bible prophecy as we now see in churches that claim to believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture.
False teaching abounds. The most popular views of the end times contradict God's Word by claiming there's no Tribulation, no restoration of a kingdom to Israel, and no thousand-year reign of Jesus. Pastors either openly deny the Rapture or do so subtly with their emphasis on this life to the exclusion of any mention of eternal life. Listen carefully to what you are hearing and reading in your Word-the Bible. It is in there all the information that you need!!!!
Today, take a moment to ensure you have received HIS FREE GIFT OF SALVATION! Once you have done that, be ready for there is more good news coming soon! May HE find us all waiting expectantly!
The good news is that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins and gave HIS perfect, sin-free life as payment for our sins. JESUS sees our belief in HIM and in HIS promises and HE not only gives us the "free gift of salvation, but HE gives a reward for those of us "eagerly awaiting" His appearing (Philippians 3:20). The Apostle Paul even goes on to tell us that there is a specific crown for those who "have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). Please know that this reward is not a salvation issue, but the promise of a special recognition for those who live in anticipation of Jesus' imminent appearing, even if it doesn't happen in their lifetime.
In our day, there's an even greater cause for rejoicing. We not only have the opportunity for SALVATION, but we have an opportunity for REWARDS! To make it event better, we won't have to wait too much longer for these rewards. We live in an unprecedented time when a myriad of signs point to the soon onset of the Tribulation period and thus to the Rapture.
Believers today have a valid anticipation of being alive at the time when Jesus appears. Paul wrote that when the Rapture occurs, Jesus will transform the bodies of the living saints into imperishable ones and then catch them up to meet Him in the air (1 Corinthians 15:47-55; 1Thessalonians 4:17).
JESUS’ PROMISES
I love the promise that's embedded into Jesus' words to the church at Philadelphia as recorded in Revelation 3:10-11: Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
The word "kept" immediately captures my attention. In the Greek, it signifies the idea of guarding something so as to keep it in its current state. It denotes a treasuring of Jesus' words such as His promise recorded for us in verse 11, which accurately translated is "I am coming quickly."
This is the Rapture. It's Jesus protecting His Church from the time of testing that will come upon the entire earth, to test "those who dwell on the earth." He does so by "coming quickly" to take us to the place He's preparing for us. The Second Coming is not a sudden event, but rather an extended event where Jesus and His host, which will include us, parades across the sky, defeats the armies rallied against Jerusalem, kills the antichrist, sets up thrones, and raises the dead Tribulation saints (Revelation 19:11-20:4).
In Revelation 3, Jesus promises to come quickly for us and reward those who hold on to His words until He appears. When the apostle began writing about the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:10, he claimed that his words came directly from the Lord. Our anticipation of Jesus' imminent return to take us to glory is based on Jesus' direct promise to us (see also John 14:2-3).
Regardless of the ridicule, false teaching, and silence from the pulpits in churches today regarding our hope, our anticipation of Jesus' soon appearing rests on solid ground. In fact, Jesus' preeminence verifies our hope in His soon appearing.
Bible scholar and author, Dr. David Reagan, recently said, "We are living on borrowed time."
He is so right. How much longer can it be before the Savior appears to take us to the place that He's preparing for us??!!
Take heart! It's not easy keeping our focus on Jesus' appearing; so many factors war against it. However, Jesus is coming for His Church just as promised. And He will reward those saints who remain steadfast in watching and waiting for His appearing.
Our hope rests in Jesus, the great Promise Keeper. He is coming for us in the near future; He will not fail to keep His Word to us, recorded throughout the New Testament, regarding His appearing to take us home to glory.
Jesus' Promise for Those Who Wait Expectantly
As saints eagerly awaiting Jesus' appearing, we sail through uncharted seas. There's never been a time quite like this. Never before has there been so much evidence pointing to the nearness of Jesus' appearing than today. At the same time, never in recent history has there been so much unawareness and disbelief regarding Bible prophecy as we now see in churches that claim to believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture.
False teaching abounds. The most popular views of the end times contradict God's Word by claiming there's no Tribulation, no restoration of a kingdom to Israel, and no thousand-year reign of Jesus. Pastors either openly deny the Rapture or do so subtly with their emphasis on this life to the exclusion of any mention of eternal life. Listen carefully to what you are hearing and reading in your Word-the Bible. It is in there all the information that you need!!!!
Today, take a moment to ensure you have received HIS FREE GIFT OF SALVATION! Once you have done that, be ready for there is more good news coming soon! May HE find us all waiting expectantly!
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