Jesus is coming back

This is part of a report by Carl Joseph to whom all credit of writing goes to.

JESUS foretold of his return for his bride;

John 14:3

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

1Thessalonians 4:16-17;

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of GOD; and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we, which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

JESUS might return at any moment!

We believe in the imminent, personal, and premillennial coming of JESUS Christ:

1. The word imminent means the return of Christ is near; it's impending, likely to occur at any moment(Matthew 25:29-44; Mark 13:32-37; Titus 2:13). JESUS( the bridegroom) will return His church (the bride) firstly and return once more (with the resurrected saints) at the end of the seven year tribulation period.

2. The word personal means "the Lord himself" shall return (1Thessalonians 4:15-18); the "same JESUS"," who was taken up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as He was seen to go into heaven"(Acts 1:11). JESUS also warned that many counterfeit Christ's would appear prior to His coming and we are to discern those false pretenders (Matthew 24:5; Mark 13:6; Luke 21:8).

3. The word premillenial means He will come before the millenial during which the "blessed and holy" of the" first resurrection "will live and reign with Christ " a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4-6).

The Millennium is a span of one thousand years, where Christ shall rule and reign on earth (Revelation 20:3-4). Upon the completion of this time frame, GOD will create a new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1).

Christ's coming will occur in Two Stages:

1. For the purpose of catching away His saints, who are prepared for the Rapture before the Great Tribulation period (Matthew 24:40-44; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10-11; 4:1-2).

2. At the end of the Great Tribulation, when Christ shall return with His saints to destroy the armies of the Antichrist, to judge the nations of the world, and to inaugurate the millennial reign (Matthew 25:31-33; 2Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-6). This is known as the "Second Coming" or "Second Advent".

Are we going through the tribulation ?

Some contend the church will endure the tribulation, but this view is incorrect. The tribulation period is described as an outpouring of "GOD'S wrath", four times in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 14:10; 14:19; 15:1; 16:1). Scripture is clear, that JESUS took ''GOD'S wrath" upon the cross and we are no longer "appointed to wrath" (1Thessalonians 5:9). This includes wrath of any kind, whether during the tribulation or outside of it. Therefore, the church is not subject to any "wrath" whatsoever. Jacob's trouble is a seven year period prepared for Israel, not the church (Jeremiah 30:7).

Nathum 1:2, reveals the "wrath of GOD is appointed only for His enemies. The church of JESUS Christ is not the enemy of GOD. Romans 1:18, states the wrath of GOD is revealed against the ungodly. The wrath of GOD is come upon " the children of disobedience", not the church (Ephesians5:6). JESUS has delivered us (the church), from the wrath, which is to come ' the tribulation' ( 1Thessalonians 1:10; John 3:36). JESUS instructs the Apostle John that he" will be kept from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world" (Revelation3:10-11). John is a menber of the church and he doesn't get special treatment. If he's excluded, then we are also excluded from the impending tribulation. You are as much a mdmber of GOD'S church as the Apostle John is!

The proper attitude of Christians toward the coming of Christ should be:

1. To love His appearing (2Timothy 4:8)

2. Watch and pray always to be accounted worthy to escape the things that will come upon the earth during the Great Tribulation (Luke 21:36).

3. Pray for His coming (Matthew 6:10; Revelation 22:20).

4. Faithfully "occupy" until He comes (Luke 19:13).

Is Jesus coming back soon?

Many signs point to the soon return of JESUS Christ. It's only a matter of time before the "Son of Perdition"(John 17:12; 2Thessalonians 2:3) appears on the world stage. But the church will never see that day, having been long gone in the rapture. The reformation of Israel in the last century is the most prominent sign that Christ's return is imminent (Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32; Matthew 24:34). Bear this in mind, there is no prophecy remaining to be fulfilled prior to Christ's return for His church. His return can happen at any moment. "We need to be ready".

Christ will of course return a second time near the close of the Great Tribulation, landing upon the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) to fight the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16,17 & 19), in order to judge the wicked, who remain on the earth.

Don't confuse the Rapture of the Church with the Second Coming of Christ. These are two seperate and distinst events.