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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety’, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
So, why is there so much speculation going on in Christian circles?
It never ceases to amuse and amaze me how vehement and dogmatic people become over this issue. We see and hear of so much speculation over ‘the Tribulation, the Rapture and the Second Advent’. We have speculation over who the Anti-Christ and the Beast is/are; we have speculation over the whole meaning of the number 666 and we have speculation over all the timing.
You will be pleased to know I am not going to add to it.
What we found with our 4 children was – they each arrived when they were ready, not when we expected. For me, I guess, Jesus will do the same.
I go along with all those who long to see Jesus, but take the view and live in the light that “we expect His return today, but also plan for it to be in the future.”
Question: Does it matter when He returns as long as I am ready?
You see, whatever I deduce from Scripture – and very learned men who have spent many years studying the Scriptures differ significantly – I could still be wrong. Then what? As Paul says elsewhere, “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). Even if I get the date right – I might die today. Then what ‘good’ was my speculation to me? Listen, if I live my life in the real expectation of His imminent return, I am not going to worry about when it happens – am I?
However, the other side is equally important. If I live as if Christ will return today and He doesn’t – then what? So I must plan for later.
What does that mean? Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). We must pursue vigorously the job and ministry to which God has called us and fulfil our destiny in God to the very best of our ability. We should make plans to complete it. We should strategise and agree goals – but we must also constantly ‘check up’ with God that we are in line with His purposes. And through it all, our expectation, motivation and joy must be focused on the imminent Return of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
What if we really did do that? We would be fulfilled for today and we would have an exciting and vigorous motivation in all we do. We would have a rising desire and anticipation to be with Jesus forever. We would be released from the pressures of this earth’s ‘rat-race’ and the insatiable pursuit of happiness and wealth. We would ‘watch’ how we live and aim to become more and more like Jesus. We would be able to relax in the peace of knowing that we have done what Father wants us to do for as long as He wants us to do it.
If we don’t – He “will [still] come like a thief in the night”, and we will be found ‘wanting’.
So don’t speculate or worry – But rather be ever ready.
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