How Long Until Christ Returns

Dear Brethren,

How close is Christ's return?  We in God’s Church often wonder how much time is left before Christ returns to set up the Kingdom of God.  We especially wonder this when we are going through severe trials or see others that we are fond of having difficulties.   We know that the only cure for this sick world is for Jesus Christ to come and remove Evil from this earth and to bring all people to the knowledge of God’s most perfect Way.

So how close is the return of Christ?  To answer this question, we can start by trying to imagine what the world around us will be like just before Christ’s return.  Christ is going to come back to a world that has rejected Him and has completely gone the way of Satan.  So let’s take a look at the status of our society now and see how close we are to seeing it go over the brink.

Can we imagine living in a country:  Where the name of God or His Word cannot be mentioned or displayed in any governmental or business setting?  Where science’s primary objective is to prove that God doesn’t exist rather than to seek true knowledge?  Where business cheating is the rule rather than the exception?  Where countless unborn babies are killed because their parents see them as an inconvenience?   We can see that most of these trends are already characteristic of our society.

Are we able to imagine living in a world:  Where all forms of sexual deviancy are not only accepted but widely practiced?  Where most entertainment, television programs, music, movies and advertisements are blatantly showing filth, perversion and indecency?  Where lewd people flaunt their lifestyles in public and the few remaining decent people are continually vexed by their blatant indecent behavior?  Society is reaching that point, and it continues to get worse day by day.

"And [God] delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)."  (2Peter 2:7-8)

In this world, the decency practiced by our forefathers, both in this country and abroad, has almost completely been replaced by the perverted way of life espoused by Satan.  It is becoming harder and harder to live God’s way of life, and many people who once were in the Church have given up trying.

"It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6)

We are going to find ourselves being more and more tested as we see these things happening, but we have to be patient.  God does not want us to put our heads in the sand.  He wants us to watch what is happening and “sigh and cry” because of what we see around us.

"The Lord said unto him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."  (Ezekiel 9:4)

How bad does it have to get before Christ’s return?  We understand that God will allow great suffering to come upon the world due to perversities of all kinds.  It has to get so bad that people will finally have to admit that living Satan’s way of life will always bring pain. Only when the conditions just mentioned become the norm and evil has grown to unimaginable proportions, will God finally say “Forgive them not”.  Then mankind will be thrown into the final crucibles of the Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.

"Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee." (Jeremiah 7:16)  "[When everyone is involved] therefore forgive them not." (Isaiah 2:9)

We can see that day rapidly approaching.  As we mourn for the people of this godless society, we can also rejoice because we know that our salvation is near. The time won’t be long now.  Almost every day we see society reaching new lows.  It is like a snowball rolling downhill rapidly picking up speed, and there are no strong forces in society that can stop it.

"Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near." (James 5:8)

Because of our calling, we are able to face the future with confidence.  Although we also share in the suffering now, we have the assurance that our suffering will be turned into joy.  As we countdown the days, let’s take heart in knowing that Christ’s return cannot be long now.

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Sermon:

"Spiritual Food - Fasting"