Recently, I went to Books-A-Million to look for a book for Marty. As I walked through one aisle of this huge store, I noticed several books about the end times, the last days of the earth. There have been hundreds of books written by authors about the end times. I've actually read a few of those books, but the one book that truly matters when it comes to end times and the last days is the Bible. One of my favorite pastors and prophetic preachers is Dr. David Jeremiah. One of the things he says often is that we should be ready for Christ's return because He will indeed return! Jesus will come again!
The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 contains a passage that we adhere to at Start Baptist Church. It says the following: "God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord." Just as the prophets prophesied that Jesus would be born, the prophets prophesied that Jesus would die sacrificially on the cross, that Jesus would rise up from the grave to defeat sin and death once and for all, and that Jesus would come again with power and glory. I believe the Bible! I believe Jesus will come again!
The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 goes on to say this: "There is no official stance in the SBC beyond what you find in the Baptist Faith and Message. The views among Southern Baptists regarding the end times are broad. If you surveyed Southern Baptists, you would likely find many who hold to the 'Pre-Tribulation' view of the rapture, others who hold to the 'Mid-Tribulation' view of the rapture, and some to a 'Post-Tribulation' view of the rapture, some who hold to historical premillennialism, and perhaps even a few who don't agree with any of these views." I have talked to many pastors and many friends about the end times prophecies found in the Bible. I have preached through Ezekiel, through Revelation, and now through 1st and 2nd Peter. What I have found is that many people interpret Scripture differently, and that is OK. We don't have to agree on every single detail. As a matter of fact, I don't clearly understand every single detail, and I don't really no anyone who does. However, the Bible is clear: Jesus will come again! Peter says in 2 Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." Earlier in 2 Peter 3:3, Peter says, "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." There are many people who believe the world will just keep on turning and keep on going year after year. There are many people who don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that Jesus never really lived on the earth, and that Jesus is certainly not coming back with power and glory to destroy the earth. There are many people who just don't believe the Bible. I, however, believe the Bible! I believe that Jesus is the Son of God! I believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world! I believe that Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death! I believe that Jesus will come again!
The end times and last days prophecies can be confusing. There is just so much that will happen, and it can certainly overwhelm our comprehension. Dr. David Jeremiah explains the book of Revelation very well. He says that Chapters 1-3 are considered the "church age." At that time, the rapture will take place. The rapture is the moment in time when Jesus will come for His church and remove its presence from the earth. Paul puts it this way in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18... "13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words." This is difficult to picture in my mind and difficult to fully comprehend, but I believe the Word of God. Dr. David Jeremiah reminds us that this call to resurrection of the dead is for believers; there will be another call for resurrection of the dead for unbelievers, which will be to stand before the great white throne of judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Dr. Jeremiah goes on to say that Chapter 6:1 through Chapter 8:5 is about the "seven seals." Chapter 8:7 through Chapter 11:19 is about the "seven trumpets." He says that Chapters 12 through 14 are about the "counterfeit trinity." Chapters 15 and 16 are about the "seven bowls," while Chapters 17 through 19 are about the end of false religion and the collapse of the world market. In total, Chapters 6 through 19 are considered by Dr. David Jeremiah as the "seven-year tribulation period." In Revelation 20:1-6, we see the 1,000-year reign of Jesus, known as the "millennium." Chapter 20:7-17 is known as the "great white throne of judgment," where Satan, demons, fallen angels, and unrepentant sinners will be eternally separated from God and cast into the lake of fire. And in Revelation 21 and 22, we see the "new heaven" and the "new earth."
Again, this is a lot to take in and a lot to think about. There have been many discussions on the end times, the last days, and the prophecies of Jesus' second coming. There have been and there will be many interpretations of Scripture by believers, and even unbelievers alike. There are many who don't believe in Jesus, don't believe in His second coming. There are some who think they can tell you the day that Jesus will come again, even though Jesus tells us plainly in Matthew 24:36, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." No matter the discussion on some of these issues, Peter tells us something very important in 2 Peter 3:9 that we really need to hear and to know: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." The great preacher Dr. Billy Graham talked about Jesus' second coming many times throughout his years of preaching. He said, "The effect of the removal of the church, the absence of multitudes of people, will, of course, be evident on earth." He goes on to say, "After a period of seven years of tribulation on earth, Christ will return to earth with His church. He will be victorious over His enemies and will reign on earth for 1,000 years. You need to be ready to meet Christ by giving Him your life today." Those words from Dr. Graham ring out in my ears: "You need to be ready to meet Christ." Dr. David Jeremiah says the same thing: "You need to be ready." Peter tells us that God is patient with us; God doesn't want us to perish; God wants us to come to repentance. God wants us to be ready when Jesus comes again! The question is simple: Are you ready to meet Jesus when He comes again?
Dr. Billy Graham goes on to say, "Many other evangelical Christians believe that Christ's return and the rapture will not occur until the seven years of the tribulation have ended. Many Christians debate whether there will be a literal thousand year reign of Christ on earth or whether the white throne judgment and the new heaven and earth will immediately appear. Some of these events and their order of occurrence have simply not been made clear in the Bible." And finally, Dr. Graham says, "What is important is that all Christians hold in common that Christ will ultimately return bodily, visibly, and gloriously to reign and rule with His resurrected and transformed saints forever and ever." Peter's words to us should give us encouragement. Paul's words to us should give us encouragement. As Christ followers, we eagerly await His return. As Christ followers, we are called to live in such a way that shows others we believe in the Word of God completely and we believe in the second coming of Jesus. As Christ followers, we should be thankful for the time we have right now to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ - His life, His death, His resurrection, and His second coming. In doing so, we have the opportunity to lead others to Jesus so that they, too, may have a life-changing experience through repentance of sin and belief in Jesus. I don't understand it all when it comes to the end times, but that is OK. I may not agree with you or with anyone else on the timeline or sequences, but that is OK. But I do hope we agree on one thing: Jesus will come again! And as my Aunt Nancy used to say all the time, "Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!"
***The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 as published by LifeWay Press, August 2009
***Dr. David Jeremiah's "The Revelation Prophecy Chart," as published by Turning Point Ministries
***Dr. Billy Graham, The Billy Graham Evangelical Association
