Christ In End Times
Christ In End TimesChrist in the End Times will be the next-to-last in this series on Christ. There are many Old Testament Scriptures on the End Times; however, our focus will be on Jesus as He is presented in the book of Revelation.
This is a part of the following series. Christ In Creation, Christ In Prophecy, Christ In Ministry – I, Christ In Ministry – II, Christ In Ministry – III, Christ In Sacrifice, Christ In History, Christ In End Times, and What about the Rapture?
The End Times…?
Jesus came first as a Savior to offer Himself as the Sacrificial Lamb for the sins of all mankind. In the End Times, we see a different picture of Jesus as He fulfills His role as Righteous Judge.
The world wants to see Jesus only as a loving Savior; however, Jesus is so much bigger than that. He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Bright and Morning Star. Revelation tells us that in righteousness, He will judge the world.
People like to talk about the End Times.
Perhaps you may have questions about what will happen and, of course, when it will all take place. That interest has caused many to form their own ideas, even though Jesus warns us that only the Father knows when.
Anyone who tells you exactly when the Church will be caught up is being untruthful. The same is true for someone who tells you when life, as we know it, will end. Jesus said that He did not know and only the Father in Heaven had that information.
So, don’t believe anyone who says they have the answer to when these things will happen. If Jesus did not know, then I am sure they don’t either.
Let’s leave it in God’s Hands.
He knows when and what He will do!
In 1970, Hal Lindsey wrote The Late Great Planet Earth and made the idea of a pretribulation rapture even more popular. At the same time, he promoted the idea that it would take place (40) years after Israel became a nation in 1948. He used Matthew 24:32-34 as the basis for this theory. It would have happened in 1988, and of course, it did not.
His book was based on his interpretation of Biblical passages related to the future. He sold 35 million copies.
Although I am sure that Hal believed what he wrote and expected to see the Rapture. Like many others, he was wrong. He fell into the trap of treating an idea as if it were a fact without solid Biblical evidence. Bible doctrine is not guesswork! You must have a solid Scriptural basis for what you believe and especially what you teach.
However, the one time I heard him speak, he said something completely true and Biblically correct. He ended by saying, “As Christians, our mission does not change. We are to do what Jesus called us to do. We are to follow His commands and preach the Gospel until He calls us home.
As Christians, we will be held accountable to God for how we live and share the gospel message. It does not matter if the Rapture comes before, in the middle, or close to the end of the Tribulation.
First, Your job is to be faithful to the end.
Remember how the rich man planned to build bigger barns and take life easy.Luke 12:20 NJV tells us, 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
The wise person will live as if their life will be required of them at any moment. We have no guarantee of tomorrow, so seek your salvation while you can.
Do the work God has called you to do, here and now. Don’t get sidetracked from the mission God gave you. Jesus will judge the people of earth, that is certain. He has made it clear that it will happen when we least expect it.
Whatever you believe, the most important thing is preparing to meet Jesus.
You must prepare for the End Times Today.
Accept God’s Plan for your Salvation. You need to be right with God before Jesus returns in the End Times.
Understanding God’s plan of Salvation is our first responsibility. Where will you stand when God calls you out of this life? Will you be part of the Bride of Christ?
Or, will you stand before the Great White Throne of God’s Judgement?
Now is the time to make sure!
So, before we go any further, let us look at a few Scriptures that point us in the right direction. These truths must be firmly fixed in your heart and mind.
First, understand that regardless of how good you are, you are a sinner and therefore lost.Romans 3:23 tells you, “ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This is a statement of fact about you. If you are an honest person, you already know this fact.
Second, there is a price for sin that must be paid. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God will not allow any sin in Heaven. If your sins are not removed, you will experience the second death and be cast into Hell with Satan and his demons.
Thankfully, God provides a way for you, but YOU MUST CHOOSE!
God will not choose for you. He has done His part by sending Jesus!
One of our favorite Scriptures is John 3:16 NKJV, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” It tells us what God will give us if we believe in Jesus and accept His gift, everlasting life.
If you are faithful in your acceptance of Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will follow His commandments and will be caught up to be with Him.
Our Lord Jesus says to you, in John 14:21 NKJV, ”He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Today is the time to choose which side you will be on. Will you follow Jesus and obey His commandments? Or, will you put it off and choose to follow the world? Jesus tells us we can not serve both Him and the world.
When the End Times come, it will be too late.
End Times for you could be today.
So you need to live every moment as if it is your last on earth. We do not know and can not know when our life will end. God makes two promises to us. Those who follow Jesus in faith and obedience will be saved, and those who don’t will be cast into Hell with the Devil and his demons.
Let us choose wisely to follow Jesus at all times.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:40-44 NKJV, 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
You may not be alive at the time of this reaping of souls. You will, however, make choices daily either for Jesus or against Him. Some of your choices will seem to be of little importance; however, each time you choose the world over Jesus, you lose. There are always consequences for sin, and each sin makes it easier to sin again.
Let us look at Christ in the End Times.
Revelation gives you several views of Jesus in His position during these times. He tells us a little of what is going to happen in the future.
Christ reveals Himself to John.
In Revelation 1:8 NKJV. He says,8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Jesus identifies Himself and gives John a special message for each of the seven churches. He commends them where they are faithful and warns them about the cost of their sins.
These messages are so easy to apply to our present-day churches.
Second, we have Jesus presented as the Lamb slain for the world and the only one worthy to open the Divine Scroll. Listen to what Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV says about the Lamb. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
Jesus opens the scroll in chapters 6, 7, & 8. There are judgments for those still living on the earth, but mankind still refuses to repent of their evil ways.
When Jesus opens the seventh seal, Revelation 8:1 says, When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
I believe that at this point, all Heaven knows how horrible the seven trumpet judgments will be. Each trumpet brings more destruction to the earth and those who are still alive.
The trumpet judgments or the seven bowls of God’s wrath are unimaginable destruction on the earth!
Christ judges and makes war on the nations.
In Revelation 19:11-14 NKJV, we read, 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
In this war, Jesus defeats Satan, his demons, and all who have chosen to reject Jesus and His Salvation. At the end of this war, Satan and his demons are cast into hell for a thousand years.
Christ will reign with His saints for a thousand years.
It is at this time that we find John recording this in Revelation 20:4-6 NKJV. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first Resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such, the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
We will end this study with one last appearance of Jesus the Christ.
Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment
Jesus is preached as the Savior of the world and rightly so, but what is not often preached is that He is the Righteous Judge at the End Times. We do not like to believe that our loving Jesus will cast those who have rejected Him into Hell. However, the Scriptures are very clear that it is our choice during our lives to accept His offer of forgiveness or follow Satan’s world.
As a saved person, you will not appear before the Great White Throne. It is reserved for those who have rejected God’s Way and His Word.
Even the Book of Life is opened so that if anyone claims they are not guilty, it can be checked. Their names will not be found in it!
All who have followed Him in their earthly life have been caught up in the First Resurrection. Now Jesus judges those who refused to accept Him as their Savior and Lord. He now sits on this throne. As He told us in John 5:22, “The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
Christ judges the lost by what they have done.
Those who are not covered by the blood of the Lamb will all face this final judgment. In Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV, John tells what he saw.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
There are, of course, many other things that Christ did.
However, you must spend time in prayer, study, and listening to the Holy Spirit to understand how God wants you to use your life in His service.
REMEMBER!!! Jesus loves you and died for you, but he will never force you to follow Him. It is your choice. Revelation tells you what will happen to encourage you to make the right choice. It explains the eternal cost of rebellion against God and His Word.