Rising When Jesus Returns

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

1 THESSALONIANS 4:16

 

PONDER THIS

When I was a little boy, near our house, there used to be a scrap yard. There were all kinds of metals in that scrap yard, and there was a great magnet on a crane that would move steel and iron from one place to another. If you were to take one of those great magnets and sweep it across the ground, not every piece of metal would rise. Only those made of iron would rise. Why is that? Because iron has the same nature as the magnet. If you have the same nature as Jesus Christ, when He comes again, you’re the one going up, whether you’re beneath the ground or on top of the ground. You’re the one going up. If you’ve been Heaven-born, you will be Heaven-bound because you share the nature of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What confidence do you have that you are “of the same nature” as Jesus?

How does sharing that nature change the way you live each day?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time to read Galatians 5:22-25 to learn about the fruit of having the same nature as Jesus. Reflect on where this fruit (or lack thereof) is found in your life and respond to God appropriately.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Yearning for Jesus to Return?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”

1 John 2:18-19

 

PONDER THIS

One time, Joyce and I went to see the Grand Canyon. Now, I was not at the edge of the Grand Canyon when we drove toward it a hundred miles away. While we were at the rim, we were not headed toward it—we were right on the very edge. We could’ve walked miles around it, but we would have continued to be on the edge.

Similarly, we’re not moving toward the Last Days; we’re living on the edge of the Last Days. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is imminent. There is no sign we’re waiting for. There is no event in history we’re waiting for. Jesus Christ could have come back three weeks after He ascended into Heaven. And He may come back today. The Bible teaches that we’re on the very edge, on the very brink, and therefore we should be yearning and not yawning. We should be ready for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What are some things you would change in your life if you knew Jesus was coming back next month?

Why is it important to know Jesus’ return is imminent?

PRACTICE THIS

Consider things you would change if you knew the exact time of Jesus’ return. Ask God for help to change those things in your life now.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Prepared?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And behold, I am coming; and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” ... (Revelation 22:12)

 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I believe we’re living in the days of the coming of our Lord. We ought to be living as though Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back tonight.

No one can set a date, but I’m kind of like that old farmer who woke up in the middle of the night and heard the grandfather clock sounding the hour. Bong-1 o’clock; bong-2; bong-3; bong-4. On it went. Bong-10; bong-11; bong-12; bong-13; bong-14. That frightened him. He turned over, shook his wife, and said, “Old woman, wake up.” She said, “Why? What time is it?” He said, “I don’t know, but it’s later than it’s ever been before.”

ACTION POINT:

I believe it’s late in the age. You and I need to be prepared for the coming of our dear Lord.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Understand What's Happening?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mark 13:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When we come to a place where we don’t understand what’s happening, when everything seems to be caving in, there is Jesus. We always have the forgiveness of the cross, the victory of the empty tomb, and the hope of Christ’s imminent return.

When we go to the doctor and he tells us we have a malignancy…when we hear that we as a couple are infertile and cannot bear a child…when we have to declare bankruptcy…when we are laid off work…when we read a note that our spouse has left…when a loved one dies because of a terrorist act…we have a Savior.

ACTION POINT:

And we have a choice to believe or not to believe! At that time we can begin to murmur, criticize, grumble, or despair. Or we can yield to the Savior and hear Him say, “My child, no matter what is happening, this is how much I love you. Look to the cross. Look into the empty tomb. Look for Me. I’m coming again.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Like a thief in the night

BIBLE MEDITATION:

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There was a man who went shopping and left his car and house keys in the ignition. When he returned, his car was gone. The next morning he discovered his car in the driveway with a note that said, “I was in an emergency. I’m very sorry. I needed your car. Here are two tickets for the Dallas Cowboys game.”

The man went in and told his wife, “You won’t believe this! There’s our car, and look! We’ve got tickets to a Dallas Cowboys game!” They went to the game, and when they came home, their house had been cleaned out!

Friend, they never expected it, and that’s the point. That’s how the Lord Jesus Christ is going to come – as a thief in the night.

ACTION POINT:

How would you live your life differently today if you knew that Jesus was coming back in 24 hours?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

One reason Jesus hasn’t returned yet….

BIBLE MEDITATION:

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever wondered why Jesus has not yet returned? I’ll tell you why. Because our Lord is waiting on people to be saved. He’s waiting on your family member, your neighbor, your co-worker, or maybe you, but one of these days soon, and very soon perhaps, Jesus will come.

You see, it is the mercy of God that holds back the Second Coming of Jesus, but the justice of God and the judgment of God require that one day He will come.

Even now, the raging waters of God’s wrath are furiously pounding against the dam of His mercy. And one of these days, the dam of God’s mercy will give way to God’s judgment, and the day of the Lord will come. Our Lord is coming!

ACTION POINT:

Does the Lord’s return make your heart beat faster because you anticipate His coming or dread His coming?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Not even the 12 disciples knew…

BIBLE MEDITATION:

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Matthew 24:36

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Anybody who sets a date for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ may be getting close to the line of blasphemy. The Bible teaches very plainly, and our Lord taught, that no one knows the time—no one.

Just before Jesus was taken up into glory, the disciples asked Him, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts 1:6-7).

Two things we can be sure of: (1) the certainty of His coming, (2) the uncertainty of the time: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). No thief has ever told you “I'm coming to your house on such-and-such a day.”

So why hasn't Jesus Christ come yet? Because “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us. Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9).

The Lord is waiting on you to be saved. But one of these days, soon and very soon perhaps, Jesus will come. It is the mercy of God that holds back the second coming of Jesus. But the justice of God and the judgment of God says one day He will come.

No one knows when that day is, but what a glorious day that will be!

ACTION POINT:

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. What encouragement do you need to share with someone today?

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What do you say will be Earth’s greatest event?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

. . . and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Revelation 17:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Second Coming of Jesus will be the greatest event of all ages. It’s one of the grand theological truths taught from Genesis to Revelation. 

• The New Birth is vitally important, but it’s mentioned only 9 times in the New Testament. 

• Baptism is vitally important, but it’s mentioned only 20 times in the New Testament. 

• Repentance, important and required, is mentioned only 70 times in the Bible. 

• But the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned at least 380 times!

One out of every 25 verses points with an eager finger to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We’re living in the time where Jesus could come at any moment. Some glorious morning, all will be peace when Jesus comes again.

ACTION POINT:

How are you getting ready for His Second Coming? What if He came this very hour? Is your heart prepared? Are you ready? Listen to some of the last words Paul wrote before his execution: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Do you love the thought of His appearing?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers