1st Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
The Bible repeatedly states in several different passages of scripture that the second coming of Christ will not be expected by most of earth's inhabitants, for come when it may, it will be a huge surprise to millions, even though the most graphic descriptions of the signs that portend His arrival are given. Jesus' coming to this earth will occur after the probation of every person living on the planet has been permanently closed, and such a stupendous event should thus be expected to grasp the attention of everyone in high and low places.
But as it was with Christ's first arrival, so will it also be with His second coming, for the world and its religious leaders have once again put their own private interpretation on the events and prophecies pointing to His soon return. Not only have a plethora of false concepts been disseminated amongst the masses, but there are also many scoffers who mock at the very idea of a cataclysmic showdown between the forces of good and evil, and these have multiplied to an alarming extent across the globe, as is predicted in the Bible. Let's read:
2nd Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
One of the reasons why the coming of Christ will not be properly anticipated and prepared for by most members of the human family, is because the plain truths of God's word are not palatable to the carnal ear, and many, even amongst Christians, prefer to hear those smooth sermons and doctrines that are in harmony with their own desires, a condition which is described in the Word as being the "Itching ears syndrome". Prominent amongst the false doctrines which attempt to distort the plainest truths pertaining to Christ's soon arrival is the one that teaches its subscribers that the world is to have a second probationary period, in which it is stated that the rebellious will once again have opportunity to repent, and where it is falsely rumored that most people are going to be converted.
This interpretation of events therefore puts the final close of probation way into the future, long after it has passed, and the teeming multitudes who believe this false theory are going to have a very rude awakening when they realize too late that their eternal destiny has been forever sealed, long before they were expecting. The Bible specifically states the sequence of final events that will culminate in the second of Christ, and they are written with such clarity that every honest-hearted person may understand. After we have all decided whom we will serve and worship, then the final curtain will be drawn down on the history of the earth as we know it, probation will be forever closed, and the next big world-wide event will be the second coming of Jesus in the clouds of heaven, which we will all behold with our own naked eyes. Let's read:
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he" ... "causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
The two harvests here mentioned represent the gathering of the righteous who will be the subjects of God's kingdom of glory, and the harvest of the grapes represents the rest of the inhabitants of earth, who by accepting the mark of the beast as mentioned in Revelation chapter 13, have forever sealed their doom, by a permanent separation of themselves from God. This fatal decision will result in the annihilation of everyone who isn't a part of the first harvest, and all who are not then saved will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming, as is plainly stated by the prophet John. Let's read:
Revelation 16:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The natural response to a knowledge of these plainly stated events would be for us to closely examine ourselves to see which side of the spiritual fence we are on, and if we are not yet fully aligned with Christ and His kingdom, we should do so without delay, by accepting His gracious overtures of mercy while probation still lingers. But instead of doing and encouraging this, many religious leaders prefer to bury their heads in the sand by prophesying smooth things that would allay the fears of the masses. Even now, there is so much turmoil, bloodshed, perplexing problems, and terrorist threats coming upon the planet each day, that even the casual observer knows in his heart that something stupendous is about to take place.
But instead of raising the warning level to the highest bar, our valid concerns and premonitions are being put to rest by the fanciful interpretations of scripture coming from the mouths of the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet, and as a direct result millions are being lulled to sleep with a false sense of security. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cautions us all not to become deceived by the present state of things as though they will continue forever, but instead encourages us to make our calling and election sure, by being found in Christ. Let's read:
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. "Good night" and God bless!