Get ready for the Coming of the Lord

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

The time is short. The last days of this age are nearly over. The signs preceding the return of Christ are already happening.

It is time for all the people of God to get ready for the coming of the Lord. His return is imminent, so watch and be prepared.

As we get ready for the coming of the Lord we need to understand what is coming and be prepared. We must learn what is to happen and not be surprised or terrified as the rest of the world will be. So let us consider the things necessary as we get ready for the coming of the Lord.

Signs pointing to the need to get ready for the coming of the Lord

Before going too far, this is what this scripture today says.

1 But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

The Lord prophesied in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and other places about the signs that would precede His return.

He spoke of wars and rumours of wars, nations rising against nations, famines, earthquakes, pestilence, and severe weather events bringing on tsunamis.

All of these things are happening now. You may not realise it, but the 20th and 21st centuries have seen a dramatic rise in all of these things. “Unprecedented” is a word that has been much bandied about in the media this year with respect to the COVID-19 pestilence. But the same could and should be said of all of these events.

To try and put this into perspective I have created a series of indices as shown in this chart. It uses 1973 as the base year for all of the events. The numbers themselves are meaningless, but the point of the chart is to show the way these things have escalated over recent years. And I should add that this data does not include COVID-19 as I produced this chart in July/August of 2019 just before COVID struck.

All of these point to the signs that Jesus spoke of as the precursors to His second coming. And as a consequence, they tell us we need to get ready for the coming of the Lord.

There is worse yet to come

Jesus tells us that these things are just the “birth pangs” that precede His return.

If you think about a woman about to give birth to a baby, the process starts with a few mild pains that then escalate. The birth pangs get stronger and stronger reaching excruciating levels. And when they get to a peak, the child is delivered at the height of the pain.

So it will be with the coming of the Lord.

What we are seeing now with the escalation of these disasters is just the beginning. The Bible tells us in Revelation that there will be terrible plagues and weather events that will increase and cause absolute havoc across the globe.

Revelations speaks about the blowing of seven trumpets, and with each there are all kinds of disasters, plagues, and tribulations that will occur. Included in that mix are the pouring out of the seven bowls of God’s wrath upon the earth. There will be billions of people killed in these tribulations of the final days. As an example consider these words, which describe the blasts of the first four trumpets.

7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, which fell on the earth; and a third of the earth was burnt up, and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea; 9 and a third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the fountains of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the water, because it was made bitter. 12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. (Revelation 8:7-12)

The magnitude of these events will be terrifying and the world will be devastated. As the scripture says, many will die as a result of these things.

But these four trumpet blasts are still not the worst. The next three trumpet blasts are describe as the “three woes.” They will be woeful for all mankind upon the earth.

For example, the blasts of the fifth trumpet will lead to all mankind who are not the people of God being tormented and tortured by a plague of some kind of insects like a locust and scorpion. They will cause immense pain and suffering, but are not permitted to kill people for five months.

Then when the sixth trumpet is sounded, another plague will strike that will kill a third of mankind. Based upon current population estimates, that will be more then two billion people. And there will be many more killed with the outpouring of the seven bowls of God’s wrath, as described in Revelation 16.

This is all to happen soon as we are in the last days. We must get ready for the coming of the Lord for we don’t know exactly when He will return. The scripture says that He will come like a thief, at an unexpected hour. So we must get ready for the coming of the Lord now. Be prepared so that you can welcome Him upon His return and be welcomed by Him.

What about a pre-tribulation rapture?

And if you happen to ascribe to the idea that the rapture will take place to pull you out of the world so you don’t have to suffer these plagues, then think again.

The rapture occurs with the blast of the last trumpet, that is the seventh trumpet. It is then that we will be caught up into the air to meet Christ as He returns.

But all of the plagues occur with the blasts of the other six trumpets. So it is clear that the people of God will be on earth during the period of the tribulations.

And note also the words of Revelation 9:4.

3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth; 4 they were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads; 5 they were allowed to torture them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torture was like the torture of a scorpion, when it stings a man. (Revelation 9:3-5)

This is during the period following the fifth trumpet blast, and it is evident from this that there will be people of God still on the earth doing His work. They have not been taken out as those who support a pre-tribulation rapture suppose.

So this is all the more reason to get ready for the coming of the Lord, for these things are not far away.

Get ready for the coming of the Lord – Focus on Jesus

So how do we get ready for the coming of the Lord?

We need to focus every part of our lives on the Lord. Pray at all times and keep the Lord at the forefront of your mind at all time.

If you are working, playing, travelling, or anything else, keep your mind centred on the Lord. Consider His works and words and learn His words. Meditate on the scripture and embed it into your thoughts.

Begin your day with prayer and pray throughout the day. Learn while you can and strengthen your relationship with Christ.

Seek the truth of Jesus Christ. Beware of the false doctrines that plague the modern church and instead, go back to the source and seek for yourself. Read the bible. Pray to the Lord for wisdom and understanding. He has promised that He will give these things to those who ask.

Now is the time we must get ready for the coming of the Lord. Now is the time we must begin our preparations. There is no time for complacency. Begin today. In fact begin right now and pray to the Lord for His help to get ready for the coming of the Lord so you don’t miss out.

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