Category: Return of Jesus – Book
Ready to Die: The Story of Jesus
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.
No one is better prepared to die than Jesus. As the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8), the eternal Son of God collaborates with the Father and the Holy Spirit before creation to plan their joint redemptive work. The incarnate Christ declares that he has come to seek and save the lost, a mission requiring his death (Matt. 16:21; Luke 19:10). After Peter’s remarkable declaration of Jesus as Messiah, Son of the living God, Jesus tells his disciples he must go to Jerusalem, where he is to suffer, die, and rise again – over Peter’s objection, which Christ condemns as Satanic (Matt. 16:16-23).
Jesus’ willingness to lay down his life reveals a divine sense of purpose, humility, submission to the Father’s will, and keen insight into what his death is accomplishing. There’s even a sense of anticipatory mirth. As the writer of Hebrews notes, “For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
Despite his followers’ best efforts to keep Jesus out of harm’s way, the Lamb of God walks deliberately into the slaughterhouse. In the Garden of Gethsemane, a mob with swords and clubs sets upon Jesus. Peter rushes to Jesus’ defense, lopping off the ear of the high priest’s servant with a sword.
Continue reading Ready to Die: The Story of Joseph
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.
The story of Joseph (Gen. 37-50) is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It’s a tale of tragedy and triumph, punishment and pardon, incarceration and exaltation, abandonment and reunion, fear and power, famine and plenty, deep sadness and unrestrained joy. We are introduced to Joseph as the favorite son of Jacob, a preference that spurs jealousy and betrayal in the hearts of Joseph’s brothers, who opportunistically sell Joseph into slavery and then soak his robe in animal blood in a ruse to fake their brother’s death.
Joseph ends up in Egypt in the home of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guards. Potiphar sees that the Lord is making Joseph successful. So, the Egyptian officer makes Joseph his personal attendant and places everything in his household under the young servant’s authority.
Joseph captures the eye of Potiphar’s wife, who makes repeated sexual advances towards the strapping young man. When Joseph rebuffs her siren calls, she falsely accuses him of attempted rape, which lands him in jail with Pharaoh’s prisoners. Again, the Lord grants Joseph favor, this time with the warden, who puts Joseph in charge of all other captives. This includes Pharoah’s imprisoned cupbearer, who later secures Joseph’s release by telling Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams.
Continue reading Jesus Warns Us to Be Ready
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.
Famous last words. William Brahms catalogued the final sayings of 3,500 prominent figures in his work, Last Words of Notable People. Other researchers also have captured the pithy statements of people on their deathbeds. A sampling:
- While slipping towards the end of his life, Irish wit Oscar Wilde expressed disdain for the surroundings in his Paris hotel room. “Either that wallpaper goes, or I do,” he blurted. Wilde went first, but hotel management noted his grievance and later refurbished the suite.
- Standing before a firing squad, convicted murderer James W. Rodgers was asked if he had a final request. His reply: “Bring me a bullet-proof vest.”
- With death drawing near, television announcer Charles Gussman quietly removed his oxygen mask and whispered, “And now for a final word from our sponsor .…”
- Leonardo da Vinci, who gave us such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa, was awkwardly modest as he faced death, saying only, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”
- Drummer Buddy Rich, being prepped for a major surgical procedure he wouldn’t survive, was asked by his nurse, “Is there anything you can’t take?” His response: “Yeah, country music.”
- Finally, Karl Marx reputedly offered these last words: “Get out of here and leave me alone. Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough already.”
Can Christians Hasten the Return of Jesus?
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.
Is it possible for followers of Jesus to hasten his return? In seeking to answer this question, let’s examine two seemingly paradoxical New Testament passages regarding the coming day of the Lord.
First, Paul ends his address on Mars Hill with these words:
Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31, emphasis added).
Not long before his death, in seeming contrast to Paul, Peter writes:
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:10-13, emphasis added).
So, Paul tells us God has set a day for the judgment of all people, while Peter seems to imply that Christians may “hasten” that day. Are Paul and Peter at odds in their understanding of God’s revealed plan for the ages? Both apostles claim divine inspiration for their writing. So, why do they seem to take different approaches to the Day of the Lord?
Continue reading Christ’s Return: Soon, Shortly, Speedily
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.
As we continue studying the imminent return of Jesus, it may help to look more closely at the Greek word often translated “soon,” or “quickly,” in the New Testament. The adverb tachys means shortly, speedily, or without delay. It usually refers to a brief period of time, focusing on the speed of an activity or event. It does not necessarily mean immediately, nor does it specify a precise moment, although it may describe a relatively brief time subsequent to another point in time.
Tachys is found numerous times in the New Testament. For example, an angel at the empty tomb of Jesus instructs two women to go “quickly” (tachy) and tell Jesus’ disciples the good news. As they depart hastily with fear and great joy, they encounter the resurrected Christ (Matt. 28:7-9).
Paul expresses his desire to send Timothy to the Philippians “soon” (tacheos; Phil. 2:19). And in his final instructions to Timothy, an abandoned Paul urges the young pastor to come to him “soon” (tacheos; 2 Tim. 4:9).
In Jesus’ parable of the lost son, the father wants the celebration – featuring robe, ring, sandals, and a fattened calf – to begin without delay, for he addresses his servants with the command, “Quick!” (tachys; Luke 15:22).
James reminds us that we should be “quick (tachys) to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (Jas. 1:19).
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