Monthly Archives: August 2019

In An Hour As You Think Not, The Soon Return of Jesus

SECOND COMING PREDICTIONS-DECEPTION PART 1

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The secular community, as well as Christians, pretentiously poked fun at Harold Camping’s prediction of the “Rapture.”  He said it would occur on May 21, 2011.  The day came and went as usual.  Christians all over the world knew from the words of Jesus himself that Mr. Camping’s prediction was in error.

“But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36 

Just one verse in scripture is enough for anyone who would attempt to narrow down the Second-Coming to a particular day or hour.  Most Christians can quote it by heart!  We can trust in Jesus’ word on this. But it is just one verse among many others Jesus had to say about His coming! Matthew 24 is a great source of plain language about the Second Coming if read in its context (without adding or subtracting) will prepare the sincere seeker of truth to be prepared for that great day!

Even though the faithful watchers can discern the times, Jesus will come at a time when they do not expect it, but they can be prepared!

“So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” …”Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:33, 44

On the other hand, those not prepared are not looking for Jesus and are going about their normal routine. To them, Jesus will come as a thief in the night…totally unexpected. But to the watchers, they will not be overtaken as a thief as we shall see in this study.

Second Coming Shams

There are a host of other shams thrown at us by the enemy more complicated and tougher to unravel.   Many rely on non-biblical reasoning or sources concerning the Second-Coming. Examples:

“If my grandmother believed it, that is good enough for me.”

“If it is on the internet, it must be right. “

“The religious programming and books can’t be wrong.”

“The nice preacher on the TV is telling the truth.  Look at his big church!”

But, the enemy is at work with trickery that is so deceptive that even the best of Christians could be deceived.

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.“ Matthew 24:24

This warning by Jesus tells those who will listen that false christs (Messiahs), and false prophets (teachers, forecasters) will use the platform of religion to promote falsehoods that could deceive the “elect.”  The word for “elect” as translated from the Greek is the word, “eklektos.”  It means those “chosen by God”

These events and teachings are a strong delusion, but the implication is that the “elect” are not deceived.  What makes this group different?  Very simply, they listen to the voice of Jesus and His word.  Their guiding principle is Sola Scriptura.  The Bible alone.  Scripture comes first before the words of any person, book, movie, or institution.

“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20

The situation in the last days is very profound. The magnitude of the deception is revealed through God’s word. Paul gave an important warning when He wrote to the Corinthians,  He stated plainly that evil appears to be good!  The bad guy is in a white hat!

 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. II Corinthians 11:14. 

This verse tells us that Satan and his servants can look like an angel (messenger) of light!  Satan can even use scripture to lead people down the wrong path. He certainly tried with Jesus during the days of temptation in the wilderness.  But, Jesus knew His Father and He knew the word of God.

As Christians were quoting Matthew 24:36 when Camping made his prognostication, it would have been well for all of us to read the entire chapter and listened closely the instruction Christ gave his disciples when they asked,

“…what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  Matthew 24:3. 

His answer? 

“Take heed that no man deceive you. Matthew 24:4

The very first words out of Jesus’ mouth regarding the sign of His coming and the end of the world is a warning to LISTEN so that no man deceive you! 

 Deception in the Manner of His Coming

As we have seen from Matthew 24:36, Jesus himself does not know when he will return, but He knows there will be deception involved.   But the deception is not just only the timing, but the way He comes back to earth.

The whole of Matthew  24 and the parallel chapters in the other Gospels tell of  Jesus describing to the disciples how He returns. Why is this important, especially to Christians? Could it be that even Christians could be deceived and thereby lost? If you read Jesus warning, it is primarily to His followers. The lost could care less.

“For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ” 1 Thessalonians 5: 3

Recently, I heard a well-known TV evangelist say he doesn’t look at the signs or worry about the mark of the beast and other end-time-events because that is for those in the tribulation to worry about. Is this true? Isn’t this a dangerous way to prepare for Christ’s return? Is this not the object of the enemy’s falsehood to feel secure in something that is opposite from the teaching of Jesus?  

We will use primarily Mathew 24 for this first study.   Jesus’ return is not just about the “when” but the “how.”  Rest assured, the “elect” will know that his coming is near by the signs he left us. If they are a student of the word of God, they will have stored up the truth in their minds and walked in the light.

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1Thessalonians 5: 4-6

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Revelation 3:3

How We Got Confused

There was a time when Christians knew how Jesus would come and many of the events of His coming by simply reading the portions of scripture that plainly tell of His coming.  In the last several years, there are books, movies, radio programs,  preachers and teachers with a different story that is not based on plain scripture but rather on a script from Hollywood or a book.

In the study of Jesus’ Second Coming, there is no need for any fanciful interpretation or any deep study.  It is plain and simple; written for all men, women, and children, not just university theologians or popular TV preachers.

Staying in Matthew 24, Jesus goes on to describe his Second Coming in verse 27-31:

For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Matthew 24: 27-31

What do you see in the words of Jesus regarding his coming?  Is it secret?  Are only a few Christians affected by it?  Is it in two parts or just one?  From the verses above, we can plainly see:

  • His coming is bright like lightning!  While lightning is quick, the comparison here is not the speed but by the brightness (shining)! The reference to shining involves sight.  Is there anything quite or secret about lightning that lights up the whole sky from east to west?
  • There is a tribulation before he comes and the sun is darkened and the moon does not give her light and the stars fall from heaven (massive meteorite shower?) and the powers of the heavens are shaken!  Can anyone miss this?  Is the tribulation before or after he comes?  It is before he comes!
  • Those who are lost see the sign of the Son of man in heaven and the people of the earth mourn!  They see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. They are not left to wonder.  They see Him!
  • He sends his angels with a great sound!  You can hear it!  The angels gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other!  Will this gathering be secret?  No! There is no indication here that this will be at the speed of lightning.  The process of gathering is for both the alive and those who died in Christ.

A Clear Picture

The clearest picture of the 2nd Coming is found in the letter to the Thessalonians by Paul. Here he provides more detail to the canvas of this event.

 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18.

From this verse, we can plainly see:

  • Jesus comes down from heaven (where he went to prepare a place for us-John 14: 2, 3) and there is sound in the form of a shout, a voice, and a trumpet. So can we conclude there is sound involved with the Second Coming? Yes!
  • Those that died in Christ are resurrected. The resurrection of the saved is the beginning of literal eternal life.  It is the reward Jesus brings with him (Revelation 22:12).
  • Those who are alive when Jesus comes will begin to ascend up into the heavens and meet both Jesus and those who were resurrected.  Here is the “rapture.”  It means to be caught up, but there are two groups that meet the Lord in the heavens.  Those who were in their graves asleep in Christ and those who did not experience death. (1 Thessalonians 4: 13, 14)
  • This is where immortality is given.  Eternity with Jesus starts here at this event! (Notice it is not at death)….”and so shall we ever be with the Lord!”

Paul”s further explanation of these events are found in his letter to the Corinthians.

 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump(et): for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15: 52, 53

 Notice that when Jesus returns, immortality is given instantly at that point…not at death. As mentioned above, this is the reward Jesus brings with Him…It is out of context and in error to use the following verse at a funeral (as I heard) because the saying can only come to pass when Jesus returns and gives us immortality.

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

1 Corinthians 15: 55

The context of this quote is found in the verse just before (v. 54)

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:54

Very plainly…it is at the second coming that Jesus takes the dust of the dead and shapes them back into life.  The sleep of death is but like a mere second. When Jesus resurrects those who are asleep in death, they are instantly (a twinkling of an eye) given the gift of immortality and bodies that will never decay.

There is a lot going on in these verses to let us know there is nothing secret and it is not in two parts.  Other verses from the other writers further describe the glory of his coming, Here are just a few:

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8:38

Jesus does not come in his glory alone, but the glory of his Father and with the holy angels!  With all that glory, there is nothing secret or invisible about His coming!

The lost have a different response to His coming:

 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;

 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Revelation 6: 15-16:

The unsaved will hide in the darkest places of the dens and rocks of mountains and pray for them to fall on them to hide them from the face of Jesus!  No secret coming here!  This was also foretold by Isaiah:

“Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty!”

Isaiah 2:10

 “Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so,  Amen.”

Revelation 1:7

From the verses above, we can see:

  • When he comes, he comes in His own glory and the glory of the father and the holy angels.  It only took the glory of one angel to make the soldiers at the tomb of Jesus drop to the ground like dead men (Matthew 28: 2-4).  Imagine the whole sky full of the glory of millions of angels and the glory of the Father and Jesus!
  • Those that are lost cannot bear to look upon the sight of Jesus’ coming and try to hide from the face of Jesus by calling for the rocks and mountains to fall on them.
  • Every eye sees him coming!  Much like every eye can see the sun as the earth turns.  It is possible that his coming is seen up to as long as a 24 hour period!

Nothing secret about this!

Notice the contrast of the words of those that are saved.

 “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 25:9

In the next writing, we will study out where Hal Lindsey and others came up with the idea of a sudden snatching away of the church and the 7-year tribulation.

Another topic we will study is the fate of the lost.  The reason for the Lord’s apparent delay in coming is because when he comes, there will be those who perish in the destruction of the earth:

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.

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.

2 Peter 3: 9, 10

The Second coming is both rejoicing and destruction for this earth as we know it. Nowhere does the word of God split the return of Christ into two parts. But, as we shall see, the saved spend a honeymoon of one thousand years with Jesus in heaven (where he is now) before He creates the new heavens and the new earth prepared in the saved of the redeemed.

“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3: 13

In conclusion, the Lord taught his disciples about the deception regarding the timing and manner His second coming.  This deception would be very tricky and inspired by the enemy himself with the intent to take as many as possible with him, especially those who give up on the return of Christ and return to their former life:

But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,..Matthew 24: 48-50

It is critically important for the follower of Christ to know what Jesus and the writers of the Bible have to say about this grand event when all the saved will meet the Lord in the air and begin eternity with each other never; to experience sin and death ever again.  What a day that will be!  We shall behold Him!

 Listen to the correct theology of Christ’s second coming in Sandi Patty’s version of “We Shall Behold Him.”  May the Lord bless you as you listen.

Salvation to the uttermost

Saved to the uttermost-The 3rd and 4th “p” of salvation

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We have seen that Jesus can save us to the uttermost or as the great Evangelist Ron Halverson said, “He saves us from the guttermost to the uttermost.”

The first “P” of salvation relates to being saved from the Penalty of sin..  Jesus saves us from the Penalty of sin (death).  Then He saves us from the Power of the sin and we walk with a new mind in Christ overcoming sin in our life .  The 3rd and 4th “P” is Jesus will one day save us from the Presence of sin and the Propensity to sin.  He does this when he comes in the clouds the 2nd time.  When this happens sin will be no more.  I like the way this author describes it:

“The death of Christ upon the cross made sure the destruction of him who has the power of death, who was the originator of sin. When Satan is destroyed, there will be none to tempt to evil; the atonement will never need to be repeated, and there will be no danger of another rebellion in the universe of God. That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness will prevent sin in heaven.”

EGW-Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889

It is the meaning of the cross that will be forever remembered by the redeemed and the unfallen angels that will prevent sin from raising its ugly head again.

Sin and its consequences are destroyed when the Lord makes the earth new:

“And death and hell (grave) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

Revelation 20:4

This second death is complete and utter destruction.  Not only is death and the grave a thing of the past, but also so is Satan and his fallen angels who started sin in the first place.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire

Revelation 20:10

He is reduced to ashes:

“You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you.

Ezekiel 28:18

Then those who have rejected the offer of eternal life through Jesus will sadly be destroyed as well.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15

They too are reduced to ashes:

For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
That will leave them neither root nor branch…

You shall trample the wicked,
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
On the day that I do this,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 4:1, 3

Sin and its Presence will never be again.

Sin and sinners are forever destroyed by what God calls His “strange act.”  It is strange because God is a Creator and takes no pleasure in the death (destruction) in the death of the sinner.  It is against his nature that He must wipe his creation off the face of the earth and create a new earth.

For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

Isaiah 28:21 KJ

In the next verse, we are told what is his “strange work” and “strange act”

“Now therefore, do not be mockers,
Lest your bonds be made strong;
For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts,
A destruction determined even upon the whole earth.”

Isaiah 28:22 NKJ

Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!

Isaiah 33:11

It is the enemy who is the author of death.   it is not God’s will that any should perish, but that all live.  The whole Bible is God’s appeal for man to turn from His sin and find life in Him.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

The context of this statement is in regards to those who scoff at the idea of Christ’s return. as shown in the previous verses:

... knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 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 creation

2 Peter 3: 3-4

Peter opens our eyes to several things in these few verses:

1.) The mindset of the world is that all things have continued the same day in and day out.  The sun rises and it sets.  Nothing has changed since Jesus left this earth.

2.)  God is “long-suffering” with us.  He is patient.  Why?  Because when Jesus returns, it is the end of those who failed to respond to his call to repentance.  What awaits them?  They will perish when Jesus returns.  It doesn’t say they will live in hell….they will perish.

Perish is used in the most famous verse of all.  John 3:16

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.

John 3:16

Notice the contrast of destinies of the saved and the lost.  If it is true that the saved have everlasting life, it is true as the opposite that the lost will perish…they do not have everlasting life.

Some would have us believe that the wages of sin is not death (perish) but living in hell. (For more on the teaching of hell, see Lord Tell Me about Hell-Part 1)

All through the Bible, the theme of destruction trumps any twisted interpretation of scripture to make it sound like God will torture the sinner throughout the dim lights of eternity.

Those who have the attitude of mocking the second coming of Christ as described in 2 Peter are not only caught off guard when He comes, but they are destroyed:

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:3

The fate of this first earth is destruction as are those who choose sin and rebellion against God:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

2 Peter 3:10

There are some who would have us believe that the 2nd coming of Christ is secret…it is quite like a thief. But, when He comes, it is like a thief in this sense.  A thief is one who surprises the owners of the home.  They are not prepared for the thief.

Ask anyone who has come home to find their belongings gone and they will tell you of the shock of surprise.

We are told that the followers of Christ are prepared and the Second Coming is not like a thief to them.  They are not surprised.  They have seen the signs and know that Jesus’ promises are coming to past.  As they are looking for him, they are preparing their hearts and minds to embrace Him.  The others are more interested in their day to day activities.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

1 Thessalonians 5: 4-6

The element of surprise feeling life is peaceful and things continue as they always have…sunrise….sunset, but Jesus returns and “takes them all away.”

For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be

Matthew 24: 38-39

Luke says the same as Matthew about those caught by surprise but uses clearer language when he comes to the part about the flood taking away those in Noah’s day and what it means.

They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Luke 17:27

By comparing these two inspired writers, there is no doubt that those who are more interested in this life on earth and put their souls into everyday living without God are destroyed when Jesus returns.

Some teach and refer to Matthew without comparing to Luke to make this say that the “taking” is the rapture, but that is to go against the plain teaching of scripture.

As one compares scripture with scripture, the fate of this earth without Jesus is destruction.  When he comes, it is compared to a flaming fire.

when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power

2 Thessalonians 1: 7-9

Notice that the fate of the lost is destruction.  In fact, even the Anti-Christ is destroyed at the brightness of His coming:

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2: 8-10

God will save us from destruction.  It is His desire to give us eternal life and to separate us from anything related to sin.  This is why both sin and sinner must be destroyed.  To believe that God has reserved this earth or a place of the universe where the reminder of sin exists is to go against not only plain scripture but also a correct understanding of the character and nature of our great Creator.

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Jesus will rescue us from the Presence of sin (the 3rd P of salvation) when He comes to take us where he is:

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:3

When Jesus returns he takes us to where he is now at this very moment.  Where is he?

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

Hebrews 10:12

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying:  We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Hebrews 8:1

Jesus has not only made it possible for us to live forever but also to enjoy the gift of life by seeing and doing things we never imagined.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

2 Corinthians 2:9

Jesus takes us to a beautiful city in a different place in the universe where God the Father is located. When we are rescued from this planet of sin, all heaven is emptied. This includes the angels, God the Father, and of course Jesus.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

Matthew 25:31

…. He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

Matthew 8:28

(For more on the 2nd coming of Christ, See

Part 1 Second Coming

 Part 2 Second Coming,

Part 3 Second Coming)

The place that Jesus has prepared for us is called the New Jerusalem in Revelation chapter 9.  Here is a small section of its description:

….the great city, the holy[Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

Revelation 9:10-13

This great gated city has a tree and a river that runs through it.

In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:2

Hard for us to image the beauty of this city.  Did you notice that the tree of life is in the city and it has the special task of “healing the nations?”  This same tree was in the garden of Eden at the beginning and it is there at the end.  Perhaps as all the nations eat from the tree of life again, all differences are resolved and it perpetuates eternal life literally.

But, this new Jerusalem in heaven stays there for only 1,000 years before God moves it to our little planet.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21: 2-4

(For more on the 1,000 years, see Part 4-Second Coming-1,000 Years?)

Finally, this meek inherit the earth when the New Jerusalem sits down on the New earth:

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing,
And her people a joy.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
And joy in My people;
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her,
Nor the voice of crying.

Isaiah 65: 17-19

This passage sounds a lot like Revelation 21:2-4  doesn’t it?

We will be busy on the new earth as described by Isaiah:

They shall build houses and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit….And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Isaiah 65: 21-22 (partial)

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The Lord is “preparing us a place”  by his ministry not his carpentry work.  It is not about the mansions, it is about preparing us (you and me)  that we might be able to be there.  It is a work of completely changing our hearts through the ministry of Jesus as our High Priest.  Our experience with sin, death, salvation, resurrection and glorification will assure that sin never occurs again in God’s kingdom.

Indeed Jesus is able to save us to the uttermost.  We have seen that He saves us from the Penalty of Sin (death), the Power of sin (rebirth), the Presence of sin (Second coming), and finally the Propensity to sin (sin is eradicated).

The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.

Great Controversy, p.678

Dear reader,  if you have felt the pull and convicting power of the Holy Spirit to consider letting Jesus come into your heart, your mind, your way of thinking; I encourage you to yield to His pull.  Now is the time to repent of your sins and ask Jesus to give you eternal life. He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you.  Then walk in the power of the new life you have in Christ.  Don’t neglect the daily opportunity to read His word and grow.  Then one day, He will come and deliver us all from the presence of sin and never will we experience any tears or crying again.

His work in us will then be complete. We are saved to the uttermost by our Great Creator-Jesus