Pids Nogales

I share my thoughts on Christ, Education and other Philippine issues

Name:

I love Christ, Math and Computers.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

When Will Jesus Christ Return?

This is based on my personal study and quiet time notes. I have not made a thorough research on this topic so I would not be surprised if the readers may find my ideas questionable. Read on and post your comments so I can evaluate my ideas.

Q. When will Jesus Christ return?

A. The exact day and hour of His return is not known. "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew 24:36). His return is imminent and sure. "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the day" (I Thessalonians 5: 1,2). The following is the order of events related to coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

a. Jesus Christ will come to take with Him all Christians before the seven-year tribulation (called The Great Tribulation) (John 14:1-3; I Cor. 15:51-56; I Thes. 4:13-18). This is commonly referred to as the Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ.

b. Then at the end of the Great Tribulation period, He will return with His saints to fight and defeat the beast and the false prophet (Rev 19:11-21). This is called as the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

c. After that, He will establish His millennial kingdom (Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ) on earth while Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev 20:1-5).

d. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be loosed again and will deceive many people to rebel against Christ (Rebellion Against Jesus Christ). But the Lord Jesus will fight and defeat them.

e. After that, Satan will be cast into the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophet are. (Ruin of the Enemies of Christ)

f. Then all the nations will be judged (called the Great White Throne Judgment) and will give account to God for their deeds. Those who did not believe Christ and His gospel will be cast into the lake of fire. Those who believed the Son of God shall be with Him forever and ever (Rev 20:6-15). (The Day of Reckoning)

Q. What will happen in the Great Tribulation?
A. Since the Church of Christ has been removed from the earth, the work of Satan will go unhindered. Then the antichrist will begin his reign. It will last for about seven years (Daniel 9:27).

"Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come, except there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God; or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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 Thes. 2:1-10

a. First, the antichrist will stand in the holy place (of the temple) and desecrate the temple as prophesied by Daniel the prophet (Mat 24:15).

b. And "then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (Mat 24:21-22). Because of the world's utter sinfulness, the Lord will send plagues upon plagues, and woes upon woes.

Q. What will happen after the seven-year tribulation period?
A. Events at the end of the seven-year tribulation:

a. At the end of the seven-year tribulation, Christ will return with His saints to the earth.

b. Then the antichrist and his allies shall make war with the Lord Jesus Christ. The antichrist, the false prophet and the nations that are allied with them shall be defeated (Rev 19:11-21).

c. And Christ will establish His kingdom upon the earth and He shall rule with a rod of iron for a thousand years (Rev 19:15; 20:1-6).

Q. What will happen during Christ's millenium reign?
A. Events in the Millennial Reign of Christ:

a. The saints in Christ will reign with the Lord Jesus during that thousand-year reign. "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Rev 20:4). Because of the riegn of Christ, the millennium will be peaceful and prosperous.

b. At that time, the devil will be bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev 20:1-3).

c. But at the end of the thousand-year-reign, "Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven; and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Rev 20:7-10).

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

We Have Victory Through Jesus Christ!

Our enemy, Satan, is strong but not omnipotent. He is already defeated and his days are numbered. The Lord Jesus Christ defeated Satan at the Cross of Calvary. Christ's victory is also ours because we have identified ourselves with Christ through faith. The following are also lifted from my quiet time notes. I hope we will live victorious lives because our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the victory.

Q. Who is Satan?
A. Satan is the adversary of God and God's people. He is also called Lucifer, the son of the morning, the anointed covering cherub who rebelled against the Most High God. The Lord God revealed through Ezekiel the origin of this enemy:

"Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz,
and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper,
the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and the gold:
the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes
was prepared in thee in the day that thou was created.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so:
thou wast upon the holy mountain of God;
thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created,
till iniquity was found in thee.

By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee
with violence, and thou hast sinned:

Therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God:
and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty,
thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness:

I will cast thee to the ground,

I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee"


-Ezekiel 28:13-17

The nature of Lucifer's sin was revealed by Isaiah:
"How art thou fallen from heaven; O Lucifer, son of the morning!
how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

For thou hast said in thine heart,
I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation;
in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds:
I will be like the Most High.
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit"


-Isaiah 14:12-15

Satan is not just a product of myth or of man's imagination. He is a personal being and is existing in this world. His demons are the angels who have joined him in rebellion against the Almighty God.


Q. What is the work of Satan and his demons?
A. They oppose God and the Lord's work. Jesus rebuked Satan who is sifting Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men" (Mat 16:23). The devil and his hosts are also active in deceiving the nations so that people may turn away from and turn against God (Rev 20:2-3). They hinder people from obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor 4:3-4).

These fallen beings are also bringing opposition and temptations to God's people. Satan himself tempted Jesus Christ our Lord (Mat 4:1-11). These enemies of God are also setting up traps against the leaders of Christ's church (I Tim 3:7). They are opposing not only the shepherds of the church but also the sheep. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil; as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (I Pet 5:8-9).

Q. What is the destiny of Satan and his demons?
A. Jesus Christ defeated Satan and his demons at the cross of Calvary. "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die" (John 12:31-33). The apostle Paul also had the same glorious message, "Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor 15:57). Satan and his hordes, the defeated enemies of Jesus Christ, will be punished and lodged forever in the lake of fire. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev 20:10).

Q. What then is the importance of this truth to the Christian's life?
A. Because we have victory through the blood of the Lamb, we do not have to fear the enemies of God. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4). However, we must not underestimate the enemy. Satan and his friends are very powerful. But God the Almighty has equipped us an Armor so that we can resist and overcome Satan and his demons.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loines girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of Faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit;
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints"


-Eph 6:10-18