The Trump era is about to begin! Between the tweets, debates and policy
changes, Donald Trump is going dominate the political discourse both in
the US and outside from now on, for some years to come. Let us pray that
the Lord will strengthen his hands and fills him with wisdom! As
Christians, we are commanded to pray for our leaders. The bible exhorts
us, “Therefore I exhort first that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and
all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
While we agree, and disagree with President Donald Trump, let us not forget about the other “Trump”, the Great Trumpet of the Lord, announcing the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! The final words of the famous gospel hymn “It is well…,” composed by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873, after the tragic loss of his four precious young daughters, goes like this….
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Let us keep our ears open for the sound of that great trumpet!
There are more than 300 references to the Second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the bible. It is the blessed hope for the people of God. The early Christians greeted each other with the words, “Maranatha” which stands for “Come, Lord Jesus.” When they faced persecutions, trials and difficulties, they comforted one another with the blessed hope of the Lord’s imminent return. That is when all suffering ends, and we get to be with our Lord, who gave himself for us on the cross of Calvary. His glorious appearing is near, let us get ready! We can divide the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the Second Coming into the following four categories.
1. Testimony of the Old Testament prophets:
The prophets of the Old Testament spoke with pinpoint accuracy about the first coming of Jesus. They were not speaking their own words, but were moved by the Spirit of God to speak. Micah spoke that the messiah would be born at Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2). Zechariah prophesied about the betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13). Isaiah foresaw the suffering messiah on the cross. (Isaiah 53). David spoke of his death upon the cross. (Psalm 22) So when the Messiah finally came in the fullness of time, all the prophesies, which were foretold hundreds of years before His earthly coming were fulfilled, including the one given in the garden of Eden.(Genesis3:15)
Many of the same prophets spoke and said that He would back again. Zechariah prophesied “and in that day His feet will stand on the Mount Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount Olives will split in two,” (Zechariah 14:4). David speaks about His second coming in Psalms 110. Some of the other old testament references to the second coming of Jesus Christ are Daniel 7:14, Joel 3:2, Haggai 2:20-22, Zechariah 14:4-21, Malachi 4:1,2. There are many more.
2. Testimony of the angels:
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received them out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven”(Acts 1:9-11). These words are very comforting indeed. We know that Jesus was taken up into heaven from Mount Olives (Acts 1:12). The angels testified that He will come back to Mount Olives. That is exactly what we read in Zechariah 14:4.
3. Testimony of the Apostles of Jesus Christ:
Apostle Paul records, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an Archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Apostle Peter says, “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. 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. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…” (2 Peter 3:9-11)
4. Testimony of Our Lord Himself:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have not told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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 14:1-3)
These are just a few references. There are many more throughout the bible. They refer to the different aspects of the Second Coming. The sequence of events will be as follows.
A. Rapture or secret coming of Jesus in the clouds to gather His saints, both dead and alive. (1Thesalonians 4:16-18) (Mathew 24:36-44)
B. 7-year tribulation on the earth and the rule of antichrist. (2 Thessalonians 3-10) (Revelation 6-19).
C. Visible, public coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to Mount Olives with His saints and the war of Armageddon. (Revelation 1:7) (Mathew 24:30)
D. 1000-year millennial rule of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 11 and 35)
E. The war of Gog and Magog. (Revelation 20:7-10) (Ezekiel 38, 39)
F. The great White Throne judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)
G. The dissolution of the present heaven and the earth by fire. (2Peter 3: 10)
H. New Heaven and New Earth. (Revelation 21:1)
I. New Jerusalem, the glorious heavenly city where the Lord will dwell with His people. J. Eternity.
My friend, are you ready for all these? Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Have you repented of your sins? Are you living by His WORD daily? Are you waiting for His coming? If not, please pray this prayer now. “Dear Father in heaven, I am a sinner. I admit that I cannot save myself. I admit that I cannot earn heaven by my good works. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross of Calvary for my sins. I believe that He rose again from the dead on the third day. Lord, wash me and cleanse me by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Forgive all my sins, Lord. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior now. I want to live per your WORD daily, so that I will not be left out when Jesus comes back again. Thank you, Lord,”
If you have prayed this from the bottom of your heart, you are now a child of God. Your sins are forgiven. Live for Jesus every day and wait eagerly for His coming. May God, bless you richly. He has great plans for your life. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)
You can also sing along words of the immortal gospel hymn,
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
While we agree, and disagree with President Donald Trump, let us not forget about the other “Trump”, the Great Trumpet of the Lord, announcing the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! The final words of the famous gospel hymn “It is well…,” composed by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873, after the tragic loss of his four precious young daughters, goes like this….
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Let us keep our ears open for the sound of that great trumpet!
There are more than 300 references to the Second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the bible. It is the blessed hope for the people of God. The early Christians greeted each other with the words, “Maranatha” which stands for “Come, Lord Jesus.” When they faced persecutions, trials and difficulties, they comforted one another with the blessed hope of the Lord’s imminent return. That is when all suffering ends, and we get to be with our Lord, who gave himself for us on the cross of Calvary. His glorious appearing is near, let us get ready! We can divide the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the Second Coming into the following four categories.
1. Testimony of the Old Testament prophets:
The prophets of the Old Testament spoke with pinpoint accuracy about the first coming of Jesus. They were not speaking their own words, but were moved by the Spirit of God to speak. Micah spoke that the messiah would be born at Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2). Zechariah prophesied about the betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13). Isaiah foresaw the suffering messiah on the cross. (Isaiah 53). David spoke of his death upon the cross. (Psalm 22) So when the Messiah finally came in the fullness of time, all the prophesies, which were foretold hundreds of years before His earthly coming were fulfilled, including the one given in the garden of Eden.(Genesis3:15)
Many of the same prophets spoke and said that He would back again. Zechariah prophesied “and in that day His feet will stand on the Mount Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount Olives will split in two,” (Zechariah 14:4). David speaks about His second coming in Psalms 110. Some of the other old testament references to the second coming of Jesus Christ are Daniel 7:14, Joel 3:2, Haggai 2:20-22, Zechariah 14:4-21, Malachi 4:1,2. There are many more.
2. Testimony of the angels:
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received them out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven”(Acts 1:9-11). These words are very comforting indeed. We know that Jesus was taken up into heaven from Mount Olives (Acts 1:12). The angels testified that He will come back to Mount Olives. That is exactly what we read in Zechariah 14:4.
3. Testimony of the Apostles of Jesus Christ:
Apostle Paul records, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an Archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Apostle Peter says, “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. 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. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…” (2 Peter 3:9-11)
4. Testimony of Our Lord Himself:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have not told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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 14:1-3)
These are just a few references. There are many more throughout the bible. They refer to the different aspects of the Second Coming. The sequence of events will be as follows.
A. Rapture or secret coming of Jesus in the clouds to gather His saints, both dead and alive. (1Thesalonians 4:16-18) (Mathew 24:36-44)
B. 7-year tribulation on the earth and the rule of antichrist. (2 Thessalonians 3-10) (Revelation 6-19).
C. Visible, public coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to Mount Olives with His saints and the war of Armageddon. (Revelation 1:7) (Mathew 24:30)
D. 1000-year millennial rule of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 11 and 35)
E. The war of Gog and Magog. (Revelation 20:7-10) (Ezekiel 38, 39)
F. The great White Throne judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)
G. The dissolution of the present heaven and the earth by fire. (2Peter 3: 10)
H. New Heaven and New Earth. (Revelation 21:1)
I. New Jerusalem, the glorious heavenly city where the Lord will dwell with His people. J. Eternity.
My friend, are you ready for all these? Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Have you repented of your sins? Are you living by His WORD daily? Are you waiting for His coming? If not, please pray this prayer now. “Dear Father in heaven, I am a sinner. I admit that I cannot save myself. I admit that I cannot earn heaven by my good works. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross of Calvary for my sins. I believe that He rose again from the dead on the third day. Lord, wash me and cleanse me by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Forgive all my sins, Lord. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior now. I want to live per your WORD daily, so that I will not be left out when Jesus comes back again. Thank you, Lord,”
If you have prayed this from the bottom of your heart, you are now a child of God. Your sins are forgiven. Live for Jesus every day and wait eagerly for His coming. May God, bless you richly. He has great plans for your life. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)
You can also sing along words of the immortal gospel hymn,
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
