These Bible prophecies are related to the return of Jesus, when he is to judge the living and the dead.
In Matthew 24, Jesus revealed that he will return in the future. In speaking of himself, he said:
Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30, NIV)
In 2 Timothy 4:1,2, as well as in other verses, we are told that Jesus will judge the living and the dead, when he returns:
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:1,2, NIV)
Many people throughout history have falsely claimed to know when Jesus would return, only to be proven wrong, time and time again.
Jesus, however, did not provide a specific time as to when he is to return. Here are a few examples of what Jesus said in regards to his second coming:
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36, NIV)
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matthew 24:42, NIV)
The Apostle Peter also addressed the timing of the return of Jesus:
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9, NIV)
In 2 Timothy, chapter 3, Paul prophesied about how people will behave during the last days. He said that they will, among other things, have love for pleasure and contempt for God.
Here is a sample from 2 Timothy 3:
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV)
In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesied that, before he returns, there would be people falsely claiming to be prophets and falsely claiming to be Christ:
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. (Matthew 24:11, NIV)
23 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:23,24, NIV)
4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5, NIV)
In Matthew 24, Jesus forewarned that there would be false prophets and false claims involving his return. In this same chapter, Jesus also made it clear that, when he returns, his return will be obvious to everyone:
26 "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:26-27, NIV)
And, we are reminded of this in the book of Revelation:
"Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen. (Revelation 1:7, NIV)
In 2 Peter, which is called an "epistle" or "letter," and is part of the New Testament, we again are told that the "day of the Lord" will come as a surprise, and we are told that the heavens and earth will be destroyed:
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:10, NIV)
The epistle also says that a new heavens and earth will be created.
In 2 Peter, we also are told that Christians should view the end with joy rather than fear, and that there will be a new heaven and earth:
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:11-13, NIV)
In Matthew 25:31-46, we are told that during judgment day, non-believers and believers will be separated. The non-believers are symbolized by goats and the believers are symbolized by sheep.
The non-believers will face eternal punishment, but the believers will receive eternal life with God, as expressed in verse 46:
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Matthew 25:46, NIV)
Many modern authors have written books about the end times, offering a variety of opinions, varying greatly in terms of their soundness, as to specific events that they believe will take place in the future. Some of the books have generated a great deal of hype and fear.
The Bible, however, is consistent and unwavering in what it says about the final outcome for each of us: People who believe in Jesus Christ are given the gift of salvation and eternal life with God. Here are some related verses from the Bible:
• 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:16-18, NIV)
• 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10, NIV)
• 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24, NIV)
• For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, NIV)
• Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (Acts 3:19, NIV)
• 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. . . . 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:10,12, NIV)
• That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9, NIV)
© Ray Konig | azbible.com
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