Open Letter To Evangelical and Protestant Pastors Worldwide Now is the Day to Turn Back to God’s Word

I am posting this commentary for the purpose of warning you, my dear brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church is in danger and our pastors, leaders and teachers are in danger of leading the sheep of God straight to hell. This dear brother in the Lord, Roger Oakland, speaks clearly about the apostasy in the Church. Please take the time to prayerfully read this commentary. May your eyes be open to see clearly how the enemy of our Lord would deceive the elect, if possible.

Because Jesus Christ is returning at anytime!

Commentary by Roger Oakland

www.understandthetimes.org 

 

From: Roger Oakland, Understand The Times

The following letter is to all Bible-believing pastors throughout the world who have been or are being influenced by current trends that are attacking the Word of God through the postmodern humanistic mystical belief system. I have witnessed this deception firsthand on a worldwide basis but am most familiar with what has been happening in the two fellowships I have been part of for the past thirty years - one in Canada and one based in southern California. 

It is with a heavy heart I write this open letter to those who consider themselves evangelical or Protestant pastors. While my desire is to do this respectfully and with the love of the Lord, I am compelled with a strong sense of responsibility to write this warning.

The fact is we are living in a time in history where there is great spiritual apostasy (a falling away), and sadly, many pastors don’t even realize it is happening. Others realize it but don’t know what to do about it, while still others see it but promote it anyway. The purpose of this letter is to shine light on the darkness that has crept into so many churches today.

For many years, I have documented my concerns about this apostasy and presented the evidence to the body of Christ. An article I wrote a few years ago called “Ichabod” described the departing of God’s Spirit from many churches. That article was later followed by the commentary “Is Your Denomination a Sinking Titanic?.” I believe we are witnessing the sinking of the Titanic at the present time. While most are still dancing around in the ballroom, a few have chosen to get off the boat. How many get off in time is the question that remains to be answered.

While I recognize that I am “marked” by some as someone who has caused division within the church, please understand I do not fear any man. I look to Jesus Christ and am committed to tell the truth whatever the cost. I know I have enemies among the “brethren” who insist that I remain silent. I have also been falsely accused and slandered by gossip as a means of discrediting me. 

The Bible teaches that we should never fear man or follow man’s ways. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). We should fear God and His Word alone. Based upon what God revealed to Ezekiel (Chapter 3: 17-20), there is a biblical principal that cannot be overlooked. When God reveals deception and darkness, a watchman must speak out and tell the truth regardless of the circumstances and the consequences.

What I find very alarming is that many pastors who gave warnings in the past about End Times deception seem to have now ceased and become silent. Taking the place of the warnings are teachings or promotion on everything from church-growth, seeker-friendly, contemplative spirituality, Purpose Driven, postmodern/emerging spirituality to even a Catholic/Jesuit agenda. 

These various teachings are not biblical Christianity, and for many pastors who once taught the Bible faithfully, these seductive teachings have pulled these pastors in a direction that negates so much of what they once stood for. It is not uncommon now to hear these pastors espousing those such as Mark Driscoll, Rob Bell, Richard Foster, and Rick Warren, all of whom de-emphasize Bible prophecy of the last days and emphasize the “Kingdom of God on earth” now. 

Some pastors recognize that their own denominations or fellowships have turned or are turning away from the teachings of the Bible, yet so many have remained active participants of these denominations. As the years go by, these pastors do not speak up – they are silent. Is this silence an indication that they have bought into a sensual, carnal, three-legged stool plan that links hands with those such as Rick Warren and Tony Blair and is on the road to Rome for a One World Religion? I fear that for many that is the case. What may have begun as “looking the other way” has become outright rebellion in many cases. This is the way deception often happens.

We are living in the time of strong delusion that Paul wrote about (2 Thessalonians 2:11). If you are a Bible-believing pastor, shouldn’t you be helping to lead the way in warning about deception, not promoting the apostate agenda in any fashion? 

Ecumenism within the church has been allowed to develop for years.

When a pastor does not warn his flock about ecumenical apostasy, it sends the message that exposing apostasy is just not that important. When a church, organization, or denomination starts down the Road to Rome, there is very little chance of turning back – the pull is just too great. Nowhere in the Bible is it acceptable to join hands with those who promote another Jesus and another gospel like that of the Roman Catholic Church.

This is why John warned: come out of her (the harlot) and be set free (Revelation 18:4).

Some Personal Ministry History:

In June 1981, Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, invited me to fly down from my farm in Saskatchewan, Canada to speak at Costa Mesa at a four-night conference called “The Bible: Key to Understanding Science, History and the Future.” Seven years later, in the fall of 1988, Chuck Smith asked me to join the staff at Costa Mesa. My family moved to Orange County, California from Saskatchewan, Canada.

My position at Costa Mesa involved being an outreach from CCCM as an apologist in the area of creation and evolution. I also showed the association of the New Age Movement and its relationship to Bible Prophecy. 

In 1991, after being on staff for three years, Understand The Times was founded as an independent ministry, separate from CCCM. However, UTT was still closely associated with CCCM and was given missionary support. The UTT association with Calvary Chapel pastors and missionaries encompassed the world for about twenty years.

During a fifteen year time period, UTT had an office on church property at CCCM from time to time. Understand The Times had a five-minute radio program that aired on KWAVE and CSN for over ten years. I also had close relationships with members of the Smith family including Chuck’s brother Paul and his son Jeff. 

While many of my experiences and associations with those in Calvary Chapel had been good over the years, I observed many serious problems in the Calvary Chapel movement, especially in the last five years. Many Calvary Chapel pastors I know have admitted they also see these same warning signs, but most have not felt they could speak out. 

The reason I am writing this letter as an open letter to all pastors is because I believe that many of the problems I witnessed while part of the Calvary Chapel movement are the same problems that many other Christian organizations and denominations are experiencing today. And many of these kinds of problems lead to deception and apostasy. 

Common Problems in the Churches:

Today many evangelical and Protestant pastors are operating on the principal or idea that if their churches are small, there is something wrong with them. The “doctrine of big” has replaced the doctrine of being faithful to the Word of God. Along with this doctrine of big comes the subtle attitude that any “offensiveness” must be removed from the church. Thus, a watered-down gospel takes effect; and thus, people in the churches are not hearing the true  Gospel. Crosses are removed, Bibles are left at home, hymns are stopped, and talk about the blood of Jesus and His atonement for our sin ceases.

As Bible-believing Christians, we should be able to discern that there is a flaw in this doctrine of big. As churches get bigger, more funds are required to accommodate bigger budgets. The bigger the budget the bigger the offering is needed to meet the budget, and big donors become more and more important. Now you have a situation where the pastor preaches carefully so as not to create controversy. Controversy can cause powerful donors to leave. Pastors who once feared God now become man-fearing where doctrine is determined by men and their motives, and not by God’s Spirit and His Word.

 

Over the past two decades, I believe the Lord led me to author or co-author six books warning about the ecumenical one world religion movement and how it is impacting Evangelical Protestant Christianity. These were: (1) New Wine or Old Deception (2) When New Wine Makes a Man Divine (3) New Wine and the Babylonian Vine (4) How Marian Apparitions Plan to Unite the World’s Religions (5) Another Jesus: The Eucharistic Christ and the New Evangelization (6) Faith Undone: The Emerging Church - a New Reformation or an End Time Deception. God has put in my heart all these years a passion to warn of impending spiritual danger.

On March 6, 2011, I attended the Peace in a Globalized Society Forum that was held at Saddleback. Rick Warren and Tony Blair both explained what they are doing to set up a one-world religious program for peace. Yet even though it has become most apparent to many discerning Christians what is taking place with Rick Warren and his “new” reformation, very few pastors are publically denouncing the Purpose Driven Peace Plan. In fact, prominent pastors like John Piper are embracing Rick Warren and his teachings.

The Jesuit Connection

As I have written in some of my books, Ignatius Loyola was the founder of the Order of the Jesuits in the Catholic Church. The Jesuit goal is to turn the inerrant Word of God into the word of man while at the same time promoting the word of the pope as the word of God. In addition, the Jesuit ambition is to bring the “lost brethren” back to the “Mother” church (read Another Jesus). This is no minor thing. I have been to the city of Rome. I have seen the multitudes worship and adore a man (the Pope) who carries a wafer and a vial of juice that is supposed to be Jesus. Martyrs in earlier centuries were murdered for rejecting the papacy and the Eucharist. And yet today, I am horrified to watch once Bible-believing pastors turn their hearts and their congregations toward Rome, often through a Jesuit influence. Instances of this are occurring more every day.

Now that Rick Warren and Tony Blair (who converted to Catholicism) have announced they will be working together to set up a One World Religion as they did on March 6, 2011 in southern California, how will Christian pastors respond to this? Or will they at all? History shows, most probably won’t.

What is known as fact is this: the emerging/postmodern, Purpose Driven ecumenical, contemplative mindset in the Evangelical or Protestant Christian church has not gone away. And it is not popular to speak against this growing apostasy. It is a lot easier to go down stream than upstream. The Bible foretells we are in the Last Days. What do you as Christian pastors want to be: dead salmon washed out to sea or true fishers of men?

Check out the Bible! There will be a One World Religion. Do you want to be part of the problem, or do you want to be standing up for truth? The latter is not easy and carries with it a high price.

A Wake Up Call to Pastors

Teaching and preaching the Word of God is a high calling. You should always be true to your calling and remain true to the Word. And yet, many know that something is seriously wrong, but they say nothing.

 

Saying nothing can be as detrimental as outrightly supporting the lie. It is time to wake up! We are in the last days, and many sheep are being deceived, and pastors have a huge role in that deception taking place. When the sheep have the wool pulled over their eyes, they cannot see. This is not acceptable. What about the wolves who are among the flock? Good shepherds should never allow that to happen.

While there still remain faithful Christian pastors who look to Jesus Christ as their Good Shepherd and still believe in the inerrant Word of God, the fact that so many pastors have moved away from the basics of biblical Christianity toward a man-made apostate church will result in much of the flock drifting with them.

And may I say this to any believer who now realizes his or her own pastor is compromising the Word of God and embracing apostate teachings: If you have done what you can to warn and exhort your pastor(s) to turn back to the truth, and if your warnings and exhortations are rejected, perhaps it is time to get out of that church. Paul addressed this when he said:  “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” Titus 3:10.

Deception has crept in, unnoticed to many, and even at times been purposely covered up. Jude warned this was happening in his day (Jude 4). The same is true in the perilous days in which we live (2 Timothy 3: 1-5).

As of last fall, I am no longer affiliated with the Calvary Chapel movement, although I am still friends with and associate with some of the pastors, ones who have sought to remain faithful to the Lord and His Word.


As do many leaders in the body of Christ, Calvary Chapel pastors who have veered need to get right, and they need to do it quickly. According to the Word, our redemption draweth nigh, and He could return for those who are ready at any moment.

If you are a pastor who has succumbed to the present-day spiritual apostasy, get back to the Word of God, and preach it, and teach it! If your congregation shrinks, so what! Better to have a few who are solid and can go out and be fruitful for the Lord than have a mega church full of participants of a social gospel that is being prepared for the coming One World Religion.


While the large-scale move toward apostasy has been taking place for some time, and postmodern/emerging, Purpose-Driven ideas are widely accepted, there still may be time if pastors will repent and return to the purity of the Gospel and God’s Word.

Many pastors reading this open letter who belong to an organization or denomination may feel fearful about leaving the security of such a “covering.” Perhaps you have never been out from under that umbrella. But at some point, you are going to have to ask yourself the question, Am I really “counting all things but loss” in order to gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)? Am I taking up my cross and following Him, no matter the cost (Matthew 16:24)? I have heard stories now of pastors (both in the Calvary Chapel movement and in other groups and denominations) who finally did make that decision to separate themselves from any apostate associations. If you are one of those, continue on with the ministry God has given you and follow Jesus Christ alone. You can never go wrong by being obedient to Jesus and His Word.

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon. May we be found ready and waiting. 

Sincerely in Christ,

Roger Oakland

Understand The Times

P.S.

Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion...Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. Isaiah 52:8, 11 

But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matthew 15:13-14

 

 

 

 

 

The Top Five Countries on the World Watch List

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! May His name be praised always!

Today I wanted to share with you a little bit about the top five countries that made the World Watch List. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the World Watch List, it's a fairly simple list. The countries who persecute Christians the worst get to be named on this list. That isn't a list I would like to see my country on. 

The organization, Open Doors, is the group that puts this list together on a yearly basis. Here is what they say about the list:

     The World Watch List (WWL) is a ranking of 50 countries where persecution of Christians for religious reasons is worst. First of all, the list cover persecution of Christians of all denominations in the entire country. The focus is on persecution of their faith, not persecution for political, economic, social, ethnic or accidental reasons.

So, as you can see, it's not a list precariously put together.

Today I am going to focus on the top five countries and why they made it to the top. I want you, dear follower of Christ to be informed so you will know how to pray for your brothers and sisters in these countries. I will also provide a link for you to go to Open Doors and become a prayer partner with them. So without further ado, let's begin with the number one on the WWL 2011.

1. North Korea

The situation in North Korea during this reporting period remains horrific. There is no change in the total number of points but that doesn’t mean it’s stabilized. On the contrary, during the last year general changes in the country adversely affected the entire population, including Christians. Due to currency reforms, two out of every ten people seem to have lost their homes. Next to the economic crisis, North Korea has been hit by natural disasters. Dozens of North Korean people died in floods and landslides which were caused by a typhoon. The situation for the Christians was even more terrible. The whole country is under the spell of the Juche ideology and the worship of the “Great Leader.” As a result Christians do not have even the right to exist, according to the government. Despite this persecution, Christianity is growing slowly. There are many risks for Christians, most of them deadly. In 2010 hundreds of Christians were arrested for various reasons. Some were killed and others sentenced to political camps. For example, a Christian house church in Pyungsung province was discovered by authorities in May 2010 and three Christians were immediately sentenced to death because of the meeting. The other 20 Christians were sent to a labor camp. Politically, things are changing as well. In September Kim Jong-Eun, the third son of Kim Jong Il, was officially appointed to general and elevated to second in command of the Central Military Commission. It confirms the intention of the present regime to make Kim Jong Eun the hereditary successor. Will the situation change for Christians when Kim Jong Eun becomes the new leader? Many people inside the country do not believe so but only God knows the total picture.

2. Iran

The total number of points has increased somewhat for Iran. During the reporting period, Christians continued to be arrested in waves, especially during December 2009 and first three months of 2010. Many church services are being monitored by the secret police. Believers that are active in churches or the cell group movement are being pressured. They are questioned, arrested and put in jail and beaten. Individual believers are being oppressed by society, under pressure of the authorities. During the reporting period, there were frequent demonstrations against the Iranian government. It is assumed that the Iranian government is in crisis with so many of its citizens continuing to openly protest against it. In an effort to distract attention away from these problems, the regime is lashing out against Christians. In total, a few hundred Christians were arrested. Many of the arrested Christians have been released on bail. However, they are often still monitored by the authorities and may face further court hearings. Also there is the risk of repercussions by Islamic extremists, especially when Christians are involved in sharing the gospel with Muslims. The violence can come from a source as close as one’s own family. A convert from Islam died as a result of injuries sustained when he was seriously beaten by a family member during the third quarter of 2010. In the meantime, the indigenous church continues to grow, numbering at least 450,000 Christians (indigenous and Assyrian/Armenian). There are indications pointing to a huge need for Bibles. Sadly during the first half of 2010, hundreds of Bibles were seized by security forces and burned. It has been quite a long time since such a harsh measure was taken to thwart the distribution of Bibles. Islam is the official religion in Iran, and all laws and regulations must be consistent with the official interpretation of sharia law. Although ethnic (Armenian and Assyrian) Christians are a recognized religious minority guaranteed religious freedom, they have reported imprisonment, physical abuse, harassment and discrimination because of their faith. Armenian and Assyrian churches are allowed to teach fellow countrymen in their own language, but it is forbidden to minister to people with a Muslim background (speaking Farsi). Under judicial interpretations of sharia law, any Muslim who leaves Islam to embrace another religion faces the death penalty.

 
3. Afghanistan

The situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated during the last reporting period. The government intensified persecution of Muslim background believers. Afghanistan has a population of more than 28 million people. Among them are very few Christians. Afghan believers are not accepted by the predominantly Muslim society, and legislation is not clear about the religious rights of Christians. During 2010, there were many examples of intimidation and threats against Christians. In May and June 2010, the Afghan television network Noorin repeatedly showed footage of Muslim background believers who were being baptized. Christian aid organizations were also accused of evangelism. In response to the broadcast, the secretary of the Lower House during a session of parliament called for the execution of these Christian converts from Islam. The broadcast and response of the government caused protests on the streets of Kabul and in other Afghan cities. Hundreds of protesters shouted death threats against Christian converts and demanded the expulsion of Christian organizations because of their assumed Christian influence. Pressure on Afghan Christians intensified and dozens searched for safety in other neighborhoods or cities or fled the country. Several arrests and court cases of Christians have taken place in 2010. In August, Christian aid workers were killed by the Taliban. Afghan Christians continue to suffer persecution and even violence from their families and others. In a unique situation in the history of the country, there is now a public debate over allowing Afghans to be Christians and have rights.

4. Saudi Arabia

Despite the fact that the total number of points for Saudi Arabia increased slightly, the country descends from position 3 to 4. The reason for this minor shift is the considerable rise of Afghanistan. The increase in points for Saudi Arabia is explained by reports we received of several Christians being physically harmed for their faith during the past reporting period, which was not the case during the previous period. Presumably the total number of Christians facing this kind of persecution will be much higher, but it is hard to receive sufficient information on this from a closed country like the Wahhabist Kingdom. Also, 12 Filipino Christians and one priest were arrested while attending a religious service in a private home on October 1. They were charged with proselytizing and temporarily released (one of them on bail). In addition, a number of Christians fled the country because of oppression for faith-related reasons. In some cases their lives were at stake. Most Christians in Saudi Arabia are expatriates who live and work temporarily in the country. The majority of them are from the Philippines. These foreign workers, besides being exploited and poorly paid, are regularly exposed to verbal and physical violence because of their Christian faith. There are a number of converts from Islam who live their faith in deepest secret. Religious freedom does not exist in this heartland of Islam where citizens are only allowed to adhere to one religion. No protection, legal or otherwise, is provided for non-Muslim residents. The legal system is based on Islamic law (sharia). Apostasy (conversion to another religion) is punishable by death if the accused does not recant. Although the government recognizes the right of non-Muslims to worship in private, the religious police “the Muttawa’’ often does not respect this right. It was also this Muttawa which arrested the above mentioned 13 Christians in October. The public practice of non-Muslim worship is prohibited as well in Saudi Arabia. Worshippers who engage in such activities risk arrest, imprisonment, lashing, deportation, and sometimes torture. Believers from a Muslim background also run the risk of honor killing if their family or others in their social environment discover their new faith.

 

5. Somalia

The situation for Christians in Somalia worsened during this reporting period. A negative image of Christians was painted in the media, eight Christians were martyred and a quarter of the number of Christians fled the country. The republic of Somalia essentially has been in civil war since 1991, and can be divided into self-declared independent Somaliland (North-West), autonomous Puntland (North-East) and Southern Somalia with the capital Mogadishu. While Somaliland and Puntland are rather stable, Southern Somalia is not because of the Islamic militia’s al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam are fighting the Transitional Government of the Republic, its ally Ahlu Sunnah Jama’a and backed by 6,000 African Union soldiers. Islamist al-Sahbaab controls 90% of Southern Somalia while the Transitional Government is locked up in a small part of the capital. Authoritarian Al-Shabaab is enforcing a harsh interpretation of sharia in the territories it controls. This militia is extremely radical because of external influence by al-Qaeda during this reporting period. Hence its support among the local population is waning. At the same time, al-Shabaab is effectively working to wipe out Christianity from the country.

Now remember, beloved of Christ, this is just the top five countries on this list. There are forty-five more. If you would like to know more about the other countries and be a prayer partner with Open Doors and countless other brothers and sisters praying, then click here.

In the United States, we don't really know what persecution is, yet. But our brothers and sisters in these other countries do. They need our support. They need to know they are remembered. They covet the prayers of the saints. So join me, and let us "remember the prisoners as if chained with them - those who are mistreated - since you yourselves are in the body also." (Hebrews 13:3 - NKJV)

Because He Lives!

THAT BLESSED HOPE

Several weeks ago I had read a sermon by Billy Sunday and there was a verse that stood out to me that caused me to study and write the article you are about to read. I want you to know I was totally clueless to the "prediction" in regards to Mr. Camping. I just "happened" to be reading classic sermons on the return of Christ. It wasn't until two days of the supposed "rapture" that was to take place, did I hear of it. I then tried to complete this article in order to post it that Saturday. But, I believe the Lord had other plans, as it didn't happen. 

I do believe that my great God and Savior will return one day. I do believe that day is more imminent than ever. However, I know that man is completely unable to say when that day will take place. Only our God knows. 

My prayer today for you, my beloved reader, is you will find yourself looking for our Blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Take comfort in knowing He will return for His Bride. 

And dear reader, if you haven't surrendered and submitted your heart and life to our Lord Jesus, I urge you to do so today. "Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) He will return. That is the truth. Will you be ready? 

As always, please feel free to leave a comment. If you have a prayer request, please let me know. It would be my joy to pray for you. May the Lord bless you!

That Blessed Hope

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13

Our headlines are filled with earthquakes, floods, wars, rumor of wars, nations rising against nations, children rising against parents, and it goes on.

We are looking at global financial uncertainty, industries failing, and the value of the dollar fading. And let’s not forget a deceitful government.

Where do we find hope in the face of our world crumbling and people making false predictions about the end of the world and when Jesus is suppose to return?

Where is our peace when we don’t have a job, we’re losing our home, and our children are hungry because we can’t buy food?

Where is our comfort when everything we own has washed away in the floods, and thousands of lives are gone due to an earthquake that rocked the earth off it’s axis and the tsunami that followed washed towns and communities out to sea?

Where is our joy when the bills are due, the truck’s is broke down and there just isn’t enough money to pay for it all?

Where is our rest when great personal calamity hits a family leaving the ones left with no income, no home and no one to help?

We can find our peace, comfort, joy, and rest in “that blessed hope.”

Not hope that our finances will change, because finances are always uncertain.

Nor do we find hope in our nation, family friends or jobs. Because nations rise and fall, family members die or move on. Friends come and go and well… we know the job market is precarious at best.

But we can, we can, find our hope in Christ Jesus.

Paul told Titus in his letter to him,

            “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” [Titus 2:11-13]

Now think about this with me; God knew before He created the heavens and the earth that not only would man need a Savior to save him from his sins and restore a right relationship between Himself and man; He also knew He would return a second time to get His Bride, the Church, and bring her back to heaven with Him.

Through His prophets, in the Bible, He told us over and over again how our Savior would be born of a virgin, in humble surroundings, He would live a sinless life (our Perfect Lamb), He would be beaten and bruised, He would die on a cross, and shed His blood for our sins (the Perfect Sacrifice). Then He would be buried and raised on the third day. After that He would go and prepare a place for us, His Bride.

In the New Testament, John 14:2-3, Jesus told the disciples,

            “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have 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.”

Therein lies our hope – The whole reason for Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, and ascension – So He can prepare a place for us, return for us and we can live with Him and worship our Father for all eternity.

God set the perfect time for Jesus to be born and to die. He said it would happen. And it did. He also said He would return. If God has said something is going to come to pass and we see that it has, then there is no reason to not believe that He is going to return. He is not man that He can lie.

Now when the disciples asked Him when He was going to return, He told them many things including to make sure no one deceived them (us), and that a lot of different things would happen before He returned (Matthew 24: 3-51). He also told them (us)

            “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13: 32)

He also said,

            “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” (Mark 13:33)

So to those who are listening to others proclaim they know when Jesus is returning, don’t be deceived. They do not know, only God knows and He ain’t telling!

So what do we do?

We look to our blessed hope, Christ Jesus. He is going to return again, God said, it, Jesus said it, not one time, but many times. Even the angels said He was going to return again, while the disciples were watching Jesus ascend to heaven in the clouds. (Acts 1:9-11)

So where do we find our joy? James tells us -

            “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3)

And our peace is found in Jesus…

            “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you…’” (John 14:27-28a)

We will also find our rest in Him…

            “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

And we can take comfort and comfort one another with this…

            “For the Lord Himself with 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)

Oh people of the Lord, sing praises to His name! If that alone doesn’t make your heart sing with joy, then I don’t know what will.

While we are awaiting our Lord’s return, we are to also be prepared. That doesn’t mean we sell everything and find a spot to sit on and wait.  We are to “deny[ing] ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” (Titus 2:12)

Just as Jesus went about doing His Father’s business (Luke 2:49), we are to do the same. If God has called you to preach His word, then preach. If He has called you to teach, teach. If you are called to be a housewife and mother, praise the Lord, be one that glorifies His name. In all that you do, do it for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

But in all that you do, do it soberly, righteously and godly. What does it mean to live soberly, righteously and godly? After studying I found a commentator who gives, in what I think, the best explanation. This is from The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible (Search God's Word)

Titus 2:12

we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present
world;
not, only "temperately", but wisely and prudently, as children of the light, on whom, and into whom the Gospel has shined; and "righteously" among men, giving to every man his due, and dealing with all according to the rules of equity and justice; as being made new men, created unto righteousness and true holiness; and as being dead to sin, through the death of Christ, and so living unto righteousness, or in a righteous manner; and as being justified by the righteousness of Christ, revealed in the Gospel: and "godly"; in a godly manner, according to the Word of God, and agreeably to the will of God; and in all godly exercises, both public and private, and to the glory of God: and that as long as

in this present world:
which lies in wickedness, and in which there are so many strong temptations to a contrary way of living. The Gospel then is no licentious doctrine; it is according to godliness, and teaches and promotes it; it is an holy faith, yea, a most holy faith; wherefore it is a vile slander to charge it with leading to looseness of life and conversation.

So in other words, we are to live as though Christ Jesus will return any moment. We are not to live ashamed of the gospel of Christ, nor in a manner that would cause us to be ashamed to stand before our Lord and Master. If we have submitted to our Savior then He should be most important in all that we do, say, and live. Our lives should be salt in the earth, the light of Christ in this dark world, the sweet fragrance of the Rose of Sharon, drawing all unto Him.

How I weep, for my spirit yearns to see Him face to face, more each day. Yet, I will and urge all who long to see Him, to do as James said,

            “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and later rain. You also be patient. Establish your heart, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:7-8)

We can take comfort in knowing our Lord returns soon. It may be today, tomorrow or yet years from now. Only God knows. But we can know that He will return. The Bible tells us it will happen, just as it told us of His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension.

So in these times of trials, in these times of uncertainty, let us continue to “look[ing] for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen!