Planes lose their pilots. Drivers disappear from cars. A bus seat once occupied by a Christian, now
empty.
The next coming of Christ. Not the last coming. The next one.
Many confess that before the last day there
will be a coming of Christ to remove his people from the planet. A seven-year period of great torment and
trouble will follow. Then Christ will
return to rule on earth for one thousand years. During this time huge numbers of unbelievers will convert to
Christianity.
Fact?
Fiction? Satanic deception?
Does Christ still have a number of visits to
make? After his next coming will there
be another chance to believe in him? Or
when Christ comes next, will that be the end?
“But
now [Christ] has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with
sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just
as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was
sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a
second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting
for him” (Hebrews 9:26-28)
It is true that the next time Christ comes,
he will bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. But will this coming be followed by hundreds
of years of happenings on earth?
Scripture says that something else will occur on the day salvation is
brought to believers. “Do not be
amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear
his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those
who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29).
On the day salvation comes to believers,
judgment will come on all those rejecting Jesus. There will not be another chance to believe. Christ is coming back once more, and that
day will be the last.
How dangerous it is to suggest something
different.
Those rejecting Christ are given false
hope. Those living in rebellion against
God are told they may have another chance.
They can figure, “If Christ is coming to take Christians away first, I
think I’ll notice. Maybe I’ll miss the
first trip to heaven, but I’ll be sure to catch the second one.”
“While
people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly,
as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians
5:3).
The Lord is coming. He will come only once more.
There will be no more chances.
No escape on that day.
But there is escape on this day.
Are you a sinner? Do you know that God should punish you? As you tremble, hear some amazing news. God died on the cross for all your sins.
Trust him.
It’s true. Then, as you rejoice
that Jesus has suffered your punishment, know that no punishment remains for
you on the last day.
The Lord is coming. There will be no more chances.
No more are needed when you know that Jesus
is your Savior.