Participants: Lonnie Melashenko
Series Code: VOPS
Program Code: VOPS000013
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00:30 Good evening, everyone.
00:31 I want to begin tonight by telling you a story. 00:35 My friend H.M.S. Richards, Jr., 00:38 my predecessesor in the broadcast 00:40 died exactly three years ago. 00:43 He was just 70-years-old. 00:46 We went down to Brazil together in 1993 00:48 when he got typhoid fever in the Amazon jungles 00:51 and he twice landed in the hospital, 00:53 almost died both times. 00:55 But he finally got home to Los Angeles 00:57 and upon returning home, he never got back on his feet 01:00 because there was a litany of life-threatening diseases 01:03 that just hounded poor Harold, they hammered him, typhoid, 01:07 leaky heart valve, shingles, Parkinsons, kidney failure, 01:10 cancer, ameloid deposits of the kidneys. 01:14 And finally my friend Harold died of heart failure. 01:18 And I want to tell you 01:19 that Harold Richards was a giant. 01:21 He had huge hands, he had a huge heart, 01:25 and he had a huge passion for Jesus. 01:27 In fact, he dreamed one day 01:30 of getting back on his feet and preaching, 01:33 but he never did. 01:35 But one day a serendipitous moment occurred 01:37 and I'll never forget Jeannie and I were at his bedside 01:39 there in the Glendale hospital in Southern California 01:41 when Harold kind of motioned for me and he 01:44 whispered hoarsely for me to come closer, 01:47 so he could tell me something. 01:49 And I leaned in tight 01:50 because he couldn't speak out loud 01:51 and he took my hand and he whispered, 01:53 Lon, Lon, you're God's man. 01:57 God brought you to my side to preach. 02:00 And his breathing was kind of coming in short spurts now, 02:03 heavy and laborious and I must confess 02:06 we were both weeping. 02:08 And I sensed this just might be Harold's final statement to me. 02:13 And it was. 02:14 He said, listen, Lon, 02:16 if God raises me up again, I want to preach again. 02:20 I've even got a sermon in mind, 02:21 got a title for it, you want to hear it? 02:24 Yes, I said. I'd love to. 02:26 Well, brightening right up, 02:27 he spoke a little bit more loud and he said, 02:30 He's on His way. That's the title. 02:34 Not He might be coming or He's gonna come soon, 02:37 but He's on his way. 02:38 Amen. 02:39 And then He gave me a few words that went something like this. 02:42 Far out in space, light years 02:45 beyond the Great Nebula and the Pleiades, 02:47 there's a great stirring and a rush of excitement 02:49 beyond human description, the chariots rumble, 02:52 thunder rolls, it's kettle drums, 02:54 and lightning shakes its fiery white lances, 02:56 the trumpet sound. 02:58 He's on his way. 03:00 And He continued down past unnumbered universe systems 03:04 down to the corridor of the Orion, 03:06 down, down, down toward a blue planet 03:08 hanging out there in space, see it there? 03:11 That lonely one. 03:14 The one that spat on Him, crucified Him, 03:16 but one that He couldn't forget, He's on His way. 03:20 And he laid back in his bed there, 03:22 kind of tired with a twinkle in his eye, 03:24 he heaved a sigh and said, what do you think, Lon? 03:28 I said, Harold, 03:29 I think it's your finest hour, fantastic. 03:33 Well, he said, I think, 03:34 I might be getting a little sleepy now. 03:39 And I'm leaning in with Jeannie and I prayed, dear God, 03:43 please hold Your servant Harold close. 03:46 And then Jeannie and I slipped out of the room. 03:49 We were hardly in the hallway 03:50 before we just held each other and we wept like babies. 03:54 But Harold Richard believed 03:56 in the soon return of Jesus Christ. 03:58 It defined him. 04:00 He believed it with a passion, in the blessed hope, 04:03 in the Jesus who more than anything else in the world 04:06 Harold wishes would be your friend tonight 04:09 because He is on His way. 04:12 Amen. 04:14 Have you ever wondered if the world will end some day? 04:20 And if you have, have you ever wondered just how it will end? 04:24 Will it be like the terrorist attacks 04:26 on New York and Washington on September 11? 04:29 You know, some people think 04:30 the world is gonna end in a nuclear war 04:33 or that human beings will destroy themselves 04:35 and all life on this planet. 04:38 Others think, well, you know, 04:39 the population explosion is gonna come to the place 04:42 where earth just can't support so many people, 04:46 we will all die of mass starvation. 04:49 Still others worry that someday maybe an asteroid 04:52 or a comet is gonna hit this earth and destroy it. 04:56 But do you know that long ago, 04:58 the Bible prophesied exactly how the world will end. 05:03 And friends, the good news is that the human race 05:06 is not going to die out because of war or starvation 05:09 or some plague like SARS, 05:13 or a mysterious microbe that's released 05:15 from some lab in Iraq or some other enemy country, 05:19 not even by colliding with an object in outer space. 05:23 Instead our Bible tells us that the world is gonna end 05:27 with the triumphant return of Jesus Christ to this earth. 05:32 He's gonna return to the same earth 05:34 that He left almost 2,000 years ago, 05:36 and He will return to end time 05:39 as we know it and usher in eternity. 05:44 Now it's very interesting to discover 05:46 what people think when they're asked 05:49 what they think the return of Jesus will be like, 05:52 what will happen? 05:53 Well, opinions are very interesting. 05:56 But they're just that, opinions. 06:01 You know, I'd really rather prefer to know 06:04 what's going to happen from here, wouldn't you? 06:06 Amen. 06:07 And for that, we need to turn to God's word tonight. 06:09 The word that promises that 06:10 Jesus is going to return to our world to deal 06:12 with all of the problems that we have today. 06:16 But the good news is King Jesus is coming, 06:19 and He's coming soon. 06:21 And that is a great comfort to me. 06:23 Because the problems of this world, 06:25 why, if you look in the morning newspapers, 06:27 they just keep getting worse and worse 06:28 and it seems that all of our efforts 06:30 to make this world a safer and better, 06:32 healthier place to be often makes it worse instead. 06:38 And in fact, it's gotten so rotten 06:41 but the problems of this world are beyond human solution. 06:46 Now I believe with all of my heart, 06:47 it's going to take divine intervention 06:50 to set everything right again. 06:51 Amen. 06:53 I told you the other night that Jeannie and I, 06:55 a few months ago we're on a long journey 06:57 following overseas in the Mediterranean 06:59 in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul 07:02 with Voice of Prophecy group. 07:04 We ended up in the city of Rome 07:07 where both Apostle Paul and Peter 07:10 were executed as martyrs. 07:12 And I'll never ever forget going down 07:14 into the Mammertine prison there 07:16 where Paul was imprisoned. 07:18 Some of you may have been there. 07:19 It's carved out of rock 07:21 and it's shaped like a great big test-tube. 07:24 And the only way in or out of that 07:26 prison back in Paul's day was to be let down by a rope. 07:31 It's interesting 'cause in the floor 07:32 there is an iron grate with a great pick padlock. 07:35 And when that prisoner down there finally starved or died, 07:39 a Roman soldier would be let down by a rope 07:42 and he'd unlock that grate, and he'd open the door, 07:46 he'd kick that body into the hole 07:48 where it tumble down into a conduit canal 07:51 down to the Tiber river 07:53 and then it would wash out to sea. 07:55 Well, I'm happy to tell you 07:56 that Paul did not die in that dark, 07:59 damp Mammertine prison. 08:02 But while he was down there waiting 08:04 for the executioner to behead him, 08:06 he wrote in Titus 2:13 08:09 that he was "Looking for that blessed hope 08:13 and glorious appearing of our great God 08:15 and Savior, Jesus Christ." 08:18 You know, if you ever get down and feeling low 08:21 and I want you to listen to Paul's encouraging letter, 08:23 read that Book of Titus. 08:26 Ladies and gentleman, the most talked-about event 08:28 in the entire New Testament 08:30 is the second coming of Jesus Christ. 08:32 In fact, one out of 25 verses in this book. 08:36 Christ spent more time talking about that event 08:39 than any other topic in the entire New Testament. 08:42 Beautiful promises that Jesus made just shortly 08:44 before His crucifixion and then His ascension. 08:47 In fact most of you probably know this text if you don't, 08:50 you can sneak a peak up at the monitors here. 08:53 John 14:1-3 say it with me out loud, everyone 08:56 "Let not your heart be troubled, 08:58 you believe in God, believe also in Me. 09:01 In My Father's house are many mansions, 09:04 if it were not so, I would have told you. 09:07 I go to prepare a place for you. 09:10 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 09:13 I will come again and receive you to Myself, 09:17 that where I am, there you may be also." 09:22 And let me tell you, over the centuries, 09:24 whenever disappointment and hardship or death 09:26 have threatened Christ's followers, this star of hope, 09:30 the promise of His return has brought courage, 09:32 it's brought strength to endure. 09:35 Well, finally that day came 09:37 when Paul was holed down to that prison, 09:39 in a flash of blinding light 09:41 that executioner's sword took his head. 09:44 But just before, when he was just steps away from dying, 09:48 Paul triumphantly declared in 2 Timothy 4:7, 8 09:54 "I have fought the good fight, 09:56 I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 10:00 Finally, there is laid up for me 10:02 the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, 10:04 the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, 10:08 and not to me only but also to all 10:11 who have loved His appearing." 10:13 Amen. 10:15 You know, Paul could valiantly face 10:17 that executioner's sword on that fateful day 10:20 because he had faith in Christ's promise 10:22 that Jesus will return. 10:25 And friend, Jesus is promise 10:26 to His disciples belongs to all of us. 10:29 Jesus will come again. Amen. 10:32 But the question tonight is how? When? 10:37 What does prophecy tell us? Will it be soon? 10:41 You know, when the disciples asked Jesus to tell them 10:44 what are the signs of Your coming, 10:46 what about the end of the world, when will that be? 10:49 Jesus gave detailed accounts of events 10:52 that would take just take place 10:54 just before He came, His return. 10:56 I want you to carefully read what Jesus Himself tells us. 11:00 He says, folks, he says, 11:02 there's gonna be a lot of theories out there 11:04 about how and when He will return. 11:08 The event that many refer to as the rapture. 11:13 Even though, ladies and gentlemen, 11:15 that is not a word you'll find in your King James 11:18 or New King James or New American Standard 11:20 or New International Bible. 11:23 There is no such thing in the scripture 11:25 as a secret rapture. 11:28 The dictionary by the way defines rapture 11:31 as a state or experience of being 11:32 carried away by overwhelming emotion. 11:36 But that term rapture has come to be used by many Christians 11:40 in the last few years for a synonym of Jesus' return 11:44 to carry away or rapture the redeemed from this earth. 11:49 We're not gonna worry about terminology tonight 11:51 because we want to just take our Bibles 11:53 and focus what Jesus taught His disciples 11:56 about how and when He would return, would that be okay? 11:59 Amen. 12:00 He knew that there would be theories, 12:03 concepts, ideas, many incorrect dangerous ideas, 12:06 some even deceptive, even frauds. 12:09 And so He warned in Matthew 24:4, 5 12:13 "Take heed that no one deceives you. 12:16 For many will come in My name, saying, 12:18 'I am the Christ, and will" what? 12:22 "Deceive many." 12:23 In verse 24, Jesus elaborates on this issue, 12:26 notice "For false Christs," 12:29 we could say, "false preachers, 12:32 false prophets, false evangelists. 12:35 "...Will rise and show great signs 12:37 and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." 12:43 Now, folks, if we don't know how to tell the difference, 12:46 how to spot a counterfeit, 12:48 what Jesus says is we just might attach ourselves 12:52 to an imposter, thinking he is Christ. 12:56 And Jesus warned that that could happen. 12:58 By the way, He wasn't talking about a few clumsy deceptions. 13:01 He was speaking about incredible impersonations 13:05 even about the rapture, 13:08 so carefully planned and executed 13:10 that almost He said, 13:11 the whole Christian world will be deceived. 13:15 Our preachers are not telling you that today. 13:18 Jesus said many of these preachers 13:20 will be out there even working miracles, 13:22 healing the sick, giving supernatural demonstrations 13:25 to back up their claims, 13:27 preachers will be doing this 13:28 in churches with hymn singing. 13:31 But Jesus says, watch, there'll be imposters. 13:34 You say, well, how could I? I haven't been to the seminary. 13:37 How could I know the difference? 13:40 Friend, that is why these 13:42 Voice of Prophecy speaks meetings. 13:45 We want to have you turn to the Bible and recover 13:48 how you are supposed to discover truth. 13:50 Because the Bible is so crystal clear, 13:52 if you learned how to study it, 13:54 your little, their little, 13:55 comparing scripture with scripture, 13:56 but it's very clear. 13:58 So no one needs to be confused about the second coming. 14:02 In fact, Paul says again in 2 Corinthians-- 14:08 11:13, 14 14:13 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, 14:17 transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14:20 And no wonder! 14:22 For Satan himself transforms himself 14:25 into an angel of light." 14:27 Can you imagine what that would be like, 14:30 to have the Devil himself stage 14:32 a counterfeit second coming of Jesus? 14:37 Every now and then someone appears 14:39 on the scene claiming to be Christ. 14:42 They wear the clothing that they think 14:43 Christ would wear or might have worn. 14:45 They speak like they think He might of spoken, 14:48 in a very kind, very melodious voice. 14:51 And they quote scripture, they quote a lot of it. 14:54 They seem very wise 14:56 and attract large followings of people. 14:59 When my folks moved to California to sing 15:02 in the King's Harold's Hotel 15:03 at the Voice of Prophecy back in 1940, 15:06 I'll tell you how old I am. '48, I was one. 15:10 They moved to California, 15:12 they told me that a man appeared out 15:13 near Palm Springs claiming to be the Messiah. 15:17 People were going out there by the carloads 15:19 till one day somebody in the crowd said 15:21 where are the nail prints in your hands and your side, 15:24 he kind of disappeared and we never saw him again. 15:26 Amen. 15:28 But such persons might even look like 15:30 what you'd expect Jesus to look like. 15:33 They might talk as you'd expect Jesus to talk. 15:35 Why, they might even heal people 15:37 and do marvelous signs and wonders, 15:39 and the temptation maybe overwhelming 15:42 to doubt what the Bible says. 15:45 But what we're trying to tell you tonight 15:47 is we dare not in these last critical days trust our senses, 15:52 what we hear, what we see, how we even feel. 15:56 In fact in Matthew 7 when Jesus says 15:58 that He's gonna separate the sheep and the goats. 16:01 He says some people are gonna be put over here 16:03 on the left side with the lost 16:06 and they're gonna protest, Lord, 16:08 what are we doing over here. 16:09 Didn't we prophesize in Your name? 16:11 Didn't we even cast out demons in Your name 16:15 and do many wonderful miracles in your name? 16:17 And He will say to these religious people, 16:20 depart from me, I never knew you. 16:24 You workers of what? Iniquity. 16:28 Listen, friend, there is only one safe guide 16:32 for determining whether someone is genuine 16:35 or an imposter when you go to any churches, 16:38 you got right here in your hand. 16:40 Amen, praise the Lord. The Bible. 16:42 The question is are they preaching the truth, 16:45 the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? 16:47 Amen. 16:48 Tonight from the Voice of Prophecy speaks, 16:51 please notice some careful details 16:54 unique to Christ's second coming 16:56 so that no one need to be deceived. 16:58 Number one, the Bible tells us 17:01 that Christ's second coming is a visible coming. 17:07 I know that there are many sincere Christians 17:09 who believe in the secret rapture, 17:12 so secret that the dedicated pilot on a 747 17:17 will suddenly disappear through the cockpit walls 17:20 while the terrified passengers 17:22 plunge screaming to a fiery death. 17:26 I say this kindly, friend, 17:27 but there's not a word of that in the Bible. 17:31 The secret rapture is a man-made theory 17:34 that's been developed only 17:35 in the last couple of centuries. 17:37 The apostles didn't believe in it. 17:40 Martin Luther didn't believe in it. 17:41 John Calvin did not believe in it. 17:43 The Wesley brothers, John and Charles, 17:45 they never even heard of it. 17:47 In fact, the founding fathers of America, 17:49 George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, 17:51 Benjamin Franklin, they never heard of it 17:53 because it hadn't been invented yet 17:55 when they were alive. 17:56 No one had ever thought of it. 17:59 It's not a scriptural interpretation 18:01 that's kind of obvious in the Bible, 18:02 it doesn't jump out at you as you read it. 18:04 In fact the first people to come up 18:08 with that theory and believe in it 18:09 didn't discover it in studying their Bibles. 18:12 It came to them by what they considered... 18:16 a special revelation. 18:20 Now listen, my friends, 18:21 you can look this up in any history book, 18:23 but may I issue just a little word of caution here? 18:27 If someone ever comes up to you 18:28 and says they have a special revelation 18:32 about how the Bible should be interpreted, 18:34 what should you do? 18:37 Do you just accept it without question? 18:39 Or do you go back to the scriptures 18:41 and study it out carefully to see whether it agrees 18:44 with the basic teachings of the Bible? 18:45 Amen. 18:47 Well, let's take this special revelation, 18:50 the idea that Jesus is going to come back to earth quietly, 18:53 secretly, and spirit away His followers 18:56 without anybody seeing Him, let's take that to the Bible 18:59 and see how biblical it is, shall we? 19:01 Matthew 24:27 Jesus says 19:05 "As the lightning comes from the east 19:07 and flashes to the west, 19:09 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." 19:13 In fact, in Revelation 1:7, 19:16 we read, "Behold, He is coming with clouds, 19:19 and every eye will see Him come." 19:23 I know that there are some people 19:24 who come knocking at your doors, 19:25 they're usually two by two 19:27 and they say that means 19:29 those with spiritual eyes will see Him 19:32 but this says every eye will see Him. 19:33 It even says those who put Him to the cross 19:35 and nailed Him to the cross will see Him come. 19:39 Does that seem like something secret 19:42 that would leave those who were left behind puzzled, 19:46 wondering what on earth happened? 19:47 Where did all of those people disappear. 19:49 That doesn't sound very secret to me, does it? 19:51 Let me tell you, there's a very good reason 19:54 why Jesus plans to come back 19:56 in such a public and visible way. 19:58 It's because He knew there would be imposters 20:01 who would claim to be Him. 20:04 But believe me, no imposter 20:06 can come in the clouds of heaven 20:08 so that every eye can see them, see Him come. 20:12 Jesus told His disciples exactly how He would come, 20:16 so that they wouldn't be deceived 20:17 and so that we wouldn't be deceived either. 20:19 I want you to listen very carefully tonight. 20:22 After Jesus' death on Calvary's cross, 20:26 we know that He rose from the grave. 20:28 And then just before He ascended to heaven 20:31 to begin His work as our intercessor before His Father, 20:34 first it says that He took His closest followers 20:37 out to the Mount of Olives and He gave them 20:38 some final instructions, to His disciples. 20:41 And then He said His last farewell, 20:43 I imagine it was kind of emotional 20:44 but then the Bible says, 20:46 very slowly He began to lift up into the sky 20:51 and He was taken into the heavens. 20:53 I want you to please notice what the Bible says 20:56 about this event in Acts 1:9-11 20:59 many of you know this already by memory. 21:01 "It is now when He had spoken these things, 21:05 while they watched, He was taken up, 21:09 and a cloud received Him out of their sight." 21:14 What I want you to notice here is that it was a visible event. 21:18 Amen. They could see it. 21:20 You could have seen it if you were there. 21:21 And there were clouds involved. 21:24 Continue with me, it says 21:25 "...And while they looked steadfastly 21:28 toward heaven as He went up, 21:31 behold two men stood by them in white apparel." 21:33 I imagine those were angels. 21:35 "Who also said, 'Men of Galilee, 21:37 why do you stand gazing up into heaven? 21:40 This same Jesus who was taken up into heaven 21:44 will so come in like manner 21:47 as you saw Him go into heaven.'" 21:49 Amen, praise the Lord. 21:50 In other words, You can see Him. 21:52 Amen. And it will involve clouds. 21:56 Two angels from God assured 21:57 those flabbergasted disciples of the promise of Jesus 22:00 that He'd given them would be fulfilled. 22:03 And Jesus had plainly said to them 22:05 that they would see Him come. 22:08 It says "Then they will see the Son of Man 22:10 coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 22:15 Friend, this is so important. 22:18 No one will have to tell you when Jesus comes. 22:21 You will see Him coming on the clouds. 22:25 Christ isn't going to suddenly appear in some remote place 22:28 or step out of a flying saucer. 22:30 Remember this, number 1: His coming will be visible. 22:35 You'll see Him and clouds will be involved. 22:41 And that's the sign that the devil cannot duplicate. 22:45 Number 2: Our Bible tells us 22:48 that His coming will be absolutely glorious. 22:52 And Jesus will not be coming back alone. 22:55 In fact He said 22:58 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, 23:01 and all the holy angels with Him, 23:03 then He will sit on the throne of His glory." 23:07 By the way, why does Jesus bring back 23:09 all the holy angels with Him? 23:11 Well, He gives the answer. 23:12 Matthew 24:31 "And He will send His angels 23:16 with a great sound of a trumpet, 23:19 and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, 23:21 from one end of heaven to the other." 23:23 All the holy angels will accompany Jesus 23:26 filling the sky with glory indescribable. 23:30 Now you know why these people 23:32 who claim to be Christ can't possibly be. 23:36 They'd have an impossible time 23:37 trying to duplicate Jesus' return. 23:40 Not even with virtual reality, no one can. 23:44 It will be stupendous, it will be glorious. 23:48 But there are more events 23:49 connected with the coming of Jesus. 23:50 Number 3: It will be an audible coming. 23:54 Everyone will be able to hear it. 23:57 1 Thessalonians 4:16 24:00 my favorite passage is Paul's writing there in Thessalonians. 24:03 It says "For the Lord Himself 24:06 will descend from heaven with a shout, 24:09 with the voice of the archangel with the trumpet of God 24:11 and the dead in Christ will rise first." 24:15 So Christ coming will not only be visible, 24:18 not only will be glorious, it will be audible, 24:21 it will be heard by everyone. 24:22 In fact, Number 4: it will be so penetrating, 24:26 that call of God, so awesome 24:28 will be the fanfare of Gabriel's trumpet 24:31 that the dead in Christ will be awakened 24:34 from their graves and they'll come forth. 24:37 Can you imagine what joy that will be? 24:41 When the graves are opened, 24:44 and our families are reunited. 24:48 You know what would be the happiest place 24:49 on this planet when Jesus comes. 24:51 Praise the Lord. 24:54 The cemeteries. Amen. 24:58 I can't wait to see my grandfather I've never meet. 25:01 I can't wait to see George 25:02 and Nelly Wandum and again Connie, 25:04 your mom and dad. 25:06 But you see how impossible would be 25:08 for Satan to counterfeit the real coming of Christ? 25:11 But there's still more good news. 25:12 Number 5: The righteous living, 25:15 that's us, if we are still alive then, 25:16 will be caught up to meet Jesus. 25:19 Notice what happens to the righteous living 25:21 at Christ's second coming 25:22 according to 1 Thessalonians 4:17 25:25 "Then we who are alive and remain 25:28 shall be caught up together with them 25:30 in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 25:32 And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 25:36 What that's saying is that 25:37 the faithful followers of Jesus, you and I, 25:40 if we're still living will be caught up together 25:42 with all of those resurrected dead 25:44 to meet the Lord in the air and what a happy reunion 25:47 that will be for many, many families. 25:49 Amen. 25:51 Number 6: All of the saved then will be changed. 25:57 In fact Paul gives explicit details of what happens 26:00 when Jesus returns in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 26:05 he says "Behold, I shew you a mystery, 26:09 we shall all be changed, in a moment, 26:13 in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; 26:16 for the trumpet shall sound, 26:17 and the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, 26:20 and we shall be changed. 26:22 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, 26:27 and this mortal must put on immortality." 26:31 Number 7: God will give every follower of Jesus 26:37 His ultimate gift of love, life everlasting. 26:42 You know, folks all other gifts are meaningless 26:45 without this gift of immortality. 26:47 But then, number 8: 26:49 There is something else God will give His people. 26:51 Philippians 3:20 says "We look for the Savior, 26:56 the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, 27:00 that it may be fashioned like His glorious body." 27:05 Boy, can I do with one of those right now. 27:09 A perfect new body, no more aches, 27:13 no more pains, no more disease, 27:16 no more cancer, Lonnie. 27:19 No more AVMs inside your head, Lonnie. 27:22 Jeannie's wrist broken, other problems we've all had. 27:26 I mean, what could be more welcome news than that, 27:28 brand new bodies, eternal vigor, eternal youth. 27:32 But number 9, something else happens. 27:34 The Bible says there will be a great earthquake. 27:37 Revelation 6:14-17, 27:41 it says "The heaven departed as a scroll 27:45 when it is rolled together, 27:46 and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 27:49 And the kings of the earth, 27:50 and the great men, and the rich men, 27:52 and the mighty men hid themselves in the dens 27:54 and in the rocks of the mountains, 27:56 and said to the rocks and the mountains, 27:58 'Fall on us, hide us from the face of him 28:01 that sitteth on the throne. 28:02 For the great day of his wrath is come, 28:04 and who shall be able to stand?" 28:07 In Revelation 16:18 says, 28:11 "And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings, 28:15 and there was a great earthquake, 28:17 such a mighty and great earthquake 28:19 as had not occurred since men were on the earth." 28:23 Friends, that's gonna be an earthquake 28:25 so powerful it shakes every city on the planet 28:29 and no one could possibly miss an earthquake like that. 28:33 For it ushers in the second coming of Jesus Christ. 28:38 But now here's where that secret part comes in. 28:43 Jesus warned that His coming would also be at a time 28:48 when no one expected it. 28:52 And in that sense it is a secret rapture. 28:57 But the secret is in the timing, 29:00 not in the event. 29:02 Matthew 24:30, Jesus told us when He returns, 29:06 "...all the tribes of the earth will mourn..." 29:09 You see, that's the reaction, 29:10 of course, for all of those who aren't ready for that day. 29:14 They are lost and they know it. 29:16 You talk about shock and awe. Talk about a sad, sad picture. 29:22 When it could have been so different. 29:24 Friend, that day will be real. 29:28 There will be no waking up to find out 29:29 that well, it was just a dream. 29:32 That's why nothing, absolutely nothing 29:35 is more important on earth tonight 29:37 than being ready to meet Jesus when He comes. 29:40 You know, well, with the tinsel, 29:42 all of the stuff, all of our prized earthly possessions 29:45 and little treasures are just garbage compared to heaven. 29:52 I mean, one earthquake, and it will all be all gone. 29:58 I wonder where you'll be, 30:01 what will you be doing when Jesus comes. 30:04 Where will I be? 30:06 Jesus said He warned He would come at a time 30:10 when no one was expecting it. 30:12 People would be so busy wasting their lives 30:15 in wanton pleasure and wine and women 30:17 and song, marrying, 30:18 giving in marriage, living it up. 30:20 Luke 21:36 "Watch therefore" 30:24 Lon "pray always, that you may be counted worthy 30:28 to escape all these things that will come to pass, 30:31 and to stand before the Son of Man." 30:35 So that we don't miss the "Great Escape." 30:39 I want to review quickly what we've just learned 30:42 as we've studied the Bible 30:43 together about the second coming. 30:45 We've learned that there will be false Christs 30:47 and false prophets that will try to deceive everyone. 30:50 We've learnt that the devil, 30:52 he will try to impersonate an angel of light. 30:55 We've learnt that the second coming will not be secret. 31:00 Every eye will see Jesus coming. 31:03 All the holy angels will come with Him. 31:05 He will come with the blast of a trumpet. 31:08 He will come with a shout of the Archangel. 31:11 And the righteous dead will be resurrected. 31:14 The righteous living 31:15 will be translated without seeing death. 31:18 All the righteous will be given immortality. 31:22 All of the earth's ungodly people 31:24 will mourn when they see Jesus. 31:26 Try to hide. 31:27 A great earthquake will shake the earth. 31:29 And the Bible says, 31:30 we'll get into this on another night 31:32 that all sinners will be slain 31:34 by the brightness of His coming. 31:37 No mortal mind can conceive the splendor 31:41 and the glory of the majesty of Christ's second coming. 31:44 Amen. 31:45 The Bible says no one will expect it. 31:48 That it is suddenly, the heavens roll together 31:51 as a scroll and the earth trembles before Him, 31:53 and every mountain and island is moved out of its place. 31:56 You know, that used to really terrify me. 31:58 I grew up in the islands of Bermuda. 32:02 Where are you from? Judith? 32:05 When I was a little kid 32:06 and I was listening to those sermons 32:08 about every island moving out of their places, 32:09 I really got worried. 32:11 I didn't want to be on the Island of Bermuda. 32:12 But you know what, if you are with the Lord 32:13 and you know Him, 32:14 we will not gonna have to worry about that, right. 32:17 But it says every mountain and island 32:18 will be moved out of their places, 32:20 but soon then the Bible says 32:22 there appears in the east a small black cloud, 32:25 about the size of a man's hand. 32:29 And it says as that cloud draws near the earth, 32:31 it becomes brighter and greater and more glorious 32:34 until it becomes a huge cloud with a rainbow above it. 32:38 And in silence, the people of God 32:40 gaze at that scene speechless, it's breathtaking 32:44 and the sky fills with radiant forms, 32:47 ten thousand times, ten thousand, 32:49 thousands of thousands of angels 32:51 surrounding Jesus on His throne. 32:53 And the splendor of it covers all of the heavens 32:55 as far as the east from the west 32:57 as they come nearer and nearer 32:59 and every eye beholds the coming King. 33:04 And there is no crown of thorns that mars that sacred head. 33:09 No, there is a crown of glory resting on His holy brow 33:13 and on His vesture and on His thigh 33:16 the name is written, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. 33:19 Amen. 33:21 And the kings of the earth it says 33:22 and the great men, and the rich men, 33:24 and the chief captains, and the mighty men, 33:26 and every bondman, every freeman, 33:29 they cried for the rocks and the mountains 33:32 to hide them from the presence of the Lamb. 33:36 In fact, it's very interesting. 33:37 We'll get into this another night. 33:39 The Bible says, that at this moment, 33:43 it talks about another special resurrection 33:47 when Jesus comes. 33:49 Of those specifically who persecuted 33:52 and killed God's people and those who ridiculed 33:55 and rejected Christ as the Son of God, 33:58 and where the ones who shouted crucify Him, 34:00 crucify Him, they are raised to stand up before Jesus. 34:04 And I said, this is another night 34:06 but I'll tell you and they see Him coming, 34:08 their hearts melt, their knees smite together, 34:12 and with an awful, despairing wail they call out, 34:15 He is the Son of God, He is the true messiah. 34:20 Now they behold Him in all of His glory. 34:23 Now they see Him sitting on the right hand of power. 34:27 Now those who derided His claim 34:28 to be the Son of God are absolutely speechless. 34:31 Can you see it over there, 34:32 there is haughty Herod who jeered at His royal title 34:37 and commanded the mocking soldiers, 34:39 Crown Jesus, King of the Jews. 34:43 There are the very soldiers whose impious hands 34:47 placed upon on His fond purple robe 34:51 and smashed on His sacred brow the thorny crown, 34:54 and shoved into in His unresisting hand 34:57 that mimic scepter. 34:59 And then they bowed before Him in blasphemous mockery 35:03 and these men who smote Him. 35:06 Who spat on His face, the Prince of Life? 35:10 Now they turn from His piercing gaze and they try to escape. 35:14 Flee from the overpowering glory of His presence, 35:17 those who drove the nails through His hands and feet, 35:20 the soldier who pierced His side, 35:22 now they behold those scars 35:24 and those wounds that they created with terror 35:28 and remorse, with shuddering horror, the priests and rulers 35:33 remember how wagging their heads 35:35 in Satanic exultation, they exclaimed. 35:38 "He saved others, Himself He cannot save. 35:43 If He is the true King of Israel, 35:45 let Him now come down from the cross, 35:47 and we will believe Him. 35:49 He trusted in God; 35:51 let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him." 35:56 I want you to notice something. 35:59 Those who would have destroyed Christ 36:02 and His faithful people then, 36:05 now they witness glory which rests on them 36:08 on these faithful people 36:10 and in the midst of their terror, 36:11 they hear the voices of the saints, 36:13 they are exclaiming in Isaiah 25:9 36:16 "...Lo, this is our God, 36:19 we have waited for Him and He will save us..." 36:23 And amid the reeling of the earth 36:25 and the flashing of lightning, 36:26 and the rocking and the rolling and the roar of thunder, 36:29 the voice of God then calls forth His sleeping saints. 36:33 And as He looks upon all of the graves 36:35 of the righteous there raising His hands to heaven, 36:38 He cries out and the Bible tells us what He will say. 36:42 "Awake, awake, awake, you that sleep 36:48 in the dust of the earth, arise to ever lasting life." 36:53 And throughout the whole earth the dead will hear that voice, 36:57 and they that hear shall live. 37:00 And the whole earth shall ring 37:02 with the tread of an exceeding great army 37:04 of every nation and kindred and tongue 37:06 and people from the prison house of death they come, 37:09 clothed with immortal glory, 37:13 crying as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:55 37:16 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 37:23 And the living righteous and those risen saints, 37:25 they unite their voices in a long, 37:27 glad shout of hallelujah. 37:30 All the blemishes and deformities 37:32 are left in the grave. 37:34 Oh, what a glorious, glorious redemption. 37:37 Long talked of, long hoped for, 37:40 contemplated with eager anticipation, 37:43 but never fully understood. 37:46 Paul says, he will be changed in a moment, 37:49 in the twinkling of an eye, 37:51 made immortal and caught up to meet their Lord in the air. 37:56 And angels will be gathering His elect 37:59 from the four winds busy 38:00 from one end to the heaven to the other. 38:02 Little children are gonna be carried by holy angels, 38:07 no doubt, their guardian angels 38:08 and placed back in their mother's arms. 38:12 And friends that have been long separated by death, 38:14 they are gonna be united, nevermore to part, 38:17 and with songs of gladness 38:19 we'll all begin to ascend together 38:22 toward that Holy city up there, the city of God. 38:26 And as they ascend toward heaven, 38:28 the retinue of angels, the Bible says, 38:30 they cry out, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty 38:35 and the redeemed shout out, 38:36 hallelujah as they move toward that Holy City. 38:41 And throughout the unnumbered hosts of the redeemed, 38:43 every glance is now fixed upon Him. 38:47 Every eye beholds Him, His glory whose 38:52 "...visage was so marred more than any man, 38:55 and His form more than the sons of men." 38:59 And can you imagine it? 39:02 Upon the head of each of the overcoming of us, 39:07 Jesus with His own right hand places our crown of glory. 39:11 Amen, praise the Lord. 39:12 For each of us there's a crown, Bible says, bearing our name, 39:16 our new name, and the inscription 39:18 on that crown reads, holiness to the Lord. 39:22 An unutterable joy fills every heart, 39:26 as each voice is raised in grateful praise, 39:30 there up before the ransomed throng 39:32 is the Holy City and Jesus Himself 39:36 opens wide those pearly gates, 39:38 and the nations that have kept the commandments 39:40 and have the patience of Jesus they enter in there. 39:46 Oh, they behold the paradise of God, 39:49 the home of Adam and of Eve, there is Eden. 39:57 Before they sinned, 39:58 there is the Garden of Eden again. 40:00 And then that voice, richer than any music 40:04 that ever fell on mortal ear is heard saying, 40:09 my children, come, you blessed of My Father. 40:14 Inherit the kingdom prepared for you 40:17 from the foundation of the world. 40:21 Dear hearts, and gentle people, this is our hope. 40:25 This is our destiny! 40:28 We can live forever. Amen. 40:31 And, folks, if we miss eternity, 40:33 we have missed everything. 40:35 And if we're not prepared for Christ's soon return, 40:38 we will miss the greatest event in history. 40:40 But Jesus says tonight come, come for forgiveness. 40:45 Come tonight for mercy, come to eternity, 40:48 come, enter the kingdom prepared for you. 40:53 But you see, friend, the choice is up to you. 40:57 See God forces nobody. 41:01 Will you choose to say yes to Jesus? 41:04 If you desire to live in His kingdom forever, 41:07 make your decision right now as Joey sings. 41:14 I'm not troubled 41:17 I'm not sad 41:19 Jesus promised me 41:23 That wherever He is 41:27 I will be 41:30 And I know that His words are all true 41:37 He said I have a place for you 41:45 Just a chair, or mansion fair 41:50 Jesus I won't care to be near You is all 41:58 That I need Jesus I adore you 42:06 I'm waiting for You 42:09 And deep in my heart 42:13 I believe 42:18 My Jesus is coming 42:22 He's coming again 42:26 Jesus is coming again 42:32 And until forever 42:36 We'll be together 42:41 My Jesus is coming again 42:52 Amen. Let's pray together, shall we? 42:55 Precious Lord, if we miss heaven, 42:59 it will be because of our own choice, 43:01 not to accept Jesus and His wonderful plan for our lives. 43:07 But I want to thank you for your incredible hope 43:09 that you give us in the second coming of Jesus, 43:12 our only escape. 43:14 We desire to be in your kingdom when you come again. 43:19 But now, Lord, we have to make a decision tonight. 43:23 If we're to be loyal subjects 43:25 of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords 43:27 and citizens of Your coming kingdom of glory. 43:32 Well, we must first be citizens 43:34 of your kingdom of grace, today, now. 43:38 Willing to accept Jesus and His charter of membership, 43:42 the sacred truths of the Bible, 43:46 but thank you that You promise to help us 43:49 and empower us to walk in harmony 43:51 with Jesus as day by day you unfold Your divine will. 43:58 I want you to take that response card right now 44:01 as the row captains send those down, 44:04 while we're still in an attitude of prayer, 44:05 and before Joey sings again. 44:09 I hope our message tonight 44:12 has created a brand new hope in your heart, 44:16 and that you want to respond to Jesus, 44:19 take that decision card, there's four boxes 44:23 and I'd like to have you consider 44:24 checking several of them. 44:26 I'm gonna go over them with you, 44:27 you can follow here or on the screen. 44:30 Number one: I hope everyone will check this, 44:34 "I desire to be in Christ's soon-coming kingdom of glory." 44:39 Would you check that. 44:40 I hope everyone's participating 44:42 even if you are a member or you already 44:44 are a dedicated born again, 44:46 saved by grace Christian, you can check that. 44:49 And secondly, there may be some who would like to check this, 44:53 "When I choose to accept Jesus today 44:56 and become a part of His kingdom of grace now." 45:01 Would you check that, please? 45:02 If you are choosing to accept Jesus today, 45:04 we'll have a special booklet for you out there as you leave, 45:08 I'd like to have that shared with you. 45:09 Number three: 45:11 There may be some would like to check this and say, 45:13 "I desire to be baptized like Jesus soon." 45:16 Talked about that the other night, 45:18 you might want to check that. 45:20 And now number four: There may be some here 45:23 who've come from night to night 45:24 or maybe you've come for the first time tonight 45:26 and you say, you know, all of this is kind of amazing 45:30 but I've got some personal problems, 45:33 I've got some hang-ups, 45:34 I've got some real challenges in my life. 45:37 And I would like to ask you to pray 45:39 that God will help and guide me. 45:42 You might even want to put your pray request on the back 45:45 and our staff meets at 10:00 clock every morning. 45:49 We will pray personally for you 45:50 and by the way there are people praying right now 45:53 in different locations for you by name here in this meeting. 45:58 We want to specifically lift up your need 45:59 because prayer changes things. 46:01 Amen. Wonderful things. 46:03 Make your decision, place your name and address, 46:06 place them back in the containers 46:08 and send them to the end of the isle as Joey sings. 46:12 Just a chair or mansion fair 46:16 Jesus I won't care 46:20 To be near you was all that I need 46:27 Jesus, I adore you 46:32 I'm waiting for you 46:35 And deep in my heart 46:39 I believe 46:43 My Jesus is coming 46:48 He's coming again 46:52 Jesus is coming again 46:58 And until forever 47:02 We'll be together 47:06 My Jesus is coming again 47:18 And now as we close, heavenly father 47:22 we've sensed that still small voice 47:25 and the clarity of your word revealing again, prophecy. 47:30 And the Voice of Prophecy speaks to our hearts tonight 47:33 and we do want to be ready to meet our wonderful Savior 47:36 who would be coming as King of Kings, Lord of Lords. 47:40 We don't want to miss that event. 47:42 So bless our commitments tonight 47:43 and keep us safe until we meet again, 47:46 because we pray this in Your wonderful 47:48 and powerful, saving name. 47:52 Amen. Amen. 47:55 We have very special lesson 47:57 that we would like to have every person 47:59 pick up tonight at the Discover Bible table. 48:02 If you haven't received a copy, 48:04 whether you're on a downlink location 48:05 or if you are listening in by satellite, 48:07 if you're listening on the radio, 48:08 you can write for it or punch in VOP www.vop.com. 48:13 We'll get it to you some way. 48:14 But this discover lesson, 48:16 "Discover when Jesus comes for you" 48:19 has some marvelous scriptures, 48:21 one of the most beautiful lessons I've even seen, 48:23 make sure you take a copy home. 48:24 It's complimentary. 48:25 Fill it out if you haven't started 48:27 in your Discover Bible School, 48:28 fill out the lessons, it takes just a few minutes everyday 48:31 and then turn them in. 48:32 We'll give you a diploma, 48:34 I will sign it at the end of this series, all right? 48:36 And that includes those of you in the downlink locations, 48:39 be sure to take that lesson. 48:41 Also we have a special booklet 48:43 for just tonight, that's available. 48:45 It's called "The Rapture-A Second Look." 48:49 Please make sure you take this home tonight. 48:51 It's only available tonight, 48:53 so take a copy of "The Rapture-A Second Look," 48:56 won't you do that? 48:57 And now remember that 48:58 next Wednesday night is our next meeting 49:01 and I'm gonna be taking on the subject with you 49:03 from God's prophetic word, what happens when you die. 49:09 As we close, our hospitality centers 49:11 and all the downlink locations are available 49:13 for you to come and meet our guests, 49:15 talk with your hosts and hostesses, 49:17 come on over and join a little refreshment 49:19 for just a few minutes at this side, 49:20 we're in our meetings. 49:22 As we say in our broadcast, 49:24 remember, friend, God really does love you. 49:30 Amen. Good night. 49:32 Praise the Lord. |
Revised 2014-12-17