Not too long ago, some of my co-workers were panicking about the whole theory that the world is going to end May 2012. Because the Mayans’ calendar ends. I didn’t really have a response for it. Until last night.

Every Monday we have college Bible study at our house and our (very wise) pastor comes and teaches a lesson about what God has put on his heart. Last night it was about the second coming. The first thing he asked us was if the phrase “second coming” was in the Bible or if it was something we just made up. After some examination, we found several verses referencing Jesus’ second coming.

“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 9:28

This means that the first time Jesus came it was to bear the sins of the world. This time, He’s coming to redeem us. 🙂

In regards to when this will happen?
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Mark 13:32

“Now,” Brother Bruce asked us, “it says here that not even the Son knows when it is. But isn’t the Son God? If God knows all then does this mean that the Son isn’t God?”

Then, Holley says, “Jesus’ human part doesn’t know. Jesus was fully God and fully man.” His humanness wasn’t God. It was separate.

So then, we looked at what the second coming would look like.

The disciples were asking Jesus what The End will look like..

“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (How scary is that?!) You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes (Seen any earthquakes lately?) in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains… Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, (Ouch.) but he who stand firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and THEN the end will come!”

Matthew 24:4-14 NIV

Whew!! At least there’s a good ending!

As soon as we started reading that verse I was overwhelmed with joy and comfort. I myself had started to contemplate the possibility of the world coming to an end in 2012. There are earthquakes, tsunamis, floods etc. etc. It’s possible, I thought. And then I found myself a little afraid. Last night’s study gave me such peace. There will be earthquakes and famines. But Jesus himself said “do not be alarmed!” People will come in His precious and holy name claiming to be Him!! PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE THEM!!!! That is so chilling.

I keep coming back to those visions of the Left Behind movies about the rapture and the end. It doesn’t seem like something glorious to me. It seems scary and crazy. But in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 says that Jesus will come in the sky like lightning with all of those who have fallen asleep with him and those who are still alive will go to meet him in the clouds. Now THAT, my friends, is something glorious and beautiful! Our loved ones who have died have only fallen asleep! Jesus will come back with those who accepted God’s gift of love and forgiveness and we will go to meet them in the clouds in glorified bodies! (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

So friends, don’t be deceived by the lies the movie industry and the media vomit up to us and try to polish it as gold and silver. It’s lies. NOBODY KNOWS when the end will be! Not the angels, not the disciples, not even the godliest of men here on earth. Only the FATHER knows. Be comforted in that! Do not be alarmed! Christ will come and we will go to meet Him in the sky!

Mel.