Are You Prepared for The Imminent Appearing of the Lord?

[chrislifted]

The time of the appearing of the Lord, which will be both great and terrible, is imminent:

This appearing of the Lord will be both GREAT AND TERRIBLE: for it will bring BOTH blessing (like for the man at the beautiful gate (Act. 3.1-9) and punishment (like for Ananias and Sapphira (Act.5.1-11).

This week, we will see how to stand when He appears.

Joel 2:11 NKJV: The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is GREAT and very TERRIBLE; who can endure it?

Malachi 3:1-3 NKJV: "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. (2) "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderers' soap. (3) He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.

These scriptures show that not all will stand when He appears: in fact many will fall.

Zechariah 13:8-9 NKJV: And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the LORD, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: (9) I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.' "

Here the scriptures reveal that two-thirds of the church will fall: be cut off and die. This does not necessarily mean they will go to hell, but will die physically, prematurely and lose some of their eternal reward:

1Corinthians 3:11-15 NKJV: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (13) each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. (14) If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1Corithians 5:5 NKJV: deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

God allows this, so that the remaining one-third will then be purified and refined and subsequently produce new Christians after their kind (Gen. 1.11-12) and so God will have a glorious church without spot, blemish, wrinkle or any such thing.

Ephesians 5:26-27 NKJV: that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (27) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

To stand when He appears, we must be watching and praying ALWAYS:

Luke 21:36 NKJV: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN."

 

[FanthatSpark]

Prayers to Africa in their time of need.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

I post this scripture so often, but it seems so enlightening, so i'll share it again.


Colossians 3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

 

[1watchman]

Amen! "Behold, I come quickly"

 

[1watchman]

The Scriptures seem to show a continual distinction between the "appearing" of the Lord and the "coming" of the Lord. This is shown in many verses to validate the Translation (rapture) of the Bride before judgment (His coming), and His "appearing" which is to the world seven years later as the conqueror and rightful "King of kings". He will appear with His Bride (Colossians).

 

[walkinginthelightnow]

how would one explain God's visitation. He can visit man prior to his second coming...correct?

Visit in judgment?

 

[1watchman]

I am not clear as to the question, Walking. God through the Holy Spirit dwells in every true "child of God" ("born again") ---which I suppose is your thought about "visitation". He is "with you always" as He says to real believers.

 

[Blain]

I had a dream very early in my faith regarding the rapture. I remember there was me and a small group of people, we knew in our spirits the time had finally come that the wait was over and to expect jesus to take in us in a matter of seconds. the dream ended before anything happened but earlier in my faith I noticed how God will sometimes speak through me. I was for some reason sorrowful in my spirit, no idea why but I was just sad and missed jesus even though I had not met him yet. I remember me looking up and saying in my tears I know you are coming for me. I had no idea what I was talking about as I had never heard of the rapture or him coming for us at all.

Of course later on I learned about the rapture and I had this blind hope and faith that he would come soon, every time I watched a video of someone with a rapture dream or someone preaching how close the rapture was I was filled with such excitement.
However nowadays after being misled so many times and believing anyone who said the rapture is close just to get more youtube views and subscribers I decided I would not believe that the time to go home is actually that close or that I can finally marry Jesus until he himself tells me or shows me. after all who better to let me know that God himself?
I am still waiting after about six months of this for an answer. he shows me an occasional glimps of heaven or the wedding but never the answer I need, I believe that dream of us knowing in our spirit is how he will let us know he is now coming and that we can finally go home

 

[1watchman]

For every true "born again" saint of God there will be a translation (rapture) out of this world before the wrath of God falls in judgment on this world --and that is true whether or not one knows and believes it. Write me if you wish to learn about the Lord calling up His Bride.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

Im not making any comment on the rapture but i would like to share this scripture that refers to Gods chastening and His judgment of the world.


1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

 

[goofypusher837]

For every true "born again" saint of God there will be a translation (rapture) out of this world before the wrath of God falls in judgment on this world --and that is true whether or not one knows and believes it. Write me if you wish to learn about the Lord calling up His Bride.

Right, there will be a rapture and God will gather his sheep close to his heart. What is up for debate is when right? The q remains does the rapture take place before or after the 7 yrs of tribulation talked of in Revelations...

 

[x141]

The time of the appearing of the Lord, which will be both great and terrible, is imminent:

This appearing of the Lord will be both GREAT AND TERRIBLE: for it will bring BOTH blessing (like for the man at the beautiful gate (Act. 3.1-9) and punishment (like for Ananias and Sapphira (Act.5.1-11).

This week, we will see how to stand when He appears.

Joel 2:11 NKJV: The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is GREAT and very TERRIBLE; who can endure it?

Malachi 3:1-3 NKJV: "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. (2) "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderers' soap. (3) He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.

These scriptures show that not all will stand when He appears: in fact many will fall.

Zechariah 13:8-9 NKJV: And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the LORD, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: (9) I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.' "

Here the scriptures reveal that two-thirds of the church will fall: be cut off and die. This does not necessarily mean they will go to hell, but will die physically, prematurely and lose some of their eternal reward:

1Corinthians 3:11-15 NKJV: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (13) each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. (14) If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1Corithians 5:5 NKJV: deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

God allows this, so that the remaining one-third will then be purified and refined and subsequently produce new Christians after their kind (Gen. 1.11-12) and so God will have a glorious church without spot, blemish, wrinkle or any such thing.

Ephesians 5:26-27 NKJV: that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (27) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

To stand when He appears, we must be watching and praying ALWAYS:

Luke 21:36 NKJV: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN."

Just a thought ... we are the bride of Christ (which is individual first before it is collective), and in the book of Revelation this bride that we are (in picture form) comes down from God out of heaven as one having been prepared before she ever came down from God, and out of heaven.

The terms watching and praying (always) equate to a walk that is both in spirit, and in truth that is a form of worship by being it; in relationship to an eye that is single.

 

[Emmy]

Dear chrislifted. Are we prepared? In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells us quite seriously: "The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. The second is quite like it:
" Love our neighbour as we love ourselves." Straightforward and easy to remember, Jesus/God wants our Love, freely given and No conditions tagged
on. Verse 40 also tells us " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." ( This includes the New Testament as well) Are we All filled with Love for God and for our neighbour, all we know and all we meet,
friends and not friends? Matthew 7: 7-10: tells us: " ask and you shall receive," then thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. We
keep asking and receiving, then thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour,( all around us)
The Bible tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," we give up our selfishness and wants, and ask for Love and Joy, and share it all around us. People will treat us the same as we treat people, and gradually we change into the loving and caring sons and daughters which Jesus wants us to become: Loving God/Jesus with all our hearts and souls, and loving our neighbour as we love ourselves. Love is very catching, and also a Christian`s great weapon to overcome all enmity. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on Loving and Caring. That is how Jesus wants us to be, and are we well on the way and ready to receive with Love and Joy our
Saviour? The Holy Spirit will help and guide us all the way.
What about it dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are we prepared for the
appearing of our Lord? I ask this with Love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

Im ready. This world seems to be more of a burden than anything else. I am a bit weary.

This Romans 8 scripture seems like the most agreeable scripture i can think of right now. Praise the Lord. Im looking toward Him. The scriptures say we are dead and our life is hidden in Christ, when He appears we will appear with Him.


Romans 8: 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.


Colossians 3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.


"Midnight Cry" - Michael English with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - YouTube

 

[chrislifted]

I had a dream very early in my faith regarding the rapture. I remember there was me and a small group of people, we knew in our spirits the time had finally come that the wait was over and to expect jesus to take in us in a matter of seconds. the dream ended before anything happened but earlier in my faith I noticed how God will sometimes speak through me. I was for some reason sorrowful in my spirit, no idea why but I was just sad and missed jesus even though I had not met him yet. I remember me looking up and saying in my tears I know you are coming for me. I had no idea what I was talking about as I had never heard of the rapture or him coming for us at all.

Of course later on I learned about the rapture and I had this blind hope and faith that he would come soon, every time I watched a video of someone with a rapture dream or someone preaching how close the rapture was I was filled with such excitement.
However nowadays after being misled so many times and believing anyone who said the rapture is close just to get more youtube views and subscribers I decided I would not believe that the time to go home is actually that close or that I can finally marry Jesus until he himself tells me or shows me. after all who better to let me know that God himself?
I am still waiting after about six months of this for an answer. he shows me an occasional glimps of heaven or the wedding but never the answer I need, I believe that dream of us knowing in our spirit is how he will let us know he is now coming and that we can finally go home

As much as possible, it is BEST for us to focus on purifying ourselves (I John 3:3), preparing ourselves as wise virgins by making sure we have oil, not only in our lamps (spirit) but also in our vessels (flesh - soul and body) so that when He appears (whenever He chooses to), we shall not be ashamed because we are like Him (IJohn 2:28).

Please note that if we do the above diligently, we shall be walking in light and if we are walking in light, His coming shall NOT catch us off-guard like those in darkness. Read 1Thess 5:1-11 carefully (with emphasis on verse 4). The bible says the day and hour is what we will not know. But we shall know the season. So, lets keep walking in the light. No prolonged down time!

 

[chrislifted]

Just a thought ... we are the bride of Christ (which is individual first before it is collective), and in the book of Revelation this bride that we are (in picture form) comes down from God out of heaven as one having been prepared before she ever came down from God, and out of heaven.

The terms watching and praying (always) equate to a walk that is both in spirit, and in truth that is a form of worship by being it; in relationship to an eye that is single.

Thanks. I appreciate that insight.

 

[Kentrasso]

few days ago, i met a certain group of folks who were on evangelistic outreach. they shared with me that Jesus was not coming in the clouds and that He has come the second time already.

they knew so many bible passages and had theWord to back up their claim. i couldn't argue with them and simply walked away.

the Bible teaches us that false prophets would arise in these last days. we must be wary of them and not get deceived by their doctrines

 

[chrislifted]

few days ago, i met a certain group of folks who were on evangelistic outreach. they shared with me that Jesus was not coming in the clouds and that He has come the second time already.

they knew so many bible passages and had theWord to back up their claim. i couldn't argue with them and simply walked away.

the Bible teaches us that false prophets would arise in these last days. we must be wary of them and not get deceived by their doctrines

You did the right thing by walking away. It is the most honorable thing to do at such a time, seeing that you do not have enough resources to dislodge their ideology. But nothing could be more farther the truth. The coming of the Lord is divided in 3 Phases:
1. He is coming IN us: This is the appearing of the Lord in us, in glory (Love (agape), wisdom and power). Joel 2, Mal 3:1-5, Isa 60, Rom 8:19 etc. This will bring this age to a glorious close because the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. How? their will be many of us walking in the Love, wisdom and power of the Lord Jesus. Then it will be fulfilled according to Roman 8:29, that the Lord Jesus will be the Firstborn amongst MANY brethren, because we will be conformed to image and likeness of the Son. The purpose of this glory (in us) is to break and disciple the nations. Matt 24:14, 28:19 (make disciples, not just evangelize).
2. He is coming FOR us: This is the rapture. See Thess 4:17, 1Cor 15:51-52. This is popular among Christians.
3. He is coming WITh us: This is the millennial reign, in which the Lord will reign PHYSICALLY from Mount Zion in Jerusalem with us (Rev 20:4-6). Unlike the 2 previous comings (in which only His acts, through us and for us would be seen), this last coming will be witnessed by all.

The first coming of the Lord IN us is usually omitted in Christendom. Probably it does really demands taking your cross daily, dying to self competely. It is reading those four gospels and determining to DO what the Lord did in eve