Good Morning Beloved,
It is such great privilege and honor to share with you the Word of God.
One I am eternally grateful for.. thank you for joining us
Heavenly Father,
We are so grateful that You love us
broken, messed up vessels that we are
Always asking for something of You
rarely asking what we can do for You
Lord, as I hear a lot of churches and believers
that are just going through the motions, like spinning wheels
but they are going no where
Just... going through worship and they are going through prayer
and they are reading prayers and they are saying prayers
but there is a lack, lack of earnest heartfelt sincerity, lack of longing
just lack of genuineness, it isn't there
but You know that, as You know all
Father, it truly breaks my heart, and I know...
after all You have done for us, paying the ultimate sacrifice
it must even more, break Yours
Forgive us, have mercy on Your people
help us to .. do better, to be better
You've shown by example of Your life
and still, we stray, oh how we have strayed
You are the light of the world
yet so many are walking in darkness
help us O Lord, taste and see that You are good
Our days are numbered and few here
reveal to us, through You Word and Holy Spirit
that things within us that we must change before Your return
speak to the heart of each one of us on how we serve You
that Your glory might be revealed through us
after all that's why we're here, that's why You created us
for Your glory
Lord, I am concerned that this not be just a message
but concerned that this would be a Word, a Word from You
if there be anything in our hearts keeping us from You
reveal it to us, convict our Spirits
Help us O Lord, help us all
Create in us a hunger for You
in Your precious name I pray
Amen
Today's Message: He Is Coming Soon.
I guess many people outside the church have come to know that I’m a preacher, a pastor, one who studies the Word of God, the Scriptures and teach the Bible. It's not as though I carry around a sign, "Hey, I'm a pastor," though admittedly, I am never far from my bible..
In fact, it's been said, I'm like Linus with his blanket
Yet somehow, regardless of where I go, people seem to know. They always seem to approach me, with questions, looking for answers, as if they can somehow tell. And maybe they can, or maybe God leads them to me, either way, I'm ok with it. I'm honored to serve God, in whatever ways He calls me to do.
One of the most frequent questions, I am asked, is will there be a revival. Will things get better in our world. The answer is YES. However, such a glorious event will not occur before the preliminary hostility of a very vast and far-reaching nature. Prior to the return of Jesus Christ, there will be worldwide hostility generated by Satan and army of demons and wicked men, as well as worldwide hostilities generated by God Himself as He pours out His wrath.
"They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
Acts 1:11
And there they stood. The followers of Jesus, staring into the sky. They deeply felt the loss of the one they dearly loved. Surely, their minds drifted back to the Master’s last message before Calvary.
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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."
John 14:1-3
These heavenly messengers reminded them that this same Jesus would return in the same way. Their words serve as a constant reminder to us. He is coming soon!
So what is the reason that we believe in the imminent Return of Christ? It is because Jesus promised it, and He never ever lies! The Word of God records His promises and therefore, it is forever settled in heaven.
"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"
Numbers 23:19
I also encourage you to read Psalms 119:89
"He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
Revelation 19:13-16
That tremendously graphic and powerful description of Jesus Christ portrays Him in this vision to the apostle John in the glory of His second coming. So yes, beloved, the world will get better, but that yes is however, directly associated with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. And that, that alone, is what is going to remedy the problems of our world. That alone is what is going to bring peace instead of war, justice instead of inequity, righteousness instead of wickedness. Jesus Christ will come and He will rule this world!
There are nearly 300 references to Christ’s return in the New Testament. Though no one knows for sure when the day or the hour He will come. Though many have falsely predicted His return, only to be embarrassed.
Regardless of whatever positional view one takes of God’s prophetic program, Christians agree that Jesus is coming again! He can come at any time. This in itself is a great motivation for faithful Christian service.
The early church stayed alert as they expected Christ’s promised return. Christians continue to watch and wait for His return. It is easier to wait if we have something to do, I recommend, doing His work and His will for our lives. So that whenever He returns, He will find us doing what we are called to do. Serving Him, study the Word of God, blessing others in His name, testifying, sharing the message of the Gospel, all for His glory! I cannot think of a better way to be caught by surprise. Can you?
There are four main things to do while waiting for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Watch, read Matthew 24:42, 25:13: Mark 13:33: Luke 21:36
Be ready, read Matthew 24:44
Serve, read Matthew 25:31-46
Be faithful in church attendance and abiding in the Word. Read Hebrews 10:2
While waiting, we must continue to serve our Master in the unfinished task of world evangelism. We should also encourage one another toward perfection and faithfulness. Herein lies two major functions of the body of Christ: evangelism and encouragement.
"We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work."
John 9:4
So I say to all of you;
Preacher, Preach the Word Always!
Disciples, Share The Gospel Always!
Until the Day of Christ's Return!
We can learn in Scripture, the efforts of Satan during the coming time of tribulation. We can also learn about the character of antichrist and the cohort that he has, called the false prophet. We can learn about the escalating wickedness of men in the midst of the outpouring of the fury and the wrath of God. They will continue to become increasingly more and more wicked, more and more obstinate, harder and harder and more resistant against the gospel, which at the same time is being preached to them like never before.
"....deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,"
Titus 2:12-13
We look forward to the coming of the Lord, not death. He can come at any moment, in the twinkling of an eye. He will come back for those who are ready, not those who are getting ready. At that time, Jesus will receive His bride, the church.
Before the world gets any better in the return of Jesus Christ, it’s going to get far worse than it is today. And then in a great moment of redemptive culmination, Jesus will come, and the world will immediately become a paradise regained.
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
These passages refer to the “catching away” of the church or “the called out ones”. It is frequently called the “Rapture”, although the specific language is not in the Bible. This term is taken from a Latin word meaning, “to transport from one place to another.” It is when Jesus will come in the air to catch away His prepared church. Imagine the reaction of a sin-sick world when millions of men, women, and children suddenly disappear.
While there are different views of the rapture, as we have previously discussed, and some may disagree over the timing of end-time events, but we can all agree on the bigger picture: there will be a rapture and we will live forever with Jesus in heaven.
However, in the meantime, any of us ask ourselves, if the condition of our world can get any worse, and the answer is yes, it can and it will.
The greatest amassing of enemies comes against the Lord Jesus Christ, now you will have demons who have been loose, and you have demons that have been bound and now are loosed.
What you will have left is the humanity of the earth, that which hasn't been destroyed under the power of antichrist or destroyed by the furious judgements of God. They will gather together in great armies and are led into the fields of Megiddo.
The greatest of all human holocausts and rightfully called as the great holocaust, the Battle of Armageddon. Before King Jesus can take His bride to her supper in celebration, He has to make a final triumph. The daring challenge of the antichrist is accepted by heaven itself, it is accepted by the King, the warrior King and His holy angels, and He comes in flaming fire to take His vengeance. And that, He will!
The Old Testament prophets proclaimed, "The Promise is coming!", "Jesus is coming!"
The writers of the Gospels announced, "The Promise is here!", "Jesus is here!"
The writers of the remaining New Testament assure us, "The Promise is coming again.", "Jesus is coming again!"
Literal Return: Acts 1:11
Visible Return: Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7
Forthcoming Return: Matthew 24:42
Glorious Return: Titus 2:13
Bodily Return: Matthew 24:29-30
But until then, the important thing is not when He is coming, but that we are ready when He comes!
It wouldn't do justice to the intent of Scripture and to the anticipation of all of the redemptive passages that are in the Bible, if I didn't mention that this is that which has been anticipated since the very beginning. The culmination of God’s plan that His people have been waiting for throughout all of redemptive history. When Satan's time has ended as Jesus Christ comes in glorious triumph, and those who are His, will live with Him, for all of eternity.
It will be the time of the great prophecy of 2 Samuel chapter 2, in which David is told that there is going to come a King, there is going to come a King greater than any other King, and that King who will be a son of David will establish a Kingdom that will last forever, a Kingdom that will never end!
It is also, the very anticipation that was certainly in the heart of Isaiah when he talked about the fact that there was going to come a great servant King, a great One who would establish a throne and a Kingdom.
It was anticipated by Ezekiel in chapters 38 and 39. It was anticipated by Joel in chapter 3 of his prophecy and also by Zechariah in chapter 14.
So in Scripture, the prophets were anticipating what was going to happen, that there would come a day when Jerusalem would be a place of judgment and God would send His great King, Jesus, to establish His eternal Kingdom. And though they didn’t fully have the revelation, that which comes in the book of Revelation, they did however, understand how human history would finally reach its culmination.
In Closing....
While we all can acknowledge, that waiting for something we've long anticipated is certainly not an easy task, or our favorite pastime, especially, for those of us who have been long anticipating the day of His glorious return. Our waiting often seems long, and we must be very careful not to become satisfied with this world, we must keep our focus on above as we remain right here, in service to our Lord, worshiping, praising, praying, waiting and watching.
We have learned about it from the Bible, and finally in book of Revelation. So, the anticipation is set, and Christians have longed for this great day to come. And even now we are studying and talking about its coming today. The Lord Himself, early on in His ministry even began to talk about what was going to happen in the future, in Matthew chapter 13. He reminds us yet again of what’s going to happen in Matthew chapter 25. In the great Olivet Discourse, where Jesus preached a sermon on His own second coming..
He will say to those on His left, "Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels" On the other, He will say to those who know and love Him, "Enter into my Kingdom. Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you." For those who have rejected Him, this is a day of tremendous judgment. However, for those of us, who have believed, the saints of old and new, it will be a glorious day, one of tremendous joy, of tremendous blessing, the day our long awaited tremendous anticipation has arrived! The day of end of man’s day, and the beginning of Christ's day when in all of His glory, He will reign forever and ever.
So, when He does come, I will be ready.
My question for you today is, will you?
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries