We are in the season of Advent, so I'm reflecting on the return of Jesus. This was going to be a song, but as is usually the case with me, one Scripture and thought leads to another, until I have written an entire book. Until recently, I had not considered how much of what is included relates to our assignments as ambassadors of Christ as we await the return of Jesus. I hope you benefit from this article and find value within the content.
ADVENT - AWAITING THE RETURN OF THE KING
The Bible teaches that God sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth as a baby 2,000 years ago, in order to redeem a people to be His own. The cost was the life of Jesus. The cost included His people living as His people now, as well as the defeat of death in order to live as God's people forever.
And having said these things, and while looking at him , he was lifted up, and a cloud received him away from their staring eyes. And as they were staring at his traveling on into heaven, and behold, two men stood beside them in white apparel; who also said, Men, Galileans! Why are you' standing here , looking into heaven? THIS JESUS, WHO WAS RECEIVED UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN WILL BE COMING BACK THUS IN THE MANNER YOU SAW HIM TRAVELING ON INTO HEAVEN. (Acts 1:9-11)
BECAUSE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL BE DESCENDING FROM HEAVEN, in a commanding yell, in the voice of the archangel and at the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be rising up first; thereafter we, the living, who are left, will be seized at the same-time together-with them in the clouds, to the encounter of the Lord in the air, and so we will always be together-with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
WHENEVER HE COMES TO BE GLORIFIED IN HIS HOLY ONES, AND TO BE MARVELED AT IN THAT DAY IN ALL THE ONES WHO HAVE BELIEVED, (because our testimony to you' was believed). (2 Thessalonians 1:10)
AND BEHOLD, I AM COMING SHORTLY. The one who is keeping the words of the prophecy of this book is fortunate. (Revelation 22:7)
BEHOLD, I AM COMING SHORTLY, and my reward is with me, to repay to each one as his work will be. (Revelation 22:12)
He who is testifying of these things says, YES, I AM COMING SHORTLY. Amen . YES COME, LORD JESUS. (Revelation 22:20)
THINGS WE SHOULD BE DOING AS WE AWAIT THE RETURN OF JESUS
AND THIS GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED IN THE WHOLE INHABITED EARTH, FOR A TESTIMONY TO ALL THE NATIONS, AND THEN THE END WILL BE COMING. (Matthew 24:14)
Because I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, THAT THEY MAY KEEP THE WAY OF JEHOVAH, TO DO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE, to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham what he has spoken of him. (Genesis 18:19)
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says Jehovah. I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts. And I do not delight in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of male-goats. When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand -- to trample my courts? Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies -- I cannot bear wickedness and the solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They are a encumbrance to me. I am weary of bearing them. And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your practices from before my eyes. CEASE TO DO EVIL. LEARN TO DO GOOD. SEEK JUSTICE, MAKE THE OPPRESSED FORUNATE, JUDGE THE FATHERLESS, PLEAD FOR THE WIDOW. Come now and let us reason together, says Jehovah, though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be as wool. IF YOU ARE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, YOU WILL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND. BUT IF YOU REFUSE AND REBEL, YOU WILL BE DEVOURED WITH THE SWORD, FOR THE MOUTH OF JEHOVAH HAS SPOKEN IT. (Isaiah 1:11-20)
With what shall I come before Jehovah and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good. AND WHAT DOES JEHOVAH REQUIRE OF YOU, BUT TO DO JUSTLY AND TO LOVE KINDNESS AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD? (Micah 6:6-8)
For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: "SEEK ME AND LIVE; but do not seek Bethel, nor enter Gilgal, nor pass over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE, lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, with no one to quench it in Bethel— YOU WHO TURN JUSTICE TO WORMWOOD AND LAY RIGHTEOUSNESS TO REST IN THE EARTH!" He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning and makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth; the Lord is His name. He rains ruin upon the strong, so that fury comes upon the fortress. They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks uprightly. Therefore, because you tread down the poor and take grain taxes from him, though you have built houses of hewn stone, yet you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink wine from them. FOR I KNOW YOUR MANIFOLD TRANSGRESSIONS AND YOUR MIGHTY SINS: AFFLICTING THE JUST AND TAKING BRIBES; DIVERTING THE POOR FROM JUSTICE AT THE GATE. THEREFORE THE PRUDENT KEEP SILENT AT THAT TIME, FOR IT IS AN EVIL TIME. SEEK GOOD AND NOT EVIL, THAT YOU MAY LIVE; SO THE LORD OF HOSTS MAY BE WITH YOU, AS YOU HAVE SPOKEN. HATE EVIL, LOVE GOOD; ESTABLISH JUSTICE IN THE GATE. IT MAY BE THAT THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS WILL BE GRACIOUS TO THE REMNANT OF JOSEPH. Therefore the Lord God of hosts, the Lord, says this: “There shall be wailing in all streets, and they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They shall call the farmer to mourning, and skillful lamenters to wailing. In all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through you,” says the Lord. Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him! Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. BUT LET JUSTICE RUN DOWN LIKE WATER, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY STREAM. (Amos 5:4-24)
Read all of Psalm 37.
DEPART FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; AND DWELL FOREVERMORE. FOR THE LORD LOVES JUSTICE, AND DOES NOT FORSAKE HIS SAINTS; THEY ARE PRESERVED FOREVER, BUT THE DESCENDENTS OF THE WICKED SHALL BE CUT OFF. THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL INHERIT THE LAND, AND DWELL IN IT FOREVER. (Psalms 37:27-29)
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO KEEP JUSTICE, AND HE WHO DOES RIGHTEOUSNESS AT ALL TIMES! (Psalms 106:3)
Thus says the Lord: "EXECUTE JUDGEMENT AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND DELIVER THE PLUNDERED OUT OF THE HAND OF THE OPPRESSOR. DO NO WRONG AND NO VIOLENCE TO THE STRANGER, THE FATHERLESS, OR THE WIDOW, NOR SHED INNOCENT BLOOD IN THIS PLACE. FOR IF YOU INDEED DO THIS THING, THEN SHALL ENTER THE GATES OF THIS HOUSE, RIDING ON HORSES AND IN CHARIOTS, ACCOMPANIED BY SERVANTS AND PEOPLE, KINGS WHO SIT ON THE THRONE OF DAVID. BUT IF YOU WILL NOT HEAR THESE WORDS, I SWEAR BY MYSELF", SAYS THE LORD, "THAT THIS HOUSE SHALL BECOME A DESOLATION."'" (Jeremiah 22:3-5)
"WOE TO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YOU PAY TITHE OF MINT AND ANISE AND CUMMIN, AND HAVE NEGLECTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW: JUSTICE AND MERCY AND FAITH. THESE YOU OUGHT TO HAVE DONE, WITHOUT LEAVING THE OTHERS UNDONE. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!...
Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. “O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, THE ONE WHO KILLS THE PROPHETS AND STONES THOSE WHO ARE SENT TO HER! HOW OFTEN I WANTED TO GATHER YOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER, AS A HEN GATHERS HER CHICKS UNDER HER WINGS, BUT YOU WERE NOT WILLING! SEE! YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ” (Matthew 23:23-24; 23:33-39)
BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT; WHO ONCE WERE NOT A PEOPLE OF GOD, WHO HAD NOT OBTAINED MERCY BUT NOW HAVE OBTAINED MERCY. BELOVED, I BEG YOU AS SOJOURNERS AND PILGRIMS, ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS WHICH WAR AGAINST THE SOUL, HAVING YOUR CONDUCT HONORABLE AMONG THE GENTILES, THAT WHEN THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVILDOERS, THEY MAY, BY YOUR GOOD WORKS WHICH THEY OBSERVE, GLORIFY GODIN THE DAY OF VISITATION. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, THAT BY DOING GOOD YOU MAY PUT TO SILENCE THE IGNORANCE OF FOOLISH MEN- AS FREE, YET NOT USING LIBERTY AS A CLOAK FOR VICE, BUT AS BONDSERVANTS OF GOD. HONOR ALL PEOPLE. LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD. FEAR GOD. HONOR THE KING. (I Peter 2:9-17)
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED. (Matthew 5:6)
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. FOR I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEEDS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS ENTER THE KIGDOM OF HEAVEN. (Matthew 5:17-20)
BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU. (Matthew 6:33)
UNITY
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE, AS YOU, FATHER, ARE IN ME, AND I IN YOU; THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US, THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU SENT ME. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE JUST AS WE ARE ONE: I IN THEM, AND YOU IN ME; THAT THEY MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE, AND THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME, AND HAVE LOVED THEM AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME. "FATHER, I DESIRE THAT THEY ALSO WHOM YOU GAVE ME MAY BE WITH ME WHERE I AM, THAT THEY MAY BEHOLD MY GLORY WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN ME; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:20-26)
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? YOU CALL ME LORD AND TEACHER, AND YOU SAY WELL, FOR SO I AM. IF I THEN, YOUR LORD AND TEACHER, HAVE WASHED YOUR FEET, YOU ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET. FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, THAT YOU SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU. MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, A SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS MASTER; NOR IS HE WHO IS SENT GREATER THAN HE WHO SENT HIM. IF YOU KNOW THESE THINGS, BLESSED ARE YOU IF YOU DO THEM... A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. BY THIS ALL WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER." (John 13:12-17, 34-35)
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING WITH WHICH YOU WERE CALLED, WITH ALL LOWLINESS, AND GEMTLENESS, WITH LONGSUFFERING, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE, ENDEAVORING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE. THERE IS ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT, JUST AS YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING; ONE LORD, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGH ALL, AND IN YOU ALL. (Ephesians 4:1-6)
THERFORE, AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, PUT ON TENDER MERCIES, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING; BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, IF ANYONE HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANOTHER; EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU, SO YOU ALSO MUST DO. BUT ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS PUT ON LOVE, WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION. AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY; AND BE THANKFUL. LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM, TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD. AND WHATEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM. (Colossians 3:12-17)
There are diversities of gifts, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT. There are differences of ministries, BUT THE SAME LORD. And there are diversities of activities, BUT IT IS THE SAME GOD WHO WORKS IN ALL. BUT THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO EACH ONE FOR THE PROFIT OF ALL: for to one is given the word of wisdom THROUGH THE SPIRIT, to another the word of knowledge THROUGH THE SAME SPIRIT, to another faith BY THE SAME SPIRIT, to another gifts of healings BY THE SAME SPIRIT, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. BUT ONE AND THE SAME SPIRIT works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. FOR AS THE BODY IS ONE AND HAS MANY MEMBERS, BUT ALL THE MEBERS OF THAT ONE BODY , BEING MANY, ARE ONE BODY, SO ALSO IS CHRIST. FOR BY ONE SPIRIT WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY - WHETHER JEWS OR GREEKS, SLAVES OR FREE - AND ALL HAVE BEEN TO DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT. FOR IN FACT, THE BODY IS NOT ONE MEMBER BUT MANY. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? BUT NOW GOD HAS SET THE MEMBERS, EACH ONE OF THEM, IN THE BODY JUST AS HE PLEASED. AND IF THEY WERE ALL ONE MEMBER, WHERE WOULD THE BODY BE? BUT NOW INDEED THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS, YET ONE BODY. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM IN THE BODY, BUT THAT THE MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND IF ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, ALL THE MEMBERS SUFFER WITH IT; OR IF ONE MEMBER IS HONORED, ALL THE MEMBERS REJOICE WITH IT. NOW YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY. (I Corinthians 12:4-27)
Husbands, love your wives, JUST AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER, THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE HER WITH THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH, NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING, BUT THAT SHE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. FOR NO ONE EVER HATED HIS OWN FLESH, BUT NOURISHES AND CHERISHES IT, JUST AS THE LORD DOES THE CHURCH. FOR WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, OF HIS FLESH AND BONES. (Ephesians 5:25-30)
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME, AND HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY." AND TO HER IT WAS GRANTED TO BE ARRAYED IN FINE LINEN, CLEAN AND BRIGHT, FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS. Then he said to me, "WRITE: 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!" And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9)
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. THEN I, JOHN, SAW THE HOLY CITY, THE NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. AND I HEARD A LOUD VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING, "BEHOLD, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS WITH MEN, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, AND THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE. GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM AND BE THEIR GOD. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8)
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "COME, I WILL SHOW YOU THE BRIDE, THE LAMB'S WIFE." AND HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN THE SPIRIT TO A GREAT AND HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHOWED ME THE GREAT CITY, THE HOLY JERUSALEM, DESCENDING OUT OF HEAVEN WITH GOD, HAVING THE GLORY OF GOD. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21:9-27)
AND THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)
WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT HOUR YOUR LORD IS COMING. BUT KNOW THIS, THAT IF THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE HAD KNOWN WHAT HOUR THE THIEF WOULD COME, HE WOULD HAVE WATCHED AND NOT ALLOWED HIS HOUSE TO BE BROKEN INTO. THEREFORE YOU ALSO BE READY, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT. "WHO THEN IS THE FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT, WHOM THE MASTER MADE RULER OVER HIS HOUSEHOLD, TO GIVE THEM FOOD IN DUE SEASON? BLESSED IS THAT SERVANT WHOM HIS MASTER, WHEN HE COMES, WILL FIND SO DOING. ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU THAT HE WILL MAKE HIM RULER OVER ALL HIS GOODS. BUT IF THAT EVIL SERVANT SAYS IN HIS HEART, 'MY MASTER IS DELAYING IN HIS COMING,' AND BEGINS TO BEAT HIS FELLOW SERVANTS, AND TO EAT AND DRINK WITH THE DRUNKARDS, THE MASTER OF THAT SERVANT WILL COME ON A DAY WHEN HE IS NOT LOOKING FOR HIM AND AT AN HOUR HE IS NOT AWRE OF, AND WILL CUT HIM IN TWO AND APPOINT HIM HIS PORTION WITH THE HYPOCRITES. THERE SHALL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH. (Matthew 24:42-51)
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. NOW FIVE OF THEM WERE WISE, AND FIVE WERE FOOLISH. THOSE WHO WERE FOOLISH TOOK THEIR LAMPS, BUT NO OIL WITH THEM, BUT THE WISE TOOK OIL IN THEIR VESSELS WITH THEIR LAMPS. BUT WHILE THE BRIDGROOM WAS DELAYED, THEY ALL SLUMBERED AND SLEPT. "AND AT MIDNIGHT A CRY WAS HEARD, "'BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING; GO OUT TO MEET HIM!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ AND WHILE THEY WENT TO BUY, THE BRIDGROOM CAME, AND THOSE WHO WERE READY WENT WITH HIM TO THE WEDDING AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'LORD, LORD, open to us!’ BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, 'ASSUREDLY I SAY TO YOU, I DON'T KNOW YOU.' "WATCH THERFORE, FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR IN WHICH THE SON OF MAN IS COMING.
"WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES IN HIS GLORY, AND ALL THE ASNGELS WITH HIM, THEN HE WILL SIT ON THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY. ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE GATHERED BEFORE HIM, AND HE WILL SEPARATE THEM ONE FROM ANOTHER, AS A SHEPHERD DIVIDES HIS SHEEP FROM THE GOATS. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. THEN THE KING WILL SAY TO THOSE ON HIS RIGHT HAND, 'COME YOU BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD: FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME FOOD; I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK; I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU TOOK ME IN; I WAS NAKED AND YOU CLOTHED ME; I WAS SICK AND YOU VISITED ME; I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU CAME TO ME.' “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, 'ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME. "THEN HE WILL SAY TO THOSE ON THE LEFT HAND, 'DEPART FROM ME, YOU CURSED, INTO THE EVERLASTING FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS: FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME NO FOOD; I WAS THIRSY AND YOU GAVE NO DRINK; I WAS A STRASNGER AND YOU DID NOT TAKE ME IN; NAKED AND YOU DID NOT CLOTHE ME, SICK AND IN PRISON AND YOU DID NOT VISIT ME. “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, 'ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME.' AND THESE WILL GO AWAY INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO ETERNAL LIFE." (Matthew 25:31-46)
No comments:
Post a Comment