The Second Coming of JesusWritten by Michael Bradley
In this first verse, God says He will allow all nations of world to come against Jerusalem. This verse tells us that Jerusalem will be taken, houses will be "rifled," and women ravished. Half of city will actually go into captivity, but one third remnant will not be killed during this takeover. Remember, two thirds of Jewish people will be killed, one third will not.It’s right at this point that Jesus will come forth to fight for His people and put an end to all bloodshed. His feet will land on Mount of Olives. Here is verse! "Behold, day of Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem; city shall be taken, houses rifled, and women ravished. Half of city shall go into captivity, but remnant of people shall not be cut off from city.Then Lord will go forth and fight against these nations, as He fights in day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on east. And Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of mountain shall move toward north and half of it toward south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley ... Thus Lord my God will come, and all saints with you ... and Lord shall be King over all earth ... people dwell in it; and no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. And this shall be plague with which Lord will strike all people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths." (Zechariah 4:1-12) 2. Notice very graphic description of what God is going to do to Israel’s enemies. This will be wrath of God in full manifestation. Now watch what happens in next verse. God calls out to birds in air and will allow these birds to feed off flesh of army that He has just destroyed. The last part of this verse will tell you what He will do with Antichrist and False Prophet. "Then I saw an angel standing in sun; and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all birds in midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for supper of great God, that you may eat flesh of kings, flesh of captains, flesh of mighty men, flesh of horses and those who sit on them, and flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."And I saw beast, kings of earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on horse and against His army. Then beast was captured, and with him false prophet, who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received mark of beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast into lake of fire burning with brimstone, and rest were killed with sword which proceeded from mouth of Him who sat on horse. And all birds were filled with their flesh." (Revelations 19:17-21) 3. Now what happens to Satan, Dragon who orchestrated all events of Great Tribulation? Here is what Jesus does with him. "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having key to bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of dragon, that serpent of old, who is Devil and Satan, and bound him up for one thousand years; and he cast him onto bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive nations no more till one thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a season." (Revelations 20:1-3) As you will see a little further down, God will let Satan loose for a "season" at end of 1000 Millennium to set up one more battle before we finally get new heaven and new earth.4. Here is another verse that shows Jesus will come back immediately after Great Tribulation has run its course. "IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS, sun will be darkened, and moon will not give its light; stars will fall from heaven, and powers of heaven will be shaken. THEN THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN WILL APPEAR IN HEAVEN, AND ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN, AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. And He will send His Angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from four winds, from one end of heaven to other." (Matthew 24:29-31) Here is another verse on Jesus' 2nd coming and Him taking vengeance on wicked. "Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when LORD JESUS IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS, IN FLAMING FIRE TAKING VENGEANCE ON THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD, AND ON THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. THESE SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND FROM THE GLORY OF HIS POWER, WHEN HE COMES IN THAT DAY, TO BE GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS AND TO BE ADMIRED AMONG ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE, BECAUSE OUR TESTIMONY AMONG YOU WAS BELIEVED." (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) 5. Now here is verse that says that Jesus will be setting up a Millennium Kingdom where He will rule this entire earth from city of Jerusalem. "And I saw saints of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for word of God, who had not worshiped beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. AND THEY LIVED AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS." (Revelations 20:4) 6. Now what happens after 1000 years are up? Two events will occur. Satan is let loose for a "season" to try and set up one last battle. God then finally throws him in Lake of Fire where He had just thrown Antichrist and False Prophet 1000 years earlier. And we then get a new heaven and a new earth. Here are two verses. "Now when one thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive nations which are in four corners of earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle ... They went up on breadth of earth and surrounded camp of saints and it's beloved city. And fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And devil, who deceived them, was cast into lake of fire and brimstone where beast and false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Revelations 20:7) Notice in above verse that Satan once more surrounds what would appear to be Jerusalem. But this time it appears that God will stop him in his tracks before he can even attack God’s people. He is then thrown into Lake of Fire and that will be last that we will ever hear from this blasphemous creature ever again!!
| | BaptismWritten by Stephen Kingery
Baptism is perhaps most misunderstood and misinterpreted concept in Bible. There are those who would have us believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Others will say that it a good thing to do, and we really ought to, but it is strictly optional. Still others say that baptism is necessary, but only to join local church.Not only do Christians disagree on whether baptism is a necessary part of salvation, there is also disagreement as to form and who should receive it. Some say that infants can, should, or even must be baptized. While others contend that one should be of age of accountability. There is disagreement as to whether form of baptism should be by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring. All disagreement noted above is purely on part of mankind. The Scriptures are in full agreement on all these points. If one reads New Testament he will find no place where more than one form of baptism is used and he will not find a multitude of opinions as to necessity of baptism for salvation. So, let's see exactly what Scriptures have to say about subject of Baptism. Is baptism necessary for salvation? Well, Jesus commanded it, and apostles taught and practiced it. Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16) How much clearer must we have it said by Lord Himself than this. He clearly says salvation is dependant upon our being obedient and submitting ourselves to baptism. In another place Jesus told His disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in name of Father and of Son and of Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to end of age." (Matthew 28:19,20) Why would Jesus tell His disciples to baptize if it were not necessary? Don't you think that if Lord had intended baptism to be optional that He would not have made such a strict command out of it here. And if it were not necessary at all, why would He even mention it here in what we call "The Great Commission." We saw in above passage that Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize. We see in book of Acts that they did just that. We could call Acts book of conversions, because only in this book do we see actual cases of people being converted to Christian. As a matter of fact, there are eight specific cases of people being converted in book of Acts. We believe, and teach, that salvation consists of five acts or actions on part of one being converted. These acts are, belief in Jesus as Christ, Son of living God; repentance; confession of one's faith before man; baptism; and faithful living till end. In eight occasions of conversions in book of Acts, baptism is only one that is specifically mentioned in each and every case. Let's take a look at each case and what is said concerning baptism. The three thousand at Pentecost: "Then Peter said to them 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins; and you shall receive gift of Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38) The Samaritans: "But when they believed Philip as he preached things concerning kingdom of God and name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing miracles and signs which were done." (Acts 8:12,13) The Eunuch: "Now as they went down road, they came to some water. And eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is Son of God.' So he commanded chariot to stand still. And both Philip and eunuch went down into water, and he baptized him." (Acts 8:36-38) Saul of Tarsus: "Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized." (Acts 9:18); and "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on name of Lord." (Acts 22:16) Cornelius: "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in name of Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days." (Acts 10:47,48) Lydia: "And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to Lord, come to my house and stay.' And she constrained us." (Acts 16:15)
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