The Bible says that Jesus is coming again!
. . . who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Heb 9:28)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (Joh 14:1-3)
Why does Jesus delay His return? For what is He waiting?
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (Jam 5:7)
This verse is talking about an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the gathering of souls, and revival. The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish, so He is longsuffering and patient. (2 Pet 3:9) He is wanting as many people to be saved as possible before He returns.
Is there a role for us, believers, to play in accelerating the Lord’s return?
Yes!
The Lord challenges us to live holy lives, in order to hasten the Lord’s return. (2 Pet 3:11-12) One of the first things upon which to focus is whether we are living holy lives.
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 Joh 3:2-3, emphasis added)
In verse 3 above, the hope that is referred to is the hope of being like Him, and Jesus’ return for the Body of Christ. Paul describes the scene for us:
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thes 4:16-17)
In order to be included in the Rapture, we must be “dead in Christ.” The Bible tells us how to get into Christ—by being born again. (Joh 3:16; 2 Cor 5:17) We are born again when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
So how may we be involved in speeding up the Lord’s return?
- Live a life that is ready at all times. We do so by being in Christ and living holy lives. (1 John 3:3)
- Tell the story of Jesus, the gospel of Good News to everyone! And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Mat 24:14)
The gospel must be preached in every nation. We have received the Lord’s command to do so. (Mk 16:15) If you can’t go, send others to share the good news. Support missionaries and evangelists and by doing so, you bear fruit to God.
The first tribe to welcome King David back was the tribe of Judah. (2 Sam 19) Judah means PRAISE. The tribe of praise showed the way. And so it will be in the 2nd coming of the Lord—the “tribe of praise” will pilot the way.
As we praise the Lord and worship Him, He sets ambushes against the enemy! (2 Chron 20:1-22) In the New Testament, when Paul and Silas were in prison, they prayed and sang praises to God. As they did, they were delivered.
Throughout the Bible, miraculous victories came during pronounced and abundant praise of God. The same is true today. A spirit of praise should dominate our lives! As we do these things, we’ll welcome and invite the return of our King, Jesus Christ.
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