April 25: THE KING IS COMING (part 4)

But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 1 Corinthians 15:23

The coming of Christ at the close of earth’s history is an indescribably magnificent, joyous, and victorious event. Yesterday’s verses show that the gathering of His saints is neither silent nor invisible. To believe these truths is to be protected from the popular, but false, “secret rapture theory”, which teaches that the saved will suddenly, silently vanish, leaving planes, trains, and cars to crash. Another false facet of this theory is that unrepentant people are left alive on the earth for seven years, giving them a “second chance” at salvation. But there is no such saying in all of God’s word. What does the Bible say?

With righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth. And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Isaiah 11:4 (see also Revelation 12:5)

And at that day the slain of the LORD shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground. Jeremiah 25:33

[At that time] the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (see also v.10)

And all the birds were filled with their flesh. Revelation 19:21b

I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; And the heavens, they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, And all the hills moved back and forth. I beheld, and indeed there was no man, And all the birds had fled. I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were broken down At the presence of the LORD, By His fierce anger. Jeremiah 4:23-26

Satan and his angels have been bound to this earth ever since the cross (Revelation 12:10). But after Jesus gathers His saints and takes them to the heavenly city (John 14:3 – see also 12:26), there will be no man left alive on the earth for him to tempt and harass. That serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan (Revelation 12: 9; 20:2) will have a thousand years (20:2-3) to contemplate the utter ruin that his usurped reign upon the earth has wrought.

When the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16) emerges from the heavenly temple, it will be clear that the height of His love for His bride will be matched by the depth of His fierce anger at His enemies who chose to reject His love and forgiveness, and persist in hurting Him and His faithful people.

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11