Are We Ready For Jesus

Jesus said, I will return, and He will return to the same place where He left the earth on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. The same place where He was betrayed and rejected will be the same place He returns in triumph over all His enemies. However, there is another event (1 Thess. 4:16,17) prior to this one where Jesus comes in the clouds with His angels to gather the elect: The dead in Christ arise first and then all those alive in Christ will join them in the air. Will we be ready for this event and when will it take place? Crucial questions which this presentation seeks to answer. The content in this presentation is a summary of the information in Nelson’s book by the same name. You need to read his book. (There is a lot of information in this PPS. It can be used for a series of sermons, but we felt it essential to tell the whole story so you understand the serious consequences of not taking action now.)

How we apply the prophetic word is what is important to Jesus. How we respond and react to these prophecies affects our eternal destiny. The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 & 25, Mark 13 and Luke 21) are the primary teachings on His return. It is at the conclusion of this message, that Jesus instructs and warns us in 5 parables. How we respond is of eternal significance. The parable of the fig tree is the first sign Jesus gives us. It is the time marker to let us know the season of His return, it is the rebirth of the nation of Israel. This, of course has occurred as prophesied in 1948. Next, Jesus outlines the “birth pangs” which will be evident during this season prior to the Great Tribulation. The church is certainly present during the “birth pangs”. Paul confirms this in 2 Thess. :2 . God promised that the controversy over the ownership of Jerusalem would be the centre of world geopolitics. “Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples.” Zechariah 12:2. This has been the case since its rebirth 68 years ago. Moreover, Israel is surrounded by Muslim nations intent on its destruction. The events unfolding with Iran, Iraq , Syria, Egypt and Turkey are all foretold in Biblical prophecies, the only difference is the names of the countries have changed somewhat over time.

Five parables are told immediately after Jesus tells His disciples what it will be like at His second coming. Are we missing prophetic events happening NOW? Do we really know what Jesus wants us to do in these last days? Are we misinterpreting scripture and hence leading others astray? Who is the head of the house and the thief in this parable. The thief is certainly not Jesus. This thief is truly a thief, a robber who has broken into the Master’s (Jesus) house. The head of the house is church leaders. They should have been watchful and known when the thief would come. Note, in the next verse the faithful and wise servant gave his household food in due season whereas the evil servant did not and paid the supreme penalty. We are talking about church leaders here, who even persecute their brothers and sisters and who will spend eternity in hell. If church leaders are awake, they can stop Satan from breaking into our churches and stealing souls. Does the Bible talk about a time in the ”last days” when Satan will steal souls, YES, it is the “great apostasy” or the “great falling away” (2 Thess. 2:3 and Matt. 24:12-13).