[Richard]

Yes Suriyakumar, there is a seeming contradiction between the Book of Revelation and Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. But Scripture never contradicts. Probably Paul wants to impress on his readers the importance of meeting the Lord on His Second Advent rather than the thousand-year reign. Whether we are going to participate in the 1000 year rule or not, we are certain to meet the Lord is an unshakable fact.

[Richard]

True, Arul Sam, irrespective of the various views on Millennialism the important truth that stands out is the fact that we must be prepared to stand before the judgment seat of our Lord and give accounts to Him.

[Richard]

Pre, Post and Amillennialism are the three views propounded by Bible scholars in different points of time. Each school of thought has its own positive points. The Holy Spirit, the author of the Bible, has given us certain pointers for us to interpret the Bible. But as we see elsewhere, God does not reveal everything point blank to us. There is always certain amount of mystery. The mystery will be cleared when we meet with the Lord face to face. The truth we have to be aware of from the holy Scriptures is, there will be an end to this earth and human life on this earth. We all shall be judged according to the Lord’s standard and after that we will all be ruling and governing along with our Lord the New Heaven and New Earth eternally. So till then let us not confuse ourselves interpreting the great mysteries, but be prepared to meet the Lord. Let is not miss the wood for the trees.

[Richard]

Yes Dhanaseelan, I fully agree with you. Actions speak louder than words. Our witnessing lives would certainly attract many of our friends and relatives towards Christ. They see that we are different and try to find out the reason behind this. When we say, it is because of the life changing power of Jesus Christ, they too would show interest to follow Jesus Christ. But more than this, we should preach the Word to our friends and relatives in season or out of season.

[Richard]

Yes, Suresh. Without salvation experience we can never enter the new heaven and earth. After the salvation experience as you have rightly pointed out we have to be conscious to carry out the good deeds that have been already created for us to do.

[Richard]

The first and the foremost prerequisite to enter the New Heaven and Earth is that we must be washed with the blood of Jesus Christ, in other words we must be saved by Him. We must start to grow in holiness. We must daily be sanctified and become more and more like Jesus Christ. We must allow the Holy Spirit to fill us daily and have a sensitive ear to listen to the soft voice of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to clean and help us grow in holiness. Besides we should be ready to do good deeds that are in store for us to do.
Jesus Christ has assigned an important duty to the saved sinners — we have to go, and preach the Good News to all the people and make them disciples. We have to teach them all that we have learned from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In this way we can prevent people from going into eternal damnation.

[Richard]

Yes Lavanya, the modern day tele evangelists and some preachers, in order to gain cheap popularity predict the time of the Second Coming of Jesus. In doing so they make a fool of themselves and of their followers. Yes, not even the Son knows when the Second Coming will happen. Instead of fixing the date let us prepare ourselves to meet the Lords

[Richard]

Dear Suresh, I too had the same doubt. Look at the sun. Every one on the Eastern hemisphere see the sun in an instant. When the earth rotates, the people in the Western hemisphere see the sun then. When this is possible, it is not difficult for our Lord God to make Himself visible to both the spheres in one instant. He is Omnipotent and can do anything and nothing is too hard for the Lord.

[Richard]

My views about the Second Coming of Jesus are more or less the same.
The five points put forth in the lesson viz. personal, visible, physical, sudden and glorious have only reinforced my views. When I imagine the Second Coming events based on the above 5 facts based in the Bible, I am thrilled. I was wondering how every people on earth would see HIM simultaneously. Then a thought came to my mind; when half the earth can see the sun at any point of time it is not too hard for the Lord to make Himself visible to people in both the hemispheres at His Second Coming. The wonder and awe I have are also associated with a feeling of expectation. I should be worthy in the sight of Jesus, I should gladly accept the rewards which God would shower on me. To receive those rewards, I should be careful and conscious to lead the rest of my life on this earth and do the good deeds, which the Lord has already created for me to do. In other words, I should not be complacent, but work hard with anticipation.

[Richard]

No issues, Suresh, if you have not seen or read about these things in movies or books. You are clear and have read the Bible through and through. That is enough. It will make you prepared and eagerly waiting for the Lord’s glorious return. That is the most essential thing.

[Richard]

Dear John, You are right in pointing out that the movies portray the brutality and violence in destroying the beast. The Producers and the Directors of the movies do this to add charm to the movies. Such additions are merely a figment of their imagination.
Yes we are responsible for gradually destroying nature and we are grieving God in this respect

[Richard]

Of late movies depicting the end times are highly dramatic. These Producers add more imagination to facts so that their movies would sell. But to some extent they also have been successful in instilling some sort of fear in the minds of the viewers. This fear may draw the viewers nearer to God. In that respect these movies are successful.
Coming to the environmental issues, mankind over the years has blatantly disregarded the rule given by our Lord God to tend the earth and protect nature. We are reaping the consequences of breaking that rule in the form of heavy rain fall, flash floods, deforestation, landslides, rising of the ocean level and the like. But I do not think this has any relevance to the Second Coming of the Lord. One thing is certain, we have to give accounts to our God for our failure in tending the earth.
How, when and in what manner of our Lord’s Second Coming will be are man’s speculation based on the Bible. There is always a mystery in our Lord’s doings. But one fact remains unchanged — Our Lord would return one day as per the timetable of God the Father. There is no doubt or speculation about this. So let us keep aside all these speculations and be prepared to meet the Lord. Let us not be disappointed and be kept out of the door as it happened to the unwise 5 women.

[Richard]

Rightly said Hema. Today’s stage with high decibel drum beats, flashing lights, filled with smoke are a great attraction to the youth of our times. Seldom do we find graceful movements to the tune of the song and clapping of hands. These are substituted by violent body movements to Christian songs. It seems as though the anti Christ himself is on the stage encouraging the youth to shake a leg. Guiding our youth should be out top priority.

[Richard]

Yes John, we find counterfeits everywhere — not only in the secular world but also in the spiritual world. Just like the Chinese who make a counterfeit of all products and sell it for a down to earth price, the Christian evangelists and preachers too deliver counterfeit teachings, like prosperity gospel. Seldom do they teach anything on suffering and taking up the cross. We believers should attempt a counter to these tele evangelists.

[Richard]

In today’s context, the Western World, especially America wields great power and wants to control the world military power and economy. They exhibit all semblances of the man of lawlessness. Similarly the Arab nations who are oil rich also try to control the world economy. Thirdly, the Islamic nations using their muscle power try to establish their kingdom across the world. The Western World is more dangerous than the other two, because they try to shake the very fundamental doctrines of Christianity — funding the cult group Jehovah Witness to deny the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Mormons who deny the Trinity etc.
The need of the hour is to make disciples and teach them all the biblical doctrines according to Mt. 28:18-20. Only the Word of God can safe guard us from the allurement towards the false teachings of the Anti Christ.

[Author]

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