Milo

Question: How can God allow nice people to go to hell and bad people to go to heaven?

Answer: We all know people whom we value, who seem like genuinely good, kind people. But the Bible makes it clear that even these people have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standards.

“There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

God sees a person’s whole heart, sees all of their actions, and knows all of their words and thoughts. So God has a lot more information to use when judging someone. It is with this complete knowledge that God can judge us righteously. The Bible says that “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1Samuel 16:7).

So how does this affect the whole heaven and hell question? It puts everyone on an equal playing field. People we think are good are in the same position as people we think are bad, because, from God’s perspective, no one perfectly follows his commands. There is, in every one of us, that inner drive that says, “I don’t care. I’m going to do it anyway.”

In fact, the Bible says that “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). In big and small ways, all of us have forsaken God and gone away from Him.

The antidote is to return to God. The Bible calls this “repentance.” When a person truly turns back to God, there is no sin that is too big for God to forgive. God provided the means to forgive sin through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. And God offers His forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who will believe in Jesus. Heaven is a free gift offered to anyone who will ask for God’s forgiveness and ask Jesus to come into their life. Here is how the Bible describes someone who turns to God in this way: 

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world …All of us also lived …gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of [God’s] wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. …in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:1-9)

All through the Bible God makes it clear that we gain heaven, not by our “good works” or “good life,” but that God offers it to all as a gift. Rather than pretend that we are good people, He asks us to admit that we sin against Him.

We can focus on life after death, but what about our life right now? We can interact with God and be guided by Him right now, and experience the life He created us to have. There is no relationship on earth as fulfilling and important as knowing God. If you want that after death, you have to start it now.

The rapture and the second coming of Christ are often confused. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture verse is referring to the rapture or the second coming. However, in studying end-times Bible prophecy, it is very important to differentiate between the two.

The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. The second coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom. The second coming is described in Revelation 19:11-16.

The important differences between the rapture and second coming are as follows:

1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).

2) The second coming occurs after the great and terrible tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

3) The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).

4) The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).

5) The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is imminent; it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Why is it important to keep the rapture and the second coming distinct?

1) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, believers will have to go through the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

2) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, the return of Christ is not imminent—there are many things which must occur before He can return (Matthew 24:4-30).

3) In describing the tribulation period, Revelation chapters 6–19 nowhere mentions the church. During the tribulation—also called “the time of trouble for Jacob” (Jeremiah 30:7)—God will again turn His primary attention to Israel (Romans 11:17-31).

The rapture and second coming are similar but separate events. Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events. However, it is crucially important to recognize the differences. In summary, the rapture is the return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth before the time of God’s wrath. The second coming is the return of Christ to the earth to bring the tribulation to an end and to defeat the Antichrist and his evil world empire.

The idea of a loving God sending people to hell for eternity is not easy to accept.  Why would God, who is full of mercy and grace, send people to a place of torment for ever and ever for not trusting in Jesus even though they are nice people, or never heard of Jesus, or were sincerely trying to find God?  Is that fair?  Is that right?

When people ask these questions, they are appealing to what they perceive as fairness.  They are looking at the issue from their human perspective.  But this perspective is not necessarily the right one.  If God exists, and He does, then it is He who is the One who says what is right and fair, not us.  So, we need to see what the Bible says about what is right regarding sin and salvation and make a decision afterwards.

The Bible tells us that God is holy, “You shall be holy, for I am holy,” (1 Pet. 1:16).  Holiness is incorruptibility, perfection, purity, and the inability to sin, all of which are possessed by God alone.  Holiness is the very nature of God’s character.  His character is perfect, without flaw, and He is the standard of all that is right and good. 

The Bible also says that God is infinite , “Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite,” (Psalm 147:5).  If God’s understanding is infinite, then God is infinite in nature. 

The Bible tells us that God is love.  “And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him,” (1 John 4:16).  God cares about us and seeks our well-being and security.  His thoughts about us are infinite and His love is too.  This is why God does not desire that anyone go to hell, but that all come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).

The Bible tells us that God is righteous.  “God is a righteous judge,” (Psalm 7:9).  His righteousness is part of His character just as are mercy and love.  Righteousness deals with justice and justice deals with the Law.  This means that God will always do that which is right, and He does so according to the righteous Law that He has set forth.  God cannot do anything wrong.  God must do that which is right, otherwise He would not be righteous.

 Jesus said that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” (Matt. 12:34).  So too with God.  He speaks out of the abundance of His heart.  God spoke the universe into existence, “Let there be light,” (Gen. 1:3) and He also spoke forth the Law (Exodus 20 – the Ten Commandments, etc.).  Therefore, the Law of God, is a reflection of God’s character, because it comes out of what He is, holy, perfect, righteous, and good.  Therefore, the Law is a standard of perfection.  It is perfect and if we do not keep it perfectly, then we have offended the God who gave it; after all, it is a reflection of His character.  To break God’s Law is to offend (sin against) God. Since it is law, there is punishment because there is no Law that is a law without a punishment.  This means that when we break the Law of God, we fall under the judgment of the Law of God.  Since He is infinite, our offence against Him is takes on an infinite quality because we have offended an infinitely holy and righteous God.

Must God punish?

 Yes, God must punish those who break His law because it is the right thing to do.  Just as a parent should punish a child for doing something wrong (intentionally), so God must punish those who do wrong.  You see, if God did not punish the person who does wrong, then He would be unjust and unrighteous.  He would be breaking His own law — which He cannot do.  But, someone might say that the punishment of a parent on a child is temporary whereas God’s punishment is eternal.  Why the difference?  The answer is twofold.  First, God is infinite, and a parent is not.  Second, God is the standard of all righteousness, and the parent is not. 

Because God is infinite, when we sin, we are offending an infinite God.  This is incredibly significant.  The reason sin is so bad is not so much because of the one committing the sin, but because of the One who is offended.  In other words, sin is so incredibly bad because it takes on a horrible quality by the very fact of who it is against: an infinitely pure, holy, and righteous God.

A parent is not the standard of righteousness.  God is.  A parent is (or should be) using the righteous standard of God in raising children.  Therefore, though a parent’s punishment is temporary because it is instruction and correction, the punishment of God is eternal because our sin is against an eternal God.  There is a big difference.

Can we please God on our own?

Is it possible to earn one’s place before God by what we do (being good, etc.)?  Is it possible for a finite being to please an infinite one?  If so, then that means a sinner who has offended an infinite God, is able please God by his efforts.  But, if he is a sinner, then aren’t those “good” things he does also touched by sin since they are motivated out of the heart of a sinner?  Yes.  This is what the Bible declares since it says that our hearts are deceitful and not to be trusted (Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23).

But then someone might say that if the person is sincere when he does the good works, then that should be acceptable to God.  But, saying it should be acceptable doesn’t mean it is.  Remember, according to the Bible we cannot trust our own hearts (Jer. 17:9).  This means that we cannot even trust our own sincerity.

God is the judge, not us.  If we could please God by our efforts or sincerity, then it would mean that a finite person can appease an infinite God by doing good works.  It further means that sincerity becomes a meritorious condition of the heart.  It would be like saying, “God, I am worthy to be with you because of the good works I have done and the good and sincere condition of my heart.”  Can any mortal who has fallen into sin ever do anything good enough to please an infinite God? The answer is no.  Gal. 2:21 says, “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  In other words, if we could get to heaven by what we do, then Jesus didn’t need to die on the cross.  Therefore, God has established that our works and sincerity cannot be good enough.

Finally, for those who still maintain that we can please God by our efforts, we must ask how many good works must he perform in order to undo an offence against an infinitely holy God?  Is there a standard by which we can judge which sin requires how many goods works to cancel out?  There is none.  Therefore, he is left in a predicament.  Since God must punish the sinner for offending Him (breaking His holy and righteous law), and our works cannot undo the offence against God, then how are we going to escape so great a righteous judgment?

The way of escape

The only way to escape the righteous judgment of God is to trust in the provision He has made.  This provision is found in Jesus.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).  Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6).  Jesus is also God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9).  Therefore, Jesus’ life is of infinite value.  This means that His sacrifice is sufficient to cleanse you of your sins.  It is capable of satisfying the infinitely righteous standard of God that is required to match His infinite holiness.

Jesus’ sacrifice is the only provision acceptable to God the Father.  If you want to escape the eternal judgment of God, you must put your trust in Jesus and what He did on the cross and in nothing else.  Without Him, there is no hope of escape on the Day of Judgment.  How do you do this?  You receive Jesus (John 1:12).  You trust in Him alone.  You can ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins (John 14:14).  Trust Him alone.

In our examination of the teaching in the New Testament on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ we have discovered the great prominence of this doctrine. 

The Lord Jesus Christ spoke frequently of His second coming. He announced it to His disciples. He gave them prophetically the program of the end of the age. He spoke of His return in different parables. He gave in His farewell discourse the promise of the blessed hope to His eleven followers, the Apostles. Even in the presence of His accusers He mentioned His return in the clouds of heaven. 

At His ascension the two heavenly visitors re-stated His return in like manner as He went up to heaven. We have learned that Peter preached it in his second address in the book of Acts, and that apostolic preaching and teaching did not neglect this great theme; it held an important place in their ministry and was the hope and comfort of the early Church.

Furthermore, the testimony of the great documents of Christianity, the Epistles, teach that His return is the goal of redemption. Some of the most vital doctrines of the faith are linked to this truth, that Christ will come back. We have seen that the resurrection of those who died in Christ, our re-union with them, the rewards for faithful service, the promised crowns and also the promised blessings for the earth are, besides much else, entirely dependent on His return. If there is no second coming of Christ the whole truth of Christianity breaks down. Then we learned from the last book of the Bible, the Apocalypse, the fitting capstone of the whole Word of God, the last word on His return. Here the Old and New Testament revelations as to this event, what precedes and what follows His return, are all restated. 

And now we give facts taught in the New Testament about the Lord’s coming. 

1. The New Testament does NOT teach that the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost is the second coming of Christ.

This is one of the erroneous theories taught by commentators. They claim that when our Lord spoke of His return, that He meant the coming of the Holy Spirit. But such a teaching is unknown in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit is the third* person of the Trinity. How then can the third* person of the Godhead be the promised return of God the Son, the second* person? 

Note (bible centre): ‘third’ or ‘second’ is used by way of distinction, not rank (co-equality within the Godhead).

2. Nor does the New Testament teach that the Destruction of Jerusalem is the promised return of Christ

This view is also found in many commentaries. It is repeated by others, who, instead of searching the Scriptures search the comments of expositors of past generations. The destruction of Jerusalem was predicted by the Lord Jesus Christ. But nowhere does He say that He would come again at that time. Matthew 24:31 is the fatal blow to this view. Many commentators teach that verses 29 and 30 mean His coming in the destruction of Jerusalem. But when Jerusalem was destroyed He did not send His angels to gather His elect, the people Israel, from the four winds. They were scattered into the four corners of the earth instead. 

3. Christ does not come again when the believer dies

This also is taught by many. When the Lord Jesus said to His disciples “I will come again and receive you unto myself,” they say, He meant the death of the disciples, when He would come to take them to Himself. But the death of the believer is never spoken of as the second coming of Christ. When the believer dies the Lord does not come for him, but the believer goes to be with the Lord. For this view there is not a line of Scripture in the entire New Testament. 

4. His return is a personal return

He said that He would go away. It was not a phantom departure, but He went in person. And he said, “I will come again.” He did not mean a spiritual return, but a personal coming again. His words cannot be interpreted in any other way. Furthermore, the two men in white apparel said to the disciples “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Wherever His return is mentioned in the New Testament it means the return of the same One who lived on earth, who died on the cross, was buried, rose again, and ascended up on high. 

5. It will be a visible return

His words “they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 24:30) teach His visible coming again beyond the shadow of a doubt. So does Rev. 1:7, “Every eye shall see Him.” Scoffers sometimes say, How is this possible? But every eye on earth every twenty-four hours sees the sun in the heavens. Thus, in that day when He descends in the cloud every eye will behold Him. 

6. His return will be in great power and glory

“And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26). The Epistles speak of His glorious appearing [with power] (Titus 2:13; 2 Thess. 1:9). This power and glory is prominently revealed in the Apocalypse. 

7. The Angels of God will accompany Him in His return

“For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels” (Matthew 16:27). “When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels” (2 Thess. 1:7). He will send forth the angels and use them as His messengers. These unseen tenants of the heavens will become visible in His return. 

8. He will bring all His Saints, the redeemed of both Testaments, with Him

(See 1 Thess. 4:14). It will be His glorification as well as the glorification of the Saints. “When He shall come to be glorified in His Saints, and to be admired in all them that believed in that day (because our testimony among you was believed)” (2 Thess. 1:10). 

9. His return will be suddenly, like the lightning and like a thief

The following passages teach this: Matthew 24:27; 42-51; Mark 13:35, 36; Rev. 16:15; 22:7; 12; 20. 

10. The present age remains unchanged till He returns

The New Testament teaches that not Christ, but Satan, is the god of this age and the prince of it. (2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2). Satan is not dethroned till Christ comes again. (See Rev. 20:1-2.) Therefore, this age remains an evil age down to its end. 

11. His return is preceded by the falling away

Throughout this age there has been going on a falling away from the truth. John wrote of the many antichrists in his day. (1 John 2.) The mystery of iniquity was then already at work (2 Thess. 2:7). When the end of the age comes (Matthew 13) the harvest, the tares which began in the beginning of the age will be full grown. When He comes again He will not find “faith on the earth” (Luke 18:8); the days of Noah and Lot have returned, days of violence and lust (Luke 17:26-37). The Epistles bear a startling testimony as to the final great apostasy, an apostasy which is apparent today, for the modernistic rationalism in the different evangelical denominations is the beginning of this falling away (See 2 Thess. 2; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 4:1-4; Epistle of Jude; 2 Peter 2 and 3). 

12. His return is preceded by the manifestation of the final, personal Antichrist, the man of sin and the son of perdition.

The Lord announced the coming of such a one. He predicted false Christs, with lying signs and wonders (Matthew 24:24-25; 2 Thess. 2; Revelation 13).

13. His return is preceded by the budding of the fig-tree [=Israel] and a final witness to the nations of the world (Matthew 24:14 and 32, 33). 

There will be national revival among the Jews and the Lord will call a remnant from among them to herald the coming of the King, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom to all the nations of the world (see Rev. 7). The great multitude coming out of the great tribulation (Rev. 7:9-17) is not the Church, but the multitude represents those of the nations who believed this final witness, given by the 144,000 Israelites, not Gentiles, who bear this final witness.

14. His return is preceded by the great tribulation and followed by the judgment of the nations

Nowhere is it predicted that when Christ comes back He will find a converted world, that righteousness and peace will reign before His return. The Lord and His Apostles teach something entirely different. (See Matthew 24:21; Luke 21:25-26; Revelation in its main portion reveals the events of this time of greatest trouble. He returns at the close of the great tribulation, Matthew 24:29-30. He will come as judge after the tribulation. See Matthew 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:8-9). 

15. The New Testament reveals His coming as a blessed hope unknown in former ages

Whatever revelation the Lord Jesus Christ predicted as to His visible, personal and glorious return, preceded by the great tribulation and the manifestation of the Antichrist, is also revealed in the Old Testament. But in one passage He spoke of something new, altogether new, unknown to the prophets and to the Old Testament Saints. This is found in John 14:1-4. It is the first intimation of the blessed hope for the Saints of the New Testament. 

It was given to the Apostle Paul to receive the full revelation concerning “that blessed, hope” (See again 1 Thess. 4:16-18 and 1 Cor. 15:51-52). This blessed hope has rightly and scripturally been termed “the coming of the Lord for His Saints” in distinction from “the coming of the Lord with His Saints.” The latter takes place when He is visibly revealed out of heaven.

16. The coming of the Lord for His Saints takes place before the end of the age sets in, before the final great apostasy, before the great tribulation and before the manifestation of the man of sin

The denial of this has led to much confusion. Good men teach, what is an unscriptural theory, that the Church will be on earth to the very end of the tribulation period. Some speak of the Church having yet to pass “through a Gethsemane experience.” But where is this taught in Scripture? Nowhere. The second chapter of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians shows that the falling away and the man of sin, cannot come as long as there is the hindering One on the earth. That One is the Holy Spirit. He dwells in the true Church, as He dwells in every individual believer, and must be taken out of the way first. He will be taken away in hindering power with the rapture of the Saints.

The reason why our Lord said nothing about tribulation to His disciples in the upper room when He first mentioned “that blessed hope,” is because the true Church has nothing whatever to do with that period of time. There is no tribulation of a punitive character in store for her, nor any wrath whatever (1 Thess. 1:10). The suffering Saints during the great tribulation are Jews. In the Old Testament it is spoken of as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7); and Daniel speaks of it in the same way (Dan. 12:1-2). The scope of the Book of Revelation proves conclusively, that before even the Lord receives the book of judgments and tribulation from God’s hands, the Saints must first be brought to glory. Not one of the Epistles has anything to say about that great tribulation. There is a significant silence. It is because the true Church will not be here when that time comes. 

17. All true believers will be taken when the Lord comes

Some teach that only a certain class of believers will participate in the glorious rapture. According to some only those will meet the Lord who believe in His coming; holiness sects claim that one must have had a “deeper” experience to be fit for His coming. Others make “Divine healing” the test, or the “gift of tongue” delusion, or something else. All these theories are not found in Scripture. Every child of God, no matter how ignorant, how weak in himself, how imperfect in walk and service, is nevertheless a child of God and as such belongs to the Father’s house. Every true believer, independent of his experience, whether “deep” or “shallow,” independent of his attainments, is through grace a member of the body of Christ, the Church. No member of that body will be left behind, when He comes for His Saints, for that body will be presented as a complete body in His presence. There is no such thing taught in the New Testament as a “piece-meal rapture,” such as certain English and American, Bible-teachers claim, to the confusion of simple and young believers.

18. His coming for the Saints will mean a blessed re-union with our loved ones, who have gone before, and with all the Saints

It is therefore called “the comforting hope.” Apart from the coming of the Lord for His Saints there is no ray of hope in Scripture of meeting our departed ones again. But when He comes for His Saints, those who died in Christ will be raised in incorruption; we, the living ones, will be changed. All will take place by the mighty power of God, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Together with them we shall be caught up in clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 

19. The New Testament teaches that there will be a judgment-seat of Christ

There the hidden things of our lives as to service, Christian living, Christian sacrifice and suffering, will be brought to light. Rewards and crowns will be bestowed upon those who were faithful. Others will be ashamed before Him in His presence and will be crownless, though saved as by fire. Then the Apostle Paul and all the Apostles and martyrs will receive their crowns in that day (2 Tim. 4:8). The blessed hope becomes therefore a great incentive to holy living and untiring, self-sacrificing service. 

20. With His coming the Church will be glorified and share with Him His glory and His kingdom

He will present the Church to Himself “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27). Every individual believer will see Him as He is and will be like Him. Every believer will receive an eternal body, like unto His own glorious body. His prayer is answered “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory.” His glory will be our glory. With Him we shall be priests and kings, and reign with Him for a thousand years in His Kingdom over the earth. With Him the Church shall judge the world and shall judge Angels. 

Interesting note:

Arno C. Gaebelein wrote this article in 1925, before Israel was even a nation. Many religious leaders thought that Gaebelein was “way off” when he stated that God would regather the Jews back and Israel would once again become a nation before the end times. Many in his day felt that the Church replaced Israel but as we know, this is not the case. Many who held to the erroneous “replacement theology” had to rethink their beliefs when Israel became a nation in 1948. 

Israel, the nation, will take centre stage during the Tribulation when the Church is raptured. It is already the focus of much of the news in our times. The Bible says in Zechariah 12:3 that Jerusalem will be “a burdensome stone for all people” and this is already being fulfilled in front of our eyes. God will never forsake Israel though the whole world will come in against them… Jesus in the end will rescue them and they shall look upon Him whom they have pierced . 

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10  

Jesus said to Jerusalem in Luke 13:35 “Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” 

Jesus comes the first time for His Church – the Saints. The Second Coming is when He comes back with His saints and rescues Israel. This teaching agrees completely with what the Old and New Testament says concerning the Messiah and the End Times. If one sticks to the literal interpretation of Scriptures, one is never wrong for the Bible is always correct and current with the times.

Jesus said, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know; and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto Him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

SIGNS OF HIS COMING

As Jesus sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him saying, “Tell us, what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” And Jesus answered and said unto them, “Take heed that no man deceive you. Ye shall hear of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

While the disciples beheld, Jesus was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED

I would not have you to be ignorant concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.