“ARE YOU READY?”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place,

Pulpit Series Volume 17 Issue 28 07/08/2007

Over a thousand years ago, the world faced it's darkest hour. According to Miller's Church History, the church was wicked, apostate, and very weak. In fact, it's very life was ebbing away. Mohammedanism was growing rapidly; Europe was being overrun by Hungarians who massacred multitudes; fear and violence were everywhere on earth. All mankind had become desolate and panic-stricken. There were multiplied calamities on all sides - terrible famines - indescribable disasters. Plagues and pestilences had killed countless millions. But the real panic was caused by unusual and alarming signs in the heavens. It is recorded that there were strange signs in the sun and moon. Preachers all through the known world began to preach and prophesy that the world would end sometime in 999, just before the 1,000 year mark. The text used was Luke 21:25-27 there shall be signs in the sun, the moon, the stars; and on the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking at those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory

The year 999 was considered the last anyone would see! It was based on a misinterpretation of the word millennium (meaning one-thousand years) found in Revelation 20:1-7

People quit their jobs; farmers quit planting or harvesting; houses and buildings were allowed to decay; historians quit recording facts. The rich and noble, princes and bishops, abandoned their friends and families and hastened to Palestine to be there when Christ returned. He was going to come and set up an earthly throne on Mount Zion. They gave away fortunes - kings and emperors begged to be allowed into monasteries to join holy orders. Crowds of poor people slept in the porches of holy buildings - or at least in their shadow!

People grew hungry, but there was no corn, no wheat, no cattle, no crops, because no provision had been made.

The last night of 999 A.D. was one of panic and restlessness. The wicked had one last wild fling. Jerusalem was filled with those who waited on Mount Zion for Jesus to break through on clouds.
As midnight approached, the world held it's breath. The clocks struck 12 - then 1 minute after, then 5 - no Jesus! The night faded into morning and all was peaceful and calm. The multitudes returned home to plow, to repair the ruins, to plant. All was back to normal.
It happened again when William Miller, founder of the Adventist movement, after 14 years of study announced that Jesus was coming in 1843! Thousands of believers of all denominations became convinced, multitudes went out to a mountain to await the Lord's coming. When Jesus didn't come, he went back to his calculations, confessed he’d made an error and set another date! In 1845, he became president of the Adventists.

Would you believe it happened again? Jesus was to come, September 11, 1988, at sunrise. And what about Y2K’s scare?

Folks, Jesus can come at any time. However, date-setting is misleading - and unscriptural. It misses the whole message and meaning of Christ's coming!

Jesus never intended His body to be so divided over this blessed hope. There is such confusion, such division, over when He is coming.

Some say He is coming in two stages: first, a sudden, unannounced rapture, then the tribulation. Others are "mid-trib", that is, He will come after 3 years of tribulation. Others still are "post-trib", believing He will come after seven years of great tribulation. Pan Trib - It’ll all pan out in the end!

There is great debate over the millennial reign of Christ on earth. There are the pre-millennialists who believe that the second coming will be followed by a thousand-year reign of Christ in peace and righteousness, during which Christ will reign as King on this earth, and after which will be the end of the world.
The post-millennialists say the kingdom of God is now: the world will be Christianized and we’ll experience a long period of righteousness and peace, "the millennium", all evil here on earth will be overcome - then Jesus will come.

The "amillennialists" believe there is no thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, but that there are two kingdoms running parallel: God's kingdom of light and the devil's kingdom of darkness. At Christ's coming, He will set up His kingdom and smash the devil's.

Also circulating, is the dominion theology saying, that Jesus won’t come until Christians take authority over every level of society, political, social and economic - subduing the systems, make the world holy, and then bring Jesus back as king.

I don't see in my Bible, "Be ye always figuring and calculating!", but rather, "Be ye ready!"

I say with Paul, "We beg you, brethren, regarding the coming of our Lord, and by our gathering together to him, that you are not easily shaken in mind, or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, regarding the day of Christ being at hand. Let no man in any way deceive you" II Thessalonians 2:2-3

Jesus said, "But of that day and that hour knows no man, not the angels which are in heaven, nor the Son, only the Father.... Watch therefore: for you know not when the master of the house comes... lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping" Mark 13:32-36 The date-setters get around this by saying that the problem in knowing the exact day He is coming is due to the different time zones!
Take heed, watch and pray: for you know not when the time is Mark 13:33 Any doctrine about Christ's return, the tribulation, or millennium that robs you of watchfulness, prayerfulness and moment to moment expectancy is not of God!
We are to live hour by hour waiting, watching, and working.

As a young Christian the coming of Jesus was preached in such a way that it scared me to death! Two shall be in the field; one shall be taken, the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one shall be taken, the other left. Watch therefore: for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.... Therefore be ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes Matthew 24:42-44

I would hear evangelists talk of the trumpet blast with millions disappearing, cars crashing, planes falling, trains colliding! It's like that for many Christians. His coming is fearful to them - they live with the dread of the last trumpet! When they came together, they asked Jesus, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? He said, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons... And when he had said that, while they watched, He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven two men stood by them in white apparel saying, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven Acts 1:6-11

Jesus told of horrible things coming on the earth - so frightening that men's hearts will fail them for fear, as they behold the judgments falling all around. But those gathered ones are commanded not to fear, but to rejoice - when these things begin to happen, look up, for your redemption draws near Luke 21:28
Could it be that the redeemed will see Him descend just as the 120 saw Him ascend?
The last trump symbolizes a last awakening. In ancient times the bridegroom's approach was announced to the bride and her party at least two blocks away, Behold the bridegroom comes! Paul suggests God's holy ones can see the day approaching: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching Hebrews 10:25

For us who make up the bride, there must be no fear when He appears. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy I Peter 4:13 never forget that He will not surprise those who expect Him, who are looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God I Peter 3:12 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory I Peter 1:8

That day will not overtake those who are prepared. He’ll not come as a thief to the expectant! But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief I Thessalonians 5:4

It will also be the Lord's day of gladness! 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 up 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. Wherefore, comfort one another with these word I Thessalonians 4:16-18

In Greek, the word "shout" means to incite by word, to excite, awaken, or spur to action.
The voice of the archangel will be heard by all over-comers: "He is at the door!”

Jesus is coming with trumpet blasting, with hosts of angels, with a shout, with a cosmic cry of the archangel. The dead in Christ will arise first to meet Him in the air. Beloved, they will be there rejoicing! And while they are rejoicing, He will send His angels into all the world and gather His children. What a welcome that will be. But here is the meaning of His coming, distilled in a few words: and so shall we ever be with the Lord I Thessalonians 4:17

How foolish it is to argue whether we will be living on earth or in some heaven. Heaven will be wherever Jesus is! Do you desire to ever be with the Lord? Leave the times and seasons in the Father's hands - and live every day of your life as if Christ were coming within the hour.
Until He comes there is much work to be done.