The Visible Return of King Jesus

These days will also be accompanied by many signs in the heavens—the sun and moon will go dark, stars/meteors will fall from heaven and the powers/forces that are in the heavens will be shaken. Many of the seal, trumpet and vial judgments described in Revelation are accompanied by these types of events. Luke adds that men will be anxious and fearful because of the roaring waves of the sea. The tsunami of December 2004 was a vivid example of the destruction that can be caused by the seas.

The Lord is very clear that His coming will be visible from one end of the world to the other. It won’t be as He came the first time, as a man working miracles. He will appear in the heavens in all His glory as the King of kings. Anyone who presents himself as the Messiah as a man with miraculous abilities will be a pretender, a false Christ.

When Jesus returns, He is going to gather together His elect from all over the planet. Matthew 25:31-46 explains how He is going to separate the sheep (believers) and goats (unbelievers) in determining who will get to enter the kingdom. Only believers will get to enter the kingdom. This section of scripture makes me think of the Lord’s teaching in Matthew 7.

Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This is a very sobering thought. There will be “many” that will claim to have been serving God and presenting the fact that they cast out demons and worked miracles (from the Greek) as proof of their position. These people have been deceived by Satan to believe in their works. Works do not save a person; only faith in the crucified and resurrected Son of God as your Savior qualifies one for His Kingdom. Jesus will declare that He never knew (as part of the family of faith) these workers of iniquity.