The case for Christ … by Lee Strobel. Do watch this 46 min 23 seconds clip, with an open mind and consider the fair presentation of the matter. Blessings.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikxb09pyZwM
Category Archives: For the Soul
Why does God give humans free will? Isn’t Hell cruel and how to reconcile that with the loving God?
Isn’t Hell Cruel and how to reconcile that with the Loving God? Why does God give humans free will?
Isn’t Hell Cruel? How to reconcile that with the Loving God?
Many people had said and are saying: “God, with His being omniscient, should NOT have given men free will because He knows that they will use it to rebel against Him that will result in them going to Hell eternally. He must be a God who enjoys seeing people going to Hell?”
Click here –> What is Hell Like?
First of all, GOD has no pleasure of seeing wicked people going to Hell. God repudiated the slander upon Him – that of taking pleasure in a sinner’s death.
Say unto them, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:” Ezekiel 33:11a
“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” Ezekiel 18:23
“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:32
God says to each sinner, “Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?
The aforesaid implied that God is grieved that anyone should die, and also that his own turning is the only means of preventing so dreadful a doom. God saves men only with their concurrence; and will not force His ways to men.
You yourself will bear witness and take responsibility for your own death, as you act as if you believed yourself to have sound reasons for choosing death. If you have reasons they must be your own, and God asks you what they are.
He tells you most earnestly that you need not die because He wants to have you live, and because He has no pleasure at all in your death.
Do press home to your own heart this matter – put to you by your Maker – Why will you die?
Click here –> What is Heaven like?
Would you rather have free will or not to have free will now?
A holy God may not tolerate sin. The attributes of HOLINESS, LOVE, JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY of GOD may not be separated. At the Cross of Calvary, where JESUS PAID the PENALTY of SIN, all the above attributes of GOD met.
14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:14 – 18
Note on verse 16, God says “WHOSOEVER”, that means ANYone.
Click here –> Why did Jesus die on the cross?
Know that God is good; and a good God is, and will be terrifying to the wicked.
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;” Romans 2:8-9
GOD will have the eternal consciousness of having Himself done right, and of not being in any sense or degree to blame for the death of the wicked – when the smoke of their torments shall go up forever and ever, God will forevermore affirm that “no blood of the wicked”, is on His hand.
Click here –> How to be saved?
Why does God give humans free will?
He created man for His glory and for His pleasure.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelations 4:11.
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Colossians 1:16
God is a creative Being, and it gives Him pleasure to create. God is a personal Being, and it gives Him pleasure to have other beings He can have a genuine relationship with.
We are created to have a relationship with God.
Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. ~ Westminster Shorter Catechism
Quote: No person, no experience, no drug, no success, no things, no possessions ..nothing is going to fill that aching hole in your heart that God created for himself. ~ Rick Warren Unquote.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27
Being made in the image and likeness of God, human beings have the capacity to know God and consequently love Him, worship Him, serve Him, and fellowship with Him. God did not create human beings because He needed them. As God, He needs nothing. In all eternity past, He felt no loneliness, so He was not looking for a “friend.” He loves us, but this is not the same as needing us. If we had never existed, God would still be God, the unchanging One.
“For I am the LORD, I change not;” Malachi 3:6a
God was never dissatisfied with His own eternal existence. When He made the universe, He did what pleased Himself, and since God is perfect, His actions are always perfect. God does not make any errors and is at all times, fully in control.
God is Omnipotent – INFINITELY POWERFUL and able to do ALL things, Omnipresent – is EVERYWHERE present, and Omniscient – is ALL KNOWING – fully aware of ALL knowledge.
He wanted man to love Him willingly. Free will, allows man to love God voluntarily. That’s why God gave us a free will, and not doing so, goes against reason, and is irrational. God is perfectly logical and that’s why He saw it right to give man the freedom to choose for himself and He hoped that we would use it to give Him pleasure.
God gave man free will even if He knew it will cause problems through man’s wrong use of it because He has the solution to it … Jesus.
Jesus was the solution, God turned evil to good, by transferring all of man’s evil onto His beloved Son so He could pay for them. The chains of sin on us were broken because Jesus paid the full penalty of the sins of men.
RESULT or OUTCOME of free will!
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12
“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:18
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21
But God in His mercy prepared a way out, the only way out, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the death penalty of sins, offered his blood for atonement of sins and became the one and only way to God. He is now the antidote or remedy from death.
This is NOW, a free will exercise. IF you chose to receive Jesus Christ, you will get eternal life, ELSE, IF you prefer to continue to reject Him, you will remain in your sins and never receive the remedy from death.
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17
Recognising the complete sovereignty and holiness of God, we are astounded that He would take man and crown him “with glory and honour”
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” Psalms 8:4-5
Why did God create us and gives us Free Will? God created us for His pleasure and so that we, as His creation, would have the pleasure of knowing Him for eternity.
- He made the universe – you may reign and share with Him.
- He created you for Him.
Enjoy God, our CREATOR, the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords for ever and ever. Amen
Blessed Easter for… “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” Matthew 28:6a
Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed !!!
‘But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. ‘ Mark 16:6
He Is Risen !!
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,“Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Matthew 28:1-10
The angel rolled away the stone not to let Christ out,
but to let Mary Magdalene and the other Mary in.
Good Friday commemorates the death by crucifixion of JESUS Christ & we are the REASON for Good Friday!
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:5-8
Jesus has two natures: Divine and human. Jesus is fully God and also fully man while here on the earth.
Jesus say “The Father is greater than I” in John 14:28 whilst saying He is the great “I AM” in John 8:58
Jesus said the Father was greater than He NOT because Jesus is not God but because Jesus was also fully man; and as a man, he was in a lower position. See Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 2:9 and Galatians 4:4-5 Jesus was speaking in reference to his human nature.
The nature of the incarnation when God became man. See 1 John 4:2 & 2 John 1:7 “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;” 1 John 4:2 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 1:7
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
However, Jesus is fully Divine (See John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”) too.
By taking on human nature, Jesus did not relinquish His Divine nature—God cannot stop being God. When Jesus, God the Son, took on human form, something amazing occurred. Christ “made himself nothing.” In essence, what it means is that Jesus voluntarily relinquished the prerogative of freely exercising His divine attributes and subjected Himself to the will of the Father while on earth.
God the Son is fully Divine yet fully human.
Jesus was restricted as man – restricted to one location at a time, got tired, needed sleep, got hungry, needed food, got exhausted, needed rest, etc. Jesus suffered all things as a man; He emptied Himself of the Godhead to be made flesh, to be made sin, to die. It was however a temporary measure, He now has the glory He had with the Father before He came to the earth; He has been restored to the fullness of the Godhead. This is why scripture says Jesus thought it not robbery to be equal with God but took on the form of a servant in Philippians 2:6
God the Father said of God the Son in Hebrews 1:8a “But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;” Jesus of Nazareth is God in the flesh, the Creator – fully God and fully man.
Christ Jesus is the second “person” of the Triune God – One God in 3 “persons” – the blessed Trinity.
“..The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Deuteronomy 6:4 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
“I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me.” Isaiah 45:5 Notice it is not no God besides us.
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:5
God refers to Jesus “But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;” Hebrews 1:8a
Jesus said to His disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”Matthew 28:19 Jesus spoke clearly of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless, if you read this verse attentively, you will see that the Three have just one name. It says, “baptizing them into the name” (not names) “of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
There are Three with one name. This is the Triune God, the Trinity. ONE God in 3 “Persons” not and NEVER 3 Gods. We cannot understand the Trinity fully but that is how God reveals Himself to mankind – both “I and Us”. Don’t forget we are finite and God is infinite – we may not fully comprehend God. BUT what God has revealed is sufficient for our salvation.
Today it is March 25, 2016 AD (Anno Domini – in the year of the Lord, not ‘after death’) – this date and every day, testifies to all of us that Jesus once walked on planet earth more than 2 thousand years ago.
Good Friday commemorates the death by crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary, before His resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday.
WHY must Jesus die for us?
The gospel reveals that God acts righteously in forgiving us; He does not ignore our sins, but takes care of them in Jesus Christ. representational, God presented Jesus as a sacrifice for our forgiveness. Sin has consequences, and Jesus volunteered to suffer the consequences on our behalf. The cross demonstrates God’s love as well as His justice.
- “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
- “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
- Jesus said in Luke 24:46 “Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,”
- ‘Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) ” Galatians 3:13
- “ And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
- “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus became a curse on our behalf so we could escape the curse of the law, which is death. He became something He was not, so that we could become something we were not. He became sin for us, so that we might be declared righteous through Him. Because He suffered what we deserved, He redeemed us from the curse of the law. “The punishment that brought us peace was upon him.” Because He suffered death, we can enjoy peace with God.
- “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. Victory was won on the cross. By His death, “Jesus was able to “destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15). “
- “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:25-26
- “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”Acts 13:39
- For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
Without Christ, a sinner is estranged – separated from God’s people, a stranger to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God. (Ephesians 2:12).
Click here: -> Man’s Crucial Needs
Blessed 2016 ! May this be a great year, with significant and wonderful accomplishments – with God’s help.
Jan 1, 2016 – a Brand New Year ahead of us. May we accomplish much for what we intend to do for this year – with God’s help. People sometimes feel guilty about an accomplishment or having a good time. This need not be so. We can be pleased with our accomplishments – when God is pleased with it, just as God was pleased with His work.
God said through His revealed Word in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
We thank God for His rescue plan (see ***) and that’s why we have the great hope today, JANUARY 1, 2016
***The 2015 Christmas day has come and gone. However, take heart, God’s rescue plan, which came in the fullness of time, on the 1st Christmas for humanity is never ‘gone’ and is still available anytime to all who wants to partake of it. [Let’s go back to the Chile’s 2010 33 miners incident. Click here –> 33 Chilean miners_2010 They waited and waited for that rescue and when it arrived, all accepted the opportunity to be saved from that deep underground prison – one may refuse though if that’s what one wanted.] God has provided the way for us (and one may choose to refuse the way though).
Click here –> JOURNEYtoLIFEforevermore.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke2:10-14
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23
” ..the living God… He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth..” Daniel 6:26-27
The truths is, some of our choices have great & climactic consequences. ~ Cheong Kok Weng
The truths is, some of our choices have great & climactic consequences – the actions resulting or what happens, when we act on our interpretations or inferences. It is about what we do because we have come to a conclusion, that impacts or has an effect on how we act …actions that come from our beliefs.
There is one climactic choice we made on earth that has eternal consequences, one that determines the destination of our eternal destiny – heaven or hell and nothing in between!
We need to bear in mind that the way to heaven, the abode of the Lord Most High, is through His terms, not ours.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:25-26
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” John 10:18a
The future endows us with a kaleidoscopic maze of choices. Every choice we take becomes a part of our lives – let’s choose empowering choices. ~ Cheong Kok Weng
Choices made follow us – it has the power to alter
our individual compass, such is the power of choices that
God has empowered it together with free will.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. ” Proverbs 18:21
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
Marriage as between a man and a woman was and is well understood even before and ever since the beginning of civilisation that’s why it was not needed to be defined in the Constitutional Law as it was assumed and understood to be just that, i.e., between a man and a woman.
In view of the foregoing, the Supreme Court of the US should not be given the power to redefine marriage for the US. It’s preposterous, heinous and shockingly bad that it just required 5 lawyers to redefine an institution that has existed way before the USA was founded as a nation on the 4th of July 1776. Instead of upholding what is right in the eyes of the CREATOR who alone has the right to design and define marriage, the supreme court has become lawless in its act – what a contemptible and abominable TRAVESTY of justice and righteousness that it is supposed to uphold!
The architects’ of the US Federal Constitutional Law original intention of marriage as assumed (as understood though unstated) to be between a man and a woman, had been debased and corrupted by the 5 lawyers – 5 mere frail humans who knowingly have chosen to reject and nullify God’s design for marriage; that of between a man and a woman. Everyone has a choice (therefore Romans 1:32 applies to the 5) but one may not choose the consequence that is attached to the choice.
The right thinking people of the US must now act and call for the law makers to make a “Federal constitutional amendment – to define marriage – as between one man and one woman” as intended, but not specified because it was deemed to be unthinkable for a same sex marriage definition, in the original Federal Constitutional Law.
Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted by God for the first human male Adam and the first human female Eve. It was not designed to be between Adam and Jim, else Eve would have been created as Jim.
God said in Genesis 2:24
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Jesus said in Matthew 19:4-5
“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?”
Romans 1:18-28,32
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
God gave us the power of free will & choices – to turn around no matter how far we have travelled on the wrong path.
Choices have end results – that determine our eternal destiny. We are given the liberty by the Sovereign God – to the right to choose and …freedom comes from right choices. There’s still time yet to change the wrong path we’re on as long as we are still alive on planet earth.
We live our choices on earth, and sometimes the choices we made we live it over numerous time – AND for our eternal choice we live it for eternity – two paths to choose (and nothing in between) – heaven or hell.
None of us will ever escape the consequences of our own choices at the end of our lives on earth – for God has said so through His Eternal word.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” Deuteronomy 30:19
“This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11b
“.. of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:1-3
Jesus Ascends to Heaven.
“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.” Lk 24:50-51
“This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11b“
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He 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, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11
Jesus said in Acts 1:8 ” But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Coming Again of Jesus But this time it is with Great Power and Glory.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31
‘Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” ‘ Revelation 1:17-8
Revelation 19:11-20
Christ on a White Horse
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people,free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Jesus came the first time in deliberate weakness, (Philippians 2:5 -7 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”), He came the first time as the Saviour to die for humanity – His “robe dipped in blood; But He will come the second time in great power, with the sceptre of universal authority & dominion and He will triumph completely over all His enemies. Jesus will come the second time as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
His appearance will be worldwide and unmistakable – for as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of Jesus be. (See Matthew 24:27)