No one can know the hour that the Lord is coming,
but we can have an idea based on scriptures that give us the signs
to look for. I don’t think He wants us to live in fear but
rather in anticipation of His return.
Scripture points us to the observation and predictability of the
weather. If we can discern the sky and prepare for the approaching
storm, says the Word, we can watch for the signs and prepare for
His coming. The word teaches us to be observant of change; keeping
our eyes on current events while awaiting His promised return.
What changes should we look for?
It may be a day
like any other. Day to day activities may go on uninterrupted.
Meal time may include some discussion about the continued fighting
in the middle east, or the lack of morals in the school system.
You may be getting ready for an upcoming wedding or talking about
the arrival of a new baby in the family.
In the background, the radio is on providing a little atmosphere
for the family dinner. Right between your discussion about a name
for the new baby and flowers for your cousin's wedding there is
an interruption caused by a ringing phone. On your way to answer
the phone there is a news bulletin coming on the radio as the
caller on the line asks, "have you seen the sky tonight?"
The radio announcer
echoes the question as he reads a story from the Associated Press
quoting an astronomer who has just reported bright lights in the
Eastern sky. Suddenly, your heart beat picks up speed as the whole
family presses in to listen closely to the news and look questioningly
at you as you drop the phone and head for the back door. Without
explanation you run into the back yard with the rest of your family
not far behind.
In the East the clouds can be seen in a darkening sky growing
in size and rolling with the thunder against a backdrop of pure
white.
There is no rain
but the Thunder and Lightening and rolling clouds would certainly
lead you to believe a terrible storm was approaching. TV meteorologists
scratch their heads as they try to track the storm on radar finding
that there is no reflected radar image to track.
As you and your
family stand in the yard looking toward the Eastern Sky a gentle
wind begins to blow dividing the clouds and creating a void in
their center. From the void there is the sudden appearance of
Angels. Thousands of Angels begin pouring from the clouds lining
up on two sides creating a path in the middle.
The bright light
that you thought was too bright to look at is now more intense
than ever and yet it doesn’t seem to block your view of the
mounted White Horse on the crest of the clouded path.
The chorus of thousands
of Angels begin to proclaim the presence of Jesus. In a cry that
can be heard all over the world the Angels announce that the King
of Kings and Lord of Lords has returned as He promised to gather
His children and take them home.
Every eye will behold the face of Jesus
as the Midnight cry wakes the dead from their slumber and lightens
the feet of the saints.
The Trumpet Sounds
And then,
Silence
