Jesus is Coming Soon Acts 1:9-11 Dr. Paul Chappell

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Jesus Is Coming Again

by Dr. Paul Chappell

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly 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.

Acts 1:9-11

It has been nearly two thousand years since Jesus left His disciples standing on a hillside looking up into the clouds as He returned to Heaven. Despite His repeated telling them that this would happen, they seem to have been surprised that Jesus had left them. Then, rather than swinging into obedience to do the job He had left them to do, they were still standing around when the angels showed up to prod them into action. That prodding came with an affirmation of the promise that Jesus would one day return.

The passing of centuries has not changed the certainty of that promise. Jesus will come again, and it could be today. There are no events that must take place or prophecies that must be fulfilled before the Lord returns. He could come for us at any moment. Our task is not to try to decode current events or figure our the timing of that return, but to be actively obeying every day so that we are ready for Him. “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28).

Dr. John Rice wrote:

Come, dear Lord Jesus, for long we've been watching;

God's children are homesick for Heaven, our home.

Come then, Lord Jesus, come quickly and take us;

The wedding feast waits when the Bridegroom shall come.

Jesus is coming, is coming, is coming

It may be tomorrow, it may be today

Maybe the trumpet sound, maybe the angel's shout

Then “Come up higher” the Saviour shall say.

Today's Growth Principle:
Knowing that Jesus could return today should govern the way we act and think and use every moment.