(01/15/2016) A Promise of Return

Points are shared, here, on the correctness of continuing to expect the return of Jesus Christ to the earth.  Mature Christian believers receive Christ as Messiah, and as a divine High Priest who now is making atonement for sin within the Temple of heaven.  Acknowledging our present time as also being a “Day of Atonement,” believers now afflict themselves (i.e., humble themselves in fasting, mourning (not bereavement, sorrow for sin), obedience, prayer, and study of the holy writings) knowing our High Priest is entered into the Holiest of Holies applying consecrated blood for remission of sin.  More than this, a word of divine promise has been spoken.  In the same way we are not saved by obeying the Ordinance of Humility, washing the feet of others, we are not saved by our other demonstrations of faith.  Rather, salvation is imparted on the basis of grace, proclamation, and promise.  Just as a pregnant woman and others around her become increasingly aware that the birth of a child is coming, yet, do not know exactly what day or hour she will go into labor, so we know Christ is coming, without knowing the exact time.  Believers are to persevere and prepare by continuing faith, and performing good works as the expression of new life and rebirth in Christ.  Examine again the following Scriptures, and consider the presentation below:

Leviticus 23:  27-29, King James Version (KJV):  27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement:  it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.  28 And ye shall do no work in that same day:  for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.  29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

Numbers 23:  19, KJV:  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:  hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Isaiah 55:  10-12, KJV:  10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace:  the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 61:  1-3, KJV:  1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;  3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

1st Thessalonians 3:  12-13, KJV:  12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:  13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

1st Thessalonians 5:  1-5, KJV:  1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:  we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” that ID “Sherry” (Level 1 with 2 points, a member since July 19, 2007) posted the following:


Is it a mistake to assume Jesus will never return because He didn't return around the year 2000 ?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:  and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  (2nd Timothy 4:  1-8, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  In Times of Progress? (12/21/2015); Ongoing and Unfinished? (11/22/2015); Wanting To Know When? (10/18/2015); Christ Coming Soon? (10/16/2015); That GOD Is Faithful? (08/31/2015); About The End Of The World (08/30/2015); The Imminent Return of Christ? (07/19/2015); Becoming Ripe for Harvest? (07/03/2015); Sacrificed and Risen? (10/06/2013); Assurances of Salvation? (10/07/2013)


“Sherry”, for mature Christian believers, proclaiming the promise of Christ to come again is an undeniable aspect of sharing the full Gospel (we say, good news).  The Savior’s Advent (Second Coming) must occur for the further fulfillment of redemption and salvation begun in heaven, carried out upon the earth, and soon to be completed by his presence.  Many sensitive elements are involved that make the doctrine of his coming “non-negotiable”.  Included are manifesting the authority, legitimacy, and power in GOD’s word; continuing eternal revelation (i.e., divinity becoming known and visible to created beings and living creatures); displaying the integrity and righteousness of GOD as well as meeting all the demands of atonement, judgment, and sanctification.  For those who have received the same faith that was in Jesus upon the earth, there is no issue or question of “if” or “when” the Father will conclude the Creation.  We are commanded to be vigilant (Watch and pray!), and no further warning will be given.  Our present condition is to be acknowledged as an expression of divine mercy and salvation that affirms our expectation (we say, hope).  We are now in an ongoing process where permanent changes gradually are being made to the character, nature, and substance of those who are “born again.”  The  transformation to fit mankind as an eternal companion of divinity will be completed as we are caught up to meet the Lord at the time of his appearing.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  2nd Peter 1:  2-4, King James Version (KJV):  2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

(2.)  Revelation 1:  7-8, KJV:  7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.  8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

(3.)  John 14:  1-3, KJV:  1 Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in me.  2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Romans 8:  5-9, KJV:  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC