Jesus IS Coming Again?!
This week's lesson study has had me reading about the Parable of the 10 Virgins & Revelation 22. It got me thinking that ever since I was a child I've heard it preached & teached that Jesus is coming SOON! I remember as a child, thinking that I'd never live long enough on earth to get married & have children. Now, here I am a mother & wife. Sometimes I find myself thinking "yeah, yeah..." when I hear the familiar message of "Jesus is coming...soon." Scary!
As I was reading the Parable of the Ten Virgins with Michael, we discussed that the people involved in this account of the bridegroom's imminent visit, were probably representatives of Christians. After all, each of the women were virgins, a symbol of Christ's church. Also, they each had oil & light, symbols of the Holy Spirit & Truth. The interesting thing we spent time thinking about is that ALL the virgins, both the ones with extra oil & those without, fell asleep.
It made me think. Am I falling asleep? And if I am falling asleep, how soon is His return? Closer than I think.
It has been over 2000 years since Jesus said in Revelation 22 that He was coming quickly. Don't take my word for it. Read it. I've included it on the bottom of this blog. Jesus repeats it 3 times in the chapter, for those of us who are sleepy or just hard of hearing.
I do believe that Jesus is coming...soon. I really hope that He does because I miss Him. I wish I could share, legally, on my blog my favorite painting & my favorite song. Instead, I'll just have to give you web directions & hope that you take the time to find it.
My favorite painting
Go to www.goodsalt.com
Click on the "downloadable art"
Type in the search area "second coming"
It should be on the 4th page in the top left. It looks like a car's side mirror in case it's not in the spot I'm look at currently.
My favorite song
Go to www.chrisrice.com
Click on the Music tab
Select the album "Past the Edges"
Listen to track #10 "Missin You"
So sorry for a lengthy post, but I was concerned that maybe one of you out there was thinking, "yeah, yeah..." like me & needed a wake up call too.
Revelation 22
He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
6 He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.” 7 “Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9 He said to me, “See you don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12 “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.”
Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.
As I was reading the Parable of the Ten Virgins with Michael, we discussed that the people involved in this account of the bridegroom's imminent visit, were probably representatives of Christians. After all, each of the women were virgins, a symbol of Christ's church. Also, they each had oil & light, symbols of the Holy Spirit & Truth. The interesting thing we spent time thinking about is that ALL the virgins, both the ones with extra oil & those without, fell asleep.
It made me think. Am I falling asleep? And if I am falling asleep, how soon is His return? Closer than I think.
It has been over 2000 years since Jesus said in Revelation 22 that He was coming quickly. Don't take my word for it. Read it. I've included it on the bottom of this blog. Jesus repeats it 3 times in the chapter, for those of us who are sleepy or just hard of hearing.
I do believe that Jesus is coming...soon. I really hope that He does because I miss Him. I wish I could share, legally, on my blog my favorite painting & my favorite song. Instead, I'll just have to give you web directions & hope that you take the time to find it.
My favorite painting
Go to www.goodsalt.com
Click on the "downloadable art"
Type in the search area "second coming"
It should be on the 4th page in the top left. It looks like a car's side mirror in case it's not in the spot I'm look at currently.
My favorite song
Go to www.chrisrice.com
Click on the Music tab
Select the album "Past the Edges"
Listen to track #10 "Missin You"
So sorry for a lengthy post, but I was concerned that maybe one of you out there was thinking, "yeah, yeah..." like me & needed a wake up call too.
Revelation 22
He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
6 He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.” 7 “Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9 He said to me, “See you don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12 “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.”
Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.
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