But scripture also forecast a better future for this nation of sign, not because they would change their behaviour and live to deserve better treatment, but because God would take pity on their plight and act to redeem them. He would remember the promises made of old to the Fathers and act to vindicate His great name. At the time of the end they would be brought back from the nations and once more be settled in their own land – the land of promise! So the prophets said:
Isaiah: “The remnant shall return … the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion.” (10:21; 35:10)
Jeremiah: “He that scattered Israel will gather him.” (31:10)
Ezekiel: “I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries … then shall they dwell in their land … yea, they shall dwell with confidence.” (11:17; 28:25,26)
Zechariah: “I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.” (8:8)
And so it came to pass. After nearly two thousand years of dispersion and down-treading, in 1948 the State of Israel was born by the decree of the United Nations, and in 1967 the whole of Jerusalem was repossessed by Jews. It had taken all that time for the words of Jesus to be fulfilled:
“They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)
Everything now indicates that the Times of the Gentiles are rapidly drawing to a close and the Time of the Kingdom of God is once more at hand. The bringing together of troublous times and the return of the Jews to the land removes any doubt. Shortly King Jesus will return to Jerusalem as world ruler, to reign over Israel and over all nations. Of all the available signs of the times given by Jesus and the prophets, the establishment of Israel – the nation of sign – is the clearest witness that the end is now at hand.
The “rapture”
What then awaits the faithful follower of Jesus? Can he expect to go to heaven with the Lord at his return? Hardly, for the Lord is coming to reign on earth, from Jerusalem. An elaborate scheme has been devised by some Bible readers which requires not one coming but two. According to this, Christ’s coming would be first for the Church only and would be a secret “rapture”. He would come again with the Church, for the world, and this would be visible and public. In some versions of this theory the interval between the two comings is very small; in others as much as seven years is thought to separate the two events.
There is very little scripture that can be used to attempt to support these theories, for whilst there are some indications that a separation will occur between companions when Jesus comes (Luke 17:34-36), the main teaching about the circumstances of the return is that given in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians:
“The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (4:16,17)
The phrase caught up is that from which the whole idea of a rapture has evolved; and the links with a supposed seven-year period of tribulation have been achieved by the unsatisfactory interpretation of other scriptures, especially from the Revelation. Clearly there is to be a catching away of true believers, both of the living and the resurrected dead, “to meet the Lord in the air”. They are to form a welcoming party who, with the angels who attend his coming, will make up his entourage. But they go to meet him, not he them. And their destination is made clear in the scriptures already considered: the Lord and his followers are bound for Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4), “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35).
The Lord will come!
In these dying moments of human government, the powers of heaven will be shaken as men’s hearts fail them for fear. The nations will be engaged in a battle around Jerusalem. Then the Lord will come! Unexpectedly, suddenly, in great power and glory, bringing salvation for those who have faithfully waited and prepared for this central event in their lives; but bringing judgement upon all those who have wilfully ignored the faithful promises and gracious invitation of God:
“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power: when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.” (2 Thessalonians 1:9,10)
It is vital therefore that we believe what the Bible so clearly promises. We cannot simply “wait and see”, because Jesus is coming to save those who already believe, not to give reasons for faith to those who have had clear evidence, but no inclination for the things of God.
When the Lord spoke to his followers about his eventual return to earth, he focused their attention more on the consequences of his coming than on the sequence of events itself. To this day we cannot know for sure when Jesus will come. But we know perfectly clearly that when he comes he will call us to account, and ask us how we spent our lives on the eve of his return:
“Take heed … be not led astray … be not troubled … take heed to yourselves … preach the gospel … be not anxious … endure to the end … flee … pray … believe not false prophets … take heed … look up and lift up your heads … take heed to yourselves … watch … be ready.” (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21)
The apostles make the very same points as they reflect on the nearness of the Lord’s return:
“What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness … be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:11-14)
“Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:12,13)
“When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man who has this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2,3)
Take heed to yourselves
The Bible is our guidebook to the future, just as it is our handbook for the present. It alone will show us what God wants us to do. From it we can learn God’s purpose and promises. The first thing is to understand and believe those things that are true. We shall then come to appreciate the need for obedience to God, starting with baptism. And thus we shall be doing what Jesus commanded.
The coming kingdom of God on earth will transform human experience. We need to learn to live now in harmony with our Creator. The Lord is at hand! It is now an urgent matter for us all to examine our lives, so that we are properly prepared for the coming of the king.
