When JESUS returns

 

Zechariah 14:4

King James Version

4 And his feet shall stand in that day 

upon the mount of Olives, 

which is before Jerusalem on the east, 

and the mount of Olives shall cleave 

in the midst thereof 

toward the east and toward the west, 

and there shall be a very great valley; 

and half of the mountain shall remove 

toward the north, 

and half of it toward the south.

When will JESUS return?

How shall He return?

What happens when He does?

Scripture tells us what we need to know.

Like, when JESUS will come back:

Matthew 24:36

King James Version

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, 

no, not the angels of heaven, 

but my Father only.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4

King James Version

5 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.

We know that JESUS was taken up to heaven this way:

Mark 16:19

King James Version

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, 

he was received up into heaven, 

and sat on the right hand of God.

We also know JESUS will return this way:

Acts 1:11

King James Version

11 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.

And when the LORD returns, expect this:

Zechariah 14:1

King James Version

14 Behold, 

the day of the Lord cometh, 

nd thy spoil shall be divided

 in the midst of thee.

Zechariah 14:2

King James Version

2 For I will gather all nations 

against Jerusalem to battle; 

and the city shall be taken, 

and the houses rifled, 

and the women ravished; 

and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, 

and the residue of the people 

shall not be cut off from the city.

Zechariah 14:3

King James Version

3 Then shall the Lord go forth, 

and fight against those nations, 

as when he fought in the day of battle.

Zechariah 14:4

King James Version

4 And his feet shall stand in that day 

upon the mount of Olives, 

which is before Jerusalem on the east, 

and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof 

toward the east and toward the west, 

and there shall be a very great valley; 

and half of the mountain shall remove 

toward the north, 

and half of it toward the south.

Zechariah 14:5

King James Version

5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; 

for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: 

yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled 

from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah 

king of Judah: 

and the Lord my God shall come, 

and all the saints with thee.

Zechariah 14:6-7

King James Version

6 And it shall come to pass in that day, 

that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:

7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, 

not day, nor night: 

but it shall come to pass, 

that at evening time it shall be light.

Zechariah 14:8

King James Version

8 And it shall be in that day,

 that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; 

half of them toward the former sea, 

and half of them toward the hinder sea: 

in summer and in winter shall it be.

Zechariah 14:9

King James Version

9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: 

in that day shall there be one Lord, 

and his name one.

Zechariah 14:10

King James Version

10 All the land shall be turned as a plain 

from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: 

and it shall be lifted up, 

and inhabited in her place, 

from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, 

unto the corner gate, 

and from the tower of Hananeel 

unto the king's winepresses.

Zechariah 14:11

King James Version

11 And men shall dwell in it, 

and there shall be no more utter destruction; 

but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

Zechariah 14:12

King James Version

12 And this shall be the plague 

wherewith the Lord will smite all the people 

that have fought against Jerusalem; 

Their flesh shall consume away 

while they stand upon their feet, 

and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, 

and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Zechariah 14:13

King James Version

13 And it shall come to pass in that day, 

that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; 

and they shall lay hold every one 

on the hand of his neighbour, 

and his hand shall rise up 

against the hand of his neighbour.

Zechariah 14:14

King James Version

14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; 

and the wealth of all the heathen round about 

shall be gathered together, 

gold, and silver, and apparel, 

in great abundance.

Zechariah 14:15

King James Version

15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, 

of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, 

and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, 

as this plague.

Zechariah 14:16

King James Version

16 And it shall come to pass, 

that every one that is left of all the nations 

which came against Jerusalem 

shall even go up from year to year 

to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, 

and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Zechariah 14:17

King James Version

17 And it shall be, 

that whoso will not come up 

of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem 

to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, 

even upon them shall be no rain.

Zechariah 14:18-19

King James Version

18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, 

and come not, that have no rain; 

there shall be the plague, 

wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen 

that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, 

and the punishment of all nations that come not up 

to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Zechariah 14:20

King James Version

20 In that day shall there be 

upon the bells of the horses, 

Holiness Unto The Lord; 

and the pots in the Lord's house 

shall be like the bowls before the altar.

Zechariah 14:21

King James Version

21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah 

shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: 

and all they that sacrifice 

shall come and take of them, 

and seethe therein: 

and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite* 

in the house of the Lord of hosts.

Related material:

RETURN of JESUS

*Canaanite religion

Image: Generation Word

Caption: "The third summit (southern most summit) of the Mount of Olives looking east from Jerusalem over the Kidron Valley."

 

GOD's endearing ways

 

Romans 11:33-34

King James Version

33 O the depth of the riches 

both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 

how unsearchable are his judgments, 

and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? 

or who hath been his counsellor?

If you want to understand GOD, witness His ways.

We cannot map out GOD, but we can understand His ways.

Scripture will tell us all we need to know.

Here are a few things that help us understand GOD better.

And surely, it's in total contrast to man's ways.

THREE examples come to mind:

GOD chose Israel, no matter how few they were.

Deuteronomy 7:7

King James Version

7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, 

nor choose you, 

because ye were more in number than any people; 

for ye were the fewest of all people:

GOD chose Bethlehem, no matter how little it was.

Micah 5:2

King James Version

2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, 

though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, 

yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me 

that is to be ruler in Israel; 

whose goings forth have been from of old, 

from everlasting.

GOD brought JESUS into the world, in all His Son's humility.

Isaiah 53:2

King James Version

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, 

and as a root out of a dry ground: 

he hath no form nor comeliness; 

and when we shall see him, 

there is no beauty 

that we should desire him.

Do you see a pattern yet?

Have you detected an aspect of GOD's ways?

As childlike, born again workman, I have.

To make a statement, GOD goes for small.

The least becomes GREATEST.

That we may know His power.

1 Kings 8:60

King James Version

60 That all the people of the earth may know 

that the Lord is God, 

and that there is none else.

GOD abhors pride; He goes for humility.

By His obedience to the cross, JESUS taught us humility.

He gave us a pattern for how to live, and worship GOD.

Is it any wonder Scripture tells us:

Proverbs 16:5

King James Version

5 Every one that is proud in heart 

is an abomination to the Lord: 

though hand join in hand, 

he shall not be unpunished.

Man likes to think BIG.

Or so he thinks.

GOD thinks BIGGER.

And yet He creates small.

Why is that?

It tests man.

Would we pay attention to the "small"?

Would we pay attention to the humble?

Would we pay attention to the downtrodden?

Would we pay attention to JESUS at all?

Now, you see the BEAUTY of GOD's heart.

Man's heart cannot compare.

GOD is LOVE.

GOD is TRUTH.

GOD is WISDOM.

He makes us love.

He makes us see.

He makes us pay attention.

He makes us see with our hearts.

After all, if you're so full of yourself, would you pay attention to those you think are lesser than you are?

Would you even notice them?

GOD doesn't have such arrogance.

In GOD's wisdom, least is better.

Matthew 20:16

King James Version

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: 

for many be called, but few chosen.

Even as GOD is the GREATEST, He wants you to find Him in the least.

He is full of surprises, and unpredictability.

GOD confounds us all.

But believers have an edge.

We understand His ways.

Because He gave us the BEST Teacher.

JESUS taught us GOD's ways:

Matthew 18:1-7

King James Version

18 At the same time 

came the disciples unto Jesus, 

saying, 

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, 

and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Except ye be converted, 

and become as little children, 

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself 

as this little child, 

the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive 

one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend 

one of these little ones which believe in me, 

it were better for him that a millstone 

were hanged about his neck, 

and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of offences! 

for it must needs be that offences come; 

but woe to that man 

by whom the offence cometh!

Matthew 25:40

King James Version

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Inasmuch as ye have done it 

unto one of the least of these my brethren, 

ye have done it unto me.

Thus, Israel, Bethlehem, JESUS, and children.

The least are the greatest, in GOD's eyes.

How I LOVE the LORD's ways!

Don't you?

Related material:

GOD's WAYS

GOD's WISDOM

GOD's TRUTH

GOD's HUMOR

Paradoxes

Image: Clipart Library

SPOT the DIFFERENCE

 

John 14:16-17

King James Version

16 And I will pray the Father, 

and he shall give you another Comforter, 

that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; 

whom the world cannot receive, 

because it seeth him not, 

neither knoweth him: 

but ye know him; 

for he dwelleth with you, 

and shall be in you.

Time for you to do your own thinking.

A sort of spiritual sleuthing.

We shall present our case.

You decide.

Who was JESUS?

Who was Lucifer?

What was the difference?

We shall present TWO sets of verses.

Let Scripture speak for itself.

You cannot possibly fail to see the difference:

JESUS said:

John 17:3-4

King James Version

3 And this is life eternal, 

that they might know thee the only true God, 

and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: 

I have finished the work 

which thou gavest me to do.

Lucifer said:

Isaiah 14:13-14

King James Version

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, 

I will ascend into heaven, 

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: 

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, 

in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 

I will be like the most High.

One glorifies GOD.

The other glorifies himself.

Truly a marked difference.

Related material:

JESUS and Satan

Image: Clipart Library

Who JESUS was

 

The LORD JESUS declared:

John 8:24

King James Version

24 I said therefore unto you, 

that ye shall die in your sins: 

for if ye believe not that I am he, 

ye shall die in your sins.

Who was JESUS?

What did He mean, "I am he"?

What does the Bible say?

It is best we listen to what the LORD said of Himself, from that same chapter.

For, herein, are many revealing statements:

John 8:12

King James Version

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, 

saying, 

I am the light of the world: 

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 

but shall have the light of life.

John 8:14

King James Version

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, 

Though I bear record of myself, 

yet my record is true: 

for I know whence I came, and whither I go; 

but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

John 8:15-16

King James Version

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: 

for I am not alone, 

but I and the Father that sent me.

John 8:18

King James Version

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, 

and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

John 8:19-20

King James Version

19 Then said they unto him, 

Where is thy Father? 

Jesus answered, 

Ye neither know me, 

nor my Father: 

if ye had known me, 

ye should have known my Father also.

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, 

as he taught in the temple: 

and no man laid hands on him; 

for his hour was not yet come.

John 8:21

King James Version

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, 

I go my way, 

and ye shall seek me, 

and shall die in your sins: 

whither I go, ye cannot come.

John 8:22-23

King James Version

22 Then said the Jews, 

Will he kill himself? 

because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

23 And he said unto them, 

Ye are from beneath; I am from above: 

ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 8:25-27

King James Version

25 Then said they unto him, 

Who art thou? 

And Jesus saith unto them, 

Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: 

but he that sent me is true; 

and I speak to the world those things 

which I have heard of him.

27 They understood not 

that he spake to them of the Father.

John 8:28

King James Version

28 Then said Jesus unto them, 

When ye have lifted up* the Son of man, 

then shall ye know that I am he, 

and that I do nothing of myself; 

but as my Father hath taught me, 

I speak these things.

John 8:29-30

King James Version

29 And he that sent me is with me: 

the Father hath not left me alone; 

for I do always those things that please him.

30 As he spake these words, 

many believed on him.

John the Baptist prepared the way for the LORD's coming.

Look how he announced the very things JESUS declared, too:

John 3:31-36

King James Version

31 He that cometh from above is above all: 

he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: 

he that cometh from heaven is above all.

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; 

and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony 

hath set to his seal that God is true.

34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: 

for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

35 The Father loveth the Son, 

and hath given all things into his hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: 

and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; 

but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Related posts:

The Simplicity of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST

What Makes JESUS the True MEDIATOR of GOD?

JESUS Son of GOD

JESUS

Image: Clipart Library

NOT Mary Magdalene

 

Luke 8:1-2

King James Version

8 And it came to pass afterward, 

that he went throughout every city and village, 

preaching and shewing the glad tidings 

of the kingdom of God: 

and the twelve* were with him,

2 And certain women, 

which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, 

Mary called Magdalene, 

out of whom went seven devils,

There was a time I had been reading New Age books.

I was deep in search of ultimate truth formally since 1995.

Informally, since I was a kid.

Somehow, I couldn't accept the world's truth.

If I had, I wouldn't have scoured all the books from bookshops, and libraries.

And bought all the books I needed to study.

(Even as the Bible waited patiently for me.)

There was this hunger to know truth.

And every time I'd read such books, there was always a part missing.

Of course, that "part" was JESUS.

I only knew that when GOD made me born again 42 months ago.

Surely, He took pity on this persistent child, despite her many failings.

In the course of those esoteric readings, I came across several authors' claim about Mary Magdalene.

Now, she was the woman possessed by seven devils.

JESUS healed this woman, and she became a devoted follower of the LORD.

Modern-day fiction (purporting to be based on facts) spoke of how Mary was the wife of JESUS.

And that they had a child, who lived in France.

That the LORD's bloodline continued there.

I won't even mention the best-selling book that spoke of that.

For I had read that book, and seen the movie.

These are abominations unto GOD.

Writing the article "The APOSTLE whom JESUS loved" yesterday, I have Scripture proof of GOD's truth.

Thus, I needed to write this supporting article.

Thanks to the HOLY SPIRIT who guides me each moment.

The book and movie depicted Mary as the one whom JESUS loved.

She was also depicted as the one who laid her head on his breast.

Not so, as Scripture says:

John 13:23-26

King James Version

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, 

whom Jesus loved.

24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, 

that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, 

Lord, who is it?

26 Jesus answered, 

He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, 

when I have dipped it. 

And when he had dipped the sop, 

he gave it to Judas Iscariot, 

the son of Simon.

Note the pronouns used:

John 13:24

King James Version

24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, 

that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

John 13:25

King James Version

25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, 

Lord, who is it?

That was apostle John, whom JESUS loved.

The very same apostle who wouldn't even directly speak of himself in his gospel's testimony of JESUS.

And it definitely was not a woman, as these other verses reveal:

John 19:25-27

King James Version

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, 

and his mother's sister, 

Mary the wife of Cleophas, 

and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, 

and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, 

he saith unto his mother, 

Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, 

Behold thy mother! 

And from that hour that disciple took her 

unto his own home.

JESUS was definitely referring to a man (His apostle, John), when He said:

"Woman, behold thy son!"

And to the disciple, "Behold thy mother!"

Note the gender here:

"And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."

We must really be careful these days.

Of how the enemy deceives us.

Twisting the LORD's gospel this way, and that.

1 Timothy 4:1-2

King James Version

4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, 

that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, 

giving heed to seducing spirits, 

and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; 

having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

The SPIRIT of GOD straightens us all out.

Through Scripture.

John 14:26

King James Version

26 But the Comforter, 

which is the Holy Ghost, 

whom the Father will send in my name, 

he shall teach you all things, 

and bring all things to your remembrance, 

whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26

King James Version

26 But when the Comforter is come, 

whom I will send unto you from the Father, 

even the Spirit of truth, 

which proceedeth from the Father, 

he shall testify of me:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

King James Version

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

and is profitable for doctrine, 

for reproof, 

for correction, 

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, 

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

We must treat GOD's WORD as sacred.

If we are true born again.

And disciples of JESUS.

2 Timothy 2:15

King James Version

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, 

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the word of truth.

And if you're not?

Well, it's time to be.

It's all preparation now.

Related post:

The APOSTLE whom JESUS loved

How can YOU not WANT to BECOME born again?

GOD's TRUTH

Image: Clipart Library