Yes, I know it’s discouraged to predict when the end will come, but go with me on this for a minute…
God promised that a man named Cyrus (yes, God actually told us what the guy’s name would be) would become King and make the pronouncement that allowed the people of Israel to return to their home and rebuild it – hundreds of years before it happened…including how long it would be before this happened… And it happened exactly when and how God said it would, down to the King’s name. (Read Jeremiah and Ezra)
God promised that a man called “God with us” would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, which was the symbol of a peaceful King – hundreds of years before it happened…including how long it would be before this happened… And it happened exactly when and how God said it would, down to the very day. (Read Zechariah and Daniel)
God promised that this same God-man would be sinless, yet crucified for other’s sins (yours and mine) – hundreds of years before it happened….including details of crucifixion that didn’t even exist at the time it was predicted… And it happened exactly when and how God said it would, down to the guard who pierced the side of God. (Read Psalms and Isaiah)
All of these things happened PRECISELY as predicted and prescribed by God; spoken through the Spirit; written down by faithful men; and handed down through the generations so you and I can read and believe that God’s promises are faithful and true.
Tomorrow is yet a surprise for us, but it's already history to God. There is nothing that will happen tomorrow that He doesn’t already know, and hasn’t already fully built into His plan.
So, when God said hundreds of years ago that man would continue his downward spiral; that mankind would bring such evil and disrespect into the world that wrong became right; that things would get so bad that many would believe they were actually doing God’s will by performing evil acts on those who follow Jesus; that sin would run rampant and become not just common-place, but expected and lauded in society – it should not be a surprise that we see these very things happening around us.
God also said this hundreds of years ago, speaking of when this God-man returns:
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.”
You and I – we are ‘they who pierced Him’. Every one of us who denies Jesus is our Lord, Savior, and King, play a part in His crucifixion. Every one of us who speak His name but deny Him with our actions. Every one of us who sin….yes, everyone. We are just as guilty as the men who drove the nails or thrust the spear into the side of God. There is one way – ONLY ONE WAY – to get beyond this guilt. We must follow Him; love Him; worship Him - listen and believe Him.
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
This is Jesus, the Son of God, Immanuel, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, the Lamb that was slain - and the above statement was written hundreds of years before He came and turned it into His brutal and beautiful achievement. He came exactly as God promised and died for you, and for me. He will return again exactly as God promised and will no longer be just our Savior, but our Judge.
When He returns, will you be judged by your actions? Your lies, your deceit, your words, thoughts, and actions?
Or will you be judged by His actions - by claiming the Blood of Christ to cover your sins? Jesus promises to wash your sins away right now - TODAY – to take them as far as the East is from the West – as far as the very bottom of the deepest ocean floor – if you will accept what He has already done for you.
Accept Him today, and the world as you know it ends – today.