Have You Ever Wondered When The Lord Will Return?

Well, the specific date as to when the world will come to an end is not known by man. However, the Apostle Peter made this declaration in II Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

This event could not come unexpectedly as a thief in the night if the date were known. Therefore, God will not reveal the date to man, and it is not in our place to set dates for the Lord's return. Incidentally, two big events will take place at the end of the world, according to Peter.

• First the heavens shall pass away with a great noise. This means the atmosphere will pass away with one big explosion. 
• And second, the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Man knows approximately 105 elements in science (which include Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen). The great majority of these are called natural elements. 

The great result of these two events will be, "the earth also and the works therein" shall be burned up. This earth will be destroyed with all of the banks, land, building, and other material possessions.

Some people believe that the earth will last forever, but we have just established from scripture that the earth has an end; which leads Peter to ask a sobering question in the very next verse in II Peter 3:11, 12. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.-"

There is but one answer to this sobering question raised by Peter and that is, be prepared to meet God every night when you go to bed. The way of righteousness is the only way to live and each individual should endeavor to each day pleasing God. We are therefore, called upon to surrender to God and allow Him to be Lord of our Lives as we worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  Yes, the earth will pass away and everything in it.

So where will the Christian be? God promised to take care of the Christians; the Apostle Paul states in I Thessalonians 4:16, 17, "For 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 him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Yes, Christ will take His Bride away before the tribulation begins.

Paul states specifically that the dead in Christ and that the Christians that are alive on earth shall be cared for in the second coming of Christ at the end of the age. Christians who died before Christ returns shall be raised first, and then living Christians shall be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord!

A Christian lives with the assurance that God will take care of him at the end of the world, whether he is living or dead. In view of the fact that the world is coming to an end, it is very important for you to know the Bible answer to the question, what must I do to be saved? The answer can be found in Acts 2:38!