Christ Will Come Again To Judge The Living And The Dead
I was telling Ed that our friend here in Chilliwack is selling his condo. Ed wanted to know if our friend could keep a spotless place for house showings of potential buyers. Remarkably, I told Ed, he tends to be ready at any time for people to look through his condo.
Our friend lives alone without pets, children, or grandchildren to disturb his tidiness. His wife passed away recently. Fortunately, his wife was an impeccable housekeeper, so no overdue cleaning was a problem before listing the unit. They were only in their upgraded, updated condo home for a brief time, so it was easy to stage for pictures and open houses by the real estate company. Once it was staged, our friend has made a point of not being home except to sleep, so it’s easy for him to show his condo at any time.
Ed and I agree that getting a house or condo ready for selling may entail lots of effort for many of us. It may mean not only overdue cleaning but touchup painting or shampooing carpets and decluttering. It may mean pets, family, etc., not cooperating with our efforts to be spotless and ready to show our home at any time. Thank goodness realtors make appointments for home showings.
When something could happen at any time, there is a need for continual readiness. If you show up, come, or arrive without an appointment in our modern world, it is called a walk-in. Businesses may indicate that there are no walk-ins, only by appointment. We might not always be able to do walk-ins, but Jesus warns us that he will do a crucial walk-in whether we are ready or not. Jesus has promised he will return from heaven without warning.
It could happen anytime. The Bible tells us that there will be one last day for this world. It is called the day of Jesus’ second coming. No one knows the exact day or hour when Christ will return to earth, but Christ warns us to be ready for his sudden return. Our continual readiness is needed.
The Bible is very plain about what will take place on the last day. There will be the visible return of Jesus. “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. (Revelation 1:7)
When Jesus returns, there will be “A resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Acts 24:15)
Jesus will judge humanity from his throne as all nations will be gathered before him. All will be separated either to eternal life or eternal punishment. (Matthew 25:31-46) We are told in 2 Timothy 4:1 that Jesus will “judge the living and the dead at his appearing.” Romans 14:10 confirms, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
There will be the wonderful gathering up God’s own in the air in the clouds to be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
The earth will be “Burned up!” (2 Peter 3:10-13) Satan will be cast into hell. (Revelation 20:7-10) A new heaven and earth with the new heavenly Jerusalem will appear. (Revelations 21:1-17)
