#1 Reason Why Jesus is Not Coming Soon
by Andrew Michell
September 2, 2012
September 2, 2012
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Over and over again I repeatedly hear people lamenting that Jesus has not yet returned. They are upset that Jesus has not already come back to bring an end to all the murder, war, rape, carnage, disasters, plagues, terrorism, strife, and endless human suffering. Many are genuinely perplexed and baffled by this current state of events and heaven’s apparent disinterest in bringing this great conflict to a close.
“Jesus is Coming Soon” is a theme that has been preached and taught for generations. “Jesus is Coming Soon” appears in songs, prayers, sermons, books, articles, magazines, tracts, and even bumper stickers. |
Thousands upon thousands, if not millions anxiously watch the development of strange events in the world just so sure that such events will be the last of earth’s history. When the end does not come however they overcome their disappointment and reinforce their conviction through an endless repetition of “Jesus is Coming Soon.” For millions “Jesus is Coming Soon” is more than an announcement, it is gospel, and that is the problem.
“Jesus is Coming Soon” is a popular expression accepted as gospel but it cannot be found in the Gospels. When Jesus was asked by his disciples in Matthew 24:3 to tell them the sign that would precede his coming, he gave it to them in verse 14:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come.”
According to the dictionary the word ‘soon’ is an adverb that describes an event in relation to some point in time. That point in time is the completion of the Great Commission. There may be 50 more economic disasters, 300 more famines, and 2,000 more wars, but there will only be one completion of the Great Commission. It is the time when the gospel has gone to every nation, language, and unreached people group. The year is 2012 and less than %60 of the world has even a rudimentary knowledge of who Jesus is or what he taught. This means that almost three billion people, three BILLION living people, know nothing! Jesus is not coming soon until they know.
“Jesus is Coming Soon” is only half true and if only half true than it must be half untrue. By stating, singing, and preaching this lie we are in effect hiding from ourselves our Great Responsibility. We can no longer see our Great Opportunity to share Jesus with the unreached. We are upset with God for not returning but we should be upset with ourselves for becoming so biblically illiterate.
Think of the effect that the following statements have upon your mind:
1. Jesus is coming soon
2. Jesus is coming soon after the unreached people groups hear about Him.
Only a few words have been removed but the consequences are enormous. One statement tells us our work is done while the other tells us the work is waiting. One statement tells us to wait for God but the other says that God is waiting for us. One statement puts you to sleep and the other calls you to get involved now and do something. This “Jesus is Coming Soon” deception has worked so insidiously in our Christian paradigm so as to destroy the very reason for our existence. Missions means nothing now. At the time when billions are without knowledge of how to be saved from eternal death Christians are the most apathetic and ungiving towards the unreached.
When we hear “Jesus is Coming Soon” we ought to with love and kindness share the whole truth that Jesus taught in Matthew 24:14. We ought not to participate in the substitution of the teachings of the God’s promised Savior for trite expressions that sound nice but are not faithful to Scripture. Speak up! Be heard! Read out loud Matthew 24:14. Don’t be an accomplice to the growing ignorance. Not until we stop lying and telling half truths and start confronting ourselves with radical honesty will we be in a place to go forward.
“Jesus is Coming Soon” is a popular expression accepted as gospel but it cannot be found in the Gospels. When Jesus was asked by his disciples in Matthew 24:3 to tell them the sign that would precede his coming, he gave it to them in verse 14:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come.”
According to the dictionary the word ‘soon’ is an adverb that describes an event in relation to some point in time. That point in time is the completion of the Great Commission. There may be 50 more economic disasters, 300 more famines, and 2,000 more wars, but there will only be one completion of the Great Commission. It is the time when the gospel has gone to every nation, language, and unreached people group. The year is 2012 and less than %60 of the world has even a rudimentary knowledge of who Jesus is or what he taught. This means that almost three billion people, three BILLION living people, know nothing! Jesus is not coming soon until they know.
“Jesus is Coming Soon” is only half true and if only half true than it must be half untrue. By stating, singing, and preaching this lie we are in effect hiding from ourselves our Great Responsibility. We can no longer see our Great Opportunity to share Jesus with the unreached. We are upset with God for not returning but we should be upset with ourselves for becoming so biblically illiterate.
Think of the effect that the following statements have upon your mind:
1. Jesus is coming soon
2. Jesus is coming soon after the unreached people groups hear about Him.
Only a few words have been removed but the consequences are enormous. One statement tells us our work is done while the other tells us the work is waiting. One statement tells us to wait for God but the other says that God is waiting for us. One statement puts you to sleep and the other calls you to get involved now and do something. This “Jesus is Coming Soon” deception has worked so insidiously in our Christian paradigm so as to destroy the very reason for our existence. Missions means nothing now. At the time when billions are without knowledge of how to be saved from eternal death Christians are the most apathetic and ungiving towards the unreached.
When we hear “Jesus is Coming Soon” we ought to with love and kindness share the whole truth that Jesus taught in Matthew 24:14. We ought not to participate in the substitution of the teachings of the God’s promised Savior for trite expressions that sound nice but are not faithful to Scripture. Speak up! Be heard! Read out loud Matthew 24:14. Don’t be an accomplice to the growing ignorance. Not until we stop lying and telling half truths and start confronting ourselves with radical honesty will we be in a place to go forward.