Will the Lord Jesus take believers up into the kingdom of heaven when He comes again?

The Lord has promised to us, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). We know that the Lord has prepared a place for us in heaven. When He’s back directly to the kingdom of heaven, we’ll go. So if the Lord has returned, I truly wonder why we are still here and not in heaven.

Why We Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees

Liu Zhi

“… Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6).

Once-in-a-hundred-year Total Solar Eclipse Passes God’s Warning of the Last Days!

Once-in-a-hundred-year Total Solar Eclipse Passes God’s Warning of the Last Days!

On August 21, 2017, the news of huge interest, the once-in-a-generation total solar eclipse in the U.S., almost hit the headlines of every main news media on computers and TVs.

The eclipse began its sweep over Lincoln Beach, Oregon of Western United Statas, at 9:05 a.m. local time on August 21., At 10:16 a.m., the moon completely blocked out the sun, creating a total solar eclipse, a rare astronomical phenomenon. Anywhere inside the 70 -mile of the Path of Totality experienced 2 minutes and 40 seconds of darkness. The whole sun gradually could be seen after 11:36 a.m. local time. Next, the band passed through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and other 10 states, and finally this spectacular total solar eclipse ended near South Carolina, at about 3 p.m. EST.

The once-in-a-hundred-year total solar eclipse drew many astronomers and stargazers flocked to the site to witness it. Everyone has his own mood and feeling toward this rare spectacle. Some people marveled at it, some felt excited, some older people felt lucky to see the wonder in their lifetime. However, as Christians, we thought of the almighty God’s prophecies and warnings first while viewing the rare total solar eclipse.

There are many prophecies about the signs of the last days in the Bible, some of which convey God’s warning to the people of the last days through the appearance of astronomical signs, such as, “And it shall come to pass in that day, said the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day” (Amos 8:9). “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread on the mountains” (Joel 2:2). “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:31). “…her sun is gone down while it was yet day” (Jeremiah 15:9). “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring” (Luke 21:25).

That is to say, today, in the last days, when the sun was covered suddenly at a sunny day and the earth plunged into darkness, it was the fulfillment of the prophecies of God in the last days, which is to say, God has begun to judge this world and send down great disasters. Yes! The fulfillment of the prophecies of the last days has a direct relationship with the catastrophe predicted in Revelation and also is closely related to God’s warning.

There are some comments on the Internet, saying that this total solar eclipse corresponds to the news the prophet Jonah conveyed to the Ninevites that God would destroy them. People who are familiar with the Bible know that, before Jonah conveyed God’s will to the Ninevites, the people of Nineveh, from their king to the common man, were ensnared in sin and licentiousness, eating, drinking and having fun, worshiping false gods and evil spirits to such a point that it was unbearable for God to witness. So God raised up the prophet Jonah to warn the Ninevites that He would destroy the whole city after forty days. When they heard God’s warning, the Ninevites turned away from their evil ways, thus winning God’s mercy and tolerance through their sincere confession and repentance for their sins, which was a special event that God’s punishment toward man transformed into forgiveness through the historical record of the Bible. Almost during the same period, the city of Sodom which was evil and corrupt to the extreme as the Nineveh, were burned away thoroughly by the brimstone and fire God sent from heaven. This is because, the people of Sodom were not only corrupted by Satan and lived in sin, but remained impenitent, greedily enjoyed the pleasures of sin, even harmed the messengers of God. Ultimately, the only thing that awaited them was certainly God’s wrath and righteous punishment!

Looking back to the different end of Sodom and Nineveh, while reflecting on ourselves, we have to admit that the extent of corruption of the whole mankind in the last days has even gone beyond that of people of Sodom and Nineveh. With the technological development and material abundance, many people fall into sin of luxury and dissipation and cannot free from it. In order to scramble for profit, there always start wars among different countries and races for destroying and killing. In order to satisfy desires, there are always human strife, attack, plots and murder among even ordinary people. In order to crave indulgence of the flesh, people eat, drink and play everywhere with music and dancing night after night, living in an evil and licentious life. Hence, when the prophesies of the last days are fulfilled one by one, it is the time that God’s warning reaches this mankind. If we still don’t repent and are stubbornly going our own way like the men of Sodom, can we escape the great disasters which are near to us?

The terms that Jonah conveyed the news of God’s destroying the Nineveh were 40 days, that is to say, from the moment that Jonah conveyed God’s will to the Nineveh, there were only 40 days left for the Ninevites to repent before God. Today, when you watched the total solar eclipse with different moods, have you thought about how long God will leave for us people in the last days to repent?

It was expected that seven years later, in 2024, the total solar eclipse will occur again. Many people know that in the Bible, seven is regarded as completion and it usually represents God’s will is fulfilled and completed. The Bible says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matthew 24:29). Now is the last days with a lot of misfortunes and mishaps. Before the arrival of the catastrophic disaster prophesied in the Revelation, within seven years before the next occurrence of total solar eclipse, how will God treat these people who are not willing to turn away from their evil ways and return to God like the men of Sodom? In recent years, thinking about the people who died in earthquakes, tsunamis, plagues, floods, droughts, typhoons, wars and terrorist attacks which frequently take place, and thinking back the different end of the Ninevites and the men of Sodom, the answer has been self-evident to all.

Source from Rainbow Covenant

How Should We Welcome The Return Of The Lord Jesus?

Nowadays, all the believers in the Lord are expecting the Lord Jesus’ second coming to bring man into the kingdom of heaven. Especially when people reading the scripture Acts 1:11, “Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.”, they think that the Lord left on a white cloud, so he will surely return on a white cloud. Thus most people just wait for the return of the Lord Jesus passively. But over more than two thousand years have passed, man still hasn’t seen the Savior coming with clouds. In recent years, whenever I see the disaster is greater and greater and the church becomes more and more desolate, I couldn’t help looking up to heaven and crying out to the Lord, “O Lord! Nowadays various signs of the last days have already been fulfilled, but why have we still not seen your return?” With the passage of time, I began to doubt: Is it truly after God’s heart that we wait for God’s coming so passively? Then how shall we welcome the return of the Lord?

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Jesus Cleanses the Temple – John 2

13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a whip of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said to them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of your house has eaten me up. 18 Then answered the Jews and said to him, What sign show you to us, seeing that you do these things? 19 Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days? 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

The Wedding at Cana

The Wedding at Cana – John 2

1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus said to her, Woman, what have I to do with you? my hour is not yet come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever he said to you, do it. 6 And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, Draw out now, and bear to the governor of the feast. And they bore it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not from where it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And said to him, Every man at the beginning does set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but you have kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Jesus Christ is God Himself. The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit, They are One. We can know from the bible verses, the Lord Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father….” (John 14:9) “I am in the Father, and the Father in me….” (John 14:10) “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

Jesus Calls His First Disciples – John 1

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking on Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, What seek you? They said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwell you? 39 He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelled, and stayed with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first finds his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, You are Simon the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Behold, the Lamb of God

Behold, the Lamb of God – John 1

29 The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it stayed on him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, On whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is God Himself. The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit, They are One. We can know from the bible verses, the Lord Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father….” (John 14:9) “I am in the Father, and the Father in me….” (John 14:10) “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion – Matthew 27

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

33 And when they were come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and on my clothing did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

The Soldiers Mock Jesus – Matthew 27

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered to him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit on him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Jesus Christ is God Himself. The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit, They are One. We can know from the bible verses, the Lord Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father….” (John 14:9) “I am in the Father, and the Father in me….” (John 14:10) “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

Jesus Before Pilate

Matthew 27

Jesus Before Pilate

11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Are you the King of the Jews? And Jesus said to him, You say. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate to him, Hear you not how many things they witness against you? 14 And he answered him to never a word; so that the governor marveled greatly.

Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest

Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest – Matthew 26

47 And while he yet spoke, see, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, Friend, why are you come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane – Matthew 26

36 Then comes Jesus with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then said he to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death: tarry you here, and watch with me.

The Last Supper

The Last Supper

The Last Supper – Matthew 26

17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where will you that we prepare for you to eat the passover? 18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, The Master said, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples. 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus – Matthew 26

14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 And said to them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Jesus Christ is God Himself. The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit, They are One. We can know from the bible verses, the Lord Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father….” (John 14:9) “I am in the Father, and the Father in me….” (John 14:10) “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

The Plot to Kill Jesus

The Plot to Kill Jesus

The Plot to Kill Jesus – Matthew 26

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 You know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, to the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him. 5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Jesus Christ is God Himself. The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit, They are One. We can know from the bible verses, the Lord Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father….” (John 14:9) “I am in the Father, and the Father in me….” (John 14:10) “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Jesus Cleanses the Temple – Matthew 21

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said to them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said to him, Hear you what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise? 17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

Jesus Christ is God Himself. The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit, They are One. We can know from the bible verses, the Lord Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father….” (John 14:9) “I am in the Father, and the Father in me….” (John 14:10) “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

The Triumphal Entry

The Triumphal Entry

The Triumphal Entry – Matthew 21

1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying to them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them to me. 3 And if any man say ought to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 Tell you the daughter of Sion, Behold, your King comes to you, meek, and sitting on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Two Blind Men Receive Sight

Two Blind Men Receive Sight – Matthew 20

29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will you that I shall do to you? 33 They say to him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant – Matthew 18

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus said to him, I say not to you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

The Parable of the Lost Sheep – Matthew 18

10 Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12 How think you? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and goes into the mountains, and seeks that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Peter’s Confession of Christ

Peter’s Confession of Christ – Matthew 16

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He said to them, But whom say you that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

The Feeding of the Five Thousand – Matthew 14

13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed there by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said to them, They need not depart; give you them to eat. 17 And they say to him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them here to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Jesus Christ is God Himself. The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit, They are One. We can know from the bible verses, the Lord Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father….” (John 14:9) “I am in the Father, and the Father in me….” (John 14:10) “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

The Parable of the Leaven

The Parable of the Leaven

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The Parable of the Leaven – Matthew 13

33 Another parable spoke he to them; The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.