 |
|
|
Night after night the great telescopes have been trained upon the starry heavens. There’s
a deep and hidden mystery some how connected with the stars in the sky. At this very moment
out at Mount Polamar in California, the great 200 inch telescope is trained upon the stars while
the world’s greatest astronomers anxiously tabulate the results of their sky study. Every
night something new and different is discovered. And do you know that every night somewhere
in this world men see unearthly objects with supernatural lights wisk through the skies, swift
as the lightning and as silent as the grave.
This is the day of amazing things for the heavens. Man-made satellites whirl in their orbits.
Lunar II smashes into the surface of the moon only 84 seconds off course. A gentle touch-down
on Venus makes spectacular headlines for Soviet space scientists. Why, friends, science fiction
has become truth in these days of the twentieth century. The fact that many of these unearthly
lights and many of these so-called flying saucers have never been explained is causing thinking
men and women everywhere to ask this question, “Could it be that these things come from
some other planet, that someone from outer space is responsible? Could it be that someone from
outer space will one day come to this world? And if so, how will their arrival affect us in
this planet? What will they be like? Will they be the proverbial little green men that say to
earthmen, ‘Take us to your leader,’ or will they be men with wires running from
them, more like machines? Or will they be an order of beings far superior to anything we have
on this earth?” Strange as it may seem, though men and women, fearing and full of worry,
are rushing to and fro, hither and yon, seeking the answers to these questions, and though our
leaders seem to know nothing about it, the answer has already been given.
Listen! One of these nights a bright dazzling light will appear in the sky, the likes of which
men have never seen or even imagined. The atmospheric heavens will split wide open and roll
back like a windowshade, and there, riding upon a cloud, visible to all, coming in majesty and
brightness and glory unparalleled will be a man from outer space—yes, Jesus Christ, the
Son of God. I read of it in Revelation 6:14. “And the heavens departed as a scroll when
it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
In Revelation 14:14, “I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud sat one like
unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.. Oh,
friends, that will be the night when all men every where will face God. For some it will be
the saddest moment and the most tragic moment of all time. For others it will be the moment
of the greatest joy and happiness. Which will it be for you?
It always seems a little bit incredible to me that people know so little about this man coming
from outer space when the Bible is so full of information on this subject. And that information
is so plain, pointed and clear. Jesus Himself gave some very definite words on this matter in
John 14. Notice what He says. He was talking to His disciples, by the way, who were very, very
perplexed. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In
My Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. 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 unto myself that where I am there ye may be also.” According to this Scripture Jesus
gave His own word of honor that there would be a great space trip one day all the way from heaven
to earth and then back again.
Do you know that Jesus even testified under oath that He was coming from outer space back to
this earth? Do you remember the story of how in the last hours of Jesus’ life here upon
the earth He went to the garden with His disciples to pray? While He was there the murderous
throng came with staves and swords to take him. And one of His own inner circle, Judas, betrayed
Him. Do you remember how they led Him away to that mockery of a trial. And, according to the
record, while He was standing before the leaders of the Jewish church, the high priest wanted
to get some information and be sure that it would be correct. He had heard a great deal about
Jesus. He had heard this and that and he wondered what was really true so he put Him under oath
and asked Him some questions. And I call you to witness that under oath Jesus said the following.
“Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye
see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew 26:64.
And that’s not all. Do you know that in the New Testament alone, in addition to these
two wonderful statements of the Lord, there are 260 additional prophecies regarding the Lord’s
return from outer space. Oh, friends, lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus is coming
again. Cheer up ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing. Jesus is coming again. The prophecies from
the New Testament alone give us proof positive of that. Yes, He’s coming back alright—no
question about that. But how is He coming? Here’s where so many opinions begin to diverge
and one goes this way and one that until there are many beliefs.
How will Jesus return? I’m happy to tell you that God sent two angels all the way from
heaven to give a little discouraged church this very information. You’ll find it in Acts
1:9-11. “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up;”
while He was telling them some very important and valuable things that had to do with His kingdom,
all of a sudden He appeared to be getting taller. They looked at one another and then at Him
and then they noticed that His feet were off the ground. They stood there speechless. Even Peter
who always had something to say, could think of nothing. And Jesus went up, up, up, higher and
higher, until a cloud received Him out of their sight. They just stood there, amazed, staggered.
And then they noticed two men standing there by their side in white apparel—angels no
doubt—and these angels said unto them, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11. Now this is a very important passage
of Scripture. This same Jesus shall so come “in like manner”—how did He go
away, friends? First of all, He went up into a cloud, didn’t He? The Scriptures say, “and
a cloud received him out of their sight.” Then on the authority of the word of two angels,
He’s coming back in a cloud. I’m happy to tell you that the Scripture bears that
out in other places. In Revelation 14:14, which we read a moment ago, “I looked and behold
a while cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man.” And Revelation 1:7,
“Behold, he cometh with clouds;” When that great man, Jesus, comes from outer space,
He will come with clouds. The Bible gives us proof positive for that.
Secondly, when He went away, He was visible. It says that they were looking at Him and watching
Him steadfastly, so when He comes back again, He will be visible. Please, friends, never let
anyone ever tell you differently. He will be seen. Again, Revelation 1:7, “Behold, he
cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” You see how plain and positive this
good Book always is. He will be visible when He returns. Every eye will see Him. Perhaps you
say, “Now wait a minute, I just don’t care anything at all about seeing Him. I’m
an infidel and I deny His very existence. My friend, even though you may be an infidel, you
will see Him. You may deny the existence of God but just the same you’ll see Him. Every
eye will see Him. The Scriptures are very plain on that point. You won’t tune in on the
radio and see it on television or pick up the paper and discover Christ has come. No, indeed,
when He comes you’ll not need anybody to tell you because you’ll see Him.
But the Lord warned us that there would be false christs and false prophets to arise and many
would be deceived. I’d like to read you in Matthew 24:23, “Then if any man shall
say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.” Now so many people, even
in my short ministry, have said to me, “Say, did you hear about what happened over in
the desert or over here or over there, somebody’s claiming to be Christ.” The Lord
says to believe it not. Matthew 24:24, Jesus said, “There shall arise false christs, and
false prophets, and shall shew great signs and and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible,
they shall deceive the very elect.” The Lord is warning us. He’s telling us that
these false Christs and prophets will do many wonderful miraculous things and will, if possible,
deceive the very elect of God. Then in verse 26, He says, “If they shall say unto you,
Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth:” Never let it be said of any Christian that
he or she goes forth to the desert to look into one of these false claims. If they should tell
you He is in the secret chamber, don’t believe it for Christ warned us about this very
thing.
It’s possible, friends, that you might tune in the television some night and the program
will suddenly be interrupted with, “FLASH: Christ is coming.” The cameras will be
turned on somebody perhaps in the streets of Los Angeles—that could happen. I think it
will happen. The Bible teaches very clearly that when He comes back, every eye will see Him
in the clouds. The people might not like it but still everyone will see Him. This false Christ
may even heal people and work great miracles and people will say he is the very Messiah but
the Bible says, “No.” People may go long distances to see this individual work his
miracles but remember, when Christ comes, every eye will see Him.
The third point proves that Christ will be a real body. Many people make Him a ghost so that
it’s hard for people to fall in love with Him. After His resurrection He came in person
and they saw Him and were frightened to death almost. They thought He was still in the tomb,
that what they saw was a ghost and they trembled just like people in the world today tremble.
And He said in effect to them, “Why are you troubled? Why are you alarmed? Come here,
take hold of Me. A ghost doesn’t have flesh and blood as I have.” And then He took
some food and ate it before them. It was the same Jesus with flesh and bones that ate food before
the disciples, who later on led them out to Bethany, and as He was blessing them, was caught
up and returned to God in heaven. Now isn’t that clear, plain, and positive, friends?
It’s too plain to misunderstand. We have the witness of two angels straight from heaven.
So let’s review it here. When Christ comes back from outer space, He will be in a cloud.
He will be visible. Every eye shall see Him and He will be a real bodily personal Jesus. It’s
a fascinating thing, friends, and we need to find all the information about the coming of our
Lord. |
|
 |
