Ezekiel 18:23-32 “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. 25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
The 2000 plus years since Jesus’ ascension may seem like a long time, but it is really not. In 2 Peter 3:8, the Apostle makes it a point to paraphrase Psalm 90:4 “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” God created time but God is not confined by time. God operates within time because his creation (including us) are confined by time. In Heaven the length of eternity will be compared to the shortness of time on earth. James 4:14 says, “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” I
In 2 Peter 3:9, the Apostle tells us, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, the Apostle Paul instructs us, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
(3) The third thing that the Apostle Peter wants us to know about the end times is that Jesus is coming back soon. In 2 Peter 3:9a, the Apostle tells us, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” In Matthew 24:40-42, the Lord Jesus says, “Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” The whole point is that we are not to fear and panic about the end of the world. The point of the Apostle Peter and Jesus’ words as a reminder are to stay awake, be aware and “remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles”. Live like today is the day that Jesus returns because it very well could be.
Habakkuk 2:3 “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”
When the Bible tells us that Jesus is coming back soon, we naturally ask: When is that happening? God says, “Trust Me”. We live in expectancy for that day, but to live every day for Jesus. The Apostle John tells us in Revelation 1:1-3 “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”
Let's conclude Pastor Kyle's message on the "End Times" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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