You can't deny that it's a temptation: for over 150 years "we" have been preaching that Jesus is coming "soon," "it's the eleventh hour," "time is almost finished," etc. Now, many are wondering, because they are tempted to doubt: "Is Jesus REALLY coming back again SOON as we humans are forced to understand the word "soon"? And some who have long believed that Jesus promised to return visibly, personally, in the clouds, are beginning to try to redefine "the second coming" so it won't be personal and visible. (That means they are repeating the arguments of "our" opponents of 150+ years ago! While telling us they still believe in the Second Coming!)
If you are tempted to doubt the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, let me suggest one simple observation you can make that can't help but clarify your vision: consider how our modern world is fast becoming like Jesus described the days of Noah before the Flood. Look at Matthew 24:37-39 (these are the simple, direct words of Jesus Himself): "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Genesis 6 describes those "days" as "corrupt, ... and filled with violence" (vs. 11). All the people cared about was sex and pleasure. And Genesis says that "God repented that He had made man."
Think of how we are today living in a time of solemn judgment, and contrast the giddy, pleasure-mad, yes, corrupt spirit that prevails, and you can't help but see that it's as it was in the days of Noah before the Flood. It's time for solemn, serious, sober thinking! Nothing in this world makes sense except the truth as it is in Jesus! God give us grace to believe it!
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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