Is This The Beginning Of The End?

Acts 3:18, “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

The prophecies by Old Testament prophets concerning the coming of Jesus Christ and what He would suffer were fulfilled perfectly. Jesus was crucified and rose from the grave becoming victorious over death. His disciples saw Him ascend into the heavens where He sits at the right hand of the Father. He will remain there until the time of "restitution of all things." Then the prophecies concerning His second coming with be fulfilled perfectly just as the first advent.

Are we near the “restitution of all things.” The stage is being set and the players are taking their places. God is moving the course of human events to the culmination of this age. Current events are a testimony to where we are as we approach the final curtain.

As I was reading and meditating on the question, “Is This The Beginning Of The End,” I came upon the following article entitled, “Jesus Is Coming.” This was written by Bishop Samuel Clements, General Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy and published in the church’s magazine, The White Wing Messenger, on April 26, 2016. In light of the events that have engulfed our world, I feel impressed to share it here.

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:25–28).

“Jesus is coming! He is coming swiftly! He is coming suddenly and we must be ready. In Matthew 26 Jesus 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.”

The angels said He would come again. The Holy Ghost, by the mouth of the apostles, said He would come again. Paul said, “But ye brethren are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief.” In the fourth chapter of the book of Thessalonians, Paul wrote “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” The last book of the Bible, Revelation, begins and ends with the theme of His coming. Every chapter relates to this subject. World events revolve around it. Jesus is coming and nothing or no one can stop Him.

The second coming of Christ should be the foremost hope in our minds. It is the key factor in our faith. At the time of His ascension, the angels stood by and spoke to those who had been with him and said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.”

At His first coming he put off his glory and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. He was clothed with the veil of flesh, but at His second coming, he will be clothed with the garments of God. At his first coming, he appeared in weakness, an infant in a manger, but at his second coming, he shall appear in power as the King of Glory, the sign of His exaltation before God the Father.

He is coming in the glory of the Father, He is coming in the glory of the angels as the Captain of the Host of Heaven. He is coming in the glory of the church as the bridegroom with the bride. The Son of God, the root and offspring of David. The Son of Man; born of a woman, the crucified man, the risen man, the infinite eternal man; the one who was God and man—Jesus Christ. He is coming as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. “He which testifieth these things saith, surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).”

Thank you Bishop Clements for this timely message. My prayer is that God will open our eyes to understanding the significance of current events. God reveal to the Body of Christ the urgency of His message. The world is doomed to eternal darkness except they turn to Jesus Christ in repentance. “Repent ye therefore...” Acts 3:19