Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: TOTE
Program Code: TOTE000017
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00:02 Can you believe it?
00:05 Can you build your faith on it? 00:08 The promises of God's Word are sure. 00:12 They do not fail. 00:17 This book has stood the test of time. 00:29 Tonight we're talking about the coming of Jesus Christ. 00:37 About the coming of Jesus. How is He going to come back? 00:41 What does the scripture say about it? 00:43 What is the manner of the coming of Jesus Christ? 00:47 That's what we're going to be looking at. 00:48 This is important, friends, 00:51 because what you and I need to understand 00:54 is what the Word of God says. 00:56 And the Bible offers us some counsel 00:59 that we need to be very careful about this subject 01:02 that we do understand what the Bible says about the way 01:06 in which Jesus is coming. 01:08 So tonight's subject is a very important one. 01:10 and we hope that it will be a blessing to you 01:12 in a special way. 01:15 One of the marvelous promises is 01:18 is that you and I will be able to behold Him, to see Him. 01:23 I want you to listen tonight 01:25 as Ysis España sings We Shall Behold Him. 02:09 The sky shall unfold, 02:16 preparing 02:19 His entrance, 02:25 The stars shall 02:29 applaud Him 02:35 with thunders 02:38 of praise; 02:45 The sweet light in His eyes 02:54 shall enhance those awaiting, 03:03 And we shall 03:07 behold Him 03:13 then face to face. 03:23 We shall 03:25 behold Him, 03:32 We shall behold Him 03:41 Face to face, 03:46 in all of His 03:49 glory; 03:55 We shall 03:58 behold Him, 04:05 we shall behold 04:10 Him 04:14 Face to face, 04:23 our Savior and Lord. 04:44 The angel shall sound 04:53 the shout of His coming, 05:02 The sleeping shall rise 05:08 from 05:12 their slumbering place; 05:21 And those who remain 05:30 shall be changed in a moment, 05:40 And we shall 05:43 behold Him 05:50 then face to face. 05:58 Yes, we shall behold 06:04 Him, 06:08 We shall behold 06:13 Him 06:18 Face to face, 06:22 in all of His glory; 06:32 We shall behold Him, 06:41 we shall behold 06:46 Him 06:51 Face 06:53 to face, 06:59 our Savior and Lord. 07:09 We shall behold 07:14 Him, 07:18 our Savior 07:23 and Lord. 07:30 Savior 07:32 and Lord! 07:56 Our Gracious Father, 07:58 we look forward to that day when we shall behold You. 08:04 We pray tonight that as we 08:07 look at the ways in which Your Word has revealed 08:13 that You're coming, that You'll give to each one of insight. 08:17 Pray, Lord, that our hearts may be open. 08:21 The Holy Spirit may have access to our minds 08:25 and that it will lead and guide us into the trues of Your Word. 08:29 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 08:41 The scripture describes the coming of Jesus Christ 08:44 with these words found here in Matthew the 24th chapter 08:49 and verse 27. It says: 09:00 Scripture just simply says as lightning 09:03 comes from the East and flashes clear across the sky 09:06 to the West, so will the coming 09:09 of the Son of Man be. 09:11 As a boy of 9 years of age 09:14 my parents moved from Chicago here 09:18 to Oklahoma. 09:19 Moved out on the farm. And for a 9-year-old boy 09:23 who had lived right downtown Chicago 09:27 that was a radical change. 09:29 And my father was very, very fond of hunting and fishing. 09:34 And so we hadn't lived in Oklahoma very long 09:37 until one day he said to me... 09:39 He said: "When you come home from school 09:42 if you'll get all the fishing gear ready 09:45 I'll have your mother fix us a lunch and all 09:48 and when I get home from work 09:50 we'll go out and we'll spend the night on the river fishing. " 09:53 Well of course that was wonderful to a 9-year-old boy, 09:57 and so I got everything all ready. 09:59 My father came home 10:00 and we put all the fishing gear in the car 10:02 and drove out to the river to spend the night on the river. 10:06 And I can remember we went down and stuck our fishing poles 10:10 in the ground there and put out our line 10:13 and the hook and the sinker and everything. 10:15 Uh, got ready to try to catch some fish. 10:18 And my father went up on the top of the bank there 10:23 and we have some trees in Oklahoma that are called 10:26 post oaks. I don't know if you know what they are, 10:28 but they're not a very tall tree. 10:31 And my father took a hatchet and cut down some of these 10:34 post oak runners, and with that he built a little lean-to. 10:38 And he spread a blanket out under this lean-to 10:40 so that if we got tired or we wanted to go up and take a nap 10:43 we could. And so I went down on the bank and was fishing 10:47 and fish weren't biting very much... 10:50 and so I got bored. 10:52 And I went up and sat down on the blanket 10:55 and thought I'd take a nap. 10:56 Hadn't been there too long until off in the distance 11:00 I could see the flash of lightning. 11:04 Didn't think much about it. 11:06 But as the time passed, I could begin to hear the thunder. 11:11 And didn't worry too much about it. 11:15 But as time passed, the flash of lightning became stronger 11:20 and the sound of thunder became louder. 11:22 And as it got closer to us 11:25 well I guess my father got concerned about me, 11:28 and he came up there where I was and sat down beside me. 11:31 This storm, folks, passed right over where we are now. 11:35 I don't know how many of you have ever lived in Oklahoma, 11:38 but Oklahoma is Tornado Alley. 11:41 You know, they really get storms come through there. 11:43 I to this day have never forgotten that storm. 11:46 I have never seen it lightning like it did 11:50 or the sound of thunder. 11:52 I mean, the thunder was so loud that it would shake the ground. 11:55 And the flash of lightning was so bright, folks, 11:59 that I could shut my eyes and I could still see it. 12:04 You know? Well let me tell you something: 12:06 when it says "as lightning cometh out of the East 12:09 and shineth clear to the West, " 12:11 you'd better believe you can see that! 12:14 There is no question about it 12:16 when it talks about the coming of Jesus Christ 12:18 that it will be something that you and I can see 12:22 without any question of a doubt. 12:24 In fact, the scripture tells us 12:27 that the coming of Jesus will be very glorious. 12:30 Titus the 2nd chapter verse 3: 12:48 Talks about the "glorious appearing. " 12:51 "As lightning shines from the East even unto the West 12:54 so will the coming of the Son of Man be. " 12:57 Well the scripture tells you exactly how glorious 13:01 the coming of Christ is going to be. 13:04 Luke the 9th chapter verse 26, it says: 13:18 OK, there's one. It says Jesus is coming 13:21 in His own glory. 13:25 That means in His Father's glory. 13:30 So it says He's going to come back in His own glory. 13:33 He's going to come back in the glory of His Father. 13:36 He's going to come back in the glory of the angels. 13:38 Have you ever looked at that to see what that's like 13:43 when it says He's coming back in His own glory 13:45 and in the glory of the Father and in the glory of holy angels? 13:49 Well you remember an incident in the Bible that illustrates 13:54 what the glory of the Father is like. 13:56 Moses. Moses has gone up on top of Mt. Sinai. 14:02 While he's up there on top of the mountain 14:06 he says to the Lord... He says: "I'd like 14:08 to see Your face. " 14:10 And the Lord said: "Moses, no on has seen My face and lived. " 14:14 But I'll tell you what: 14:16 I'll put you over here in the cleft of the rock 14:18 I'll put My hand over it, 14:20 and after I've passed by I'll let you see My back. " 14:24 And God put Moses in the hollow of that rock. 14:28 And it says that when God passed by Moses saw 14:32 compassion and love and mercy and all the wonderful 14:36 attributes of God. 14:38 After that was over, 14:41 Moses is coming down out of the mountain. 14:44 Has the 10 Commandments with him. 14:47 Watch what happens here. 15:06 I mean, just the reflected glory of God 15:10 was so bright that the children of Israel 15:12 couldn't stand to look at him. 15:14 They said: "Moses, put a veil over your face. 15:16 We can't stand to look at you. " 15:18 That's the reflected glory of God. 15:21 What must it be like 15:24 when Jesus comes in the glory of His Father? 15:27 Not only says that. It says He's going to come 15:29 back in His own glory. 15:32 Christ's own glory. 15:35 You remember? He's taken Peter and James and John with Him 15:41 up on top of the Mount of Transfiguration. 15:45 And while He's up there, all of a sudden 15:48 He's transfigured and Moses and Elijah appear to Him. 15:52 And this is what it says happened... 15:54 Matthew 17 verse 2: 16:08 I mean, this is the glory of Christ. 16:11 All of a sudden He was transfigured 16:13 and His glory shone forth and His face shone like the sun. 16:18 Clothing was as white as light. 16:23 And then it also says He's going to come back 16:27 in the glory of the angels. 16:29 Have you ever considered that? 16:32 The glory of the angels? What that must be like? 16:35 You remember at the resurrection 16:38 the Bible says that one angel came to the tomb of Christ. 16:44 And when that angel came, I want you to see 16:48 as it pictures what took place there. 17:00 One angel and there was a great earthquake. 17:03 All right? 17:08 Now listen... 17:14 That angel's countenance was like lightning. 17:20 One angel came, sat down. 17:24 His countenance was like lightning. 17:26 Now folks, they've stationed a centurion - 17:30 that's a soldier that has 100 soldiers under him - 17:33 to guard the tomb of Christ. 17:35 What did these soldiers do? 17:43 One angel. 17:46 Countenance was like lightning. 17:50 What's it going to be? 17:52 What's it going to be like when the scripture says 17:56 that when Jesus comes 17:57 that all the angels are going to come with Him. 18:01 How many angels are there? 18:18 Do you know what ten thousand times ten thousand is? 18:23 That is a hundred million. 18:26 Ten thousand times ten thousand. 18:29 You see, the scripture never numbers angels. 18:32 It says a hundred million and thousands of thousands. 18:36 It'll say the innumerable company. 18:39 But all these angels are going to come with Him, 18:42 and every one of them's countenance is like lightning. 18:57 So when it says the appearing of Jesus Christ is glorious 19:01 you'd better believe it's glorious 19:03 like man has never seen. 19:05 I can tell you tonight, dear friend, 19:07 don't let anybody ever tell you that you won't see it. 19:10 Don't let them tell you that you won't know what's going on. 19:14 I can tell you... when He comes 19:16 everybody will know something's going on 19:19 because it will be a glorious appearing. 19:27 Well it tells us several things. One... it tells you 19:31 be careful what you hear. 19:33 Be careful what you hear about the coming of Jesus Christ. 19:39 This is the counsel that Jesus Himself gave about His coming. 19:55 Somebody says: "Oh, Christ is over here. " 19:58 And I hear that today... every once in a while 20:00 somebody'll say that. Don't believe it! 20:03 Listen, He continues on: 20:10 That... somebody goes out here in the middle of the desert 20:14 and they perform signs and wonders 20:17 and they say: "Christ is here, " what do you do? 20:19 You don't believe it. 20:22 See, dear friends, you can't take signs and miracles 20:27 as a sign. You cannot depend on that. 20:31 You can't build your faith and belief on signs and miracles. 20:36 You can only build your faith and belief on the Word of God. 20:40 You can't build it any other place. 20:42 Don't try. 20:44 If you do you're going to be on false ground, friends. 20:47 It won't hold you up. 20:49 You've got to build your belief on the Word of God. 20:52 Listen as He continues: 20:59 It says if possible they will deceive even the elect. 21:25 The Bible is clear when it comes to the coming of Jesus Christ. 21:29 It's going to be something, friend, that you won't have any 21:32 trouble seeing. 21:34 It's not going to take place quietly. 21:37 It's not going to take place secretly. 21:39 You're not going to wake up and say: 21:41 "Where did everybody go? " 21:44 That won't happen. 21:46 Everybody will see and understand that Jesus is coming. 21:52 It won't be quietly. 22:00 Everybody will see it. 22:02 You won't have any trouble seeing it. 22:21 It says that He will appear. You're going to see Him. 22:26 How... how will I know it's Christ? 22:28 Well the Bible gives you a perfectly clear example 22:32 of what the coming of Jesus Christ will be like 22:36 because when His disciples were with him 22:40 He took them out there on the Mount of Olives 22:44 and as they stood there Jesus Christ 22:48 was taken into heaven. 22:50 Watch because it tells you exactly 22:53 how the coming of Jesus Christ will be. 23:10 So it says that as they were standing there 23:12 all of a sudden Jesus began to ascend into heaven 23:15 and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 23:18 Now, continue... 23:37 Now listen... here is His coming: 23:45 Now I want to ask you something: 23:47 did they see Him go into heaven? 23:49 Oh yes, they stood there and watched Him. 23:52 This very same Jesus that had spent 3-1/2 years 23:57 with them... working with them and teaching them. 23:59 That same Jesus they had watched heal the sick. 24:02 That same Jesus they had seen speak to the people. 24:05 That same Jesus that had blessed the little children. 24:09 That same Jesus... listen: 24:21 Does it tell you how He's coming back? 24:24 Absolutely! 24:25 As the disciples saw Him go into heaven 24:27 so He will come back 24:30 just exactly like He went into heaven. 24:34 They saw Him; you and I will see Him. 24:38 No question. "Behold... " Revelation 1:7: 24:57 Yes they see Him; every eye will see Him. 25:00 Every living soul will see Him 25:01 and it says the wicked will literally mourn. 25:05 So it's not something that's 25:06 going to be done out in the desert. 25:09 It's not going to be off in some hiding place. 25:11 It's going to be something that everybody will see. 25:15 No question about it. 25:17 With the coming of Jesus 25:19 is great, great destructive force. 25:25 I mean the world will be very much aware. 25:29 Now folks, it speaks... and I'm going to read you 25:33 some texts about what happens when Jesus comes. 25:53 This is the end... this is when Jesus is coming. 26:03 That always amuses me a little bit. 26:06 I live in California, 26:08 and you know what they talk about in California? 26:10 They talks about the "big one. " 26:12 When is the "big one" going to hit? 26:14 Well I can tell them when the "big one's" going to hit. 26:16 When Jesus comes! 26:18 That's going to be the "big one" I can assure you, all right? 26:20 Because it says there was a great earthquake... 26:28 That's the "big one, " you understand? 26:31 OK. 26:37 OK? So this is the destructive force that's there 26:42 at the coming of Jesus Christ. 26:44 But dear friend let me tell you something: 26:46 you don't have to be worried. 26:50 You don't have to be concerned 26:52 because Psalm 91 says: 26:56 "A thousand may fall at thy side 26:58 and ten thousand at thy right hand, 27:02 but it shall not come nigh thee. 27:05 Only with your eyes shall you see and behold 27:09 the reward of the wicked. 27:11 No plague shall come nigh thy dwelling. " 27:15 See? My safety is in Jesus Christ. 27:19 Sure, there's going to be great destructive force 27:23 at the coming of Jesus Christ. It says there will be hail 27:26 that will fall that will weigh 57 pounds. 27:30 What the scripture says: that hail will fall... 27:34 an earthquake. It talks about all the destructive force 27:36 that will be there. But God's people will be perfectly safe 27:40 in the hands of Jesus Christ. 27:48 Not going to be something that will be whispered, 27:52 talked about. It's going to be loud. 28:11 So it says that God's coming is going to be loud. 28:15 He's not going to keep silent. 28:17 Listen. It says that God is going to be there. 28:20 That He has a controversy with the nations. Jeremiah... 28:23 Jeremiah 25:30: 28:25 "Therefore prophesy against them all of these words, 28:29 and say to them: 'The Lord will roar from on high. ' " 28:34 I mean, this is talking about the coming of Jesus. 28:46 By the way, that shout is tremendous. 28:50 That shout is so loud that it will roll through this earth 28:55 like peals of thunder. 28:58 That's what will happen. 29:13 So this is not silent, folks. 29:16 When Jesus comes it will be something 29:18 that every individual will hear. 29:21 They'll not only hear it... they're going to see it! 29:23 This is what will happen as Jesus comes back. 29:37 You see when He comes 29:40 and He shouts 29:42 and His words just roll through 29:44 this earth like peals of thunder 29:47 something happens. 29:48 Did you know what happens? 29:50 That shout is absolutely so loud 29:55 that the dead in the ground hear it. 29:58 That's what it says. 30:17 They're going to hear it! 30:18 They're going to come out of their graves. 30:21 So you can put it down. 30:23 The coming of Jesus is very glorious. 30:27 Secondly, it's something that everybody's going to see. 30:30 And thirdly, it's something that everybody will be able to hear. 30:34 Won't be quiet. Not at all. 30:38 Then us... those that are here you see, dear friends, 30:41 you may be alive at the coming of Jesus Christ. 30:45 And if you are, like I said, He will protect you. 30:50 He'll care for you. 30:52 And He says that all those people that are alive 30:55 that are followers of Jesus... they're going to be caught up 30:58 with the dead that have heard the voice and have come forth 31:01 from the grave to meet the Lord up in the air. 31:16 So it says that they are caught up in the clouds 31:19 to meet the Lord in the air. 31:21 This is a promise that God gives to every one of you 31:25 here tonight. I don't care who you are, 31:28 it's a promise that Jesus made. And let me tell you something: 31:32 the throne of God... the throne of God 31:38 is staked on the fulfillment of His Word. 31:42 Therefore if God promised it 31:45 you'd better believe it'll happen. OK? 31:49 This is the promise that God gives 31:51 to each one of you tonight: 31:53 John 14 verses 1 to 3... 32:38 So He said: "I'm going to come back and I'm going to 32:40 gather all of you and I'm going to take you to be with Me 32:46 in My Father's house. I'm going to take all of you there. " 32:50 Oh, dear friend, what a wonderful promise! 32:54 Marvelous promise 32:56 that God says: "I'll take you to be with Me where you can 33:01 enjoy all the wonderful things that God has prepared 33:05 for those that love Him. " 33:07 So the coming of Jesus 33:09 is a promise that God gives to you and to me. And it says: 33:28 So it says that when Jesus went to heaven 33:30 it says that a cloud received Him out of their sight. 33:33 It says when He comes back that He's coming back 33:36 on a what? Cloud. 33:40 A number of years ago you may have remembered 33:44 there was a great lot to do about UFOs. Remember that? 33:49 And I really got interested in UFOs. 33:53 And I don't know how many books I read about UFOs. 33:56 But you know what I found out? 33:58 There's a religion connected with that. 34:00 You see, they believe that Jesus went to heaven on a UFO 34:03 and they believe He's coming back on a UFO. 34:06 And there's a whole religion tied with that idea 34:10 of a UFO that He's... went to heaven 34:12 coming back and so forth. 34:14 Do you know what those clouds are 34:17 when it says that a cloud received Him out of their sight? 34:20 You know what they are? 34:22 Listen: 34:35 It says that God makes the clouds His chariots. 34:41 Listen carefully because the Bible will tell you exactly 34:43 what's involved here. 34:54 OK, the cloud are His chariots. 35:04 Of angels, that's what they are. 35:09 So when it talks about those clouds - 35:12 that they're God's chariots - 35:14 that's referring to the angels. 35:16 And it says that all of the angels are going to 35:18 come back with Him. 35:24 Did you know that every one of you here tonight 35:28 have an angel? 35:29 Whether you like it of whether you don't, you've got one. 35:34 And that angel goes with you throughout your entire life. 35:38 The Bible tells you... In fact, the Bible tells you 35:42 you need to be very, very careful 35:45 how you treat children 35:47 because the Bible says that child's angel 35:52 looks on the face of God. 35:55 That's what it says. 35:57 You remember the time when Peter had been put in prison? 36:01 And because Herod had cut off the head of James 36:06 and that had brought him so much favor 36:08 he decided he would behead Peter also. 36:11 So he's had Peter put in prison. 36:14 The next day Peter's going to lose his head. 36:17 You know what Peter's doing? 36:20 Now what would you be doing? 36:23 Praying? Yeah. 36:25 Peter's sleeping. 36:27 That's what he's doing... he's sleeping. 36:29 And while he's sleeping, God sends an angel. 36:33 You know, angels have a key to every prison. Did you know that? 36:38 They have a key to every prison 36:40 and they can just walk through the doors. 36:42 In fact, they had put Peter in solitary confinement 36:47 and there was about four steel doors 36:50 and then they had chained him between two guards. 36:54 And the angel walked right into the room. 36:57 The chains fell off Peter's arms. 37:00 And the angel said to him: "Peter, get up. " 37:02 And Peter thinks he's having a dream. 37:05 That's what Peter thinks is going on. 37:07 And the angel finally had to say: "Peter, get up! " 37:09 And Peter finally got up, 37:11 and he's still thinking he's dreaming. 37:12 And finally the angel said: "Peter, put on your shoes. " 37:15 Peter puts on his shoes. 37:17 And they... the angel takes him and they walk out of the prison. 37:21 The gates, the doors just open without any trouble. 37:24 And they get outside in the street 37:27 and all of a sudden the angel's gone 37:29 and Peter realizes he's not dreaming. 37:32 All of a sudden the reality comes that this... 37:35 the angel has taken him out of prison. 37:37 And so he goes to the home of John Mark. 37:41 You know what they're having? 37:43 They're having a prayer meeting for Peter 37:45 'cause they know he's to lose his head the next day. 37:47 So they're all there praying for him. 37:49 And Peter knocks on the door, 37:52 and a young girl by the name of Rhoda goes to the door 37:54 to see who's there. And she looks out the hole 37:57 and there's Peter. And she gets so excited that 37:59 she doesn't let Peter in. 38:01 She runs back and tells the people. She says: 38:03 "Peter's at the door... Peter's at the door! " 38:05 And they said: "No, Peter's not at the door. " 38:08 Is that the way your prayer meetings are? 38:10 Hmmm? 38:13 Said: "No, no. Peter's not at the door. " 38:15 And she said: "Yes! Peter's at the door. " 38:17 And they said: "Rhoda, are you OK? 38:19 Are you all right? " 38:21 And she said: "No, no. Peter's at the door. " 38:23 And they said: "It's his angel. " 38:28 You see, each one of us have an angel. 38:31 And when Jesus comes, folks, it's going to be that angel 38:36 that's going to get you. 38:38 I don't know whether you will be coming out of the grave 38:42 or if you are alive when Jesus comes. 38:46 But it's going to be that angel that's going to come and get you 38:49 and take you and present you to Christ. 38:52 An angel that knows more about you than anybody else 38:56 'cause that angel's been with you throughout your entire life. 38:59 They're going to come and gather all of God's people 39:03 from all over the earth, 39:04 and they're going to take you and present you to Jesus. 39:07 Marvelous what He'll do for each of us. 39:17 So they're going to gather all of His people 39:20 and bring them to meet Jesus. 39:22 And let me tell you something: there's no second chance. 39:28 No second chance... I'm sorry. 39:31 Not some other time. 39:34 It's now. Now is the day of salvation... 39:39 not some other time. Listen to the words of God: 39:58 This is your time. 40:01 You're not going to have another life. 40:04 Not another chance. You have this life, 40:07 and this is your opportunity 40:10 to give your heart to Jesus Christ... 40:13 to accept Him. It won't happen again. 40:16 Only this life is all that you have. 40:40 Dear friends, there's no second chance there. 40:42 Are you understanding? 40:44 When He comes it says that person that is righteous, 40:47 he'll be righteous still. That person who is filthy, 40:50 he's going to be filthy still. 40:52 There will not be another opportunity. And it says: 41:07 No second chance. 41:10 I had an uncle 41:15 that always said: "Well, when I get old I'll accept Jesus. " 41:20 Well, he got old and never did. 41:24 See... NOW is the time. 41:28 Not going to be another opportunity. 41:32 Jeremiah 8:20 says that some people are going to say 41:36 "The summer... the harvest is past... " 41:44 Just think. It really concerns me 41:49 that people here 41:52 in the United States 41:53 that have had such a marvelous opportunity 41:57 to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ... 42:00 You have been favored beyond words, 42:05 and yet how many of us have become gospel-hardened. 42:10 Say: "Ah, I've heard that before. " 42:13 "Some other time. " "I'll think about it. " 42:19 The Bible says that many of them are going to say 42:21 "Oh, the harvest is passed, the summer is ended, 42:24 we're not saved. " Dear friend I hope tonight 42:27 that you won't put it off. 42:30 Don't say: "Another time. " 42:33 "At a more convenient season. " No... 42:37 this is the time when you and I need to accept the Lord. 42:49 A great preacher of the past by the name of Charles Finney 42:53 studied to be a lawyer... an attorney. 42:59 Had gone away to school. 43:02 He had been raised in a Christian home. 43:04 Godly mother. And as he got away in school he just pretty much 43:09 forgot God, forgot his Christian upbringing. 43:13 And in his senior year in law school 43:17 one day he was sitting at his desk studying 43:20 when a voice spoke to him and said: 43:22 "Charles Finney, when you finish school 43:26 what are you going to do? " 43:27 "Oh, " he said, "I'm going to practice law. " 43:30 And the voice said: "What then? " 43:36 "Oh, " he said, "when I feel financially secure 43:41 I'll probably get married. " 43:45 And the voice said: "What then? " 43:48 "Oh, " he said, "have a family. 43:52 Raise some children... have a family. " 43:56 And the voice said: "Uh, what then? " 44:01 "Oh, " he said, "I hope that I'll make a contribution 44:04 to my community and to mankind 44:06 and the people that are living around me. " 44:08 And the voice said: "Uh, what then? " 44:12 And he said: "Well, I guess I'll retire. " 44:18 And the voice said: "Uh, what then? " 44:25 Said: "Well I guess I'll die. " 44:30 And the voice said: "What then? " 44:33 And all of a sudden with absolute clarity 44:36 that scripture came to his mind. 44:39 "And it is appointed for men to die once, 44:43 but after this the judgment. " 44:45 And Charles Finney got down on his knees 44:48 and gave his heart to Jesus Christ. 44:51 I would like to ask you tonight: what then? 44:56 When it's all over... what then? 44:59 What are you going to do? 45:02 Going to give your heart to Jesus Christ? 45:04 Accept Him? Open up your life? 45:06 Because, dear friend, this is the only time you have. 45:09 You don't have another time. 45:17 The scripture says: "Watch out! Be careful... 45:21 lest all the cares of this life grab your attention 45:25 and you're so busy doing maybe good things 45:29 that you miss eternal life. " 45:37 Oh dear friends, you and I can't afford to let that happen. 45:41 We have to be watching, waiting. 45:44 Prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ. 45:59 So God is inviting you tonight to accept Him. 46:03 "Watch therefore and pray always that you may be accounted worthy 46:08 to accept all those things that will come to pass. " 46:13 He said: "Be careful... and to stand before the Son of Man. " 46:17 That's what God's asking you and I to do to be prepared. 46:22 A friend of mine was over in the Middle East. 46:28 He was in the country of Jordan. 46:32 Had spent several days there in the country of Jordan. 46:37 And he... it had come time for him to go back home. 46:42 And so he decided that he would go out to the airport 46:46 early in the morning and would make all the arrangements 46:50 and would... I don't know how many of you have traveled, 46:52 but many times it takes quite a long time to go through customs 46:55 and this type of thing. 46:56 So he made arrangements for the hotel that he was staying in 47:00 to take him out to the airport. 47:03 And that morning the airport was running a black Cadillac 47:08 from the airport... from the hotel to the airport. 47:12 And so my friend got in the black Cadillac 47:16 and it took him out to the airport. 47:19 When he got to the airport, he took his luggage and all 47:23 and checked in at customs and went through customs. 47:25 Then he decided that he was just going to find a place 47:28 off in a corner somewhere and sit down and do some reading 47:31 and writing. And... but as they drove up to the airport 47:35 he noticed that there was police everywhere. 47:38 I mean, the whole place was full of police. 47:40 And so after he had gone through customs 47:43 he walked outside the airport 47:45 and he asked one of the policemen why so much security. 47:48 And they said: "Oh, haven't you heard? 47:50 King Hussein is coming in. " 47:51 Said "He's... he's due to land any time. " 47:54 And my friend thought Ah, this is an ideal time 47:58 for me to get some pictures. 47:59 And so he got his camera out 48:01 and went over and found a place where he thought he could 48:04 get a good shot. And he said it wasn't too long 48:07 till he could hear the drone of the engine of the plane 48:10 and it began to circle the airport. 48:12 And he said it came down and landed. 48:15 Taxied up to the airport there. 48:19 Stopped. Then he said the people scurried around 48:22 and they rolled out a red carpet all the way out to the airplane. 48:26 And then dignitaries came and lined up on both sides 48:29 of the red carpet. 48:31 And he said after a little bit the door of the plane opened 48:34 and a guard stepped out. 48:36 Looked everything over very carefully. 48:40 Then the guard stepped back into the plane 48:42 and King Hussein came out. 48:45 Went down the stairway and then, as they do over in the 48:48 Middle East, he began to embrace each of the dignitaries 48:51 along the red carpet. And my friend was shooting pictures 48:54 of all this as it was going on. 48:56 And he said they walked through there and he said 48:58 he just happened to turn and look, and there outside the 49:02 airport, right in front of the airport, 49:04 were lined up black Cadillacs 49:06 waiting to pick up King Hussein and take him to the palace. 49:10 And he said all of a sudden he had a bright idea. 49:13 Because he said sitting off over to the side 49:17 was this black Cadillac that had brought him to the airport. 49:20 So he said he got up and he went over to the driver 49:23 of that black Cadillac and he asked him 49:26 how much it would cost him to get him to pull in 49:29 right behind those other black Cadillacs 49:31 and follow King Hussein back into town. 49:33 And the fellow told him, and so he just pulled out the money 49:36 and paid him and got in the black Cadillac. 49:38 And he said pretty soon King Hussein came out 49:40 and got in the first one. And the other people got 49:42 in the other one and all. And he said they headed for town. 49:45 And he said on the way to the town he said there were people 49:48 all along the highway there standing 49:51 waiting to see the king. 49:52 And he said they were shouting and waving. 49:54 And he said it was so wonderful. 49:56 He said he sat back there in his black Cadillac 49:59 and waved at everybody. 50:00 And said everybody waved at him. And said it was so nice 50:04 to be part of the king's party. To belong to the king's party. 50:07 And he said when they got into town 50:09 he said the sidewalks were four abreast. 50:12 And he said they were throwing confetti 50:13 and they were waving and shouting, and he said 50:16 he just sat back there... waved at everybody. 50:19 Said it was nice to be part of the king's party. 50:22 Said they got down the street a little ways and they turned, 50:25 and he said way up ahead he could see the palace. 50:29 And he said as they got closer 50:32 he could see the gates. 50:34 And he said as they got closer 50:37 he could see guards standing on each side of the gate. 50:41 And he said as they got closer 50:44 he saw that first Cadillac pull up there and stop. 50:47 And he saw those guards bend over and look at 50:51 every person in the car and wave them on through. 50:55 He said he reached up and tapped the driver on the shoulder. 50:59 Said: "Pull over, this is as far as we can go. " 51:05 Are you going along for the ride tonight? 51:07 Is that all it is to you? 51:09 Are you part of the king's party? 51:13 Are you a child of the King? 51:16 Or are you going to have to say "this is as far as we can go? " 51:21 Tonight, God is inviting you... 51:25 each one of you... to become a child of the King. 51:28 To be prepared for the coming of Jesus... 51:31 because He is coming soon. 51:36 In these, the closing 51:42 days of time, 51:47 What joy 51:50 this glorious hope affords, 51:57 And soon 52:01 oh, wondrous truth 52:05 divine! 52:09 He shall reign, 52:12 King of kings 52:16 and Lord of lords. 52:25 Will you please take that white card that you received 52:28 when you came in this evening. 52:30 Three questions I want you to look at with me this evening. 52:33 The first question says: 52:38 I believe that with all of my heart. 52:42 I believe Jesus is coming back. I hope you do. 52:45 I can tell you right now, 52:47 there's enough evidence out there 52:50 that you ought to believe it. 52:52 If you believe that Jesus is coming back, 52:54 put a check by #1. 52:57 Second question: 53:01 Dear friend, let me tell you something: 53:03 the only way I know to be prepared for the coming 53:08 of Jesus Christ is to give Him your heart. 53:10 To accept Him as your personal Savior. 53:12 And tonight if you do not know Christ as your personal Savior 53:16 I'd like to invite you to accept Him. 53:19 If you know that when Jesus came you would be lost... 53:24 If you know that tonight, then won't you just in faith 53:27 reach out and accept Him this evening and give Him your heart? 53:30 Put a check by #2. 53:32 The third question says: 53:38 If you would like to be baptized, 53:42 then put a check by #3. 53:45 You see, baptism, folks... 53:47 if you don't understand what baptism is... 53:49 baptism is a public declaration 53:53 of your acceptance of Christ. That's what it's about. 53:56 When you accept Jesus Christ, baptism is a public declaration 54:00 of acceptance of Jesus Christ. 54:02 It means that all your sins have been forgiven. 54:05 They've been washed away giving you a clean slate 54:08 to start over with. 54:10 He's coming soon, 54:16 He's coming soon; 54:22 With joy 54:26 we welcome His 54:29 returning; 54:35 It may be night, 54:41 it may be noon or morn 54:48 I know 54:51 He's coming 54:57 soon. 55:04 Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer. 55:06 Father, we thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ. 55:10 Thankful that He's coming back. 55:14 And Lord, from all indications, it's soon. 55:17 We pray that each one of us here tonight 55:20 may place our faith in You. 55:23 That we may hang on tightly to Your Word. 55:27 To obtain a copy of this program or for more information, 55:30 please write to: |
Revised 2014-12-17