We find ourselves in the generation before the return of the LORD when clarity is needed concerning end times events.
I recently heard someone use the term 1/2 Gospel and it gave a name to what needs to be exposed in these last days as we are nearing the return of Jesus.
It is popular in the church today to place all the emphasis on Christ’s first coming and to deemphasize teaching on Christ’s second coming. But the first coming of Christ was not the whole story.
Are today’s preachers preaching the Apostolic Gospel? Shortly after Christ’s ascension, we see Peter’s sermon in Acts 3:18-21 where he includes the return of Jesus as part of his gospel message. The underlined portions below are referring to the return of Jesus and the Millennial Kingdom.
"But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing (Millennial Kingdom) may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration(Millennial Kingdom) of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."
Peter included the return of Jesus as motivation to repent and be saved.
The New Testament is filled with apostles quoting from the Old Testament concerning the return of Jesus as we see in these verses from Acts 1:9-11: "Now when He (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they (the apostles) watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
1/2 Gospel preaching leaves out the teaching and preaching of the rapture, the 2nd coming, and the Millennial Kingdom. Churches and pastors have been guilty of preaching 1/2 the gospel for years! If Jesus was giving a summation or review of the last days' church to this generation, I believe he would likely say, “I have this against you…you have only preached 1/2 the gospel, you have not told people about my return!”
The opportunity to preach the Gospel is not the issue. Through the internet and social media, people are being reached all over the world. The issue is that we are ‘living in the last days’ and few are shouting it from the rooftops!
Jesus Christ, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS is returning!!
To make sure we got the message, God gave us the book of Revelation which is the “Revealing” of Jesus Christ, so we would know and be ready! But the church is too busy doing the “contemporary thing” and being applauded by their peers.
And he said to me (John), “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand." - Revelation 22:10
The verse about Jesus knocking on the door in Revelation 3:20 is often misinterpreted as Jesus knocking on the door of your heart. But in context, it’s talking about Jesus knocking on the door of the church of Laodicea. Why is that? Because the church is so busy! Today’s contemporary church with all its programs, nuances and watered down preaching is leaving out the coming King!
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me." - Revelation 3:20
The so-called “religious people” missed the 1st coming of Jesus and the so-called “religious” people of today are ignoring His 2nd coming!
Believers, Wake up! The time is drawing near! Jesus is coming! Are you ready? Are you waiting? Are you watching? Will you receive the “crown of righteousness” reserved for those who love His appearing?
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. II Timothy 4:8
At His first coming Jesus was a lamb, but when He comes the second time He will be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He will come back to Israel to bring judgment on the earth, to redeem His chosen people and to set up His Millennial Kingdom.
These teachings are sorely needed and missing in our churches today. We need to return to preaching the whole gospel, not the 1/2 Gospel; a gospel that includes the blessed return of the LORD Jesus Christ.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20
