At the end, Jesus, the King of kings (Rv 17:14), will come riding on a white cloud with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand (Rv 14:14). He will gather the harvest of justice (Rv 14:16). Then an angel will come from the temple in heaven. He will also wield a sharp sickle to gather the grapes of wrath (Rv 14:19). We will all be harvested, either by our loving Lord or by the "grim reaper."
"When will this be, Teacher? And what will be the sign that it is going to happen?" (Lk 21:7) The answer is: Soon and "very soon" we are going to see the King (Rv 1:1). "Happy is the man who reads this prophetic message, and happy are those who hear it and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near!" (Rv 1:3) "As regards specific times and moments, brothers, we do not need to write you; you know very well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. Just when people are saying, ‘Peace and security,' ruin will fall on them with the suddenness of pains overtaking a woman in labor, and there will be no escape. You are not in the dark, brothers, that the day should catch you off guard, like a thief. No, all of you are children of light and of the day. We belong neither to darkness nor to night; therefore let us not be asleep like the rest, but awake and sober!" (1 Thes 5:1-6) "The One Who gives this testimony says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!' Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rv 22:20)
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may I be ready for Your final coming at any time. Make me ready now. |
| PROMISE: | "He comes to rule the earth." –Ps 96:13 |
| PRAISE: | Ron was ashamed to praise the Lord publicly. One day, while shaving, the Lord gently told Ron that he was afraid to yield control of his life to God. Ron abandoned himself to Jesus, and within a week, he received the gift of praising God in tongues. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College