JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN!!

"This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11, NKJV)

Devotion #9 of 15

PROPHECIES OF THE PROPHETS

Peter announced that Jesus would remain in heaven until everything spoken by the prophets had been fulfilled. "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 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" (Acts 3:20-21). The New International Version, Today's English Bible, and The Living Bible all translate the phrase "Whom the heaven must receive until" this way; "He must remain in heaven until . . . " And what is the point of limitation--the time until which He must remain in heaven? It is the "times of the restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began." It is the "time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old" (RSV). Jesus will remain in heaven "until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His prophets" (NIV). "He must remain in heaven until the time comes for all things to be made new, as God announced by means of His holy prophets of long ago" (NEB). Upon His ascension into heaven, Jesus began a reign that shall consummate in the "restoration of all things." God has already declared His "eternal purpose," and a grand purpose it is. "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him" (Eph 1:9-10). This is the time when everything will be made new. As it is written, "And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful" (Rev 21:5). Isaiah foretold the day. "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" (Isa 65:17; 66:22). It is a time when the grave shall be finally conquered "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes" (Hosea 13:14). Death itself will be destroyed. "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it" (Isa 25:8). Daniel spoke of this purpose from the standpoint of the people of God. His words are arresting. "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever . . . Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom . . . And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him" (Dan 7:17,22,27). There are those who affirm that everything has been fulfilled that was prophesied by the prophets. It requires something less than discernment to make such an absurd statement. These promises are simply too large to be fulfilled in a secretive and unobservable manner. Those who affirm such things simply have a small God. But everything will be fulfilled to the glory of God and benefit of His people -- BEFORE Jesus leaves His present intercessory position. PRAYER POINT: Father, give me grace to anticipate the fulfilling of all the prophesies of Your holy prophets! Help me to live in view of their fulfilment and the coming of my Lord. In Jesus' name, strengthen so I am not disoriented by the confusion of this world.

-- TOMORROW: THE DISRUPTION OF THE NATURAL ORDER --