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Is Christ expected to return very soon as some people are predicting


NOTE: I do not know when Billy Graham wrote this below but I know that it was some time ago. At this time, 2012, I believe the time of the Lord's return is very near. The news media reports one mile marker after another, the passing signs the Bible tells us of the things to pass before the Lord's return. According to Bible prophecy researchers all these signs have already occurred. We may not even have tomorrow. We need to make ready ourselves. Be ready at any moment. Be careful not to be in a compromising position with God. Make sure of our personal relationship with Jesus. Constantly be alert and looking up. We are soon gonna fly! -Admin-

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Writer: Billy Graham | billygraham.org

But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself. Ezekiel 33:9 (NIV)Bible quoteNevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.Ezekiel 33 verse 9

There is a great deal of interest today in the subject of our Lord's return. Mr. Graham believes that this divinely predicted event may well happen soon; and he is constantly urging believers to obey the scriptural injunction that

teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:12-13Bible quote(verse 12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

(verse 13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;Titus 2 verses 12-13

At the same time, Mr. Graham is also aware that the Lord's return may be thousands of years away. The Bible says that "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (2 Peter 3:8Bible quoteBut, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.2 Peter 3 verse 8).

While there are indications that we may be approaching a crisis in history, and biblical descriptions of the last days fit our times, it would be unwise to make any prediction about the exact time of Christ's return. When on earth, Jesus said,

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:36 (NIV)Bible quote But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.Matthew 24 (KJV) verse 36

The important thing is that we should be ready for His coming:

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 says:

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

2 Peter 3:3-15 says:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.