Open Heavens 7 September 2016: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – He Shall Surely Return

Topic: He Shall Surely Return [Wednesday 7, September 2016]
Memorise: Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.– Acts 1:11
Read: Acts 1:8-11 (KJV)
 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 27:1-29:23, Psalms 51
MESSAGE:
 One of the chief messages of the Bible is that Jesus Christ will return visibly and in glory at the end of history. First to raise the dead, judge the world, and then destroy all evil and opposition to God. He will thereafter consummate His kingdom. Christians are encouraged to be prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ with eagerness and joy. Several passages of the Old Testament Bible predicted the second coming of Jesus, Daniel 7:13-14 says:
“13…one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven… 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
Also, several passages of the New Testament Bible foretold the second coming of Jesus. In Acts 1:11, two angels announced the second coming of Christ by saying:
“…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
However, because at least two thousand years have passed without the actual fulfilment of this prophecy, unbelievers and Christians alike are beginning to doubt the reality or possibility of rapture or the second coming of Jesus Christ. Brethren, do not be deceived, JESUS IS COMING BACK AGAIN. This truth is very important to the continued relevance of the Church of God in general and that of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in particular. Focusing on the second coming of Jesus Christ should be our duty, in order to realign the worldview and mindset of Christians and unbelievers alike with the Word of God. The matter is settled in Heaven and the earth has witnessed the fulfilment of almost all the signs of the end time as recorded in the Word of God.
 We are witnesses to the increased knowledge, false prophets, wars and rumours of wars, famines, and earthquakes, the re-gathering of the nation of Israel, man’s inhumanity to man extreme wickedness, and diverse forms of immorality. The second coming of Jesus will occur unexpectedly at God’s appointed time. Be warned, be watchful and be ready.
Prayer Point: Father, please give me the grace not to get weary while waiting for Your second coming in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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