Return or Appearing
Did you know that Jesus cannot come back to the earth today? Next week does not look good, either. John, the apostle, cried out, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20). Why cannot Jesus come back to the earth today? Because of His word. He prophesied that He would not return to Jerusalem as King until the leaders of Israel would make an official proclamation.
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.(from Ps 118:26) (Matt 23:39)
Until Israel's leaders make the formal declaration that Jesus of Nazareth is God's Messiah, Jesus will not come back. This does not look probable in our near future the way things are right now.
A partial blindness is upon Israel (Rom 11:25). If the devil can blind Israel to the truth of Jesus, He will never come back. Just in case this blindness happens to be temporary, evil is trying to completely destroy the Jewish nation. This would prevent Jesus from ever coming back, thus evil would win and take complete control of the earth. It looks like we are on track for exactly that. Could it be that the Almighty God knows what He is doing?
During this season of temporary blindness upon Israel, God is choosing a people for Himself out of the Gentiles. When the number and time of the Gentile salvation is complete, Israel's blindness will be lifted. Until that time a remnant will be secured. The nation may suffer indescribable things but a part (a third) will be preserved (Zech 13:8).
Looking on the world scene, Israel seems not ready to make any proclamation concerning Jesus. Therefore, according to His own promise, He cannot and will not return to Jerusalem. All it would take is for the nation of Israel to make the simple statement that Jesus of Nazareth is the Promised One. They would be rescued from all their enemies, quickly. Many Jewish people have acknowledged Jesus. The problem is that the authorities of the nation of Israel have not done so. That day does not seem to be in sight. However, something else is.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Tim 4:8)
It was necessary for Christians all throughout the long Church Age to expect and yearn for the Appearing of the Lord Jesus the Christ...and legitimately do so. They would not be wrong to do so. In order for them to love the thought of the Appearing of Jesus at any moment, it had to be imminent. The believers in the first century could not know about the fact that 2,000 years later, Christians would still be waiting. In order for all Christians to be rewarded for loving and expecting the Appearing of the Lord, it had to be understood to be at any moment.
In the book of Daniel, the prophet was told that the book would be sealed up until some future date. It is my opinion that the book is unsealed or partially unsealed in our day because this really is the final generation. Some people alive now will actually see the Appearing of the Lord. I hope that I am one of them although I do not know. It will not bother me at all to see the Appearing/Rapture/Resurrection from the heavenly side of it.
The Return of Jesus to rule as King in Jerusalem may not seem like it can be close but the Appearing of Jesus is extremely close. Some Biblical characteristics of the Return of the King are these:
Riding on a white horse. (v. 11)
Blood everywhere. (v. 13)
No one is going up to Him. He is coming down to earth. (Rev 19:14-15)
A sword of destruction going forth from His mouth. (Rev 19:15)
Contrast this with the Appearing of the Lord.
Appearing
War in heaven. (Matt 24:29, Rev 6:12-14, 12:7-10)
Clouds, no horse. (Matt 24:30)
In the air. (Matt 24:28)
Angels as reapers. (Matt 24:31)
Loud Shout. (1 Thess 4:16)
Trumpet of God. (v. 16)
Voice of archangel. (v. 16)
Blessing out of His mouth, not a sword. (Luke 24:50,51 Acts 1:11)
You want to be rewarded by the Lord by being one of those who long for His Appearing. “Come, Lord Jesus!”
May 15, 2025