OMG - Jesus

Do you know Him?

God came to earth as a man, Jesus!

  • About OMG
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Key Truths …in the Bible
  • Key Verses …in the Bible
You are here: Home / Christian Life / Stand tall and lift up your heads in joy, Jesus said

Stand tall and lift up your heads in joy, Jesus said

June 14, 2021 by Keith Swift Leave a Comment

Back in His day, Jesus spoke to us – we who are now living in these end times, saying,

Luke 21:28
28 Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”

And Jesus’ brother James warned us also:

James 5:7- 8
7 So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains.

8 You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near.

The word of the Lord for these days is: wait patiently, keep your heart “energized and firmly committed to God”.  Don’t cower and worry because of the fearful events around us.  Keep your head high with the joy of the Lord, “firmly committed to God”.  The reason we can choose to live this way? “Because the coming of the Lord is near.”  God is in control of the events of these end times.


“Take heed, keep on the alert;
for you do not know when
the appointed time will come.
– Mark 13:33


The completion of the prophecy in the Parable of the fig tree (Luke 21:29-36) happened in 1948.  It was the greatest prophetic fulfillment of our time!  Jesus predicted the event that transpired in 1948.  The Jews, after over 1900 years of wandering the earth without a nation of it’s own, gathered to form Israel once again.  What a total miracle of God!

This fulfillment  of this prophecy started a count-down, also predicted by Jesus.  He said that “this generation [those living at that definite period of time preceding the second coming] will not pass away until everything takes place” (Luke 21:33).  WE are in that period of time.

The Parable of the fig tree
Luke 21

Luke 21:29-36

29 Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they put out leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is near. 31 So you too, when you see these things happening, know [without any doubt] that the kingdom of God is near.

32 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [those living at that definite period of time preceding the second coming] will not pass away until everything takes place [d – I.e. the establishment of God’s kingdom]. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

34 “But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.

36 But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].”


Interpreting the Parable
Throughout the Old Testament the “fig tree” usually referred to the nation of Israel.  1

Jesus had already predicted the demolishment of Israel,  2  and here in Luke He is saying that when Israel (the fig tree) once again shows life (with the new leaves) then know “summer is nigh”, i.e. know that the end time events are right around the corner.

When Israel once again became a nation, in 1948, it “put out leaves”.  So, Jesus says, when that happens (and it did in 1948) — then “know [without any doubt] that the kingdom of God is near”.

31 So you too, when you see these things happening, know [without any doubt] that the kingdom of God is near.

The phrase “Kingdom of God is near” refers here to the return of Jesus, the Messiah – coming back “in glory and power” to set up His Kingdom.

See to it, Jesus warned us.  Make sure that “that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.”

That Second Coming of the Messiah will come “in glory and power” – and will catch everyone “like a trap” without warning.  The Rapture is not for everyone. Only believers get snatched up.

This particular Return of Christ however will be a trap that “will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.”  Be ready for the Rapture (which comes before “The Second Coming”).  Don’t be left behind – or you too will be caught in this trap!

This fantastic story of God
Now let’s leave Luke 21 and see the rest of His story.  (Man calls it “history” but I pronounce it: HIS story).

Jesus Christ was originally present on earth as Creator God and He walked and talked with Adam and Eve.  At this beginning of “time”, He was here as Creator of the universe, and is called “the Word” in John 1.

The Bible then refers to three times Jesus will return as Messiah (after His creation period).  The “returns” of Jesus are: (1) as a baby in Bethlehem, (2) at the Rapture, and finally – (3) in glory with power.

Remember there are actually three “returns of Christ”.  Look at this with a Chronological View of history.


Source: Jesus Returns to Earth Twice in the End Times

“Starting with His birth as baby Jesus, born to Mary and Joseph, there are three biblical references to Jesus coming to earth – “in the name of Jesus” (as Christ, the Messiah)”.

There are only three instances of being here “in the name of Jesus the Messiah”, starting with His miraculous birth as baby Jesus, in a manger, in poverty. We can look at this as 3 times Jesus returns to earth:

    1. First: When He came into the world as Baby Jesus – He died and rose again for the forgiveness of our sins:  Luke 2; John 3:16; Luke 23; Luke 24.
    2. Second: When He comes to Rapture us in the air – so we escape His wrath in the Great Tribulation:  2 Thessalonians 2;verse 2: “…the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to meet Him.”
    3. Third: When He Comes in all His glory and power with all His angels to Judge the world – [at the end of] the Great Tribulation: Matthew 25:verses 31-46.

Now let’s get back to Jesus’ account in Luke 21. Read again verses 34-36:

34 “But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.

36 But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].”

If we are “on guard” (forewarned; heeding His forewarning) then we will escape this particular return which “will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth“.  It will not be “like a trap” for us, because we will escape it before it happens.

If we are “found worthy…” then we will escape from earth before “the trap” hits all of earth. In what is often called The Rapture, those who are “worthy” will be taken off the earth.  If we are saved and we know it, and are looking for His return, THEN, we are worthy, and He will snatch us out, Rapture us off the planet. We are to wait patiently for Him to rescue us “from the wrath to come”.

1 Thessalonians 1:10  “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

That is why He said “…your redemption is drawing near“.

Read more in detail:
Ready for the Rapture? and
Virgins, Talents, and Judgement and
First, Apostasy, then Antichrist, then the Rapture and
A swift barrage of shattering events will unfold after the Rapture – coming soon.

 

The Trapping Return of Christ

While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment – unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord].   – 1 Thessalonians 5:3

I like to call this last return of Christ (after the Rapture), The Trapping Return of Christ.  This is when He comes in crushing power at Armageddon.  It will be worldwide in scope (Revelation 3:10).  All will see Him.  All peoples will be trapped, judged, and sent to their place.  3  And Jesus will setup His new Kingdom on earth.


He promised we will never face His wrath.
Because of this promise (1 Thessalonians 1:10) our hope in these days, is “the great escape”, as I like to call it.  Jesus said this will happen.  Jesus said that prior to His “Trapping Return”, He will Return to rapture us out – “to escape all these things that are going to take place“.  Is that your hope?  If not – why on earth not?!

Revelation 3:10    “Because you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere], I will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole [inhabited] world, to test those who live on the earth.”

Accept Christ as Savior now, before it’s too late, like it was too late for the virgins – standing befuddled, knocking anxiously at the door – but their oil had run out (Matthew 25). Jesus alone is our hope, our friend.  He alone is able to save us for all eternity.

Believers: Keep your heart energized

“…be patient; strengthen your hearts
[keep them energized
and firmly committed to God],
because
the coming of the Lord
is near.”
James 5:…8

 



FOR MORE:


– Acts 1:9-11

– Hebrews 9:28

– Luke 21

About the End Times

How then should we live now… believing the Rapture is just around the corner?

Being wise in a very unwise world during these End Times

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Jesus saved me

What is necessary to be saved

This is salvation in Christ

Why suckling with the mother cat does not make the piglet a kitten

Growing into our natural new life in Christ

Follow Messiah (OneForIsrael.org video series)

Jesus can save your soul for all eternity

Not afraid of Hell


Post Views: 12

Footnotes

  1. The Budding of the Fig Tree  | Alf & Julie Saunders; 15th December, 2010

    Figs: A Symbol Throughout Jewish History   | Yoni Schwartzman of The Israel Bible

    Figs: The Biblical King of Trees

    The Fig Tree Sign and Israel’s Rebirth | June 2, 2017; Stephanie Dawn

    Clarence Larkin :: Chapter 29. The Trees to Which Israel Is Compared In Scriptures | from Blue Letter Bible.

  2. Matthew 24: verses 1-3.  This prediction of Jesus (that the Temple would be totally razed) was fulfilled when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70AD.  But it did not fulfill the rest of Jesus’ prophecy.  For more details read about the erroneous belief of the Preterists about this event: Note to Preterists – Jesus did not return in 70AD. He is coming soon!

    Excerpt:
    “Preterism is a false claim by self-inspired teachers, a total falsehood (as warned about in Ezekiel 13:1-9).  A quick read through the New Testament shows we are urged to “look up” and be ready for the imminent return of Christ.  I’d sooner heed those – than listen to a half-baked idea which contradicts Jesus.  Are you ready to be snatched up by God?.

  3. There is a place

    When this life is over
    and we’ve lived it all for self
    we’ll have nothing in eternity
    but self and self that’s all

    no good
    no joy
    no love
    no pleasantness again

    For God is good
    God is joy
    God is love
    God is why pleasantness exists

    If all we have is self
    and nothing good from God
    If all we have is what we generate
    and what’s from God is gone

    If God gives all that’s good in life
    and now He’s gone for good
    What misery we’ll have
    and nowhere else to go

    There is a place assigned to go
    where nowhere else exists but there

    It’s far from
    where God’s blessings flow
    it’s bad and worse
    no good at all.

Filed Under: Christian Life, Prophets and Prophecy Tagged With: end times, fig leaves, fig tree, God’s wrath, Rapture

About Keith Swift

Created by God, born to die, born again, now living forever with Creator God - soon to be in His Home. Forgiven forever, still learning to live in Christ.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About OMG    Facebook OMGjesus    FAQ
IN FOCUS: He will go before me - God Is Not Distant - My Heinous Heinous Ways - Seeing change in your heart - About Heaven - Lost I Came To Him - This is salvation in Christ - That Moment in Time - Admitting I was wrong - Titus on: What the Word of God Teaches - Making God - I Look Oh My God - One Human Race - Puny Humans - Following - What Jesus stands for - Which Jesus do you serve? - Is Jesus’ worldview your worldview? - Getting Born Again - Saving Knowledge - Losing My Soul - My best day here - Vortex of Good & Evil - Fear This - Living the good life – with courage and confident hope

"Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock." - Isaiah 26:4 (NLT)

About the End Times (a series) - Do not fear, I will help you - Be cautious and active in faith - Maintain yourself faithful – out of loyalty to Christ - When we face difficult times in our life - First Apostasy, then Antichrist, then the Rapture - We are now in “Birth Pangs” times, and then ...the End - “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” - Oh what a day that will be! - What joy and exhilaration - soon

About False Teachings of today
(a series) - Getting down to God’s meaning - Calling out false teaching - Jesus, the second man, is the Lord from Heaven

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” - Luke 10:27

Most Recent Posts

  • Waiting for it June 26, 2022
  • How do I get to Heaven? June 25, 2022
  • Want to be wise? June 21, 2022
  • Why “the end” Jesus foretold is now June 12, 2022
  • Spiritual drift June 3, 2022
  • Pestilences are now “breaking out all over the globe” May 31, 2022
  • Coming Soon: the War of Gog & Magog May 30, 2022
  • Are you viable? May 28, 2022
  • Nancy’s careless and unworthy participation in communion May 27, 2022
  • Biblical Rights for Children May 24, 2022
  • Babies do not have civil rights May 24, 2022
  • I am not the sum of all my sins May 24, 2022
  • Satan Knows May 23, 2022
  • Salvation will cost you May 21, 2022
  • Divine Mysteries Revealed by the Godman Jesus May 19, 2022
  • The revelations of Revelation 20 May 13, 2022
  • Still sneering? May 9, 2022
  • Loving Jesus Less May 3, 2022
  • Was Jesus actually God Almighty? April 29, 2022
  • Happiest day ever April 26, 2022
  • Being receptive April 23, 2022
  • Why look into biblical prophecies? April 22, 2022
  • Faithful and True April 18, 2022
  • The way God made you April 9, 2022
  • What a wild and woolly rollercoaster ride we are on April 8, 2022

Categories

  • Angels
  • Bible Studies
  • Bible-lite
  • Bible: New Testament
  • Bible: The Bible Says
  • Biblical Inerrancy
  • Christian Life
  • Christianity
  • Counseling and Exhorting
  • Creation
  • Cults
  • Damnation
  • Death
  • Devotionals
  • Divorce
  • DVD-movies
  • Early Church
  • Education
  • Evidence
  • Faith
  • False Teachings
  • Forgiveness
  • God
  • Heaven
  • Hell
  • Hermeneutics
  • Holy Spirit
  • Interpreting
  • Investigate
  • Islam
  • Jesus the Christ
  • Key Truths …in the Bible
  • Key Verses …in the Bible
  • Leadership
  • Marriage
  • Muslim
  • Parenting
  • Poetry, Sayings, and Words
  • Popular Culture
  • Prayer
  • Prophets and Prophecy
  • Repentance
  • Research
  • Salvation
  • Science
  • Series
  • Sin
  • Spiritual Warfare

Random Post:

Search This Site

Utilize the Search capability of this website (upper right corner of this site) to find specific topics…

Bentley – News on Todd Bentley

The charismatic movement has been troubled by unbiblical practices and teachings. I am amazed at how folks are so easily mislead. “Many have exchanged the truth for a lie and chosen experience over content.” Look and examine and see, and compare with what the Bible teaches.

False Prophets

“You may be asking yourselves, “How can we tell if a prophet’s message really comes from the Lord?”” -Deuteronomy 18:21. How can we distinguish the true from the false?

No Faith In Heaven

Faith will not be necessary in heaven. Faith and hope will be ¨done away¨with (1 Corinthians 13:v8). When we finally are brought into His Kingdom, instead of on this earth with His Holy Spirit, then we will have Him, not just merely faith and hope.

Christian Answers Regarding Islam

Christian Answers Regarding Islam 1. The Koran purports it does not contradict the Bible but supports it. The Koran declares that it was written to confirm the previous revelations and not to replace the Bible according to Sura 5:48 which says, “And We have sent down to you the Scripture with truth, authenticating what is […]

Biblical Homosexuality

…a Christian´s Perspective on Homosexuality Quoted from: http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/31489.html   Donny | April 18, 2008, 11:33am | # I’m up to the challenge of gay theology questions: In-hospitality towards others and “haughtiness” were the sins of Sodom. But Ezekiel is quite explicit about sexual sins being front and center as well. “Haughtiness” and the word “Gay” […]

Inexplicable Joy

Heaven is a joyful place. That is hard for me to imagine… Everywhere I look around me, I see so many problems, issues and unresolved conflicts. But in heaven, they won’t exist anymore. There will only be joy because my sins have been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  One of the main things that describes being in heaven is JOY. The word “joy” has a much deeper meaning than just happiness. To be happy can change so quickly. It can come and go in a moment. But joy…

Letter to Danny

We are continually bombarded by the fiery darts of the Evil One.  And when these little pricks hit us, we need to put-out the flames, quickly. Doubts, depression, feelings of inadequacy, troubles, unruly kids…, when they come at us, we “have to declare” the truths of God, and  we have to choose Truth over lies. 

Children’s Bible in a Nutshell

A quick overview of the Bible (tongue-in-cheek) -Author Unknown Too good to miss! Subject: Judas Asparagus (also read story here: https://darrellcreswell.wordpress.com)    A child was told to write a book report on the entire Bible.  The Children’s Bible in a Nutshell:  In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, […]

About Biblical Inerrancy

…would God give us erroneous documents and call them “His”? Get real! Is God really going to give us the ‘truth’ …that isn’t!? The fact that Jesus “the Christ” fulfilled over 360 Scriptural prophecies – convinces me of the veracity of Scripture. Look at the evidences. Forget the critics! What about you?   Are you […]

More Random Posts

  • Babies do not have civil rights
  • I am not the sum of all my sins
  • Satan Knows
  • Salvation will cost you

Tags

believe Bethel bible born again choice choose confidence creation death end times Ephesians eternity evidence evidences FAITH false teachers fear follow following forgiven forgiveness God grace heaven hell Holy Spirit hope Jesus love NAR New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) practice prayer Rapture repent repentance resurrection Salvation Satan saved sin sincerity time truth worldview

Featured Post

Oh what a day that will be!  Wow! To enter into the Kingdom of God - freely as His redeemed child. No cringing in shame, no burden of sinfulness before Almight Holy God. I can only imagine.

Jesus, the second man, is the Lord from Heaven
"The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.” In 1 Corinthians 15:47 the Apostle Paul explained that Jesus, while on earth, was absolutely God-man.  He was not a mere man, ever.

There Is Only One God
Getting tired of people flippantly saying, ¨Oh my god!¨ Ever wonder who their ¨god¨ is!? Does that ¨god¨ know he is ¨theirs¨? Do you say that? We are quite the god-makers, are we not! What do you mean…“your God”?

God Is Not Distant
God is not some far away, distant-from-you, dis-concerned bubble of energy, inside some aura of mist on a mysterious planet far far away…. “And the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” –Psalm 121:8 

Yeah, What he said!

Opinion's are sometimes worth your time. Here are some. I will be adding more periodically.

Lost I Came To Him Oh the wonder of that love of our fathomless Creator, to save me in spite of my self-centered soul. Lost and rebellious, He chose me. Pursued and wooed, what mystery – grace. I said yes to Creator God. To know…
Time as it really is Since Heaven is not regulated by time, the passage of time on earth is a separate event. *We will all step out of time together – into God’s presence, with no “time lag”,…The time it takes to go from earth to God's presence - is instant. There is no waiting around in the next dimension for earth time to finish, no midway point of gathering, no Purgatory. It will be an instantaneous experience for all mankind that ever lived. At the moment of death, our soul instantly leaves....

No Tolerance for Error
God is not sloppy nor wishy-washy.... There is no room at all – for error – when it comes to being right with God. You are either all in, or you are all out. Are you sure you’re in?

Simple View of Life  a simple view of everything. God of Everything that is – created everything. We are very fortunate that He is loving and kind, and really, really wants us.
Ashamed of Yourself?
Ever done something you are ashamed of?  Come on now, you’re sitting there by yourself – ‘fess-up.  Nobody listenin’ to your brain confess.  So... Yes?  Scenario: “You have? What!?
Being Christian What's it like these days to be a Christian? Really a Christian. For many, what the Bible teaches is generally okay, but, when it comes to certain specificities, what it says, they reason, needs to be interpreted in the light of today's enlightened realities. But -- will that work in - The End - when we stand before Him, physically? Stop and think about that Day.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow is the fool’s day. Tomorrow may never come. I may not get older. This may be it. 3.18.2017
Vortex of Good & Evil As mere humans, we are engulfed in the vortex of battle between good and evil. We must remember – it is God who created us, not we ourselves.  1.25.2017
What God has going on with us here on this planet.
God downloaded to earth ...inserted Himself into our history.  Jesus came to earth in order to satisfy the Courts of Heaven for our freedom. 3.23.2016

Cognitive Dissonance
...that extreme feeling of discomfort some folks get when their core belief is challenged or contradicted. What they think (“cognitive”) is rattled (dissonance) by what other evidences purport to be true – in direct conflict with what they hold to be “true”.  8.14.2018
Actually Try To Do The Deed 3.23.2016   “It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better."

What God Did for Man
…The Simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. God walked the earth as a man. Have you ever wondered how it all got started – the universe, the earth, nature, animals, you and your “like”, mankind? 2.19.2018
The Bible is “able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”
Do you honestly want to know how to get right with God?  Jesus promised He would save us for an eternity of only good, nothing bad. 9.31.2020  
 

Most Viewed Posts

  • Vile To Jesus (8,021)
  • Ashamed of Yourself? (2,855)
  • The Passion Translation (TPT) and why not to use it (2,139)
  • Befuddled and Besmirched (1,049)
  • That Day of Judgement (963)
  • Getting Born Again (892)
  • That Moment In Time (859)
  • Jesus Knows Your Thoughts (842)
  • Following (755)
  • My Heinous Heinous Ways (744)
  • Saving Knowledge (735)
  • The Confuscating John Pavlovitz (719)
  • Inexplicable Joy (651)
  • Me, When I Die, still in sin (647)
  • Me, When I Die, forgiven (626)
  • Brand New Creature (604)
  • God’s System of Justice (586)
  • Examples of false doctrines (585)
  • Practicing Sin, Not Following Christ (579)
  • Why Believe Such Stupididiotic Things?! (571)
  • God Damned “Believers” (571)
  • Windows Into Heaven (566)
  • Context, Context, Context! (548)
  • Signs of an unrepentant heart (546)
  • Salvation Is A God Thing (533)

Most Recent Posts

  • Waiting for it
  • How do I get to Heaven?
  • Want to be wise?
  • Why “the end” Jesus foretold is now
  • Spiritual drift
  • Pestilences are now “breaking out all over the globe”
  • Coming Soon: the War of Gog & Magog
  • Are you viable?
  • Nancy’s careless and unworthy participation in communion
  • Biblical Rights for Children

Categories

Archives

Waiting for it

I’m sure that, in the past, you have waited. * Remember waiting for Christmas morning?  How exciting that was. Before Christmas I was so excited, full of anticipation.  I so much wanted to open my Christmas gifts right now.  But I had to wait for Christmas morning. * Remember waiting for Friday night?  I had […]

How do I get to Heaven?

So you want to go to Heaven. Jesus promised Heaven for those who follow Him.  He does not include anyone else in His promise.  Other religions make promises they can never keep.  Do you want to entrust your eternity into the hands of puny humans? Only Jesus saves.

Want to be wise?

Still think you are smarter than the rest, that your way is the right way? Have you considered that God might be smarter?

Why “the end” Jesus foretold is now

Today is different from other centuries when Christians mistakenly thought “the end times” had come.  These are very different days.  Jesus predicted “the end” (Matthew 24), and we are in them. Men of old never saw the prophecies fulfilled and the signs that we are seeing.  Never had them, never saw them.  It was beyond their ability to know Scripture as we do now… because the events of prophecy were still future.

Copyright © 2022 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in