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Text Box: The year 2011 has been an eventful year so far. The weather has been extreme in many parts of the world. Some regions have had extreme flooding, while other places, record cold and snow accumulation. It has been a winter to forget for most of us. When we watch the news this year there have been major changes in the political situation in the Middle East. Long time dictators have been removed from power with no one knowing what the future will look like. Will the Muslim majority nations be more tolerant or more repressive in the days ahead? Time will tell. The Bible teaches us that Jesus will come a second time to bring Divine rule to the world. Could we be living in the last days? Many believers connect extreme weather and unrest in the Middle East with the return of Christ. One heretical TV and radio preacher is even claiming to know the day Jesus will come. What does the Bible say on this topic? In Matthew 24, Jesus was asked about his return and the end of the world. Part of his answer was, Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that

Text Box: time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:3-14 It is true that Jesus focused on natural disasters, political turmoil and persecution of Christians. It is not difficult to connect stories from the newspaper to signs of the coming of Jesus. We would not be the first generation to make that connection. Many looked at Adolf Hitler as a likely candidate for the antichrist. The coming of Jesus should motivate us to live a righteous life. The truth is that Jesus could come at any time, or our life could end. If you know a special visitor is coming at any time, you keep your house clean. In the same way, we should life in constant readiness of the return of Jesus. The other motivation that the coming of Jesus brings us is that we should help others be ready for his return. II Peter 3:14,15 says, “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.” Be encouraged as we anticipate the coming of our Savior. His return is good news for his children as we look forward to his coming rule in the new heaven and new earth. -Pastor Rick

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