Bible Prophecy For Dummies Series

But the Kingdom of God has a dual meaning. In addition to being an invisible kingdom in your heart, the Bible also reveals the Kingdom of God has a future aspect. There will be a literal, visible kingdom of God in the future. Sometime in the future Jesus will literally rule over all the nations. When Gabriel told Mary Jesus would be born, He made several announcements about Jesus: He would be called Jesus; He would be great, and He would save His people from their sins–and Jesus has already done that. But Gabriel also predicted a time when “the government shall be upon his shoulders.” That hasn’t happened yet. Can you imagine the UN Security Council meeting to discuss Iraq? On television you see them getting on their knees and they say, “Jesus, the government is on your shoulders, so tell us what to do about Iraq.” Don’t hold your breath! But one day, it WILL happen. All the governments of the world will look to Jesus as their leader.

Don’t get too uptight about the future aspect of the Kingdom because our job is be good subjects in the present Kingdom. Some people only think about heaven, and how wonderful it will be, but they assume they have to be miserable now. Don’t miss out on it! The Kingdom is here, it’s now. The Christian life is NOT just about pie in the sky by and by–it’s also about steak on your plate while you wait!

2. THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL ARRIVE LIKE LIGHTNING

Jesus wanted to make Bible prophecy simple. He used metaphors anyone can understand, such as lightning. He said His coming would be like lightning. I went on the internet and learned some interesting things about lightning that helped me understand the aspects of His return.

For instance, lightning strikes 100 times every second somewhere on earth. Jesus understood everything about lightning, since He’s the Creator. So how is His return like lightning? First, lightning strikes when there is storm. When Jesus returns He will come into a stormy world of political and economic chaos. When there is a storm, you should be cautious about lightning, when you see a political and economic storm, watch out for His return!

Second, lightning occurs suddenly. It doesn’t slowly weave its way down; it strikes as fast as... well, lightning. Lightning usually travels from cloud to ground and then flashes back upward at a speed of 1/10,000 of a second. When Jesus comes to rapture the church, He will stop in the clouds and then we’ll be caught up to be meet Him in the clouds, as fast as lightning. I Corinthians 15 tells us when Jesus comes to rapture the church it will happen in a “twinkling of an eye.” You won’t have time to repent when He comes, so you’d better be right with God BEFORE He returns.

Third, lightning possesses awesome power. In the split-second lightning flashes the air in its channel is heated to 1,400º F. This rapid heating creates such a shock, there is an audible sonic wave we call thunder. The energy discharged in a single stroke of lightning is enough to lift a two ton weight (like your car) 62 miles straight upward. What power! When Jesus returns, He won’t come as gentle Jesus meek and mild–He will come as the all-powerful King. He came the first time as the Lamb of God to bear the sin of the world. But when He comes again, He will be the mighty Lion of the Tribe of Judah!