WEBVTT 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:15.039 Welcome to the Preaching the Cross Radio Podcast, featuring the radio ministry of Pastor James W. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:18.480 Knox of the Bible Baptist Church of Delane, Florida. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:31.280 Our prayer is that these half-hour Bible study programs will bring the lost to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and enable the saved to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Savior. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:34.159 Now here's your host, Pastor James W. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:34.960 Knox. 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:50.320 And sure enough, he was not joking. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:58.079 This is the Preaching of the Cross radio broadcast, a ministry of the Bible Baptist Church of the land, Florida, in the United States of America. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:02.719 And wherever you're listening around the world today, we so very much for tuning into the program. 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:20.959 Hope that you'll stay with us for the next half hour or so as we continue in our series of lessons, talking about the uh Earth being the center of God's universe and talking about the marvelous and wonderful things that God has wrought, is working, and shall yet perform on the face of planet Earth. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:26.560 I'm Brother James, and I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:34.480 I welcome you to this twelfth in our series of lessons dealing with uh planet Earth and God's dealing with the inhabitants thereof. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:52.239 We have talked about the earth as the only habitable planet in the solar system, the creation of the earth, catastrophe versus uniformity, earth's first great catastrophe when Satan rebelled against God, the reconstruction of the earth, Satan's regain and fall of Adam and Eve. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:59.680 We talked about the degeneration of the human race, the flood, uh which Noah and eight souls escaped in the Ark. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:15.439 We talked about the abiding curse upon the earth, and we left off last time discussing Earth's glory age, some of the promises that God has made in the Bible for the restoration of Earth and what is called the uh the regeneration, the times of refreshing. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:36.479 We are talking about some of the possibilities uh for the fulfillment of the great catastrophic judgments that God has promised will take place during that seven-year period of time, known as the time of Jacob's trouble, when God resumes his dealings with Israel as a nation following the catching away of the body and bride of Christ. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:53.840 Now it's interesting to note, and we were talking last time about the uh possible disaster that would be wrought on planet Earth if a uh burnt-out sun uh were to pass very closely to uh our uh planet as it made its way through the solar system. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:03:01.759 It's interesting to note how closely the passing of an ancestral sun through the solar system fits into the Bible description of the next catastrophe. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:17.759 The gradual approach of such a gigantic body would allow sufficient time for its manifestation and create, of course, universal consternation, such as the Bible speaks about in the book of Matthew, men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:26.879 Again, the tremendous surface of this celestial visitor passing between the sun and the earth would explain why the sun should be turned into darkness and the moon into blood. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:34.400 The powerful pull that its presence would exercise upon the planets would explain why the stars fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens should be shaken. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:43.759 There would be great meteoric showers while dismembered portions of the planets would fall upon the earth like great hailstones, uh, Revelation 16, 21. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:49.840 The probability of the havoc and damage created by the fall of meteors is far greater than is generally supposed. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:55.680 As has already been indicated in a former uh lesson, meteors are relics of a former catastrophe. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:04:04.960 And it's only the cushion of atmosphere that surrounds the earth which retards their progress and causes them in most instances to be consumed before reaching the earth. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:12.319 But a recent uh editorial in a daily newspaper asks this question Will meteorites destroy it? 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:21.680 And then goes on to describe what happened on June 30th, 1908, when the most gigantic meteorite of which astronomers have any knowledge encountered the Earth. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:39.040 This is a quotation from one of the many uh exposes that has been written upon this great uh explosion which took place in Siberia in 1908, and I quote uh from a fellow named Benson. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:57.040 He says, Luckily enough for the world's many teening cities and its less thickly settled rural or suburban sections, the enormous missile from another planet struck the earth in the remote province of Yenisel, Siberia, and its only victims were a few million trees and a herd of fifteen hundred reindeer. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:10.000 A Russian exploring party sent to the scene soon after the phenomenon had been reported by still frightened peasants, found an area several miles in diameter where the earth was torn and furrowed as if by a gigantic harrow. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:18.560 At the nearest settlement, fifty miles away, two farmers were knocked down by the blast of the meteor's fall and scorched by its heat. 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:27.279 Both the heat and the explosion following the meteor's impact with the Earth were felt by railway passengers and workmen four hundred miles distant. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:39.279 There's nothing to prevent such an occurrence, nothing to prevent a shower of such meteors falling on us, in case a considerable portion of another planet should break off from the main body and go tumbling in the space. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:21.839 The meteor was described as looking as large as an office effect. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:30.560 No damage was done owing to the fact that the enormous missile fell into the ocean rather than upon land. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.920 But suppose it had struck the land. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:43.120 We can only imagine uh what would take place if some uh great meteor were to strike one of the central cities and the key cities of our planet. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:56.480 Unless the Earth at that time was some distance from the pathway of a celestial sun, it could not escape the fate of that doomed planet, which most probably in an earlier catastrophe was completely dismembered and broken into a thousand planetoids. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:07.680 If traveling in the vicinity it would be terribly and thoroughly shaken and experience planetary uh perturbations and meteoric showers, granted that it was not completely dismembered. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:17.360 Now not only does the word of God reveal to us the assurance that the earth will experience another catastrophe, but also we are provided with a reason for such a cataclysm. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:21.839 The Holy Spirit of God gave to Paul a great vision concerning the future of the earth. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:28.000 He looked down through the years and saw the great day in earth's history when the plan of God was to be fully consummated. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:36.480 Very plainly he tells us that the crowning day of the earth's existence and the crowning creation of God's gracious plan are yet to be revealed. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:47.120 In Romans chapter 8 and verse 19, the Bible says, For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:08:00.000 And following this he tells us that creation was unwillingly cursed because of the sinfulness of angels and men, and that the time will come when it will be delivered from the bondage of corruption to welcome the children of God for times. 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:15.519 The Apostle Paul, writing in an inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us that all creation is anxiously waiting for the day when the sons of God will be honored and glorified by their Creator and their Redeemer. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:31.519 In other words, the whole creation, suns upon sons, planets upon planets, solar systems upon solar systems, immensity beyond comprehension, will center its attention upon what will transpire upon this little earth, the center of the universe. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:43.440 And the reason for all of this is because God has graciously seen fit to make this world the sage of the universe, and his only begotten Son the central figure of time and eternity. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:54.000 These sons of God, for the manifestation of which all creation waits, are those who have been born into the family of God through faith in their crucified Lord. 00:08:54.080 --> 00:09:03.120 And because the day has come in which the King of heaven is to be glorified, those to whom he has given power to become the sons of God will be glorified with him. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:24.000 Until the day arrives for Christ Jesus the Lord to be glorified, the whole creation will continue to groan and travail in pain, while the names of those most fortunate, most happy sons of God will remain concealed from the eyes of principalities, powers, and angels, not yet revealed, that we are indeed the sons of God, first John chapter three. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:35.759 The strong argument supporting the theory of another catastrophe is the need for the curse to be removed from the earth. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:41.759 This is why it travails and groans in pain, bearing, as it were, the sins of a fallen race. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.840 In the first place, the curse must be removed from the vegetable kingdom. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:49.919 We remember that this was the first curse pronounced in the Garden of Eden. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:56.960 You remember, cursed is the ground for thy sake, thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth for thee. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:05.120 But in the renovated earth which will follow such a catastrophe, the vegetable kingdom shall be delivered from this bond of corruption. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:08.559 Listen to Isaiah chapter 35, beginning at verse 1. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:15.919 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:19.600 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:28.960 The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:31.840 Again from Isaiah chapter fifty-five. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:37.279 Isaiah chapter fifty-five and verse number twelve. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:11:00.799 For ye shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands, instead of the thorn, shall come up the fir tree, instead of the briar, shall come up the myrtle tree, and it shall be to the Lord for an aim, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:06.879 One more prophecy along this same vein, these same lines in Amos chapter nine. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:22.480 And verse thirteen Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes, him that soweth seed, and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:36.799 What a wonderful, glorious picture of the prosperity of the soil, the prosperity of the land, the freedom of the vegetable creation from the curse placed upon it in Genesis chapter three. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:42.720 In the second place, the curse upon the animal creation must be removed. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:48.879 The wild beasts were not always so, but their nature has been changed since the curse of God went forth from Eden. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:51.039 Now they will cease to devour one another. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:54.720 The poisonous and pestilent insects will no longer be a terror to men. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:12:23.759 The Bible says in Isaiah chapter eleven, verses six through nine, the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the batling together, and a little child shall lead them, and the cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den, they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:31.279 Wonderful truth, literal absolute truth promised by God for a wonderful future day. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:45.519 In the third place, conditions must be changed upon the earth so that there will be freedom from sickness, that the long life enjoyed by the antediluvians, those that lived prior to the flood, may be restored. 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:47.120 This is what will come to pass. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:54.240 So great will be the longevity in this blessed time that a person dying at a hundred years old will be counted as a mere child. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:56.559 That's no exaggeration, that's Bible truth. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:01.360 Listen to the word of God from Isaiah chapter sixty-five, verses twenty to twenty two. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:09.759 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days, for the child shall die on a hundred years old. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:29.039 But the sinner, being at hundred years old, shall be accursed, and they shall build houses and inhabit them, they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them, they shall not build and another inhabit, they shall not plant and another eat, for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall enjoy the work of their hands. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:33.120 Listen again to Isaiah 35, verses 5 and 6. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:37.440 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:44.320 Then shall the lame man leap as in heart, and the tongue of the dumb sing, for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams it. 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:19.759 When Jesus Christ rules and reigns and the curse is removed, not a present day when men are peeling away promises from one dispensation and trying to apply them to another where they do not belong, but of a wonderful, glorious future day when Christ Jesus the Lord establishes his great rule and reign on planet Earth. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:28.320 In the fourth book, fourth place, there must needs be a new arrangement of things in order that the child may receive his proper place in life. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:46.080 We remember that Jesus Christ the Lord put the child and not the adult in the center of the group in Matthew 18, too, and warned the proud, forgetful world, take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:53.120 No period of life is so quickly forgotten, nor so shamefully neglected as the childlife. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:15:09.679 That old pagan philosopher Socrates frequently said that if he could get to the highest point in Athens, he would lift up his voice and proclaim, What mean ye fellow citizens that scrap every stone to get wealth together and take so little care of your children to whom you must someday relinquish it all? 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:18.879 What a picture of the American nation today, where uh over one hundred million boys and girls are growing up without any moral or religious training. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:26.639 Uh four million uh runaway boys and girls in America, a mute testimony uh to his many fathers who have previously run away from their son. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:41.360 Malachi shows that the great purpose of Elijah the prophet coming as a forerunner of the great and terrible day of the Lord is that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, and Zechariah describes a new environment in which the child will come to his own. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:50.080 He will no longer be neglected and clapped crowded out of his lawful place, but listen to what the Bible says in Zechariah chapter eight, verses four through six. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:16:02.960 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, there shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age, and the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:09.919 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, if it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it not be marvelous in mine eyes? 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.200 Saith the Lord of Hosts. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:28.240 Notice, not riots in the street, not gang warfare in the street, not beggars in the street, but boys and girls enjoying a peaceful, safe, happy society and civilization where they may uh safely play as boys and girls in the streets of the city. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:35.600 It takes Jesus Christ returning to earth to bring that about, but thank God he has promised to return. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:51.759 In the fifth place, it is evident that there must be a great change in the atmospheric conditions, and the curse which followed the flood be removed in order that the favorable conditions of the antediluvians, uh that which they enjoyed, may once more be found on the earth. 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:58.080 There'll be no tornadoes, no intense cold, no devastation by disastrous floods or earthquakes during the millennium. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:02.080 For this reason, the position of the earth relative to the sun must be altered. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:10.480 We talk about this in great detail in our cassette recorded series presenting a verse by verse commentary on the book of Amos. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:29.200 And again, I say to you, if you will write for our catalog, you will find it listed there, you may obtain those studies, and we go into this matter in great detail about the location of planet Earth in the solar system being altered in the days of Noah's flood, and again during the time of great tribulation, possibly. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:41.759 There may even be another shifting of the poles that we talked about in our doomsday studies mentioned earlier, that they may be restored to their original place, and the world once more enjoy a climate of perpetual spring with all its far reaching possibilities. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:52.880 When we consider that life will be greatly prolonged, and some may even live the entire period of the millennium, it is quite evident that the population of the earth will grow more rapidly than at any time in its history. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:18:04.240 If the more equable climate that existed before the flood were restored, it would be possible for men to live comfortably and happily on a much larger portion of earth than at present. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:12.160 We read of another feature that will add to the benefits of the people living at that time, which was probably unknown to those living prior to the flood. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:28.400 In Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 26, the Bible says Moreover, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven days in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth the strokes of their wounds. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:55.759 We can only conjecture what changes in the position of the earth relative to the sun will be necessary in order to bring about these special blessings, but it's only too evident that either the illumination of the sun will be greatly intensified or the present orbits of the earth and the moon comparatively altered, which could be brought about only by an upheaval in the entire solar system, which is prophesied in the Book of Revelation. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:06.160 In the sixth place, there must be some sudden circumstance that will restore the unity of language that the human race enjoyed before the Tower of Babel. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:19.039 The curse of the confusion of tongues will be removed, and all the people will use the same language, which will not only unite the race and remove the possibilities of misunderstandings, but also add greatly to its common comfort and happiness. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:37.039 Zephaniah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, predicts this in the book that bears his name, chapter 3 and verse number nine, where the Holy Bible says, Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:54.480 What a glorious day that will be, not as at the Tower of Babel, when man was united with one consent to exalt man to heaven without God, but a day when God Almighty and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, are exalted by every kindred, nation, tongue, and tribe on the face of the earth. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:20:02.240 In the seventh place, there must be some arrangement whereby the curse of the tempter may be removed. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:17.279 Ever since man fell through his allurement, Satan has occupied the position as God of this world, and has been the ruler of the air, the prince of the power of the air, the Bible calls him, which with his host of angels he has occupied as a dwelling place. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:38.240 But we find that while he shall have special privileges during the terrible days of the tribulation immediately preceding the millennium, for the coming of Christ the strong man shall no longer keep his palace and his goods in peace, because a stronger than he has come upon him and overcome him, and taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:40.240 Luke 11, 21 to 22. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:44.880 During the glorious period of the millennium, Satan will be changed. 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:49.599 In fact, it is the finding of Satan which makes possible the reign of righteousness. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:53.119 The nation shall enjoy when Christ is enthroned as King of the world. 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:55.839 Revelation chapter 20, verses 2 and 3. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:02.960 Now what could be any more ridiculous than to hear a man stand up in a church today and talk about binding Satan? 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:09.440 You know that makes Satan laugh and it makes God furious when he hears men pervert the scriptures and the word of God that way. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:24.559 There is no mention in your Bible of Satan being bound at any time until Revelation chapter 20, when an angel comes down to bind him so he won't interfere with the rule and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth during his millennial kingdom. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:42.400 Listen, uh have have you read Acts so carelessly that you don't understand that God gave these men authority to legislate the doctrines of the New Testament church until the Holy Spirit could get them into writing for the body of Christ? 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:45.200 I didn't think you'd considered that, but you need to consider that. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:51.599 Satan will be bound, and he won't be bound by you or your preacher or your rabbi or your next door neighbor. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:59.200 Satan will be bound by an angel with a great chain in the bottomless pit during the millennial kingdom and not until then. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.279 You know, it's a funny thing. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:19.440 You hear these preachers, they they get on the radio every day, or get on the TV set every day, or get in the pulpit every Sunday, and and say, I'm binding Satan over America, and I'm binding Satan over the state of Florida, and I'm binding Satan around the world, and I sure would like to know who's responsible for all the devilment that's going on if these fellows are binding Satan. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:24.799 You'd think just a careful look around would indicate that they're kidding themselves. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.519 But things are going to change. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:31.680 Satan will be bound to the glory of God, not the glory of a man. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:34.960 Finally, there must be divine intervention. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:40.799 Not only that the curse may be removed, but the earth may be prepared to receive her king. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:52.160 This uh song Joy to the world is often sung around the time of uh Baal's birthday, around December twenty-fifth, and it's supposed to be a Christmas hymn, but this hymn is not about the first coming of Jesus Christ. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:23:00.319 If you consider the lyrics carefully and read the words intelligently, uh this uh song has to do with the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth to establish his kingdom. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:04.640 For example, Joy to the world, the Lord is come, the earth receiver king. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:13.200 Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, no more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:18.720 He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:32.799 And Jesus Christ, the great King, when the earth is prepared to receive him, when he comes again in power and glory, he will rid the earth of the influences of the curses that were pronounced upon it at the great fall of Genesis chapter number three. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:46.960 Peter, in his powerful sermon on Solomon's porch, announced that the heaven must receive Jesus Christ until the times of restitution of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.480 Acts 3 21. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:54.160 The center of his promise is the fact that he whom the heaven has received will come back. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:59.839 The restitution of all things is spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, is what constitutes the millennium. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:03.839 But there could be no millennium until the Lord is revealed from heaven. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:14.720 Ephesians chapter 1, verse 10, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:20.400 The dispensation of the fullness of times and the restitution of all things in Christ is the millennium. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:26.880 In Colossians, the second coming of Christ is spoken of as the reconciliation of all things in chapter 1 and verse 20. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:39.599 While in Philippians we are told that of that wonderful day when at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.759 Ephesians 2, verses 10 and 11. 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:50.720 The Lord Jesus Christ will receive his throne, and with it all the glory, power, and honor that belong to him. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:25:04.559 The order of these last events is given in Matthew 24, 29 and 30, first, the days of great tribulation, then the catastrophe, and finally the appearance of the Son of Man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:14.480 Zechariah tells us in chapter 14 and verse 4 the book that bears his name, his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:22.480 In other words, he shall return to the same place, and in the same manner that the disciples saw him depart into heaven. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:27.839 Is that not what the Bible clearly and plainly declares in Acts chapter 1 and verse number eleven? 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:32.400 Oh, my friend, we need to be aware of these great Bible truths. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:48.000 When he had spoken these things, while they beheld he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight, and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 00:25:48.319 --> 00:26:04.160 This same Jesus, not somebody else, not an imposter, not a pretender, 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. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:06.880 Did they see him go up, then they will see him come back. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:10.559 Did he go up from a place where he was standing on the earth? 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:14.400 Then he will turn return to a place where he is standing on the earth. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:18.400 The Bible says clearly and plainly that when he comes he'll be bringing his saints with him. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:39.759 That couldn't mean but one thing, that prior to this time of great tribulation, the Lord himself should ascend from heaven with a shout, trump of God, the voice of the archangel, the dead in Christ shall be raised first, then we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord should be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet with them to meet the Lord in the clouds, so shall we ever be with the Lord? 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:44.559 Those are the comforting words of the New Testament gospel, and I ask you something, my friend. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:47.440 Are you ready to meet the Lord? 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.640 Are you prepared? 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.799 Should Jesus Christ come today? 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.559 Are your sins forgiven? 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:59.279 Had they been carried away by the Lord Jesus Christ, taken to the cross at Calvary, paid for, washed under that precious blood? 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:07.440 Have you put your faith and trust in the resurrected Christ, casting all of your hope for eternal life upon his merits and upon his grace? 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:10.559 If not, you need to do that at once. 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:13.759 For the day and hour of the Lord's coming is one that has not been revealed. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:18.319 You do not know when he's coming again, and it may be today. 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:26.480 Thanks for tuning in today. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:32.240 Join us every weekday for another episode of the Preaching of the Cross Radio Podcast. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:39.519 For hundreds of hours of in-depth expository Bible teaching, please visit our YouTube channel, James W. 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:48.480 Knox Sermons, our sermon audio page, Bible Baptist Land, or our website, Bible Baptistland.com. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:54.400 Until next time and throughout eternity, may Jesus Christ be praised.