Be On The Alert For The Lord’s Second Coming

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

November 30, 2022

in Spritual Growth

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First Sunday of Advent:
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 24: 37-44

The Season of Advent is a time of preparation for the 2nd coming of the Lord. The Kingdom is not in the same time zone as we know. When we are dictated by time- day by day, month by month, year by year, the Kingdom does not operate in this manner. We have hope in Christ. However, we have been taught by the world that the end will be destructive. But Isaiah says, at the end of the age, the church will be the mountain and people will flock to it. It’s important for us to read everything in scripture. The sum total of the scripture is truth. If the church is to be referred to as the mountain, then we must be prepared for that. In Hebrew, the word “Advent” refers to a season of preparation. Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

The generation of the Kingdom will not pass away. As individuals, we may die but the generation, humanity continues. The scriptures in the Old Testament are meant to train us. During the time of Noah, when there was no rain nor flood, Noah was told to build an ark. And for 120 years, he built the Ark which was 1 million 3 hundred thousand square meters and 3 stories high. It was to house 35 thousand animals. As Noah was in the building process, he was also preaching and warning the people that the rain was coming. The people did not believe him because they had never seen rain nor flood in their whole life. They were mocking him, they continued with their partying, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. They were just focusing on themselves and not thinking about God. So when the rain and flood came, they all were swept away and died in the flood. Then it goes on to say that there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. We used to think that the ones who were taken were the ones who were raptured. But in the Hebrew meaning, these who were taken were taken to destruction. And the ones left stayed with the Lord.

In the Kingdom, there is peace and joy. We may be considered peculiar people. Peculiar to the world but not to God. God has empowered us to be able to do His work. The enemy wants us to think that we cannot achieve anything. If we believe in that lie, we are giving glory to the enemy. God says we are like warriors. We are strong in the Lord. Our physical being may be weak but our soul will be strengthened and will quicken the mortal flesh. We need to be prepared at all times. The beauty of the life we have in Him is the most important. The Blood of the Eternal Covenant has been given to us and this is Jesus. We should not be limited by time. The Kingdom’s time is eternal. Let us spend this Advent season with the grace and knowledge of God.