“…I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18 ESV)

The world was shocked when the many faceted attacks on Paris hit the news on November 13, 2015.

The Word of God resounded in my heart: “lawlessness will be increased” prior to our Lord’s return. He told his disciples this would occur as a sign. He went on to say: “the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matt. 24: 12-14 ESV)

The above scripture indicates that “lawlessness will be increased” and “love of many will grow cold” and that we as disciples of Christ must heed the fact that the “gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Thus, we are not to lose heart but to take courage – the day of our Lord is approaching. A reckoning is coming, not only for ISIS but for the entire world.

Further He taught, that at His second advent He is coming to judge the world: “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”and further, “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt. 24:27;30-31 ESV)

Note that Christ’s appearing will be visibly known by its brightness, audibly evident by the trumpet blasts, and angles will surround Him.

Apostle Paul added his prophecy to depict the resurrection of the faithful dead which will occur also at Christ’s coming in glory:

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-8 ESV)

Incidents of lawless violence will only get worse yet true Christianity and the good news of the kingdom of Jesus Christ will resound more and more in the world, despite persecution. And this all is leading up to the solemn climactic event of  our Lord’s second advent to judge mankind.

We will all know when the Lord is coming. There will be a very bright, atomic-like radiance surrounding the glory of Jesus Christ when He comes back in His Supremacy as role of Life-giver and Judge over all the world: “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt. 24:27) “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.” (Rev. 1:7 ESV)

Jesus came to offer a New Covenant of forgiveness, and peace with all mankind, based on love. He is our redeemer from sin and death, which has passed unto all men (see Rom 3:23; 6:23 ESV)

Jesus is also the Supreme Creator, God and Judge over the world (see Supremacy of Christ Colossians Chapter 1). The judgement will involve changing the way things we know it on earth, as He displays His glory:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3: 10-13 ESV)

I take solace in this quote of Jesus when he referred to Peter, his oft-fearful disciple, who with the apostles would spread the gospel to the entire world. I take personal ownership of this text and with confidence I say of the church – of Christ’s universal disciples: “…all the gates of hell shall not prevail against us” (Matt. 16:18 ESV)

I understand that we are increasingly becoming fragile, naïve, forgetful of our forefather’s origins in Christ, fewer read the Word of God or have family worship where they kneel to pray together. Yet we can turn to the Lord and repent of our disregard, and He will immediately forgive: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:16:31 ESV)

It is high time to renew your confidence in the Lord and seek His guidance.

 ^{Paris Photo, Glen Jackman}