Little Red Book Ministry

b. The new heaven, new Earth, New Jerusalem

At the end of the day of the Lord, God will destroy this sin-stained universe and create a brand new heaven and Earth, suitable for containing the throne of God and the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. All memory and evidence of sin will be wiped away, so that our Holy God can dwell among us and walk with us as He did with Adam before the curses of Gen. 3.

John 14:3; Revelation 21

IV. Our Personal Responsibilities with Regard to the Second Coming of Christ

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should. . .” (Titus 2:11–12).

A. “. . . live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

Zephaniah 2:3; Isaiah 57:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 9; Matthew 24:48–51; Luke 12:45–47; Luke 21:34–36; 2 Timothy 4:8

B. “. . . Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. . .”

Curiously, the scriptural admonitions to watch for our Lord are more numerous and more strongly worded than the associated admonitions to live righteously. The commandments to watch for the return of Christ are stated in several different ways.

1. WATCH!: Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:33, 35, 37: Luke 21:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Revelation 3:3; 16:15
2. BE READY: Matthew 24:44; Luke 12:40
3. KNOW (it is nigh): Mark 13:29; Luke 21:31
4. LOOK UP: Luke 21:28
5. TAKE HEED (lest it come upon you unawares): Luke 21:34
6. LOOKING (for): Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:12

The primary event that the present church should be watching for is, of course, the prewrath rapture. Many have done this injudiciously in the past, having widely published a particular rapture date on inconclusive evidence, only to embarrass themselves and sometimes have even brought reproach and ridicule upon the cause of Christ. While our Lord certainly has the option of revealing the exact day and hour of the prewrath rapture (see 1 Thes. 5:4 and Rev. 3:3), and probably will, we must beware of date setters.