How Soon Is the Imminent Coming of Jesus Christ

10/26/2019 Christianity 12 Comments

From the things that are observable in nature, like the seasons, we are being forewarned of certain eventualities. Each season is an indicator of what is to come.

So if you want to find out when the Lord Jesus Christ is coming, you can also refer to the seasons and you will be provided with clear signs.

MATTHEW 24:32-33 (KJV) says,


The seasons give signs. So it is important that we are able to read and understand the signs they reveal.

For instance, in the Philippines, a certain fruit-bearing tree called “siniguelas” grows. If you want to find out when the “siniguelas” tree is going to bear fruits, you have to be observant to the changes that take place in the tree. The first sign that you will see is that, the tree is shedding its leaves. When the tree has practically become bare of leaves, later on, it will grow flowers which will wither after a certain period of time. And once the flowers have completely dried, the fruits will appear.

In countries that experience the four seasons, people also see signs given by nature which tell them the imminence of a particular season.

For instance, before winter comes, the leaves of trees change their colors; from green, they turn to yellow and brown. After some time, they wither and fall. In other words, the fall season signals the commencement of another season which is winter. And after winter comes spring, wherein the sprouting of new leaves is one of the signs to be seen; and after spring comes summer.

The same principle applies to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. When He is about to come, we are not only to observe signs in nature but also take note of the things that are happening around us. Christ cited specific occurrences that will surely happen and that will surely not slip our attention. And once we see them, we are to understand that those are signals of His coming.

What are those?

MATTHEW 24:6-8 (KJV) says,


The Lord provided us with many signs like wars and rumors of wars, conflicts among nations and kingdoms, famines, and pestilences that would infect humans and animals.

And all these things are already happening in this dispensation although, perhaps, not at peak levels as of yet, but nonetheless, we are witnessing how these things are now being realized.

Today, humans are exposed to different kinds of pestilences that are fatal to mankind. For example, there are now diseases that come from animals like the avian flu; there is also the Ebola virus which originated in Africa. And according to scientists, the Ebola virus came from the blood of bats, and this virus was acquired because some Africans eat bats.

Aside from those, there is also Hepatitis B, C, and D, AIDS, and many more.

Other signs include famine, earthquakes in diverse places, and the uprising of nations against other nations.

And since we are now seeing how these events happen in our time, we can say that His coming wouldn’t take very long.

Inasmuch as we have been foretold of the signs of His coming, as conscientious Christians, we need to see to it that before that day comes, we have made the necessary preparations. Make sure that you have done everything that you need to do in order to be assured of your salvation. Make sure that you spend your life in service to God.

ECCLESIASTES 12:1 (KJV) says,


It is best that you start serving God while you are still young. Abide by His will; follow His commandments.

ECCLESIASTES 12:13 (KJV) says,


Develop fear in God and obedience to His commandments. Actually, the only service that you can render to God is by following His commandments. And it is in your fulfillment of His commandments that you will merit salvation.

ECCLESIASTES 12:14 (KJV) says,


God will judge humanity. He has an appointed time for it; it is inevitable. So, if you care about your salvation, serve God; and serving God means obeying His commandments. If you are spending your life in service to God, if you are abiding by His words, you have a very great chance to salvation.

Feeling Hopeless? Pray for Divine Providence

10/19/2019 Christianity 18 Comments

A person who experiences a deep feeling of hopelessness because he can't find a solution to his problems, or because he can't cope with the predicaments he is going through thinks that taking his own life or committing suicide is the only way to get out of the situation.

As the number of suicide cases everywhere in the world keeps on increasing, one couldn’t help but worry. One of the main worries of many people is focused on the inevitable consequence of committing suicide. They want to find out if there is still forgiveness that awaits the suicides, or if they still have a chance to salvation, or if they are already doomed to suffer in hell eternally.

If you were to ask me about what lies ahead for those who committed suicide, I’m sorry but I am not in the position to pass judgment on them. In the first place, I do not know them; I do not know what ran in their minds; I do not know the circumstances that they went through; I practically do not know anything about them. But more importantly, the Bible does not give me any right to pass judgment on them; instead, the Bible has prohibited the true Church of God to judge those who are outside its jurisdiction.

1 CORINTHIANS 5:13 (KJV) says,


It is God who judges those who are outside the Church of God, according to the Bible. So, we better entrust the lot of the suicides to God’s judgment.

If a person who committed a questionable act, for example, happens to be a member of the Church of God I would be able to come up with a prudent decision or judgment about his case because, we, in the Church, have a record of the brethren’s obedience to Christ’s doctrines, like their attendance in our congregational gatherings and how they live their lives.

Among the members of the Church of God, there exists genuine care for each other. If they disobey the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, if they lead wayward lives, they are reported to the Church administration. And if anyone has been reported for his disobedience or wrongdoing, his attention is immediately called upon. This is not to make him a subject of ridicule and gossip, but for him to be corrected or be given disciplinary action if needed. This is because we do not want any of the brethren to go astray or to continue doing things which are against the will of God.

If there is no complaint made about a particular member, it means that member is faithfully abiding by the doctrines of Christ. And if I say that he has a great chance to salvation, I would not be violating the word of God inasmuch as he is one of us in the Church; he is not an outsider.

Whenever a member airs a complaint, or an accusation, against another member, the Church administration deals with it in accordance with the provision in the Bible.

1 TIMOTHY 5:19 (KJV) says,


Plain accusation is not enough. The complaint or the accusation should be attested by, at least, two or three witnesses.

Actually, there are brethren who have been in the Church for a long time and still, nothing negative has been reported about them.

TITUS 1:6-7 (KJV) says,


There are members who do not transgress the law of Christ. As a result, they have never become subject to any disciplinary action.

Why am I mentioning this? This is just to show you that, in the Church of God, we judge only those who are among us. We are able to pass judgment on our erring brothers and sisters because we have a basis in doing so. We always base our decision on both documentary and testimonial evidences. But we do not do that to those who are outside the Church of God because, according to the Bible, it is God that judges them.

This is the reason why I cannot give a categorical answer as to whether a person who committed suicide could still be forgiven and be saved, or if he is already condemned because he is not a part of our organization.

The brethren in the Church of God are well-taught about the essence of life and the ultimate purpose of human existence. Also, instilled in their hearts is the fear in God. That is why I can boldly claim that no faithful member of this organization would ever think about taking his own life, no matter how great the odds are. Our brethren may be poor in terms of material things but they are full of hope.

As we know, suicide stems from a strong feeling of hopelessness, just like what was experienced by Judas Iscariot. Seeing himself in a very hopeless situation after betraying the Lord Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot hanged himself.

The Bible has a record of people who committed suicide due to hopelessness because of their disobedience to God. Aside from Judas Iscariot, Saul, the king of Israel, also committed suicide after God had condemned him for being rebellious.

Biblical accounts show us that the people who committed suicide were all evil and disobedient to God.

But if you will obey God, you will never get depressed, you’ll never lose hope, and you’ll never ever contemplate about committing suicide.

As long as a person lives, it is but natural that he experiences failures and problems that are sometimes depressing. However, God is teaching us a way on how to deal with our day to day worries and troubles.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 (KJV) says,


Do not be depressed; do not be anxious about anything. All you have to do is pray, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

With this very comforting biblical pronouncement, how will you ever think of killing yourself? Although depression is said to be one of the risk factors to suicide, prayers could counter that risk. Prayers could be our potent antidote to depression; and prayers could thwart suicidal thoughts.

I hope you understand why I do not want to judge those who committed suicide. It is because God forbids us to judge those who are outside the Church of God.

We are not like the church of Manalo which has condemned all of those who are outside their church. The former leader of that church, Eraño Manalo, had come up with declarations such as there is no salvation outside their church, and that those who are outside their church will never be heirs of heaven because they are already sentenced to suffer in the lake of fire.


That particular pronouncement was also reflected in an article written by Eduardo Manalo in their official publication, Pasugo, June 1976, page 9) where he also said that those who are outside their church will not be saved.

 
To pass judgment even to those who are outside your jurisdiction manifests gross cruelty and is an outright defiance to the word of God.

Actually, the church of Manalo has also accused the Catholic Church and the different Protestant churches to be of satan.


I refuse to judge those who are outside the Church because it is God who would judge them.

I want to reiterate that, in the Bible, those who committed suicide were all in a state of hopelessness and they were all disobedient to God. But if you are obedient to God, you will never lose hope.

Follow the prescription of the Bible. Whenever problems beleaguer you, all you have to do is pray to God and He will give you peace. Never make suicide an option. Entrust your cares and worries to God; you can always count on Him.

When you feel that everyone else misunderstands you and nobody cares for you, do not forget there is God who always cares and understands. Just never fail to implore Divine Providence. AMEN.

Behind Every Answered and Unanswered Prayer Is a Loving God

10/12/2019 Christianity 20 Comments

Every person who prays and makes a request to God definitely wants his prayers to be answered and his request to be granted at the soonest time possible. But that does not happen all the time. While it is true that some prayers are readily granted, there are also prayers that are not granted at all, and sometimes, if granted, it takes a while before the person receives it. But what could be the reasons behind these?

First of all, you have to understand that there is always a valid reason why God does not instantly grant the prayers and requests of a person. God’s response to prayers sometimes depends on the person making it – if he is upright, or if he is wicked. One thing is for sure, God does not listen to the prayers of a wicked man.

Consider what PROVERBS 15:8 (KJV) says,


God is delighted with the prayers of the upright, and we can be assured that He listens to his prayers.

1 JOHN 5:14 (KJV) says,


God listens to the prayers of the upright especially so if what he asks for is something that is in accordance to His will.

On the other hand, what does the Bible say if the one making the request, or if the one praying, is wicked or an evildoer?

1 PETER 3:10-12 (KJV) says,


God admonishes people to be upright, to do righteousness, to do good deeds, and to speak without guile. Even a person’s tongue should be disciplined because the tongue that we use in speaking is the very tongue that we use in praying.

If the person praying is somebody who deliberately does evil things and intentionally defies the word of God, even if he keeps on praying, God will never listen to him. God is not deaf but He has a way of evading the prayers of the wicked; He has a way so that their prayers would not reach His ears.

LAMENTATIONS 3:44 (KJV) says,


God covers Himself with clouds in such a way that the prayers of the wicked would not be able to pass through, because their prayers are an annoyance to Him.

JOHN 9:31 (KJV) says,


However, we have to realize also that, there are times that God does not answer even the prayers of a righteous person. Why?

JAMES 4:3 (KJV) says,


Do not forget, God is love. So, if He sees that what you are asking for is something which will do you harm, or if it is something which will make you indulge in worldly pleasures, He will not give it to you. And you have to understand that it is His love for you that prompted Him not to give you what you want, because He doesn’t want you to go amiss or to fall to sinfulness.

Just like a loving parent who would not yield to the request for a blade of his three-year-old child, even if he keeps on crying, because playing with blades could wound him; and neither would a parent give his child a cigarette lighter or match to play on because that could cause fire.

God is like that. If He sees that what you are praying for will do you good, He will surely grant it; but if what you are asking for will do you harm, or will lead you to destruction, He will never give it to you even if you repeatedly pray for it.

MATTHEW 7:9-11 (KJV) says,


Keep in mind, God gives nothing but good things; He doesn’t give bad things, or things that will pose danger to His children. If an ordinary parent would not give his child stone when he asks for bread, or serpent when he asks for fish, how much more is our Father in heaven who knows and is capable of giving what is best for us, His children.

If an ordinary parent, despite his limitations, would not give his children anything that will compromise their safety and protection, all the more is our Father in heaven who cares not only for our physical welfare but most especially for our spiritual well-beings.

If we will only put ourselves in the position of God, we will come to understand the reasons why God does not grant all the prayers of men, or why we need to wait long before we get answers to our prayers.

In addition, God observes perfect timing in granting our prayers. God gives us what we need at its perfect time. When He sees that the right time has come for you to have it, He will give it to you even if you don’t ask for it.

PROVERBS 19:14 (KJV) says,


If you are righteous, and when God sees that the right time has come for you to have a spouse, He will give it to you even if you do not pray for it. Just like what He did to Adam. Adam did not ask for a wife; in fact, he did not have any idea about woman because there was no other human being in the Garden of Eden that time. But when God saw that he already needed a companion and helpmate, God gave him Eve.

GENESIS 2:18 (KJV) says,


Upon seeing the situation of Adam, what did God do?

GENESIS 2:21-23 (KJV) says,


God gives what we need at the right time. Remember Adam was not given a woman at once. God made him realize first the would-be importance of a woman to his life. For a long time, his companions were only the different kinds of animals, birds, etc. And none of them could be of personal help to him. For instance, when his back got itchy, he had nobody to scratch it for him. If he would let the tiger or the lion scratch his back, he would end up wounded and bleeding because both of them had sharp claws. So, God gave him a helpmate, a wife, even if he did not ask for it.

EPHESIANS 3:20 (KJV) says,


God gives even the things that we do not even think of, even the things that we do not ask for, if He sees our need for them. I have experienced this many times in my life. God has given me lots of things which I did not ask for and things which I did not even think of. For example, I did not pray to God to give me grandchildren. In fact, I did not even think that there will come a time in my life that I will need grandchildren. But at His perfect time, God gave them to me, and they now serve as my source of joy now that I am quite old.

At this point, I have realized the importance of grandchildren to elderly people like me. At my age, I feel pain in my joints, in my knees especially, that is why I have difficulty in rising again after our congregational prayer. But because God had seen that I would need the assistance of my grandchildren in my senior years, now I have a grandson who immediately comes to my aid every time he sees me struggling to rise after our congregational prayer. He never fails to assist me in standing up again. And I am very thankful to God for giving me wonderful grandchildren even if I did not ask for them.

Always remember, God has His reasons for granting, for not immediately granting, and even for not granting at all, our prayers. He knows what is best for us.

Probing on the Existence of the Lord Jesus Christ

10/05/2019 Christianity 15 Comments

I really find it ironic and absurd that there are people who profess to be affiliated with religious organizations that claim to be Christians and yet they remain to be in doubt as to whether the Lord Jesus Christ really existed or not. I really wonder why despite their membership to those churches which also use the Bible, their uncertainty about Christ’s actual existence has not been dispelled yet.

As far as I am concerned, I have more than enough reasons to believe the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only the stupid atheists and agnostics question the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ has already been in existence even before the creation of the world, and He exists up to now. Before everything else started to exist, Christ already existed with the Father. He taught it, and it is proven by the words of God in the Bible.

JOHN 8:56-58 (KJV) says,


In the ‘An American Translation’, verse 58 has been rendered as: “Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you, I existed before Abraham was born!’”

That is why we can say that preachers today who teach their members that Christ’s existence began only when He was born of Mary are grossly mistaken. That is a proof of their lack of understanding of the word of God in the Bible.

Remember, there is no other person who existed with the Father in eternity but Christ.

MICAH 5:2 (KJV) says,


According to the prophet Micah, He came from everlasting. And this is supported by another verse.

In Proverbs 8:22 (KJV), the wisdom of God said, “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.”

The beginning of the way of the Lord is in eternity. The “wisdom” existed with the Lord in eternity. Who is this “wisdom” that existed with God in the beginning of his way, before his works of old?

1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-8 (KJV) says,


The “wisdom” that the Apostle Paul was referring to was the Lord of glory and the Lord that was crucified, who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:24 (KJV) says,


In the Old Testament, Christ was called as “the wisdom of God.” He is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Please take note of the definite article “the” that was used which implies that there is no other “wisdom” in the Bible that existed with God in eternity except the Lord Jesus Christ. He is called “the wisdom of God.”

Luke 11:49 (KJV) further proves that the wisdom of God is the Lord Jesus Christ.


The Lord Jesus Christ existed in eternity; He does exist until now. And His existence will be until forever. As written in Revelation 1:17-18 (KJV),


When John saw God, He told him, “. . . I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,”

What I have cited are but some of the verses from the Scriptures that prove the perpetual existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, apart from the biblical bases, we also have other evidences that would prove the Lord Jesus Christ’s existence. One of which is a particular account in the annals of Roman history.

Roman historian, Tacitus, recounted something there where he made reference to Christ, Tiberius Caesar, and Pontius Pilate.


According to this information, there was a group of people, called Christians, the followers of Christ, on whom Emperor Nero inflicted the most exquisite tortures. While Christ (or Christus), on the other hand, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of Pontius Pilate. This implies that the Roman society acknowledged the existence of a community of Christians during that time, when Rome was still very powerful.

Aside from that historical record, we also have physical evidences that prove the existence of the other persons that were mentioned in the annals – Tiberius Caesar and Pontius Pilate.

When the Lord Jesus Christ was born, the emperor of Rome then was Augustus Caesar who reigned from 31 BC to 14 AD. Eventually, he was succeeded by Tiberius Caesar who reigned from 14 AD to 37 AD. These two Caesars – Augustus and Tiberius – were the ones in power during the lifetime of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

And archeological discoveries confirm the existence of these Roman emperors.

Coins that bore their images had been unearthed and are now kept in museums. They are the very coin mentioned in the Bible when the Pharisees were trying to entrap the Lord Jesus Christ in order to find a ground for His death under the Roman government.


This is recorded in Matthew 22:17-21 (KJV), which says,


The story mentions of a coin wherein the image of Caesar, either Augustus or Tiberius, is in the inscription. As mentioned earlier, samples of these coins had been found. I, myself, also have a coin in my library that bore the image of Tiberius Caesar and another coin that has the image of Augustus Caesar.

About the procurator of the Roman Empire, Pontius Pilate, we also have physical evidence that confirms his existence.

In 1961, a limestone was discovered, and the text that was inscribed in it included the names of Tiberius Caesar and Pontius Pilate.


Obviously, the limestone that was discovered by this Italian archeologist was made under the instruction of Pontius Pilate. Probably, it was made in Pilate’s desire to please his emperor, because inscribed in it was a dedication to Tiberius Caesar.

All these prove the authenticity and truthfulness of biblical accounts, specifically the ones concerning the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and even the references made to certain personalities like the Roman emperors – Augustus and Tiberius, and the procurator Pontius Pilate as they are also backed up physical evidences and historical accounts.

And I do not believe that Roman historians would connive and invent a story about Christ whom the Roman Empire put to death. The existence of Christ and the group that He led 2000 years ago, called Christians, are some facts that Roman history couldn’t hide because they had been documented and were made part of their annals.

Indeed, biblical accounts, historical records and archeological discoveries are more than sufficient to cast all doubts about the existence of Christ. Christ existed in eternity with the Father, He exists now, and He will exist until forever. AMEN.