WHEN OUR LORD RETURNS!

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES WITH BOB Newsletter 287 March 18, 2012 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Mark 13:24-37 King James Version (KJV) This portion of the Mark’s Gospel is so filled with wonder, that I have decided to depart from following the reading guide for the next three weeks so that I can open with the resurrection just before Resurrection Sunday. Last week we dealt with the Tribulation era, which seems to be with us now, but, will end when the Lord comes to the rescue of His own. Today, we read of what we can expect when that day arrives. Some things we do not know, but of this we can be certain. He is coming, and He has told us what will happen on that day. THE VERY UNIVERSE SHALL BE SHAKEN He starts with the words, “those days, after the tribulation.” These next two verses tell of the shaking of the very universe, not only the earth, but the whole of His creation. Genesis tells us that He spoke, “and it was so.” He not only created all, but all shall also suffer at His word. First, the sun will be darkened, and since the moon is lighted by reflected sun light, it too will disappear, along with all the heavenly bodies that merely reflect the sun’s light. Only those that generate their own light will remain, or will they? He does not say. The balance of the universe, held together by God’s power, will be shaken when He permits comets and other heavenly bodies to crash into one another upsetting the perfect balance that now exists. 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. THEN ALL SHALL REALIZE THE POWER OF THE LORD 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Only the great power of the creator can set things right again. That is the Son of God we know as Jesus. (John 1:1-2) Here He is called the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. They will gather the saved from all the earth, even those who may be circling earth in space craft or aircraft, passenger and crew alike. NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHEN THIS SHALL HAPPEN But, he has told us that we can judge by the signs, and the world is filled with signs. At the present time, we enjoy the flowering trees, and soon the flower beds will be filled with blossoms. We know Summer is near when we see this. All about us we see the struggles of a tired, neglected, and abused world. It is time to bolster our faith and be diligent in His work, that He may find us working when he comes. 28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. Last Sunday early evening, I fell asleep and the result was that the first hymn was being sung as we entered the door of the church we attend in the evenings. I would not have missed that for anything. One after another every hymn was one we knew and loved. We don’t want to miss anything God has for us! Why not? Because He loves us and has prepared the best for us like his father did for his prodigal son. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. ________ READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2012 MARCH 18th. Sunday – Numbers 5, 6, Luke 2:21-40, Psalm 35:1-10 19th. Monday – Numbers 7, Luke 2:41-52, Psalm 35:11-18 20th. Tuesday - Numbers 8, 9, 10, Luke 3:1-17, Psalm 35:19-28 21st. Wednesday - Numbers 11, 12, 13, Luke 3:18-38, Proverbs 7:21-27 22nd. Thursday - Numbers 14, 15, Luke 4:1-22, Psalm 36 23rd. Friday – Numbers 16, 17, Luke 4:23-44, Psalm 37:1-9 24th. Saturday - Numbers 18, 19, 20, Luke 5:1-17, Psalm 37:10-20 __________ OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS (With links to 813 titles) Ctrl/click to follow these links http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com Our weekly Bible Letter http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com Biographical, with photos http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com Questions and discussions http://scripturegems.blogspot.com Favorite Scripture Quotation http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com Representing 70 world languages http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com Short Bible studies http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com Several pages in length http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com Portions of Phyllis’nine published books __________ THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE “Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ , the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” – Mark 14:61-62 __________ http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 Humor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Watch What You Order! A timid soul who dropped into a cheap hash house one day because his usual eating place was crowded. He sat down and waited for service. He waited and waited and waited some more. Finally, he signaled the waiter who came over and asked roughly, "Yeah, whadda 'ya want?" The timid soul murmured, "Boiled eggs and toast, please." About a half-hour later the waiter slammed the eggs down in front of him and snarled, "Is there anything else, buddy?" "Yes", said the timid soul, "a few kind words." The waiter's eyes narrowed as he looked around. Then, leaning over, he whispered, "OK, don't eat the eggs!" (From "Corn Kernels, Drumsticks And God's Kindness)