Good News, Wonderful Promise, and a Lifesaving Message

1. The good news

If Christ's followers were to die eternally after suffering so much pain, humiliation, and deception, there would be no difference between wicked and righteous. Life itself on earth would be miserable, hopelessness, and senseless. Fortunately that is not the case. Jesus, our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer "will come back to take us to be with him that we also may be where he is" (John 14:3). His glorious appearing will heal our hearts, and deliver us from sin. His return will not be in secret (Matthew 24:25-30), that means every eyes will see him (Revelation 1:7); he will come as a real person (Acts 1:10-11).

2. Wonderful promise

Although no one knows about the exact time of Jesus' return (Matthew 24:36), his promise to his followers is accurate, certain, and truthful. He will come back to take the righteous with him, meaning "he will bring salvation to those who are waiting for him" (Hebrews 9:28). In fact, in order to believe in this promise it is necessary to understand what is going to happen at Christ's second coming.

At Jesus' return the righteous dead (dead in Christ) who sleep in their graves will rise (John 5:28, 29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16). They will be caught up together with the righteous living in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). They will be with him for 1,000 years in His Father's house (See John 14:1-3; 1 Peter 1:4; Colossians 1:5; Revelation 20:22). The wicked folks who are still alive at Jesus' second coming will be dead (Revelation 6:16).

3. The message

Jesus' message to his followers is an appeal of confident and faith. He asked them to trust in God, in Him as well (John 14:1). To those who are suffering, scared, depressed, and forsaken His words to them are, "do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me". What a powerful message!

4. The good news is a wonderful promise, and a lifesaving message

The second coming of Christ is good news, for it is an event we, believers, are waiting for. What about you brothers and sisters who are ignorant of the truth? I am urging you not follow the example of folks in Noah's days who "were eating, drinking, marrying and being married up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the son of man is revealed" (Luke 17:26-30).

The good news is also a promise, for it is the basic for our redemption and salvation; it is a wonderful message because it will save our lives. So let receive that good news, live that promise, and understand that message to be saved.