Interesting Questions-45
"How near really is the day of Judgment?"
Letter to the Editor:
PASUGO, January 1996, p.3
ONE PARTICULAR TEACHING that keeps troubling me up
to now is on Judgment Day which will be on Christ's second coming.
Hadn't Christ already mentioned to His apostles when he was still
here on earth that the day of Judgment was near?
How come, as I listen to your ministers preach, I
hear the same—that the day of Judgment is near? How near
really is Judgment Day? It was already near ages
ago.
Carlos Vasquez
Manila, Philippines
Editor's reply:
When our Lord Jesus Christ told His apostles that
His second coming was near, He qualified His statement by saying:
".. .when you see all these things, know that it
is near, at the very doors" (Mt. 24:33, New King
James Version)
What are these things that the Savior was
referring to, which, when they would have taken place, indicate that
the day of judgment is near? The Lord Jesus Christ explained, thus:
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See
that you are not troubled-for all these things must come to pass,
but the end is not yet.
"For nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines,
pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
'All these art the beginning of sorrows"
(Mt. 24:6-8, Ibid.)
All of these signs mentioned by the Lord
Jesus Christ have already taken place and continue to happen in
fulfillment of the Savior's prophesies. Therefore
the day of judgment is very near because it is in these last days
that "these things" prophesied by Christ have been fulfilled.
However, no one knows the exact
date when Judgment Day will take place, no one, not
even Christ but only the Father (cf. Mt. 24:36).
No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven don't know, and
the Son himself doesn't know. Only
the Father knows. (Mt. 24:36, Contemporary English Version)
Hence, the Savior warned us to be ready,
for He is coming at an hour when no one expects Him (cf. Mt. 24:44).
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour
you do not expect. (Mt. 24:44, NKJV)
You are right in saying we must ready ourselves
for that day. But how must we prepare for Christ's second coming?
Apostle Paul was very clear on the matter:
And so, my friends, as you wait
for that Day, do your best to be pure and faultless in God's sight
and to be at peace with him" (II Peter 3:14,
Today's English Version)
But where can one find this peace?
This peace can be found in the one body,
the Church of which Christ is the head (cf. Col. 3:15; 1:18).
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were
called in one body; and be thankful. (Col. 3:15, NKJV)
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the
preeminence. (Col. 1:18, NKJV)
This Church is the Church o f Christ which
was redeemed, by the Savior's own blood (Acts 20:28, Lamsa)
Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which
the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of
Christ which he has purchased with his blood. (Acts 20:28, Lamsa)
Those who have become members of the Church or
parts of the body are very certain that on Judgment Day they will
not be condemned (cf. Rom 12:4-5: Rom. 8:1).
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not
have the same function, 5 so
we, being many,
are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
(Rom. 12:4-5, NKJV)
There is therefore
now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who
do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
(Rom. 8:1, NKJV)
Thus, to prepare oneself for the day of Judgment
he must join the Church of Christ and endure to the end (cf. Mt.
24:13).
But
he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Mt. 24:13, NKJV)
___________________
Note:
Verses in smaller font
were added for clarity. Emphasis ours.
Bible Study
Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free
to visit the
Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or
an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question
you have in mind.