Many preachers today preach saying "Jesus can come at any moment. He could come before the end of this service. He could come tomorrow." That is tantamount to saying "The day of Christ is at hand! It could be today. It could be tomorrow. We just don't know."
What does the bible say about this?
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
The bible says don't let anybody trouble you by saying the day of Christ is at hand!
Do you know what it says right after verse 2?
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
It says that day WILL NOT come UNTIL two things happen. First there is a falling away. And second, the man of sin be revealed.
And, a good Baptist will say Amen! Amen! There has been a falling away! It could be at any moment!
Good Baptists tend to stop short when they read things. That says that day shall not come until the man of sin be revealed. So, ok... who is this man that has been revealed? If you can't tell me who the man of sin is then the day of Christ is not at hand.
And, not only that but, the man of sin reveals himself by going into the temple, sitting down and proclaiming himself God.
Problem: The temple has not been built, yet.
The Day of Christ is NOT at hand... not at least until there's a temple. Then, we can start talking.
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