In the last days, it is our greatest hope to receive the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. To help all the people who yearn for God’s appearance to welcome the return of the Lord Jesus Christ soon, our blog will update the latest message on the return of the Lord.
After supper, Chen Engui was reading the Bible in the living room while his daughter-in-law, Li Huijuan and his wife, Wang Guizhi were clearing the dishes together.
Chen Weimin said thoughtfully, “Dad, I have been thinking about a question these last few days.”
Chen Engui asked with great interest, “Oh, what’s the question? Let me hear it.”
Chen Weimin said, “Several days ago, when attending the Bible study, I saw Revelation 3:12 says: “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write on him my new name.” From this verse, I saw that when the Lord returns in the last days, He will have a new name. So these days I have consulted the Bible and sought quite a few co-workers. I think that when the Lord comes again, He will not be called Jesus.”
Now, various disasters are happening one after another and spreading across larger and larger areas. Do you feel helpless, so that you constantly call on the Lord for protection? But have you ever thought: Could the reason God allows disasters to happen simply be because He wishes for us to call on Him and ask Him for His protection? Just what is God’s intention? How can we obtain God’s protection when disasters strike?
We believers in the Lord all know that only God has the eternal way of eternal life. The Lord Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). In the Book of Revelation, it was also said that: “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5). Eternal life means to live forever, to never taste death. From these verses, we can see that only God has eternal life, only God is the source of life of us human beings, and only God has the way of eternal life. If we find God, we find the source of life, and only then will we truly gain the way of eternal life and never be afraid of the threat of death.
Chen Zhong began to believe in the Lord when he was a child. When attending meetings, he often heard pastors say: “‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…. (2 Timothy 4:7–8). Brothers and sisters! When we believe in the Lord, as long as we work hard and give up all to follow the Lord, then there will be a crown of righteousness in store for us. When the Lord comes, we’ll be raptured to the kingdom of heaven.” From then on, Chen Zhong made up his mind: I will follow the Lord all my life, I will labor for the Lord, preach the gospel, and testify the Lord in all places when I grow up.
After growing up, Chen Zhong became an excellent preacher. He ran through wind and rain, preaching in all places and shepherding the church no matter if it was bitter cold or scorching heat. He even gave up his family and marriage. He dedicated all to the Lord, deeply believing that only by doing so could he be raptured to the kingdom of heaven when the Lord comes. However, every time he saw the words of the Lord Jesus: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22–23). He felt very puzzled: When I was a child, pastors often told us that we could be raptured to the kingdom of heaven as long as we labored for the Lord. Paul also said: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness….” (2Ti 4:7–8). But from the Lord Jesus’ words, it can be seen that He did not approve those who did work in His name, but even called them evil-doers. Why is that? Cheng Zhong thought it over and over, but couldn’t figure it out.
One day in a co-worker meeting, Chen Zhong said: “My fellow co-workers, I have one question that has puzzled me for a long time. Lately, I have been reflecting: Are we truly obeying the will of the heavenly Father by preaching and laboring for the Lord in all places? Can we be raptured to the kingdom of heaven by doing so? I want to hear your views on this matter by this opportunity.” Several co-workers looked at each other, and started talking at once.
Co-worker Li said: “There is nothing to worry about. Paul said: ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness….’ (2Ti 4:7–8). I believe that as long as we work hard, and suffer and spend for Lord in accordance with the words of Paul, we will surely be raptured to the kingdom of heaven when the Lord comes back. I don’t think there is anything questionable!”
After hearing co-worker Li’s words, Hao Aiguang said with a frown: “In the Bible, Paul did say so. Throughout these years, we also worked hard, suffered, and spent for the Lord according to Paul’s words. And, we believe that as long as we act like this, we will surely be taken into the kingdom of heaven by the Lord. However, I have some confusion lately. I feel that we may not necessarily receive the Lord’s approval by seeking according to Paul’s view. For I saw the Lord Jesus’ words said: ‘Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity’ (Mat 7:22–23). Those who preached, cast out devils, and did wonderful works in the Lord’s name were surely people who labored. But the Lord Jesus clearly said that they were evil-doers and would be forsaken by Him. This shows that working hard simply doesn’t mean that we can gain the Lord’s approval. But Paul thought that as long as he toiled and worked hard for the Lord, then he could enter into God’s kingdom. I think Paul’s words are different from the Lord Jesus’ and not accordant with the Lord Jesus’ teachings. On such an important matter of entering the kingdom of heaven, we should consider it according to the Lord Jesus’ word for He is the King of the kingdom of heaven. No matter whose words they are, if they are not accordant with the Lord’s words or teachings, we should have discernment and should not listen to them blindly. Otherwise, we will easily resist God, offend God’s disposition, and be forsaken by God!”
Several co-workers nodded in agreement, co-worker Li looked a little ashamed.
Co-worker Zheng said approvingly: “Right, the Lord’s word is the standard of what kind of man can enter the kingdom of heaven. We indeed should measure it according to the word of the Lord Jesus! Actually, the question asked by brother Chen also has puzzled me for a long time. God said: ‘Be you holy; for I am holy’ (1 Peter 1:16). The Bible also said, ‘and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord’ (Hebrews 12:14). We have worked for the Lord for years, but we still often sin and confess, even cannot stop telling lies. There is so much filth and corruption within me. All my thoughts are evil and none of them is compatible with God. Sometimes, when brothers and sisters are not to our liking, we would express disdain and aversion, without forbearance and patience. When something that does not match our notions happens, we still can complain and misinterpret God. Moreover, we even crave the world and follow the trends of the evil world. When the Lord comes back, can we be raptured to the kingdom of heaven? What will we do if we are forsaken by the Lord? We really need to think about it very carefully.”
Co-worker Li flung his arms open with an incredible look, saying: “How can the Lord forsake us? Though we still have sin and also haven’t reached holiness, our sins have been forgiven by the Lord and we have been saved. Besides, we have worked for the Lord so many years and have suffered so much. The Lord should give us credit for hard work, if not for good work. How can the Lord not commend us?”
Hao Aiguang refuted: “It is a fact that the Lord has forgiven our sins and allowed us to come before Him to enjoy His grace. But on the matter of entering the kingdom of heaven, He never said that ones whose sins were forgiven could enter the kingdom of heaven, nor did he say that whoever labored for Him could enter the kingdom of heaven. On the contrary, the Lord clearly told man: ‘but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.’ The Lord Jesus also said, ‘Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant stays not in the house for ever: but the Son stays ever” (John 8:34–35). The Lord is holy. We are such impure and corrupt men, how can we have the qualification to be raptured to the kingdom of heaven?”
Co-worker Zheng replied quickly: “Thank the Lord! Co-worker Hao’s fellowship is reasonable. This word is enlightening. I remember it is written in the Bible: ‘For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries’ (Heb 10:26–27). The Lord is righteous. We can work hard for the Lord, but we still often sin and confess, and always cannot put the Lord’s words into practice. We indeed have no qualification to enter the kingdom of heaven.”
After hearing the fellowship of brothers and sisters, Chen Zhong understood a little, but he still had some confusion.
Chen Zhong opened his heart and fellowshiped: “After hearing what you said, I do understand a lot. ‘Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.’ These are words of the Lord. We should pursue according to the Lord’s requirement, and there is no doubt about it. But I have one confusion: We give up our families and professions, sacrifice our youth and marriage and labor for the Lord year after year, isn’t it doing the will of the heavenly Father? I am a bit confused, so I want to hear your fellowship.”
Hao Aiguang replied mildly: “For a long time, we have thought that as long as we give up everything and work hard for the Lord, we are doing the will of the heavenly Father. But why the Lord Jesus said these words: ‘I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity’ (Mat 7:23). Outwardly, we have done a lot of work, but in our heart, we don’t love and obey the Lord at all. How can we be the people doing the will of the heavenly Father? In fact, many of us only focus on religious rituals and rules. They do not seek the Lord’s will and the truths, and not focus on practicing the Lord’s words. They always act according to their own will and their personal likes. All these are not doing the will of the heavenly Father. Just like the Pharisees at that time, they gave up everything, toiled and labored, and traveled over land and sea spreading the gospel. But what they did was not for loving and obeying God, not for leading man to follow God’s way and worship God, and not even for lifting up God and bearing witness for God. Instead, they exalted themselves and testified to themselves, drew man to come before themselves, and let man worship and look up to themselves. What they did was full of their intentions and purposes, was for satisfying their ambitions and desires. Their toiling and laboring doesn’t bring them into the kingdom of heaven. On the contrary, it brought them to God’s righteous judgment.”
“Right!” agreed co-worker Zheng, “The Pharisees made sacrifices and endured hardships outwardly, but they still could resist and condemn God, and also could unite the Roman government to crucify the Lord Jesus. This is enough to show that external sacrifices and hardships doesn’t mean we are doing the will of the heavenly Father, doesn’t mean we are able to know God and obey Him! Similarly, today we work hard and make sacrifices outwardly, but we still often sin and resist God. We are not people who obey and fear God, then how can we be called people doing the will of the heavenly Father? How are we qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven?”
Hao Aiguang nodded and continued: “The Lord Jesus said: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment’ (Mat 22:37–38). I think the right way of doing the will of the heavenly father is to seek to love the Lord with our whole heart and mind. We are able to practice and experience God’s words, to work according to the requirement of the Lord, to lift the Lord and bear testimony to God in all things when we do our duties, and finally to truly obey the Lord. Acting like this is really doing the will of the heavenly Father, only those doing so are qualified to enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
“Right!” agreed one co-worker. “Doing the will of the heavenly Father does not simply mean making sacrifices and enduring hardships outwardly. What’s more important is that we can practice the way of fearing God and shunning evil. We can maintain a heart of obeying God, care for the Lord’s heart, not fuss over our own losses and gains, and fulfill the commission of the Lord with all our heart and strength. When something happens at odds with our conceptions, we are able to seek the Lord’s will, to obey and satisfy God, no matter what kind of trial we meet. Only by doing so can we deserve to enter into God’s kingdom.”
After hearing that, Chen Zhong nodded and said: “what you said let me think of those apostles and prophets throughout ages: Peter sought to love and satisfy God, and focused on practicing the Lord’s words all his life. He could endure all suffering for loving God, finally he was nailed upside down on the cross and gained God’s approval. When, as required by God, Abraham offered his only son for a burnt offering and returned his son to God, although he was painful, he was willing to obey God’s requirement. At last he gained the approval of God. Job endured extreme pain in trial, but he still kept the way of fearing God and shunning evil. He praised the name of God, did not consider his personal gains and losses, but only sought to obey and fear God. In the end, he gained God’s approval and blessings.”
Hao Aiguang responded favorably: “That’s right! They could practice the Lord’s words, obey and satisfy God without any condition, and finally they obtained God’s approval. When believing in God, only if we seek the truth, practice God’s words and live out the reality of God’s words, can we become those who obey the will of God and then be raptured to the kingdom of heaven.”
Chen Zhong said with a sigh: “In this case, working hard simply cannot help us to gain the approval of God and to be raptured to the kingdom of heaven. Today, sister Hao’s fellowship had the enlightenment and illumination of the Holy Spirit, which makes me gain a lot. Well, sister Hao, why can you speak these words that are full of enlightenment?
Everyone looked at her with wonder-waiting eyes.
Hao Aiguang looked around at all the faces with a smile, then she took out a book from the bag …
And why behold you the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the mote out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother’s eye.
The main character followed her parents in their Christian faith since she was little, and she and her husband took on work in the church together after getting married. Over the past few years, she’s discovered that she’s always praying to confess to the Lord, but she can’t stop herself from sinning, and she can’t keep to the Lord’s words. She also has no tolerance or patience with her husband. She thinks of this from God’s words: “You shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). God is holy, and anyone who is unholy cannot see the Lord, so she wonders: Could someone like her who lives in sin enter the kingdom of heaven? This is painful for her, and she prays to the Lord all the time. How is she ultimately released from this bewilderment, and how does she find the path to being cleansed and entering the kingdom of heaven? Let’s listen to her story together.
Looking forward to the return of the LordFor several thousand years, man has longed to be able to witness the arrival of the Savior. Man has longed to behold Jesus the Savior on a white cloud as He descends, in person, among those who have pined and yearned for Him for thousands of years. Man has longed for the Savior to return and be reunited with the people, that is, for Jesus the Savior to come back to the people from whom He has been apart for thousands of years. And man hopes that He will once again carry out the work of redemption that He did among the Jews, will be compassionate and loving toward man, will forgive the sins of man, bear the sins of man, and even bear all of man’s transgressions and deliver man from sin. They long for Jesus the Savior to be the same as before—a Savior who is lovable, amiable and venerable, who is never wrathful toward man, and who never reproaches man. This Savior forgives and bears all of man’s sins, and even dies upon the cross for man once more. Since Jesus departed, the disciples who followed Him, and all of the saints who were saved thanks to His name, have been desperately pining for Him and awaiting Him. All those who were saved by the grace of Jesus Christ during the Age of Grace have been longing for that joyful day during the last days, when Jesus the Savior arrives on a white cloud and appears among man. Of course, this is also the collective wish of all those who accept the name of Jesus the Savior today. Throughout the universe, all those who know of the salvation of Jesus the Savior have been desperately yearning for the sudden arrival of Jesus Christ, to fulfill the words of Jesus when on earth: “I shall arrive just as I departed.” Man believes that, following the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus went back to heaven upon a white cloud, and took His place at the Most High’s right hand. Similarly, man conceives that Jesus shall descend, again upon a white cloud (this cloud refers to the cloud that Jesus rode upon when He returned to heaven), among those who have desperately yearned for Him for thousands of years, and that He shall bear the image and clothes of the Jews. After appearing to man, He shall bestow food upon them, and cause living water to gush forth for them, and shall live among man, full of grace and love, living and real. And so on. Yet Jesus the Savior did not do this; He did the opposite of what man conceived. He did not arrive among those who had yearned for His return, and did not appear to all men while riding upon the white cloud. He has already arrived, but man does not know Him, and remains ignorant of His arrival. Man is only aimlessly awaiting Him, unaware that He has already descended upon a white cloud (the cloud which is His Spirit, His words, and His entire disposition and all that He is), and is now among a group of overcomers that He will make during the last days. Man does not know this: Although the holy Savior Jesus is full of affection and love toward man, how could He work in “temples” inhabited by filth and impure spirits? Though man has been awaiting His arrival, how could He appear to those who eat the flesh of the unrighteous, drink the blood of the unrighteous, wear the clothes of the unrighteous, who believe in Him but do not know Him, and who constantly extort Him? Man knows only that Jesus the Savior is full of love and compassion, and is the sin offering filled with redemption. But man has no idea that He is also God Himself, who is brimming with righteousness, majesty, wrath, and judgment, and possessed of authority and full of dignity. And so even though man eagerly yearns for and craves the return of the Redeemer, and even Heaven is moved by the prayers of man, Jesus the Savior does not appear to those who believe in Him but do not know Him.
from “The Savior Has Already Returned Upon a ‘White Cloud’” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
In the kingdom, the myriad things of creation begin to revive and regain their life force. Due to changes in the state of the earth, the boundaries between one land and another also begin to shift. Formerly, I have prophesied: When land is divided from land, and land unites with land, this will be the time that I will smash up the nations into smithereens. At this time, I will renew all of creation and repartition the entire universe, thereby putting the universe in order, transforming its old state into a new one. This is My plan. These are My works. When the nations and the peoples of the world all return before My throne, I will thereupon take all the bounty of heaven and confer it upon the human world, so that, thanks to Me, it will brim with matchless bounty. But so long as the old world continues to exist, I will hurl forth My rage upon its nations, openly promulgating My administrative decrees throughout the universe, and visit chastisement on whomever violates them:
In 1985, I was hired by an employment agency in Hong Kong. Soon after I began working, I met a lady, who introduced me to the International Christian Life Center in Hong Kong. It was the first time that I joined in the Lord’s Day meeting. That day, the pastor said to me, “If you receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior, He will help you overcome all the difficulties. Men are all sinners, so the world is full of unfairness and unrighteousness. Only the Lord Jesus is the Savior of mankind. Because the innocent Lord Jesus was crucified to take on man’s sins, as long as we believe in Him, we will be forgiven of our sins and then enjoy His care and protection. Only by believing in the Lord Jesus and obeying His teachings can we be saved. Just as the Bible recorded, ‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ (John 3:3).” As I had experienced many vicissitudes of life, at that time I firmly believed that I was a sinner who needed to receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. Thus, I said, “I am willing to accept the Lord Jesus as my Savior.” Thanks be to the Lord! Just at that very moment, I felt the peace, comfort and joy that I had never had before. All my worries vanished at that instant. I felt I had found the direction of my life. Through the preaching and fellowshiping of the pastor, I tasted the Lord’s love more deeply and began to serve in the church.
God listens to true prayers. If we truly pray to God, we will often feel His presence. No matter what we do, we will have His guidance. The plague breaks out globally. Many people live in panic; even believers feel fear and helplessness, and they can only pray to God for His protection. So how should we pray to be heard by God? We sort these Bible verses about prayer to help you understand the significance of prayer and find the way to have your prayers heard by God
Welcome the Lord Jesus Christ's Return 