I Believe in the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ
By Pastor Jack Hayford
I believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ. I believe that
He who literally and physically ascended from the Mount of Olives
forty days after His resurrection, shall come again in like manner,
personally returning to this eart according to the prophets and
His promise.
Because I believe this, I can live unconfused within the chaos
of our society's decline. I can live sustained beyond whatever stress
or trail I may face, for I have a view of the future that gives
a point to human history and an anticipated triumph beyond all tribulation.
I believe His return is imminent. It is unpredictable and immediately
possible at any moment.
I believe this has been then stance of the Church from the earliest
day until now, and that expectancy is to be constant and undiminished
until the trumpet sounds and He descends from heaven with a shout.
Because I believe this, I reject any system of human reason
or dogna which preempts anticipating His returning TODAY, or which
attempts to excite interest by predicting a day or date of his coming.
My expectancy does not require the fuel of humanly devised systems
of prophecy, however scriptural their pretense, for my heart is
nourished by His own words alone: "Behold I come quickly."
I believe He is coming for His Church, as a Bridegroom seeking
a bride of virginal purity and unserving devotion. I believe that
His commitment to His Church is complete; until He comes we may
rest in His promise never to forsake us, to nourish and keep us,
and to bring the obedient along a path of growth and holiness so
as to assure our readiness to meet Him at His coming.
Because I believe this, I choose to live each day and govern
my acivities as a wise servant who expects His Master's return,
and not as one who presumes that His Lord is delaying His coming.
I will to walk with Him in constant fellowship, purify myself even
as He is pure, and live as one whose heart daily utters the prayer,
"Even so,come Lord Jesus."
I believe at His coming all His Church shall be caught up into
His presence, shall join Him in His judging the earth as he establishes
His righteous Kingdom upon the whole earth, and that our decision
in this present age determines who those shall be that will reign
with Him as priests and kings unto our God.
Because I believe this, I serve Him now as one engaged faithfully
in His Kingdom enterprises, doing the business of the Master in
reaching to the lost, teaching the unlearned, and extending His
life and loveby every means; knowing that the night is coming when
no more work shall be allowed, and that the dawn of the ultimate
day will bring a final accounting at His coming.
With such a hope as this, I am moved to live expectantly, walk
purely, and serve faithfully, in the assurance that He who has prepared
aplace for me is coming again to receive me to Himself.
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Jack
Hayford Ministries
14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405-2233