In our past studies here at Uncommon Knowledge, we've discovered that many of the prophecies and signs leading up to the second coming of Jesus are currently being fulfilled. Today, all we have to do is look at the headlines to see that the present state of our world matches up very accurately with the way the conditions of the last days are described in the Bible.

Jesus is just about ready to come back and these fulfilled prophecies serve to strengthen our faith in this wonderful promise! We don't need to waste time wondering if Christ will really come back: we can know without a doubt. It's not something that could possibly happen, but it will be a reality and all the signs tell us that this spectacular event will take place very soon.
 

Hebrews 9 verse 28 clearly states that Christ shall appear the second time and this same message is all throughout the Word of God.  Are you aware of the fact that many of the references to the second coming are found in the Old Testament? From the earliest times, the truth of Christ's final return has been taught and believed. For instance, Enoch, Job, David, Isaiah, and Daniel all prophesied about the glorious coming of Jesus. So this is definitely not any kind of a new teaching, but one that can trace it's roots back to ancient times.
 

Jesus was constantly talking about this when He was here on earth and His second coming is mentioned over 200 times in the New Testament alone. There's no doubt that Jesus is coming back!
 

It's very important for the world to know that the Lord is going to return soon, but it's even more crucial for us to know how He is coming back. Why? Look at Matthew 24:4-5 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."  Drop down to Verse 11 "And many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many."

Now can you see why it's so critical that we know exactly how Jesus is coming? Because if we don't, we're going to be deceived. It's that simple. The devil is working overtime right now in an effort to mislead and confuse people on this subject. Satan is getting the world to put down their Bibles and turn instead to to popular Christian authors and movies for their information. John 17:17 tells us that God's Word, the Bible, is truth; but is this where people are looking for truth today?
 

Jesus taught that there is going to be a lot of false teaching concerning the manner of His return and in Matthew 24:24, He says that the deception will be so great that even the most dedicated Christians are in danger of being led astray and fooled by these false prophets and teachers.
With this in mind, it's dangerous to think that it's impossible for us to be deceived. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:12 "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." But how can we avoid the deception? Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

If someone is teaching something that is not in the Bible, then we should reject those teachings as counterfeit. God's people won't be tricked because they know what the scriptures say about the coming of Jesus.

So the first step in avoiding deception is to know that there is a risk of being fooled. Then we need to find out as much as we can about the second coming so that we won't be deceived.

Let's begin by going to Acts chapter 1. Here we find the best description of this event and how it will take place. In this chapter, Jesus is with His disciples as He is just about ready to depart from this world and ascend up into heaven. Acts 1:9-11 "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

The Bible plainly says that Jesus Christ shall return to this earth the same way that He left: In a visible and personal manner. The disciples were eyewitnesses that day as Jesus went up into those clouds. Those who are living when the 2nd coming takes place will also be able to view the action!

Christ explains this further in Matthew 24:30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Notice Jesus said that all the tribes of the earth are going to be affected by this event. It's not going to be noticed by only a select group of people and it's not going to happen in an isolated location, but it's going to be a visible occurrence on a global scale.

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