音频：
视频：
24“在那些日子，那灾难以后，
日头要变黑了，
月亮也不放光，
25众星要从天上坠落，
天势都要震动。
26那时，他们（马太福音24章30节作“地上的万族”）要看见人子有大能力、大荣耀，驾云降临。27他要差遣天使，把他的选民从四方、从地极直到天边，都招聚了来（“方”原文作“风”）。”
这些都是耶稣再来时会发生的景象。别担心，因为你没有时间对这些景象感到害怕。当耶稣再来的时候，所有信他的人都要从死里复活，那些在末日仍然活着的信徒都要改变他们的身体。我们必一同被接到天上与主同在。帖撒罗尼迦前书4章13节，确切描述了那天将要发生的事情。路加福音加入了一些鼓励信徒的话，路加福音21:28:“一有这些事，你们就当挺身昂首，因为你们得赎的日子近了。”这就像学龄前的小孩子听到消防车鸣笛的声音，他们都兴奋的跑到窗前看消防车开过来。这或许就是我们在最后一天的样子。我们会很兴奋，很高兴看到我们的救主来带我们去天堂。
我们不害怕那一天，这是我们与世上不信的人的区别。这或许也是我们与不认识耶稣的人开始一段谈话的好方法。当你们开始讨论流行性疾病或世界上的其他悲剧时，你说，“我期待耶稣再来，让一切焕然一新。”当你看到他们脸上疑惑的表情时，你可以继续告诉他们，你为什么对那一天怀着盼望。对于生命中的许多事情，人们大多只会抱着希望事情会好转的盼望，这样的盼望常常是空洞的。而你在耶稣里所怀的盼望比这更好。即使事情没有好转，你对耶稣的盼望也丝毫没有减少。事实上，在这些时刻，对耶稣的盼望闪耀出更亮的光。
祷告：主耶稣啊，愿你快来！今生的生命充满了混乱和悲剧，求你使我在你里面的盼望，盼望你荣耀 的再来，成为永远闪耀在我心中和生命中的亮光。
Mark 13:24-27: “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. (NIV)
These are the immediate signs of Jesus’ return. Don’t worry, because you won’t have time to be frightened by these signs. At the return of Jesus, all those who believe in him will be raised from the dead, and the believers who are still alive will be changed into their heavenly bodies. Together, we will be taken up to be with the Lord. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13ff for the exact description of what is going to happen on that day. Luke adds these words of encouragement. Luke 21:28: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” It’s like when the preschool children hear the fire whistle blow, and they all run to the windows to see the engines come by. That’s how it will be for us on that last day. We will be excited and happy to see our Savior come to take us to heaven.
The fact that we are not afraid of that day is what separates us from the unbelievers of this world. It is a wonderful way for us to start a conversation with people who don’t know Jesus. You get into a discussion about things like the pandemic or other tragedies in this world, and you say, “I can’t wait until Jesus comes back and makes everything new again.” When you see the questioning look on their faces, then continue to tell them why you have hope for that day. The most they can have is a wishy-washy hope that things will get better. Your hope in Jesus is better than that. Even if things don’t get better, your hope in Jesus is not diminished at all. In fact, it shines even brighter.
Prayer: Even so, come, Lord Jesus! In the midst of the messiness and tragedies of this life, let my hope in you and in your glorious return shine bright in my heart and in my life. Amen.