(The Bible on the return of Jesus, part 1)

Have you heard of the recent oil spill in the gulf of Mexico? And how many thousands of barrels of oil are pouring out and polluting the ocean. We would all have to admit that pollution in our world is increasing at an alarming rate. We've also seen crime, immorality and violence increase greatly as many people have been moving to cities over the last century.

Is this sad world all that we have to look forward to? Or does God promise us something better? Let's see what the Bible says.

Just before Jesus was crucified and rose again to go back to heaven, He said:

John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

So Jesus was going to His Father's house, in heaven, and would there prepare a place for his disciples, or his people, and then what did he promise? "I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also"
So Jesus will come again, and take us to heaven so that we can be where He is now!

But how does this happen? And who will be going to heaven? Let's not try to answer these questions ourselves, but instead ask the Bible, and let it answer.
Because there are so many Bible texts that tell us about Jesus coming again that it would make this gem too long, we will break it up into a few parts.

What a cheering prospect, Jesus will take us to a perfect world, without any evil or sin! Because the Bible says in Revelation 21:27 about our new home in heaven that ...there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth... In other words it is a pure and perfect world.

Earlier on in this same chapter we read:
21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Just think about that. . . . God wiping all tears from our eyes, and there will not be any more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, and no more pain! It sounds too wonderful to be true! And you might say that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is! But not so with God! Listen to what the Bible says:

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

God cannot lie, It is impossible! So if Jesus has promised that He will come again, and take us to a new home, where there will be no death or sorrow or crying or pain or sin, then it must be true! Because God cannot lie.

Ellen G. White a christian author wrote:
"Jesus said He would go away and prepare mansions for us, that where He is there we may be also. We shall ever dwell with and enjoy the light of His precious countenance. My heart leaps with joy at the cheering prospect. We are almost home. Heaven, sweet heaven! It is our eternal home." - Our Father Cares p. 313

To be Continued . . .