9.17: How do You Get Ready for the Return of Jesus?

<p>A few years ago, I worked with a client who was &nbsp;opening a new business. It was a physical location that needed city &nbsp;permits, an architect, a contractor, inspections — everything — before &nbsp;he could open. Originally, he hoped to open in August of that year, but &nbsp;delay, after delay, after delay happened. Most were out of his control. &nbsp;He finally opened in November. I was helping with his marketing and we &nbsp;had to keep on telling interested, potential customers that the grand &nbsp;opening party was postponed, again and again. Nevertheless, when he did &nbsp;open, he had a fantastic grand opening. We built anticipation, got the &nbsp;right publicity and the place was packed! It did take some planning, &nbsp;combined with a lot of flexibility, to pull it off.</p> <p>That’s kind of what’s going on in the final chapter of Peter’s second &nbsp;letter. Peter had taught the Jewish Christians of the first century &nbsp;what he himself heard Jesus say…</p> <blockquote>Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2&nbsp;There &nbsp;is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, &nbsp;would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? &nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”<br> John 14:1-3 NLT“</blockquote> <h2>When, Lord, when?</h2> <p>The problem was that they expected Jesus to return within their lifetimes — just like the <a href="https://giselleaguiar.com/bible-study-1-and-2-thessalonians/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Thessalonians that Paul addressed in his two letters – You can check out that Bible study here</a>. They were impatient. Imagine scoffers saying, “So, where is he?”</p> <p>2000 years later, we’re still waiting. Many “scholars” have tried to &nbsp;predict when the rapture would happen — stating specific dates — and &nbsp;nope, not yet. Unfortunately, followers of these false prophets gave up &nbsp;everything because they thoug