The C & MA Statement of Faith and Jesus the Coming King
From the statement of faith The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible, and premillennial. This is the believer’s hope and is a vital truth that is an incentive to holy living and faithful service. (Hebrews 10:37; Luke 21:27; Titus 2:11-14)
Notice that the Statement of Faith also says that “The second coming will be personal, visible, and pre-millennial.” Pre-millennialism is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The primary scriptural basis for it comes from Revelation 20:1-6.
Christ our coming King
The Christian and Missionary Alliance Statement of Faith supports a basic belief in the undeniable, biblical assertions of a bodily resurrection and judgment (Section J) and declares that Christ’s return is “imminent and will be personal, visible and premillennial” (Section K).
What better incentive to “holy living and faithful service” (Section K) than to keep our eyes on Christ our Coming King?
Trace the events surrounding the rapture of the Church
The events that surround the rapture of the church are: a falling away, a departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, many having a form of godliness but denying the power of God, and wickedness shall abound, perils times shall be. The signs of the times from Christ our Coming King can be seen in these verses.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Mt 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
The falling away
In today’s world people are falling away from the church. 80% of Americans may say they are Christians but they do not go to church much less know the doctrinal truths of the Holy Bible. Out of that 80% there may be 10% going to church and out of that 10% only 10% are truly involved and only 1% know or are studying God’s word. That is to say only about 1% of those actually going to church on a regular basis are following Christ. The only reason the churches are full today is the baby boomer generation is still around. The future of the church is looking grim. The next generation may turn out to be like England where the down fall of Christianity is now being overwhelmed by the Muslim faith and soon the churches will be empty and the name of Jesus will not be allowed to be spoken. There is a falling away from the true Christian faith for many reasons. One of which is a lack of discipleship. It would seem to suffice most to fed the flock with the milk of the word in a seeker friendly atmosphere. Let us not offend anyone with the truth from God’s word or teach them what the book of Romans says that is just too difficult, so let us stick with James it is much easier to teach. Therefore, we have church goers who cannot defend the reason for their hope (1 Peter 3:15). The Church has been pastoring the flock and has not been reaching out to those outside the church and those who have not heard the word go on what they hear in the streets; mostly notions seducing spirits to keep them of track. You only have to be one degree off to miss the mark.
Departing from the faith and a form of godliness
Many denominations today are one degree off. Maybe they believe in monotheism where Jesus is not God. But if Jesus is not God how could there be an eternal sacrifice. (Hebrews 7:27; 9:12,15,26; 10:12). Man is finite only God incarnate can make a propitiation that was eternal. Or maybe they have listened to Madonna, the singer, when she said to the Catholic church, you need to get with the times. So many people see the church as old fashion or out dated. Yet the word is living and powerful because it is ageless when it comes to human nature and the relationships of God and mankind. But people use the excuses of old fashion or out dated terms, so they can continue to live the way they want to live in unwed homes, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.
As we go through the end time events we may appreciate the need to tell others of Jesus the coming King and our need to usher in the Kingdom of God as we also reflect on Matthew 24:14.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14 KJV)
The end shall come when we proclaim to all nations the gospel of the kingdom. Then we will see Jesus Christ our coming King.