"What Manner of Person Ought Ye To Be?"

Scripture Text: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye  to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:10-13 (KJV)

What a powerful question for an awesome time to be alive!

YOU and I are very likely the Generation that will suddenly disappear in the Rapture - and go home to be with Jesus forever and ever.

Exciting as that is - this scripture is not speaking about the Rapture of the church, it actually refers to the "second" coming of Christ - at the very end of the Tribulation Period.

While people are all over the place on where we are in the end times scenario - the question is clear for all of us here in these scriptures today.

"...what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,"

We know that the Tribulation has NOT YET BEGUN and it will not begin until a peace treaty is signed between Israel and Palestine, but according to Jesus we are in that "Beginnings of sorrows" stage that overlaps into the first 3-1/2 years of the tribulation period. (ref., Matthew 24)

Oh Christian brothers and sisters beware. I had a pastor friend of mine tell me not long ago that he know of at least three affairs going on his church and one couple that were still meeting on the sly" after the Pastor had confronted them and asked them to turn from their darkness and to seek God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ the Lord. Yet, with their spouses supposedly none-the-wiser, the couple continues to carry on in the sin of pleasure which lasts but for a moment, yet, "God is not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with Him." (ref., Psa 5:4)

The thought occurred to me in regards to this couple (and all of us in our various sins), should they (we) be in the throws of passion (lust of all kinds) when the Lord comes, who will come and tell them (us) that He is here or that He has come? They (we) will be left behind and He whom they (we) possibly herald on every Sunday as King of Kings and Lord of Lords will not call their name again until the day of Judgment when he will condemn them to a life of everlasting punishment in the Lake of fire. My, my, my... what a horrible thought. Lost for eternity because of a moment of weakness.

Let me say it one more time..

"...what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,"

It could be any day now! Are you Ready?

Let's pray.

Father God: the time has come for your children to put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, evil speaking, and malice: and to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as You, O Lord, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven us. (ref., Eph 4:31,32) Walk with me Jesus, In Your Precious Name and in Your Power I Pray, Amen.