The coming of the Lord presents the fearful prospect of judgment and condemnation and eternal punishment for all who refuse him—whose sins are not forgiven because they have not claimed the blood of Jesus Christ. The Lord is coming. He will return, Paul says,
in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ(2 Thessalonians 1:8). You see, knowing the truth—we know this is what is going to happen in history. It is going to happen in every individual’s history. It is going to happen in the history of the world. Christ is coming. We are going to stand before him. And so it gives Christians compassion and zeal for the salvation of the lost. We need to be praying, because this is true. It is going to happen. People we know and love who are outside of Christ are going to stand and be judged in a vengeance that is fierce and unrelenting. The Lord is coming. His sword is sharp. His book records every sinful deed.And so the Christian church holds forth the grace and mercy of Christ, calling upon everyone to repent and believe. Have you believed in the Lord Jesus? If you have not humbled yourself and believed in the Lord Jesus and cast yourself upon his cross, that your sins are from death to life—oh, why would you not believe in him? He is coming. He will save you, if you trust in him. Paul wrote,
Richard D. PhillipsIn Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them,and he entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”1
16 Car le Seigneur lui-même, à un signal donné, à la voix d'un archange, et au son de la trompette de Dieu, descendra du ciel, et les morts en Christ ressusciteront premièrement.