There is great merit in telling people that the LORD Jesus is coming back to judge the quick and dead, and that He shall judge the nations for their wickedness (Revelation 19:11-16). The problem is that while we emphasize God's standards, instructions, and commands; we must not be tempted to make Jesus appear Medieval, a Dread Lord, especially with Islam and Allah being a god who is harsh, cruel, and war like. There is a temptation to depict Jesus in same light, as this Warrior with an axe to grind, and while it is true He shall judge those who do not believe with a sword and a lake of fire (Revelation 20:15 and Revelation 21:8), this is not His hope and desire, rather He desires, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance," (2 Peter 3:9) and "This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4). We are told that Christ is Love (1 John 4:18) and Love of Father (John 3:16), He wants everyone to repent and be reconciled to God through Him who is God. Jesus is the same God, Jehovah who is "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.." (Psalm 145:8). Jesus is same God who said, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." (Matthew 9:13). Jesus is not a harsh God but says, "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (Matthew 11:28-30). I am gravely concerned during this Reformation period, both the upcoming celebration of 500yrs of Protestant Reformation and the Apostolic Reformation that is taking place; that we can be tempted to represent a judgemental Jesus ready to stike with hot iron and sword.
We are in end times, but the truth is they began as soon as Jesus was on earth as the once ever God Man (circa 30-33 A.D.). Since Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection and Ascension, the world has been heading towards its final chapter, the Apocalypse. Many doomdayers are preparing, and across denominations the consensus is, "Christ is Coming Soon." Because of the fervor and excitement of Christ's Return, we are tempted to put on display Jesus ready with fire in his eyes and hot brand to judge the nations, and this is true, it will happen. But we must not forget that we are suppose to until Christ comes, remember His death, and Mercy and Grace of salvation that came through it, "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me, In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup (Lord's Supper, Communion), you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again," (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and "Therefore judge nothing before the proper time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Corinthians 11:26). We mustn't have our eyes fixed on angry God, on Jesus with wrath to pour on wicked, instead it should be on Jesus on His mercy seat the cross, and Risen from Tomb welcoming all who will believe in Him, "And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." (John 17:19-20). This is the side of Jesus that should be seen when we speak, along with that He will come to judge those who do not believe (John 1;18, Revelation 20:15, and Revelation 19:11-26).
We are suppose to show Grace, that Jesus so loved mankind, while we were yet still sinners that He died for us (Romans), and that His greatest desire is for you to know him, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3), not just about Him. Christ bled on a cross not because He is hoping to caste as many as possible into hell, but Because He has made a Way of Salvation from hell through believing in Him (John 6:40, John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10, and 1 John 4:15). I am not saying there isn't a hell, no there is most definitely and unequivocally a hell (Matthew 20:51, Revelation 20:10, 15). What I am saying is that we must not present Jesus as harsh and cruel as Islam's Allah is harsh and cruel, (Allah demands his acolytes to blow themselves up suicide and kill innocent people to be pardoned), while at same time not watering down that the Word of God will judges those who do not receive His mercy, Grace, and salvation, nor wanted to know Him (John 3:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11, Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus wants you to believe in Him (John 6:40), and Know him a personal and experiential relationship (John 17:3). Jesus who is One with Father (John 10:30) and the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-22), so loved us He died on a cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24), and made it possible to come into God presence (Colossians 1:22, Ephesians 3:11-12, Hebrews 4:16), and promises us a New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem forever (Revelation 21:1-18).
Jesus Christ is God Merciful and Love, He got up on a mercy seat and cross to do away with out sins and what separated us from Him, The Father, and Holy Spirit. He went through agony, beatings, nails in his hands and feet the size of 12 inch, and was pierced and suffocated to death. This is God that not only marginalized Himself by taking on the flesh and body of His creation, man, but also marginalized his powers (Phillippians 2:1-9), and then died for the Creation that deserves damnation for those sins! Jesus is Love, and in Love is Truth (1 John 4:18, John 14:6, 1 Corinthians 13:6), and the Truth does have to bring justice to those who will not receive mercy and forgiveness and love back the God Creator and Savior Jesus Christ (John 1:3); because Jesus has given these people every opportunity to believe and be saved (Romans 1:20, John 15:22); but they love their sin, the devil, and evil instead; and so they judged with Satan (Revelation 20:10, 15) because they would not receive Jesus' free gift of grace and salvation (Acts 15:10-11) and so perish over rejecting the love of God and God Himself!
Make no mistake Jesus does not want to condemn and judge anyone, He deisres, "This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (Jesus, see John 14:6)." (1 Timothy 2:4), but He knows there are those who refuse to turn to Him and want to do great evil (Revelation 13, Revelation 16:1-8). Jesus Has extended mercy, compassion, grace, and love towards every person on Earth since Calvary, but it is incumbent upon the person to receive it, believe it, and know Him as their God and best friend and be with Him forever in heaven and the New Earth Amen.
In the Early Middle Ages, most of new converts came from Feudal societies that emphasized the liege lord bond between kings and lords and their warrior class. Because of this, the Church had the image of Christ King of Kings on throne, indifferent, and regal; which created in minds of people that they must pay homage and serve the Liege LORD Jesus. The problem is by the time of High Middle Ages, people had moved beyond this thinking, and felt Christ was cold and harsh, so a Cistercian monk in 12th Century named Bernard of Clairvaux decided to turn people's attention to Jesus on Cross, inventing the Crucifix to remind people of God's Love. This is aim of this post, to remind you brothers and sisters in Christ that our LORD and Savior is not harsh, but longs to save everyone and that His Mercy and Grace is extended to those who have not yet believed in Him. Pray for these unbelievers, that they will turn to tender and merciful, and compassionate Jesus Christ and know Him in a personal relationship. If you are not follower and friend of Christ, I urge you, now is the time for you to open your heart, confess yours sins, confess Jesus as LORD (God), and believe in your heart that He was raised from dead after being crucified for your sins, and that if you keep your commitment of loving relationship and faith in Him, you shall have eternal life. Amen.
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