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  EAGERLY AWAITING JESUS' RETURN
  by David Wilkerson
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Summary: Jesus is coming soon, and we should live every day in joyful
anticipation of his return, watching and praying for the day when we
will be with him forever.

Topics: "Watchfulness", "Eager Expectation"
Scripture References: 1 Thessalonians 4:16

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DESCRIPTION
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David Wilkerson emphasizes the imminent return of Jesus Christ, urging
believers to live in eager anticipation of His coming. He highlights the
powerful imagery of Christ's return, where the dead in Christ will rise
and all believers will be gathered to meet Him in the air, accompanied
by a loud shout and the sound of trumpets. Wilkerson warns against the
folly of predicting the exact time of Jesus' return, encouraging the
faithful to focus on the relationship with Christ rather than the timing
of His return. He reminds the congregation that Jesus, who ascended into
heaven, will return in the same glorious manner, and calls for a life of
watchfulness and readiness as we await His arrival. Until that day, he
stresses the importance of continuing the work of the Lord.

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CONTENT
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Jesus is coming soon! "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of
God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore
comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

In Greek, the word "shout" means to incite by word, to awaken, spur to
action. All overcomers will hear the voice of the archangel: "He is at
the door! He whom you love has come to take you away!" This is no
discreet coming, done quietly in a corner. No! Jesus is coming with
trumpet blasting, with hosts of angels, with a shout, with a cosmic cry
of the archangel. The dead in Christ will rise first to meet him in the
air and what a thunderous rejoicing that will be. Then he will send his
angels into all the world and gather his children to himself.

Throughout history, different ones have foolishly predicted the time of
Christ's return. Multitudes have sold all they owned and gone to
specific sites to await his return -- only to be disappointed. "Take
heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is" (Mark
13:33). Beware of getting caught up in when and how Jesus is coming when
you should be concentrating on who is coming. God has purposely withheld
the time of Christ's return to keep his people in a state of
watchfulness.

"This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in
like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). It was a
glorified Man who left and it is a glorified Man who is returning! Do
you desire to be with the Lord? Did you know that it is his desire to be
with you? Live every day in joyful anticipation of his coming at any
hour. And remember that until he comes, there is much work to be done!

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/david-wilkerson/eagerly-awaiting-jesus-return/
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