Rejoicing in the Promise of Christ’s Return

12/08/21-12/12/21

Your Redemption Draws Near

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/12/21

In the heart of the book of Revelation, John watches as the Lamb opens the first of seven seals. This is a very dark period of human history—the darkest ever. The breaking of the first seal sets in motion a period of time known as the Great Tribulation. This timeframe, also mentioned in the book of Daniel, is the moment when the Antichrist will arrive and great destruction will be ushered in on a global scale—famine, war, economic calamity, persecution.

Why would God share these details with us? Far from being afraid, Jesus said in Luke 21:28, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” As these events draw closer and closer, we may even become more thrilled in making every minute of our lives count to prepare for that great day.

The very Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins is also the Lion of Judah who will execute judgment upon the earth. If you do not receive Him as the Lamb of God who forgives your sins, you are going to have to face Him as your judge, the Lion of Judah. Are your sins covered by the blood of the Lamb? If the answer is “Yes,” then you should not fear the Lion.

Though the end times are terrifying and the Lion of Judah causes us to tremble, we have nothing to fear, and certainly nothing to fear of Satan or of the Antichrist. Whether we live to see the Great Tribulation—which will make death seem a blessed rest by comparison—or not, we do not fear, for those who trust in Jesus have their names written in the book of life, not in pencil but with the blood of the Lamb of God. That is what salvation is all about. That is our message of hope. Let us rest in it and share it while we still have time, spreading the light of the world, Jesus Christ, to all in the grips of darkness.

Prayer: I praise You, God, for Your grace and mercy, Your patience and love. Thank You that Your perfect love drives out fear, for I trust in You and Your promises. Help me share this precious gift with those You put in my path. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:17-18).

*Devotional adapted from End Times and the Secret of the Mahdi by Michael Youssef © 2016. Published by Worthy Books, Franklin, TN. Used by permission.