“Mi ha tratto fuori da una fossa di perdizione, dal pantano fangoso; ha fatto posare i miei piedi sulla roccia, ha reso sicuri i miei passi.” (Salmo 40:2) Meditazione giornaliera “Apri la porta del tuo cuore”. Rubrica a cura di Anna Cupertino. Speaker: Anna Claudia Mele Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMV7i9k20QU
Editorial: «Construyendo el espacio más amable del adventismo»
En Adventist Today, tenemos una oportunidad única de construir el rincón más amable e inclusivo de la Iglesia Adventista. Como mi amigo Loren Seibold, editor ejecutivo de AT, explicó la semana pasada, elegimos a propósito ampliar el círculo, dando la bienvenida no sólo a los adventistas del Séptimo Día activos, sino también a los que […] Source: https://atoday.org/editorial-construyendo-el-espacio-mas-amable-del-adventismo/
Is Jesus Still Coming Again?
After more than 175 years of preaching the Second Coming, one important question comes to mind for Seventh-day Adventists. Is Jesus still going to come again? Are we still planning on it? Is it still a part of who we are?
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Growing up as a Seventh-day Adventist I heard people talk about how Jesus was surely coming in the next five years. We thought for sure that the oil crisis in the 70’s was the beginning of the end of the world. I remember looking at the form the Tulsa Roughnecks Soccer team sent me when I was a teen, asking me to renew my season tickets for the 1980 season. You may laugh at me, but I stared at that form in disbelief that I actually saw the year 1980 in print. There is no way the world will last that long I thought. Well that was over 40 years ago and we are in a new century. So what happened to the Second Coming? Is it still on?
In the mid ‘80s I joined a new Adventist church in the suburbs. I had just started dating a girl who went to that church; so I switched from the larger Adventist church where I was a member to her church. We had just started dating when she dumped me. I still stayed at this new church because I did not want people to think I changed churches just for her. Besides, this church seemed to be really on fire. The weekly prayer meetings were very spiritual, and everyone was praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to prepare them for the Second Coming. We had about as many people attending prayer meeting as attended our Sabbath worship services. We were sure Jesus was coming soon, and we were getting ready.
Then something sad happened. People stopped coming to prayer meeting. Some decided “Growing Pains” was just too funny of a show to miss for prayer meeting. People stopped coming to church altogether. This was not supposed to happen! Discouraged, I asked God why He did not come back when our church was at its spiritual peak, when we had it all together. He waited too long, and now look what happened!
I believe the Holy Spirit revealed to me why Jesus did not return when the church was on top of its game. Our church was on a spiritual roller coaster. Jesus is not coming back for a church on a spiritual roller coaster. He is not coming back for a people who walk with him off and on. A groom does not want to marry a bride whose love and devotion goes in cycles. Neither does Jesus.
Enoch walked with God many years before being translated. God will come back for a church who will consistently walk with Him year after year after year, and not on some roller coaster. The church is like a woman. For centuries God’s church has loved to flirt with Him, but it also loves to flirt with the world. God’s church likes to date Jesus, but it also likes to date others too. Jesus is not returning for a date; He is returning for a wedding. When God’s church decides to stop dating and flirting with Jesus and decides to get married, He will return.
During this same time period our suburban church was also asking the Holy Spirit to get sin out of our lives so we could be ready for Jesus to come. We did not – or at least I did not – realize how legalistic that was. Jesus is not coming back for a legalistic group who get their act together so they can have some great reward like heaven. Jesus is coming back for a people who love Him because He first loved them. Today I ask the Holy Spirit to remove sin from my life, not because Jesus is coming back, but because my sin breaks God’s heart. I do not want to break His heart any more, regardless if He is coming back tomorrow or a hundred years from now.
Now that I am older I don’t hear people talking about Jesus coming back in the next five years. So is the whole thing off?
Some of Satan’s best weapons are over-zealous religious fanatics. They tell people Jesus is coming back during a certain time table, and then when their “prophecy” fails, people doubt that Jesus is coming back at all. However this is all Satan’s plan. To get us to give up right before it happens. Concentration camp survivors say they survived because they never set a date for their rescue. Some wanted to be rescued by Christmas, and then when that came and went, they wanted to be rescued by Easter, and then when Easter came and went, they gave up hope. Others just knew that they would be rescued some day, and they survived.
As Seventh-day Adventists we must believe Jesus is returning, without setting dates. Some have gone to the other extreme now and don’t even preach the Second Coming at all. They preach social sermons which they find more practical in everyday living. While we must be practical, we must also realize that God formed our church over 150 years ago for a specific reason.
Are we embarrassed by our message? I am sure the disciples were embarrassed when Jesus was crucified, but there was no reason for them to be embarrassed. Are we afraid people will not believe our message, so we just preach things we know the world will accept? If so, shame on us! We are doing our Savior and neighbor no justice by hiding our special message.
The Seventh-day Adventist church has a message that will do more than prepare people to live nice little lives in this world. We have a gospel that will prepare people for the world to come! We must let everyone know the Second Coming is still on!
There are twice as many prophecies about the Second Coming than there were about Jesus’ first advent. He came the first time, so we know beyond a shadow of a doubt He is coming the second time. Jesus warns against setting times for His return when He tells us, “ in the hour you think not, the Son of man cometh.” Satan has been using religious fanatics for years to get us all excited and then disappointed that He has not returned. Satan wants us to give up and think Jesus is not returning at all. There is great danger in what I was always hearing growing up – about Jesus coming in the next five years – because it does two things: It makes us give up hope when He does not return in those five years, and it also makes us think we have five years to prepare. One day we won’t have five years to prepare. We won’t have one year to prepare. In the hour we think not, He will come!
Don’t get ready, be ready! Be ready, not because He is coming back but because we love Him because He first loved us! The Adventist church – the church that believes the Bible prophecies about the Second Coming – has a reason to exist! If we just preach social day-by-day sermons that you can hear anywhere else, then we are not fulfilling our purpose for coming into existence over 150 years ago. A true Adventist more than believes Jesus is coming. We love His appearing! We have a message to give to world and the people of the world are hungry for our message. We need to tell them that Jesus is coming back. Jesus loves them and wants to be with them forever!
(0)Esteban Bohr cancela Conrad Vine
En una carta a Adventist Today, en respuesta a nuestro informe sobre su sermón en el Northern Maine Camp Meeting, el presidente de AFM (Adventist Frontier Ministries), Conrad Vine, escribió que habíamos malinterpretado su mensaje. Explicó que estaba tratando de mantener el diezmo para la iglesia, no de desviarlo. Él escribió: En esta sección del […] Source: https://atoday.org/esteban-bohr-cancela-conrad-vine/
Lesson 10.The Last Days | 10.2 Not One Stone Left on Another | THE BOOK OF MARK | LIVING FAITH
10.2 Not One Stone Left on Another
Unshakable Hope in Times of Upheaval
Read Mark 13:1–13. How did the disciples react to Jesus’ statement about the temple, and what is the significance of the response Jesus gave them?
The disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ statement about the temple was one of astonishment and concern. The temple, a remarkable symbol of faith and identity for the people of Israel, seemed indestructible. Jesus’ announcement of its destruction must have been shocking and unsettling for the disciples, as it suggested the end of an entire world order.
However, the significance of Jesus’ response lies less in the precise prediction of the temple’s destruction and more in preparing the disciples for what was to come. Jesus shifts the focus from external signs and disasters to the personal challenges the disciples would face in their service to the Kingdom of God. He warns them of persecution, betrayal, and trials but also emphasizes that they should not be afraid. Instead, they should remain vigilant and trust that the Holy Spirit will assist them.
These words remind us that our faith should not be grounded in external securities and structures but in a deep conviction and trust in God’s guidance, even in difficult times. Turmoil and trials will come, but God’s people are called to remain steadfast and vigilant, knowing that God will support them through every challenge. Jesus’ words encourage us to focus on what truly matters: our relationship with God and our willingness to serve Him faithfully, regardless of the circumstances around us.
What experiences have you had with the trials that come with following Jesus? If you haven’t experienced any yet, you should ask yourself: Am I truly following Him?
The question about the trials associated with following Jesus prompts a deep reflection on one’s faith and Christian life. For many who follow Jesus, trials are an inevitable part of their faith journey. These trials can manifest in various forms: rejection, misunderstandings, loss, internal struggles, or the pressure of living in an environment that does not support or is hostile to the Christian faith.
Those who have experienced such trials know that they often deepen their relationship with Jesus. They compel us to place our trust in Him even when circumstances are difficult or painful. Through these trials, our faith is strengthened, and our understanding of God’s presence in our lives is deepened.
If you feel that you haven’t yet experienced trials directly related to your following of Jesus, this could be a reason for self-reflection. It is important to consider whether we live our faith in a way that challenges us. Jesus promised that His followers would face difficulties because they live against the current of this world. This means that living in following Jesus often leads us into situations where we must make decisions that are not always easy or may face resistance.
Trials are not proof that we are doing something wrong but often a sign that we are on the right path. They encourage us to deepen our faith and rely more on Jesus. If you have not faced such trials, it might be helpful to think about how you can live your faith more boldly and consciously. Sometimes God challenges us to step out of our comfort zones and live our faith in a way that demonstrates to ourselves and others that we are truly following Jesus.
The lesson from “Not One Stone Left on Another” has a profound connection to our daily life and faith, especially when it comes to dealing with uncertainties and challenges. Here are some key connections:
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Trust in God’s Guidance Amidst Change: In our lives, we often face situations that shake our world—be it personal crises, societal upheavals, or spiritual challenges. Just as the disciples were faced with the impending destruction of the temple, we also encounter moments when familiar securities collapse. Jesus’ message to remain vigilant and trust in God is crucial in these times. It reminds us that our foundation should not lie in the transient things of this world but in our faith and relationship with God.
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Preparation for Trials and Challenges: Jesus made it clear to His disciples that living in His following would bring trials. This warning is relevant for us today as well. In our daily lives, these trials can take the form of ethical dilemmas, persecution for our faith, or internal struggles. How we face these trials shows how deeply our faith is rooted. Jesus’ words encourage us to spiritually prepare for such challenges by staying in prayer, studying Scripture, and trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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The Value of Faith Over Material Possessions: The temple was a symbol of stability and faith for the disciples, but Jesus reminded them that even the most impressive things of this world are transient. This realization can help us reassess our own priorities. In a world that often values material success and external security above all else, this lesson reminds us that true security and worth lie in our relationship with God. It encourages us to let go of material attachments and place our faith at the center of our lives.
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Vigilance and Hope: Jesus’ call for vigilance means we should remain mindful of how we live our faith daily. Recognizing the signs of the times and not being overwhelmed by life’s difficulties is a central message of this lesson. This vigilance is not marked by fear but by a deep hope and trust that God accompanies us in all situations.
Overall, this lesson reminds us that the Christian life is not free from challenges, but these trials can lead us to deepen our faith, clarify our priorities, and strengthen our trust in God. It calls us to hold fast to the unwavering hope we have in Christ amid uncertainties and changes.
