There are two distinct, major future events: Life and death are presented to us, choose life!
Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Deuteronomy chapter 30:
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,
16 in that I command you today to Love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,
18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
19 I call Heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
FATHER has always given us the right to choose. HE gave the Jews the right and HE gives the Gentiles the right. Why choose death?
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit to Titus chapter 2:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
15 So preach these Truths and exhort others to follow them. Be willing to expose sin in order to bring correction with full authority, without being intimidated by anyone.
Jesus’ appearing to those who Love Him is much different than His return to earth to execute judgment at the end of the great tribulation. We are to preach the Truth of the need for salvation and not allow ourselves to be intimidated by those who are attempting to redefine Truth in order to affirm their perverse social standards and sin.
Paul also wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 9:
27 Every human being is appointed to die once, and then to face God’s judgment.
28 But when we die we will be face-to-face with Christ, the One who experienced death once for all to bear the sins of many! And now to those who eagerly await Him, He will appear a second time; not to deal with sin, but to bring us the fullness of salvation.
Once again, we are eagerly awaiting His appearing and to be harpazo’d with Him. This is the fullness of our salvation, to be with Him in Heaven!
James wrote by The Holy Spirit in his epistle, chapter 5:
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
FATHER wants no one to perish and HE is patient until the fullness of time has occurred. Only then will HE send His Son to gather the firstfruits, His Bride, to return to Heaven.
The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st John chapter 2:
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
3:1 Behold what manner of Love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
How wonderful it will be when we shall be like Him and see the fullness as He is! Why? We chose life.
Jude wrote by The Holy Spirit:
20 But you, Beloved, building yourselves up on your most Holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the Love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the Presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
We are to pull others out of the fire if possible. We do this by preaching the Good News and properly representing ourselves as true believers. We are to walk in The Fear of THE LORD in all areas of our life.
Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 2:
25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-
And in Revelation chapter 3:
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the Name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God. And I will write on him My New Name.
These are promises to His Bride. Jesus will keep us from the “hour of trial” so let’s persevere and keep ourselves pure from the world’s trappings.
If He was to come tomorrow, what would change about your priorities today?