What effect should the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ have on the world today?

That is a good question. If the people of the world believed what the Bible says about the coming of the Lord Jesus, they would immediately repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. "God…now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him [Jesus] from the dead" (Acts 17:30,31). I can personally testify that it was the fact of the coming of the Lord that led me to confess my sin and accept Christ as my Lord and Saviour.

Then the believer in Christ who is really looking for the Lord's return will also realize an effect in his life. This blessed hope will influence everything he does, says, or desires. He will not want to allow anything to continue in his life that is contrary to Christ's will or Word. "Every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:3).

It is interesting today that many people in different countries are wondering if the fires, earthquakes, floods, tornados and the coming of the year 2000 do not point to the coming of the Lord Jesus to judge the earth. USA TODAY June 12, 1998 had this headline on page 8A: "Jerusalem has its own year 2000 problem." A sub-headline goes on to say that "Up to ten million visitors are expected to greet the new millennium. Some of them also believe they'll be present for the Second Coming of Christ." The article continues by reporting that some have quit their jobs and "are setting down stakes around Bethany and the Mount of Olives…to witness the end of time from a front-row seat."

Although this article shows that some people are thinking about the second coming of Christ, we have to question whether very many realize just what the Bible has to say about the coming of the Lord Jesus. The Bible very clearly shows that there are two comings of the Lord Jesus or, as some describe it, two stages of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• The first stage is often referred to as the rapture. The Bible mentions it in John 14:3, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Revelation 3:10,11. A study of these verses will show that this coming could occur at any moment. Only those who know the Lord as their personal Saviour will be taken up to heaven to be with Him at the rapture, which will take place before the coming described next.
• The second stage is referred to as the "appearing" of the Lord and as the "Day of the Lord." (See Isaiah 13:9-13; Joel 2:11; Matthew 24; 25:31-46; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Revelation 19:11-21.) A study of these verses will show that this coming will be to judge the earth, and will be preceded by definite signs, such as: people claiming to be Christ, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes. We certainly have those signs today and they will increase as this coming of the Lord draws near.