Anyone who has worked in construction has faithfully practiced the old adage of “measure twice, cut once.” Not taking this advice is a recipe for disaster, eventually.

Several years ago I wanted to do some carpentry, so I gathered what I needed and got busy making a few basic odds and ends. At first I measured with the greatest diligence, but as I gained confidence in my work, I relaxed my diligent measuring. Once was all it took. “Rats! Too short! Got to start over.” From then on, I did not relax my measuring standards of “measure twice and cut once.”

The logic behind measuring twice and cutting once is to make sure I get it right, so the end result is what I want. For example, I need to cut a 24 ¼ inch board down to 20 inches long. Obviously, I need to cut off 4 ¼ inches, but did I measure 4 ¼ inches on the end or was it 4 ½ inches? Measure twice, cut once. Get it right the first time.

Those who are contractors, carpenters, cooks, seamstresses, etc. are good at what they do not just because they are talented, but also because they pay attention to their work. There is another saying, “Anything worth doing is worth doing right.”

And then there are those who don’t care about the details and haphazardly proceed with a “lick and a promise.” Unfortunately, most people are just as reckless with their soul.

So what does “measure twice, cut once” have to do with spiritual matters? It is simply to say that I need to be sure of my relationship with Jesus Christ and not assume anything. I need to hold the measuring tape of God’s Word against my life.

Eventually, every single person who has ever lived will have to give an account to God for their life, their soul, the real person under that layer of skin and bones.

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:11-12 emphasis mine)

Notice the emphasis in these two verses of “every knee,” “every tongue,” and “every one of us.” There will be no exceptions, but the majority of us will live our lives frivolously, never once considering that someday there will be a payday. I can, through my own negligence, cut a board the wrong length and be forced to start over. I have that option in carpentry, but there will be no second chance to start over once we are face to face with God, if we ‘measured’ incorrectly.

When you cut through all the religious jargon, there are only two groups of people in the world; those who belong to God and those who do not. Those who belong to Him will be welcomed with open arms. Those who do not belong to Him will be condemned.

Most people assume they have lived a good enough life to please God when their time comes to meet Him. Others don’t even believe He exists, but if He does, they will be alright, because, let’s face it, they’re no worse than anyone else and probably better than most. I seriously doubt if these same people have ever opened up a Bible and actually listened to what God has to say about it. No, they’ll listen to everyone else and form their own opinions, but listen to God!?

God says none of us are worthy to be in His presence. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

God says the best we have to offer Him is not worthy of Him. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

God says that our sins, no matter how good we think we are, will condemn us. “For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23a)

God says He has provided one remedy that will remove all our sins and make us righteous, so we may be with Him forever. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God says we cannot save ourselves. Only He can save us. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God has a lot to say. If you would like to hear more, read His Word. It’s called the Bible. By the way, He also says in His own way, “measure twice, and cut once.”

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

In other words, be sure of your salvation. Scratch all the opinions and double check with God. Be sure right now how we measure up with Him by reading what HE has to say. Obviously, we will never be right with God apart from Jesus Christ, but if Jesus is in us, we have nothing to fear because He clothes us in His righteousness and we will spend eternity with Him.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

The Rapture – The Greatest Sign Of All

God stepped out of Heaven over 2,000 years ago and took upon Himself the flesh of His creation … mankind. He was the new Adam, born of a virgin girl, come to provide salvation to all who would come to Him by faith.

There was no grand entrance upon this world except for a few souls, but all the signs were there for those who paid attention to Scripture. In a lowly manger He was christened with gold, frankincense and myrrh for His life as the Son of Man.

These gifts are not just coincidence for this child. They tell us that the Son of God (divine) also became the Son of Man (human) for a purpose. He came willing to satisfy the Law and die for us. The innocent accepts the death penalty for the guilty to reunite God with mankind.

• The gold symbolized His divinity.
• The frankincense symbolized His holiness and righteousness. It showed His willingness to be our sacrifice.
• Myrrh was used as an embalming agent in those days, and symbolized His bitter life ahead from the suffering and affliction He would endure for you and me and then give His life on the cross on our behalf.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)

In Philippians two, notice verses six through eight are speaking of Jesus as the Son of Man and verses nine through eleven as the Son of God.

The Scripture says that the Jews require signs and the Greek (all non-Jews) seek wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:22). According to Bible scholars the Old Testament had at least 300 signs of Jesus’ First Coming. On top of that, all through His ministry on earth an abundance of signs were provided for their first-hand witness, but yet, most did not believe.

Something very important to understand is that the Jews were very familiar with the Old Testament, unlike many Christians today who know so very little about the Bible. Sadly, many in the Church body today don’t even know the first four books of the New Testament and who wrote each one. This isn’t true with the Jews though. They had heard the prophecies all their life and most could probably quote them, but yet they were blind to the fact that the Messiah they had been waiting for had finally come to earth and standing right in front of them.

If I may say on their behalf, they were looking for the wrong visitation. Their Messiah spoken of in the prophecies was coming first as the Suffering Servant and then later, much later, as the King of kings and Lord of lords. They wanted nothing to do with the Suffering Servant though. They wanted the King of kings and Lord of lords to free them from the Romans. Thank God some recognized Jesus as the Messiah (the Christ to us) and accepted Him as their Suffering Servant. With these, Jesus set up His Church and we wait for His return today.

Bible scholars tell us there are over 500 prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus’ return, the Second Coming. They say that one out of every 25 verses in the New Testament speak of Jesus Second Coming. The Lord gave many signs in His Word referring to His return (Second Coming). They are all around us today, but it seems only a few are aware.

On the last page of His earthly life Jesus provided a closing sign to all those of that day … the cross He hung upon. He finished with a grave that had no corpse. Then He ascended back to Heaven while those who watched Him go heard the angels say, “Men of Galilee,” … “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Jesus is going to return to earth. He will not be coming as the Suffering Servant but as the King of kings and Lord of lords. All eyes will behold Him, and there will be no doubt in the mind of anyone that He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)

This will be the greatest sign of all. Jesus Himself will be the sign, but it will be too late for all who have not confessed Him as Savior and Lord.

Before I go any further, let me briefly state the following for those who might become confused.

1. When Jesus came and died on the cross this occurrence is called the First Coming or First Advent.
2. The next event to happen is the Rapture of the Church, and there are no signs for the Rapture.
3. The Tribulation of seven years is next.
4. When the seven years of the Tribulation is completed, Jesus will come the second time and this is called the Second Coming or the Second Advent.
5. The Millennium of 1,000 years follows.
6. After the Millennium we enter eternity.

This is purposely an extremely basic step-by-step explanation. I have omitted some things to keep it simple.

Right now, we are waiting on the Rapture of the Church (or the bride of Christ). Jesus will not come to earth, but call us out from the earth to meet Him in the air and take us back to Heaven before the Tribulation begins. The purpose of the Rapture is for Jesus to remove His bride (the Church) from the earth and end the Church age. It is also to conclude the remaining seven years promised Israel (Daniel 9:20ff)

There is an abundance of signs today, but they all are pointing to the coming Tribulation. Remember, there are no signs for the Rapture. It will occur without warning and within the blink of an eye.

When Jesus came the first time most of the signs were subtle. They were low-key in many ways, but in these last days a person would have to be spiritually blind to miss the signs around us pointing to a coming Tribulation, then Second Coming. The problem for so many people is that when the greatest sign of all appears, it will be too late to repent. There will only be judgment.

Today there are signs with nature, society, technology, world issues, spiritually related signs and especially those signs concerning Israel that are screaming of an end of the Church age. Don’t forget, the Rapture is the next event to occur and there will be no warning. If there is a warning of any kind, it would be that the Tribulation is drawing closer and closer, and the Rapture occurs BEFORE the Tribulation.

After Jesus safely removes His bride (the Church) from the earth He will allow the seven years of Tribulation to begin, and Jesus says the following about those days:

“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22)

This world is approaching those days so quickly it reminds me of a movie my wife and watched not long ago. The movie is called “Unstoppable.” Denzel Washington is the engineer and Chris Pine the conductor on a runaway train. Our world, just like that train, is out of control. Unlike the movie where the heroes saved the day, this world is not going to avoid those seven years of Tribulation. It is quickly approaching. It is out of control. It is coming.

When the greatest sign of all appears (Matthew 24:30) all those who are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ will be with Him. All others will face His judgment.

If the Rapture would occur today, the Second Coming could only be seven years away. Seven years of hell on earth and then the Second Coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords. I will close by repeating Matthew 24:30 and ask, “Will you be with Him, or with those who mourn?”

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html