Two Coming Appointments*

     A popular song from the 1960's was written by Pete Seeger and recorded by the Byrds. It is titled "Turn, Turn, Turn", and the words of the song were taken from Ecclesiastes 3. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 states: "To every thing there is a season (zeman/zaman - a set time, appointed time, a stated time/to fix a time, times appointed), and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted."  

     Heaven is eternal, but all things under heaven become appointed in time. We don't like to think about death, but we will read that death comes to everyone: "And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (yeshua in Hebrew, meaning "God is our salvation", also being Jesus' name in Hebrew)." (Heb. 9:27-28). The first coming appointment is with death and the second appointment is with judgment and to stand before the seat of Christ. In this generation, there is an obsession of cheating death in some way, however, none of us is promised tomorrow.

     Psalm 89 asks: "What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah (meaning, meditate and think upon this.)" (v. 48). There is a powerful truth, however, which Jesus declared before He raised His friend Lazarus from the dead: "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live...And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (Jn. 11:25-26). We can't cheat death in the natural, but he that believes in Jesus shall never die.

     While in Athens, Greece, the apostle Paul used an opportunity to preach the Gospel of eternal life while standing amid the memorials erected to other gods, and also an altar erected "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD". (Acts 17:22-23). Paul told them that this "unknown God" to them is the God who made all things in the world..."he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And he hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord...For in him we live, and move, and have our being...For we are also his offspring." (v. 25-28). Paul told the crowd there that God had previously "winked" at this ignorance of men who worship superstitions and false gods, "but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in 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 raised him from the dead." (v. 30-31). The resurrection of Jesus Christ marked the appointed moment when mankind no longer had any excuse for not knowing the one true God and His power and authority, as well as His Son, Jesus, whom He raised from the dead. Man will be held accountable for ignoring this knowledge.

     When the crowd in Athens heard Paul's preaching about the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, but others commented that they would like to hear more about it later. " (v. 32).

     Many still mock the truth of resurrection, as some of the Greeks did that day in Athens, because they don't want to receive it, nor the spiritual responsibility that the knowledge of the resurrection of Jesus Christ requires.

     Paul also made clear that all men were created from one blood. Any so-called "Christian" teaching or organization that encourages racism, ethnic discrimination or antisemitism is teaching non-scriptural falsehoods.

     The apostle Peter also wrote of scoffers in the last days who choose to be willingly ignorant of the coming judgment on the earth: "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word (of the past judgment by water) are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (2 Pet. 3:1-7, excerpt). There is evidence that supports the Biblical account of the universal flood of Noah's era. These scoffers do not believe that this type of cataclysmic world-wide judgment will come again because daily life seems to go on without interruption. This coming appointment with judgment, however, will be a judgment by fire rather than flood waters against the ungodly. However, just as God provided the miraculous mercy and hope in the resurrection of His Son and all who believe in Him, He also waits as patiently as possible for man's repentance before judgment is appointed to begin: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (of judgment), as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). The provision and opportunity for repentance is being given to all until the appointed day and hour of judgment arrives.

     The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just a religion that men have invented. It is faith that contains the power of God against appointed death and judgment: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (see Hab. 2:4). For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold (katecho - hold back, restrain, hinder) the truth in unrighteousness." (Rom. 1:16-18). There are those who want to prevent others from hearing and receiving the truth. As Isaiah wrote, they call evil good and good evil. (Isa. 5:20).

     Within the above verses from Romans is the foundation scripture of this ministry (Rom. 1:16). We are indeed not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the powerful gift from God given for man's hope and salvation.

     Paul wrote that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance unless "thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds...Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also the Gentile; For there is no respect of persons with God....In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men  by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." (Rom. 2:4-16, excerpt).

     God is no respecter of persons, meaning that He does not show partiality in judging, whether one is honored and important on earth, or whether one is the poorest of the poor, whether a person is a member of a church, or not. The Book of Revelation gives us the account of the day of the wrath of the Lamb (Jesus Christ), when men will hide themselves in caves, calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from...the wrath of the Lamb." (see Rev. 6:12-17). All of the secrets of men will be revealed in that day.

     Regarding the power of resurrection upon our appointment with death, Paul wrote: "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown in a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body...And as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Cor. 15:42-40). As Paul revealed the power of the resurrection in us, he also revealed a mystery: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality...then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (see Isa. 25:8). O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, inasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (v. 51-58, excerpt).

     There are those who have been in church all of their lives, thinking they know Jesus, but still do not know Him. Scripture is clear as to the way of salvation by heart-felt faith in, and confession of, Jesus Christ:

"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.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Rom. 10:9-11).

     Let this be your prayer and confession of salvation today.

     *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 5/4/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at Kenneth Stevenson. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. The book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling is available on Amazon.