No Warnings and No Extensions

My email inbox has been very busy recently, maybe yours has as well. I’ve been receiving emails announcing Black Friday sales since the end of October, all warning me to grab incredible deals before they disappear. Every company I have ever made online purchases from (and every company beyond that) is going to great lengths to give me the heads up on limited time sales, soon to expire. As the day approached, another flood of messages came. “Black Friday Blowouts! Act Now!” After the weekend it only got worse, “Cyber Monday Is Here! These Hot Deals Won’t Last!”

Ironically, many of these special offers were extended. Company after company went back on their word! The “limited time” sales and discounts were extended for extra hours, days, even a full week in some cases! It is important for mankind not to expect this treatment from our God. The Almighty will not grant extra time after Judgment Day for you to make your life right. The Bible teaches us the second coming of Christ will have no warnings and no extensions.

There will be no warning signs of Christ’s return. In Matthew 24 we find the Lord’s disciples asking about the destruction of the temple and about the sign of His coming. Whether or not they realized it, these questions have separate answers. Jesus first describes the signs for when Rome will come and destroy the temple. Then in discussing His coming, the Lord declared, “no one knows, not even the angels” (Matt 24:36). There will be no signs provided to warn us about the second coming (Matt 24:38-39). To make it plain He says, “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt 24:42-44). Other scriptures also compare Christ’s return to the coming of a thief; it will be unannounced and unexpected (1 Thess 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10).

There will also be no extensions given when Christ returns. Throughout history man has created doctrines and theories. Some have suggested that those outside of Christ will have a second chance for a period of time on this earth. The basic idea is that you can obey later. Some have even gone so far as to invent a third destination for souls. They say souls in purgatory suffer for a time, atone for their sins, and then go on to Heaven. You will not find this taught in the Bible. God’s Word declares that all must appear for judgment (2 Cor 5:10; Heb 9:27). Jesus spoke of it as sheep being divided from goats (Matt 25:31-46). This determination is final (Luke 16:25-26). We will be judged based on Christ’s teachings to receive either the resurrection of life or of condemnation (John 5:28-29; 12:48). 

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that God will behave like mankind. The day of the Lord is not like Black Friday! No warning signs will precede it and no extensions will be offered. We must believe and obey now. Let us be loyal to Him and look forward to His glorious appearing (2 Tim 4:7-8; Tit 2:11-13)!