To All Doves, Word of Encouragement for You
He Will Return, He Really Will
by Perry Stone
yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry (Hebrews 10:37).Aware of the Return
The sweltering heat was almost unbearable. Every summer, ministers and their families from over 180 churches throughout the state of Virginia converged under a 1,200-seat metal tabernacle for the annual state Camp Meeting. In those days ministers wore dark suits and white shirts with ties. During July, the metal tabernacle became a sauna and the nice, dark suits, drenched in sweat, became more like scuba divers' wetsuits.In this setting I heard a man preach a message that has remained with me to this day. It was the night I was made aware of the Return of the Lord!
Preachers' kids always sat around the edge of the open-air tabernacle. This enabled us to slip out to the rest room or meet other kids at the swings, about 75 yards away. As the hot sun slid behind the rugged mountains in Roanoke, Virginia, the temperature began to cool, bringing much-needed relief to the muggy, sticky air in the metal church.
This setting brought a warm glow as the lights in the tabernacle were turned on and the service continued in full swing.
That night, at age 11, I was about to hear and experience something different. Being raised in a strict Pentecostal upbringing, church was a normal routine three times a week, plus revivals. My father, a pastor, hosted evangelists several times a year who stayed in our homes.
This night, I distinctly remember a slim, dark haired preacher named T.L. Lowery being introduced. As he began preaching, I was mesmerized with his presentation. He never stood behind the pulpit; he stood on the wall running parallel to the platform. He was animated. He was preaching about the return of the Lord.
Like a booming shofar, he said, “You young people may think you can hang on to the coattail of your parents when they are caught up to meet the Lord but you can't. If you don't have a relationship with Christ you'll be left behind!'
That caught my attention. A mental image formed on the screen of my mind. I pictured a loud trumpet sounding, and Mom and Dad gradually losing gravity and heading toward the heavenly city. I was grabbing Dad's suit jacket, only to have my fingers slide like they were coated with slick oil and lose their grip. I fell to the earth.
T.L.'s message had painted a picture for me. That was the night I made up my mind that I cannot miss this great event that will transpire one day! It was the night I became aware of the coming of Christ.
Every Generation Looks to the Future
In Scripture, it appears that every generation looks to the future. Every generation has some type of promise or warning that keeps them moving forward until the moment of fulfillment.
- Noah anticipated a coming flood during his lifetime (Genesis 6:1-4).
- Jacob anticipated marrying Rachel (Genesis 29).
- Abraham waited 24 years to receive his son of promise (Genesis 17).
- Israel waited 400 years for their time of deliverance from Egypt (Genesis 15:13).
- Joshua and Caleb waited 40 years, knowing they would see the Promised Land (Joshua 14:6-7).
- David patiently waited until Saul's death before taking the throne as king (2 Samuel 1).
- The Jews knew that after 70 years they would return from Babylon (Jeremiah 25:11)
When a generation has a promise, they do not always know WHEN the promise will come to pass. The old rabbi, Simeon, who daily entered the Temple in Jerusalem, knew he would not die until he saw the Messiah.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ (Luke 2:26).
Imagine being able to withhold death because you had a promise. Once Simon saw Mary and Jesus, he knew he had seen the Messiah. He then prayed:
Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation (Luke 2:29, 30).
Today's generation is continuing to look into the future and anticipate the promise God has for us. We are anticipating the gospel being preached around the world (Matthew 24:14). We are preparing for and participating in the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will impact the sons and daughters (Acts 2:17). We are discerning the present and future signs of Christ's return! We are a generation with a future!
Some would reason, “Didn't your grandparents and parents also look forward to the return of Christ, and some have passed away not seeing it occur?' This is true. I am reminded, however, of all those faith heroes in Hebrews 11 who preformed marvelous feats. Yet, the Scripture says:
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16).
Never lose faith in God's promises! Never quit anticipating the future! Never forget those simple messages that put faith in your heart even when you were a child!
Christ will return! He really will!