One of the signs prior to Jesus’ return would be that this gospel, the one Jesus brought (Mark 1:15), would be preached to all nations, and then the end would come (His return to judge the world). Haven’t most nations now been penetrated by the gospel? That doesn’t mean all people in these nations have heard the gospel, but the gospel has now gone into all nations when you think about the reach that radio has had, as well as satellites, the Internet (where available), or other wireless devices. Add to these the work of missionaries and Bible tracts that have been distributed worldwide, so on the surface at least, it appears that all nations have been reached. Again, all nations do not mean all people in all nations, since that is logistically impossible. That doesn’t really matter though because all of us have no excuse, wherever we live (Rom 1:18-21). Jesus tells us when the end of the age will come in Matthew 24:14 where He says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Has that happened? If not, it is so very, very close that you can almost taste it. Of course, the church has always lived with that expectation.
So what does it mean hastening the coming of the Lord?:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. (2 Peter 3:10-14 NKJV)
We see from Scripture that hastening the coming of our Lord is not about the spreading of the Gospel. It is about the righteous Christians living an holy life in the midst of a perverse generation. Read the Scriptures what it says about Lot:
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. (2 Peter 2:6-8 KJV)
Read what David Wilkerson has to say about this:
CHOSEN TO BEAR FRUIT
David Wilkerson (1931-2011)
August 4, 2022
Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you” (John 15:16, NKJV). Many sincere Christians think bearing fruit means simply to bring souls to Christ. Bearing fruit, though, means something much larger even than soulwinning.
The fruit Jesus is talking about is Christ-likeness. Simply put, bearing fruit means reflecting the likeness of Jesus. The phrase “much fruit” means “the ever-increasing likeness of Christ.” Growing more and more into Jesus’ likeness is our core purpose in life. It has to be central to all our activities, our lifestyle, our relationships. Indeed, all our gifts, callings, work, ministry and witness must flow out of this core purpose.
If I am not Christlike at heart, if I’m not becoming noticeably more like him, I have missed God’s purpose in my life.
God’s purpose for me can’t be fulfilled by what I do for Christ. It can’t be measured by anything I achieve, even if I heal the sick or cast out demons. No, God’s purpose is fulfilled in me only by what I am becoming in him. Christlikeness isn’t about what I do for the Lord but rather how I’m being transformed into his likeness.
Go into a Christian bookstore and read the titles on the shelves. Most are self-help books on how to overcome loneliness, survive depression, find fulfillment. Why is this? It’s because we have it all wrong. We aren’t called to be successes and be free of all trouble. No, we are missing the one calling that’s meant to be central to our lives, to become fruitful in the likeness of Christ.
Jesus was totally given to the Father. He stated, “I don’t do or say anything except what my Father tells me.”
Does your desire to bear “much fruit” spring forth from wanting to become more like Christ? We fulfill our life’s purpose only as we begin to love others like Christ has loved us. “As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love” (John 15:9). His command is clear and simple: “Give to others the unconditional love I have shown you.” We grow more Christlike as our love for others increases. Bearing fruit comes down to how we treat people.
According to Scriptures, things are ripe for the Rapture to take place and the Tribulation to begin. Jesus will come back like a thief in the night, but not as a thief to the children of light who are looking at the signs of His coming and anxiously awaiting His return:
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-5, 8-9 KJV)
So where does this leave us. Yes we are to continue spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But more importantly to live a pure, holy, Christlike life in the midst of our wicked generation. This is what will truly hasten His coming, as the world is ripe for it according to the fulfillment of all Scriptures, especially Matthew 24:12 which sets the stage for it. As the Father looks down and is ready to say, “My Son, it is time to Rapture Your Bride. The Good News has gone out to every nation. Since then, Your people have been hastening Your coming by living a Christlike life in the midst of a perverse generation around them. They are awake, having their lamps filled with oil, and anxiously looking up!” As the second to the last verse in the Bible emphatically states, “Amen, come LORD Jesus!”
Annointing 