Michael Youssef: How You Can Prepare for Christ’s Return

If you do an internet search asking questions such as “What does the Bible teach about hell?” some of the first few results will be from false teachers. Here are the titles of webpages that popped up at the top of my search:

• “Hell Is Not a Biblical Concept.”
• “Jesus Christ Did Not Teach or Believe in Hell.”
• “There Is No Hell in the Bible.”
• “Heaven and Hell Are ‘Not What Jesus Preached,’ Religion Scholar Says.”

It is shocking that so many of these false teachers will look you in the eye and deny what is plainly printed on the pages of God’s Word.

Jesus spoke more about heaven and hell than any other preacher or prophet in the Bible. Jesus spoke more about hell then He spoke about heaven. Yet He always talked about judgment in the most caring and compassionate language. Why? Because He was pleading with people to repent, to receive the free gift of salvation and to escape the wrath to come. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because the people’s rejection of Him would result in judgment. And He weeps over every human soul who rejects Him and incurs the coming judgment.

As we wait for Him to come back for us, Jesus warns us not to be deceived by false messiahs and false preachers and their deceptive teachings. He pleads with us to repent and accept God’s plan of salvation. He pleads with us to take refuge in Him from the wrath to come.

Jesus’ Message to Us Through the Parable of the 10 Virgins

In the Parable of the 10 Virgins (see Matthew 25:1-13), Jesus provides a challenging message to all of us as we anticipate His coming. In the parable, the bridegroom, of course, is Jesus. Everyone expected the wedding to begin at a certain time, but the bridegroom was late. He arrived much later than anyone expected—at midnight.

The 10 virgins represent all who claim to be Christians, all who claim to be awaiting the return of Jesus. There were five virgins who were wise and five who were foolish. The five wise virgins brought extra oil for their lamps, just in case the bridegroom was late. When he arrived at midnight, they were ready. The five foolish virgins were caught unprepared—and when they had to go out to buy oil, the doors were shut and they were locked out of the wedding.

Please don’t miss these words of Scripture: “Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you'” (Matthew 25:11-12)

What did the wise virgins and foolish virgins have in common? All 10 virgins were invited and had responded to the invitation. All of them believed that the bridegroom was coming. All of them fell asleep. But at midnight, when the bridegroom arrived, those similarities disappeared. Only the five wise virgins were prepared for His coming.

The Bible tells us that, at the end of history, there will be a great falling away. Many who claim to know Christ, who claim to be Christians, will be revealed as faithless. About those days Jesus warned, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13).

Many in the church today are like the foolish virgins in Jesus’s parable. They have fallen asleep and are unprepared for His coming.

It’s time to wake up and prepare for His return. It’s time to ask God to strengthen our faith and give us power to work for His kingdom, knowing that the Bridegroom could arrive at any moment. {eoa}

For more information or to order Michael Youssef’s book, “Is the End Near,” please visit mycharismashop.com.

Dr. Michael Youssef was born in Egypt and lived in Lebanon and Australia before coming to the United States, where he fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming an American citizen. He holds degrees from Moore College in Sydney and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a doctorate in social anthropology from Emory University in Atlanta. He founded The Church of the Apostles, which was the launching pad for his Leading The Way television and radio international broadcast ministry. Dr. Youssef has authored more than forty books, including popular titles such as Saving Christianity? and Hope for This Present Crisis. He and his wife, Elizabeth, reside in Atlanta.