{"id":3068,"date":"2023-11-30T20:27:44","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3068"},"modified":"2023-12-09T08:54:19","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T08:54:19","slug":"3-december-2023-when-will-jesus-return-part-5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3068","title":{"rendered":"3 December 2023: When will Jesus return? (part 5)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:40% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/20231203.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3069 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/20231203.jpg 640w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/20231203-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/20231203-24x16.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/20231203-36x25.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/20231203-48x33.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>3 December 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3062\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3074\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Stella<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cThe tree in the garden was growing and spreading its branches. The gardener had to cut off certain branches and trim the tree to make it more fruitful. So it is with us His children. The Lord has to prune us so we can grow more and more in His likeness with ever increasing glory.\u201d<br><\/em><br>Stella<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Church&#039;s One Foundation (Tune: Aurelia - 5vv) [with lyrics for congregations]\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bCdASxyPIKE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sup>Songwriters: Chris Rice. For non-commercial use only.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When will Jesus Return?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we read Scripture we start to get the impression that before Jesus returns, a great tribulation will occur,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For then <strong>there will be great tribulation, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now\u2014and never to be equalled again<\/strong> \u2026 &nbsp;\u2018If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened \u2026 \u2018Immediately after <strong>the tribulation<\/strong> of those days \u2018<em>\u201cthe sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.\u201d<\/em> &nbsp;\u2018Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth&nbsp;will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory&#8217;.<\/p>\n<cite>Matt. 24:21-30<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open Doors have been compiling a \u2018World Watch List\u2019 since 1993 ranking the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution e.g., in 2023,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\">\n<li>North Korea, again<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Somalia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yemen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eritrea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Libya<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nigeria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pakistan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iran<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Afghanistan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sudan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These were all listed as being countries with <em>\u201cExtreme\u201d<\/em> Persecution levels against Christians. The remaining countries No.\u2019s 12-50 were listed as having <em>\u201cVery High\u201d<\/em> Levels of Persecution against Christians. Again who can know through the centuries when records were not kept, how many Christians have suffered even died for their faith? Wayne Grudem concludes on this subject:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201c\u2026 though we may think that Jesus\u2019 words indicate the likelihood of a yet greater persecution coming in the future, it is difficult to be certain of this. Is seems appropriate to conclude that it is unlikely but possible that the predication of a great tribulation has already been fulfilled.\u201d<\/em><br><br>Wayne Grudem<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cOne of the shocking untold stories of our time, is that more Christians have died this century, simply for being Christians, than in any century since Christ was born.\u201d<\/em><br><br>A. M. Rosenthal, New York Times Executive Editor, 1977-1986<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verse<\/strong><strong> of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.&nbsp;Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.&nbsp;They were put to death by stoning;&nbsp;they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and ill-treated&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. <\/p>\n<cite>Hebrews 11:35-38<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heavenly Father, we pray for all Your people who right now are undergoing terrible persecution for their stand for You. Strengthen them by Your Spirit in Jesus Christ, Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome Stella \u201cThe tree in the garden was growing and spreading its branches. The gardener had to cut off certain branches and trim the tree to make it more fruitful. So it is with us His children. The Lord has to prune us so we can grow more and more in His likeness with ever &#8230; <a title=\"3 December 2023: When will Jesus return? (part 5)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3068\" aria-label=\"Read more about 3 December 2023: When will Jesus return? (part 5)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3068","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3068"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3079,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3068\/revisions\/3079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}