This pandemic is just getting worse and worse,

and we have no idea how long it'll last.

Lots of people feel like the end times are upon us, and they're frightened!

Who wouldn't be scared to die, though?

Well, fear alone is useless, though.

What would you say we should be focusing on as believers through all of this?

We have to repent to the Lord so that He'll protect and keep us safe from the pandemic.

You're not wrong.

Back in the Age of Law, what did the Ninevites do when faced with their own plague?

A prophet told them God was going to destroy Nineveh.

From the king and nobles down to the commoners,

everyone put on sacks and ashes and knelt to repent before God.

Only then did Jehovah God change His mind and spare Nineveh in the end.

As people of faith, we all know

that Nineveh's king led his subjects in repentance to God.

- That was something special. - It really was.

So now that we're all living in the last days,

why haven't we seen any world leaders act like king of Nineveh,

leading their people in repentance to God?

Yes, yes, you're right there.

Right? Why do you think people living in the last days don't know

that God rules all and our fate is in His hands?

Non-believers just deny God's existence.

So why would they think that He rules our fates then?

They really don't believe that only God can forgive our sins,

that confessing and repenting to Him is the only way to escape disaster.

That's why in the pandemic,

they isolate, stay at home, shut inside, and do nothing at all.

They don't know what else to do.

But don't they always say

"God sees all" and "Heaven has a plan for us all in the end"?

They do.

Then when a pandemic happens,

why do they deny God's existence and rule?

Because they don't believe in God at all, Brother Li,

they wouldn't repent because of a pandemic.

Yeah.

All they can do is quarantine, sit at home and do nothing at all.

Besides that, they can't do anything.

Fair enough.

But we believe in the Lord, so we're different.

Oh, how so?

Well, in the pandemic,

we make sure to pray, confess, and repent twice as much.

Doing this will guarantee we will be safe from the disaster.

Our faith in this is unwavering.

The faith you have is so very special.

Yes, it is.

But you say confessing all our sins to the Lord guarantees nothing will happen to us.

Yeah.

- Does that really work? - Doesn't it?

Is confession the same thing as repentance?

I don't think that it is.

Wait, wait, wait.

We pray and confess to the Lord, and then He forgives us of our sins.

Isn't that what true repentance is?

It's true that our sins are forgiven through our faith,

but is that really the same thing as true repentance?

But, isn't it so?

We are always praying and confessing,

but we continue to lie, commit sins, and can't practice the Lord's words.

We just sin and confess constantly.

It's kind of an endless cycle.

Is that true repentance?

Well, when you say it like that,

there does seem to be something to it.

See?

So, prayer and confession to God doesn't count as true repentance, then?

If that's the only thing we do without putting His words into practice,

then it's not true repentance.

And remember what Matthew 7:21–23 says?

What do you think about these Bible verses?

Has everyone who cries "Lord, Lord" really repented?

No.

That's right.

- Not everyone. - Actually—

You know some people just confess without actually repenting,

and the Lord could never applaud them.

But people who are humble, patient, who can discipline their body,

and who take up a cross to follow the Lord,

haven't they all truly repented then?

So that's what you think true repentance is.

Is that not right?

It's not wrong per se. I think you're just a little off.

Sure—

Huh? I'm off?

Are you saying that true repentance is just behaving yourself well?

Isn't it? What else is there?

Of course it isn't.

The Pharisees explained the Scriptures every day

and traveled all over to preach the gospel.

They appeared to do many good deeds.

Oh sure.

Everyone believed they were very devout,

but when the Lord Jesus came and did His work,

the Pharisees showed their true colors.

They condemned Him and helped the Romans put Him to death on the cross.

What was the problem?

Why did the Lord curse them with the seven woes?

If they'd truly repented, how could they've resisted and condemned Him?

Isn't that right?

That's really a good point there.

So doing good doesn't count as truly repenting then?

- Of course not. - Oh?

Think about it.

If someone only acts like a good person, always confessing and praying to the Lord

but then simply can't help themselves but to lie and sin, even resist God,

do they submit to God?

Do they do His will?

Would the Lord approve of them?

- Absolutely not. - Why not then?

If they condemn, resist the Lord, how could that be true repentance?

Now you know what true repentance is.

Anyone who's been forgiven by God but who keeps resisting Him

hasn't truly repented at all by any means.

Plenty of believers leave everything behind to spread the gospel and to bear witness,

but they never once submit to the Lord or practice the truth.

They don't live by His words one bit.

Has this kind of person genuinely repented then?

I don't think they have. No, that's not true repentance.

Now you're getting it.

All true believers will sacrifice themselves and do anything for the Lord,

so why aren't all of their sacrifices and their hard work

commended by the Lord then?

Have you ever thought about that?

It's never crossed my mind.

But I do think that

we should all try to be like Paul and spread the gospel.

Nothing wrong with that, is there?

Well, think about it.

Why do we make all of our sacrifices and work hard for the Lord?

Isn't it to be rewarded and get into heaven?

What's wrong with that though?

Of course we do that to get into heaven, brother.

Then isn't it all for personal gain?

Is it really God's will then?

Or is it like a deal with God?

- A deal? - That's right.

Everyone makes sacrifices and works hard for the Lord,

only so they can get into heaven.

Isn't that a problem?

Uh, yeah.

Wow, it really is a problem.

Why didn't it ever occur to me?

God looks deep within our hearts.

Do you really think He wouldn't see something as important as what truly drives us?

He sees if people truly obey and revere Him,

if they truly love Him,

or if they do things just for a reward, or for God.

It's like night and day.

When you put it that way, I think I do get it.

So all our hard work and sacrifice for the Lord

shouldn't be just because we want to get into heaven.

Exactly.

It should be to love and satisfy God.

I never understood that all before.

Now think about this.

Yeah?

If someone believes in the Lord and has been forgiven by Him,

and they make sacrifices for God and do many good things for others,

has this person truly repented, or not?

I really couldn't say.

Does he still sin and go against the Lord?

If he really submits to God, then he'd have truly repented.

Yup. You hit the nail on the head.

Yes.

Understanding what true repentance is isn't an easy task at all.

You're right.

Now picture this—

Okay, okay, hold on, one second.

Now, I have a question for you, brother.

Sure, go for it.

Alright. We pray every day to the Lord and try to live disciplined lives,

so why can't we just get rid of sin or truly repent to God?

Explain to me, what's really going on?

It's because people are sinful by nature.

- Sinful by nature? - That's right.

The Lord Jesus redeemed us all in the Age of Grace,

so through our faith, we've been forgiven our sins,

but we're still all sinful by nature to our core.

Yes, we're all arrogant, self-righteous,

cunning, evil, selfish, and greedy.

Our sinful nature has us all in its death grip.

That's why we always live in sin,

and no matter how much we pray and confess or discipline ourselves,

we can't escape the bonds of sin or truly repent.

So that's the root of all sin then!

Exactly.

Then how could we ever escape our sinful nature?

The Lord said He would return

to express to us all the truth to judge and cleanse us,

and to completely free us of our sinful nature.

You're saying

that the Lord's going to return for judgment and free us of sin forever?

Right.

There are actually quite a few biblical prophecies

about the Lord coming back to us for judgment.

What are they then?

Here are a few:

And what does it say in 1 Peter 4:17?

Yes. The Lord also said,

Yes.

God's words here are quite opaque.

They actually mean that

God will come in the last days to utter truth for judgment,

and personally guide us to enter all the truths

that can fully wash us free and save us from Satan's corruption.

Now I'm learning so much today!

The Lord coming back for the judgment work is in line with the Scripture.

It is.

What's wrong?

How exactly did you figure this out?

Why haven't I heard about all this?

Without God revealing to us the truths and mysteries, no one would know.

There's a key prophecy in Revelation.

Which one?

Why is this one repeated so much?

Huh? Why is it?

It's showing people the path to welcome the Lord.

Oh. There's a path to welcome the Lord?

Of course.

If you hear what the Holy Spirit says to the churches,

and you're sure in your heart that it's really the voice of God,

isn't that welcoming the Lord?

Then where can I find the Holy Spirit's words to the churches?

Why haven't I heard anything!

What the Holy Spirit says to the churches is already online.

I've only welcomed the Lord because I've read what the Holy Spirit's said.

You've welcomed the Lord?

- That's right! - Really?

The Lord Jesus has returned. He's Almighty God in the flesh.

He utters truth and brings judgment starting with His house

to finally cleanse and save us, lead us to His kingdom.

So tell me then, how exactly does the Lord perform judgment?

You'll get it once I've read some words of Almighty God.

Oh, great.

Oh, let me read the rest.

Okay.

How do you feel after reading Almighty God's words?