My child's dad?

Hey, there old man!

What's up? I'm not deaf, you know.

Look how hard you're working.

That makes three titles for me in one breath.

Peel the garlic.

I'm trying to write a sermon here, and I'm stuck.

You're interrupting me.

Hey. You're the one whose spiritual well seems to be dry,

and you're blaming me for it?

Come now, let me see it.

You've been at this all morning long,

and you've written just one sentence.

"It's important we all soberly wait to welcome the Lord."

How's that wrong?

Don't you know we're well into the last days?

Disasters are becoming worse and worse,

and there's just no telling when the Lord will return.

So we must soberly wait.

We all wait and wait and we look forward to it.

We haven't welcomed the Lord,

but we have found lightning that arrives to us from the east.

Eastern Lightning says the Lord's already returned.

It always makes me wonder,

has the Lord already appeared somewhere else and we just don't know about it?

Until I have figured that out, never will I feel assured!

But why wouldn't you feel assured?

When the Lord really comes back,

He'll be riding upon a cloud in plain sight for all to see.

So Eastern Lightning says that the Lord is back.

Have you seen Him?

As I see it, something's wrong with your starting point.

What's wrong with it?

They've come to spread the gospel so many times,

I think something's wrong with you for refusing to listen.

I really admire both their strength and dedication.

Let's take Brother Zhen Zhizhuo as an example, (Please not him …)

he's amazingly persistent!

No matter if it's very hot or cold, if there's wind or rain,

it won't stop—(But what is it that you admire about that?)

When I think back on my time working for the Lord,

I recall sleeping under the stars and the moon— (Hey hey … enough, enough.)

Can we not go over your glorious past again?

Don't you want to hear it?

It's not that I don't want to,

it's that I'd rather break a hip.

Day in day out I have to listen to these old stories.

What's the point?

It's not like my faith has grown any, has it?

I've spent a lifetime with you and we still can't communicate. (Knock it off.)

Go get the door. (Who's this now?)

You are home! Hello brother!

Oh boy,

Zhen Zhizhuo!

There you go speak of the devil!

Your mouth must have magic.

Hello Brother Zhen, come on in. (Thanks.)

What are you two doing, practicing some tai chi?

Oh, that's heavy rain!

Here, come inside.

Come on in.

Oh boy.

I'll get you a drink. (Looks like this rain is falling just for you.)

Forecast inspired you?

Brother Chang, you're very humorous.

That said, God has given us an opportunity.

Come on, let's talk for a bit.

Hey, hold on.

It's raining, and I realize that you have nowhere to go.

If you're thirsty, you can have a drink, (Here.)

and you're welcome to eat,

but if you're here to talk of Eastern Lightning,

invite yourself out.

My husband can be very rude.

Here, sit down.

Alright, we won't talk of Eastern Lightning.

Brother Chang,

you've believed for decades, therefore, you must know the Bible.

I've read it a few dozen times.

Then, why don't we discuss the Bible?

You want to discuss the Bible?

How long have you believed?

For about 5 years.

And how many times have you read it?

I've only read the Bible once.

Why don't you stop now and spare yourself embarrassment?

Don't be so rude!

I'm just letting him know! (Brother Chang.)

I don't grasp much of the Bible, so I'd love to learn more from you.

Listen, kiddo.

Why doesn't he understand that I'm trying to give him a way out of this?

Why won't he take what I'm offering?

He doesn't look frightened to me.

Actually, you seem frightened.

What did you just say?

Me?

Yeah.

I've believed for decades, I've read the Bible dozens of times.

He has just believed 5 years

and only read the Bible one time.

Why would we discuss anything?

He wants to discuss it and you won't.

Looks to me, like you're the one who's scared.

I'm scared? (Yeah.)

Yeah? You think that? Then I will discuss it.

Zhen Zhizhuo, (Yes?)

I have something to propose.

If I understand you, and am convinced,

then we can fellowship.

Excellent. Brother Chang, do you promise?

I mean what I say.

Go ahead!

Now listen.

The Bible quite clearly prophesies,

But you testify the Lord has secretly come as incarnate flesh,

so as to do work.

Indeed.

What is that based on?

Can you find it and show me?

Brother Chang,

there's many prophecies in there of the Lord coming in secret.

Revelation 16 verse 15,

Also Matthew 25 verse 6—

And Revelation 3 verse 20.

Oh honey, you read that so wonderfully!

Calm down.

Brother Chang, you know the Bible,

so you know that all of these prophecies,

"the bridegroom comes," "I come as a thief,"

and "I stand at the door, and knock" all refer to the Lord's return.

Obviously. Was there ever any doubt?

But then, if the Lord descends in a cloud, for every person to see,

who'd need to shout that "the bridegroom comes"?

That …

What's your "that" about?

If all can behold Him, why would any shout?

Also,

if the Lord does descend in a cloud,

then how could He stand outside the door and knock?

That's right!

After all these years, how come I've never thought about that?

If the Lord stands outside and knocks,

how could He knock from among the clouds?

If all can behold Him, they wouldn't need to shout.

Just what is going on here?

Brother Zhen, won't you please continue?

'Kay.

When Lord Jesus said,

"the bridegroom comes," "I come as a thief,"

and "I stand at the door, and knock,"

what He meant was His coming in secret.

So then He comes in secret,

and He also comes in a cloud.

How does He accomplish that?

When the Lord returns,

He comes in secret, and then appears openly.

This is to say,

the Lord first returns in secret as incarnate flesh

to do the work of judging, purifying, and saving man.

Once He makes a group of overcomers,

His work in secret is over.

Once that happens, God sends the great disaster,

rewards good, and punishes evil, and that's when He appears publicly to all.

And does my fellowship accord with the Bible?

The Lord comes at first in secret, and then appears publicly.

That fits perfectly with the Lord's prophecies.

That's correct.

My dear husband,

I have always said there's mystery in the Lord's return.

We've just been looking for the Lord to come in a cloud,

we've ignored the prophecies of Him coming in secret.

How can we welcome the Lord like that?

Hmm, that's got to be the way it is.