With so much being said about the year 2000, i.e. Y2K, one has to wonder whom to believe. Generally, there are two views: One says that there probably will be problems, but that it won't be so bad; and even though it might cause some inconveniences for some time, they'll be worked out. But the other view claims that there could be some major catastrophes, including very serious problems. There are even those that say it could be the end of the world!

   Now, my purpose for this article is not to prove, or disprove, what is being said about the Y2K. My purpose is to declare to you that no matter what happens, or doesn't happen, in the year 2000, you still need to be prepared for it! Why? Simply because you don't know the future! But if you know Him who knows the future, and holds the future in His hands, then you will prepared for it, no matter what! Yes, my dear reader, it's imperative that you know Him who declared "the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done", yes, the One who said, "Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it" (Isaiah 46:10,11).

   Throughout the Bible God has been pleased to revealed the future, and so we can say that we know what is going to happen; and to be precise, we know that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back as He promised in John 14:2,3: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also". But also we know that it will not be a happy occasion for many, "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). So you can see that the future has hope for many, but not for everybody!

   Let me at this point make a connection with the year 2000 and the Return of the Lord Jesus for His people and, for the judgment of those that know Him not; and I do this for your serious consideration of it. First, we read in 2 Peter 3:8 "that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day"; and then in Psalm 90:4 that "a thousand years in (God's) sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night". What I like to show you, my dear friend, is that according to God's Word is that a thousand years can refer to a day, as well as a day can refer to a thousand years! Now, having said this, where do you suppose we could make a connection between six days and six thousand years? Well, I believe we can do so in the six days  of creation in Genesis chapter 1, and that according to the genealogies of the Scriptures, I believe (as well as many others) that from the creation of Adam, man has only been on this earth for about six thousand years, i.e. from the year 2000 back to 0 (when the Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem), and then 4000 B.C. (Of course, this are approximate figures since man has played with the calendars, and so we can be off a few years.) Nevertheless, what I am saying is that if this is true, (and I believe that it is), then the seventh day of Genesis chapter 2, which is the Sabbath, or day of rest, is very significant with respect to the year 2000!

   We read in Genesis 2 that "the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them" (i.e. on the first six days). "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made" (vv.1,2). Then in Hebrews chapter 4 there is a reference made with respect to this rest (v.4), which is a type, or picture, of the rest that the people of God will enter into; "for he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his" (v.10). But this goes back to when Israel, i.e. the people of God, were redeemed from Egypt (which is a type of the world), and were to enter the promised land of Canaan (which is a type of heaven), to enter into their rest (vv.1-10). So when we apply this to today, it means then that the Church, which the Lord Jesus said He would built (Matthew 16:18), made up of the redeemed (the people of God) from the world (the anti-type of Egypt), will one day enter their rest when they enter heaven (the promised land). So, then, if one day refers to one thousand years, can we say that the year 2000 is the end of the six days, and that begans the seventh day, i.e. the Millennium, or the rest for the people of God in heaven?

   Now, don't misunderstand me: I'm not setting a date of any sort with respect to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, or Judgment Day, or the end of the world. Although these things will take place, I don't know when they will occur. All I'm trying to do is to get you to think of the seriousness of Y2K; and not so much with those things that have to do with food, water, money, electricity, etc., that are of the physical and natural things of life, but of the spiritual things of God and, especially of your own personal relationship with Him in Christ Jesus. What is being said of Y2K might, or might not, happen; or even when I suggested that the year 2000 could be the beginning of the seventh day of rest not be true, it still doesn't take away the importance of you getting right with God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior! When it comes down to it, my dear friend, whether it be Y2K, or the end of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ is YOUR ONLY HOPE!!!

   The Bible makes it very clear that many terrible and frightening things will take place before Christ returns for His church and to judge the world, and the worst of what is being said of Y2K might be part of that; nevertheless, it's only those that are in Christ Jesus that will be able to endure to the end through the suffering and persecution  that they might have to go through. But no matter what it might be, He promised to never leave or forsake those that trust in Him, so that they will be able to enter into their rest! Are you ready for Y2K?

   Because all that we do, or don't do, is in relation with God (since He is our Creator!), and so we are to "fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). But since "by one man" (i.e. Adam) "sin entered into the world..., therefore...by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation...; for...by one man's disobedience many were made sinners" (Roman 5:12,18,19), we are now sinners and, outside of God's will and of His protection. So, if Y2K does get as bad as some are saying, and/or it is the seventh day wherein Christ comes back to give rest to His people, what are you going to do if your sins are not forgiven by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Ephesians 2:12 says that you have "no hope, and"  are "without God in the world"!

   My dear reader, the ONLY WAY to be prepared, not only for Y2K, but also for Judgment Day and the end of the world, is that you have "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). When Christ died on the Cross for sinners, (which all of us are: Romans 3:23), now the Creator and Sovereign of the universe can forgive us our sins and reconcile us to Him "by the death of his Son" (Romans 5:10); "for (God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). In other words, when we repent of our sins against a Holy and Righteous God, and believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, He forgives all our sins and declares us righteous before Him! All Praise and Glory be to Him!!!

   The proof that this is true is that Christ Jesus has risen from the dead; and because He did so, He can save "to the uttermost them that come to God by him, seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). Because He lives, we know that we also will live with Him forever; and that is our hope because He is coming back to take us home if we believe on Him. So no matter what Y2K brings, we know that it "is but for a moment", which "worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things whiich are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthains 4:17,18).

   So, my friend, trust on the Lord Jesus Christ, give Him your life so that He becomes your LIfe; and the promise is that if you "seek...first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;...all these things" (that you need today, or in the Y2K) "shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:35,37). HALLELUJAH!!!