Christians must live in readiness for the second coming of Jesus Christ by demonstrating their faith through righteous and Christ-like conduct, rather than merely professing to be saved, the Director of East Asia Work of the Apostolic Faith Church, Brother Bill McKibben, has warned.
McKibben gave the warning while delivering the devotional service sermon at the ongoing WECA 2026 Campmeeting at Faith City, Ketu Adie-Owe Road, Off Atan Agbara, Igbesa, Ogun State, where he spoke on the theme, “The Second Coming of Christ.” In attendance were his wife, Sister Lori, and a delegate from India.
Brother McKibben is a prominent minister, pastor, and leader with the Apostolic Faith Church, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. He is a prominent American environmentalist, author, and journalist who wrote The End of Nature, widely considered the first book about climate change for a general audience.
He said the anticipated return of Christ would transcend national, ethnic, and racial identities, stressing that Christians across the world share one identity, their identity in Christ Jesus.
“There is much talk today in the world about identity, but Christians don’t have an identity crisis. We are in Christ Jesus,” McKibben said.
He noted that the coming of Christ would bring believers together irrespective of their countries or backgrounds.
“No Jew, no Greek, no Seattle, no American or Nigerian, or from the Ivory Coast or Benin Republic, or Ghana or India or South Africa. We are in Christ. When the trumpet sounds, we will go up together to meet the Lord in the air,” he said.
However, McKibben cautioned Christians against assuming that a verbal profession of salvation automatically guarantees their participation in the rapture.
He urged believers to examine their daily conduct, relationships and treatment of others, insisting that genuine Christian faith must be reflected in their lifestyles.
“I want to warn you. Just saying you are saved is not enough,” he said.
McKibben specifically warned that unresolved offences, mistreatment of spouses, dishonesty and failure to fulfil financial obligations could contradict the Christian profession.
“Don’t be deceived that you will make the rapture if you have something against your brother. Don’t be deceived you will make rapture if you mistreat your wife,” he said.
He added: “Don’t be deceived that you will make the rapture if you don’t pay your debt and live with integrity because Christians live as a reflection of Christ.”
The preacher’s message, therefore, emphasized practical Christian living as evidence of readiness for Christ’s return, rather than religious claims without corresponding conduct.
Using marriage as an example, McKibben said his relationship with his wife had been shaped by their shared faith in Christ.
“I told you my wife and I have been married almost 50 years. She was my sister in the Lord before she was my wife. I treat her like a sister in the Lord,” he said.
He anchored the responsibility of husbands towards their wives on the biblical command that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it.
The sermon framed the second coming of Christ not merely as an event to anticipate but as a call for Christians to live every day in holiness, integrity, forgiveness and love.
The WECA 2026 Campmeeting continues at Igbesa, bringing together members and worshippers of the Apostolic Faith Church for worship, teaching, spiritual renewal and fellowship.
