1. Is He
coming?
1
Thessalonians 4:14 “For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life
again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him
the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who
are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who
have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.
First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then,
together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be
caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the
Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.”
a. This is
the blessed hope, which we are commanded to encourage one another with.
i. Encourage
literally means to pour courage or to put courage into.
Illustrate Here: Have 2 liter bottles filled
with water and pour them out into a container. Representing courage, hope,
love, heaven, forgiveness, grace, eternal life, healing and restoration.
Hebrews
9:27 “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that
comes judgment, 28 so
also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many
people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation
to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.”
b. The New
Testament declares His coming, in fact in the 260 chapters of the New
Testament, the second coming of Christ is definitively referred to 318 times.
i. The word
covenant appears 318 times in scripture as well.
ii. God’s
word to us is covenant not a contract.
iii. Covenants
are created with blood, and life binding oaths contracts are made with paper
and there are always loopholes.
c. The last
prayer in the bible is a great heart throbbing cry for His return.
Revelation
22 “Even so come quickly Lord Jesus.” And the answer still rings from
heaven: Revelation 22:12 "Look, I
am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to
their deeds.”
d. Jesus is
coming!
e. The
bible says He’s returning, the Old Testament prophets say He’s returning
trustworthy men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Micah,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, then the New Testament prophets beg for a warning
to us, Peter, Paul, and John.
f.
Next, heaven speaks of His returning as Gabriel,
the four living creatures, the 24 elders, the angels of God, and finally the
tribulation martyrs testify.
g. Finally
He’s coming back because He said so.
i. What if
He should come tonight or right now?
ii. Does
your heart explode at the thought?
iii. Are you
ready to meet Him, walking in His grace and love and if you are not then today
is your day, say yes to Him.
2. How is
He coming?
a. No truth
is more firmly established on Bible foundation, no truth more emphasized in the
Word than the second coming of Jesus.
i. There
are tons of theories but
scripture declares that His coming will be attended by opening graves,
resurrected saints, breathtaking power and wonder.
b. His
coming is to be sudden.
i. He is to
appear in the “twinkling of an eye.”
Matthew
24:36 "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will
happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father
knows. 37 "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's
day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and
parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People
didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all
away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 "Two men
will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41
Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other
left. 42 "So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your
Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar
was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44
You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least
expected.”
a.
Vs. 37 Jesus’ return will not be in a time of
global chaos, catastrophic events occurring as people everywhere cry out in
agony, begging for death.
a. At least
not in the way some portray, but at a time when people are carrying on life in
a normal fashion, like the days of Noah (eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage).
i. This is
not to say that everything will be peaceful.
ii. We have
had wars and persecutions all through history and they will continue to come.
b.
But there must be a readiness in every one of our
hearts and lives for Jesus.
a. Ready
for Him to encourage me, ready for Him to convict me, ready for Him to change
me, ready for Him to return to get me.
b. Because
I know Him, I will be with Him forever.
c. Because
I know Him He is coming for me.
d. Because
I know Him I can be confident in His powerful promise to return.
i. See, I
can know about Him and not know Him, expound.
Acts 1:9
“After saying this, He was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and
they could no longer see Him. 10 As they strained to see Him rising into
heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 "Men of
Galilee," they said, "why are you standing here staring into heaven?
Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday He will return from
heaven in the same way you saw Him go!"
c.
His disciples stood and watched Him go up, and up,
until the clouds hid Him from their view.
a. He will
return in the same way He left making Himself visible to us who are waiting for
Him.
i. He will
descend from heaven, come in power, bringing an innumerable company of angles
to take us home.
ii. He is
coming with a shout and no grave will be so far distant in Africa’s burning
sand or Greenland’s icy mountains.
1. That Christ’s
voice will not reach and make a way into.
iii. No stone
or mausoleum so solid, that His voice will not break through.
1. This
shout will be heard in every location of the earth where there abides a
waiting, ready heart.
3. When is
He coming?
a. The only "sign" that we will
have of Jesus coming will be His actual coming.
i. We are
to look forward to Christ's return in every moment; living responsibly,
faithfully, compassionately, and courageously.
Matthew
24:4 “Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come
in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many. 6 And you
will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must
take place, but the end won't follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and
earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the
birth pains, with more to come. 9 "Then you will be arrested, persecuted,
and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are My followers. 10
And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many
false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant
everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to
the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be
preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then
the end will come.”
a. The
persecution, false prophets, and general downgrade of society will not prevent
the spread of the gospel.
i. Before
the end the gospel is to be preached for a witness unto all nations: not that
all nations will be converted, but all nations shall have had the opportunity
given them of deciding whether they are for or against Christ.
1. We the
church should take seriously as our duty.
ii. I live
my life believing we are in the last season of grace.
1. Judgment
is to come and I want to be ready.
b. Christ
is coming as a thief in the night.
iii. A thief
comes with a definite object in view, and when it is accomplished he quickly, quietly
disappears, carrying with Him that for which he came.
iv. And the
richest of all treasures the earth holds today are followers of Christ.
2. He is
coming as a mighty warrior, victorious over death, hell, and the grave.
4. For whom
is He coming?
a. He is
coming for the ready.
i. I don't
know if we have seconds, days, or years—but as Christians, God calls us to take
the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the Earth and that He must pour out His
wrath on the world for the rejection of His Son.
b. He is
coming for those looking.
i. Our job
is to warn the unbelieving of the consequences of sin, show them that God is
loving and gracious, willing to forgive as we come to Him in repentance and faith.
ii. Accepting
God's provision for our sins—the shedding of Christ's Blood on the cross.
1. This is
what we preach—Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, crucified for the sin of
mankind, died, buried and risen from the dead seated at the right hand of God
praying for people!
c. He’s
coming for you, have you prepared yourself by believing in Him?
i. Have you
prepared yourself by following Him?
1. Are you
ready to say yes, even now?
d. He’s
coming for the millions of believing followers and when He does tears are over,
poverty is over, sickness, disease, and death will be completely annihilated.
i. Misunderstandings,
abuse, disappointment, destruction, murder, and all lies will cease eternally.
e. He’s
coming for faithful servants, they bore a cross here, there they will wear a
crown.
i. The ever
believing, nothing doubting, though the night was dark, the valley deep, and
the pathway rugged; led by a faith that never wavered, even though it could not
see or understand, a faith that challenged demons and the unbelieving alike,
Christ is coming for you.
ii. Jesus is
coming back for the believer not the perfect, not the most educated, not the
rich, famous, or the popular, but the believer.
f.
He’s coming for every race, tribe, tongue,
language, and people group who has dared to call upon His name.
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