SOMEONE WHO IS COMING AGAIN
1. The New Testament contains 260 chapters.
2. Someone has concluded that in these 260 chapters there are 318 references to the 2nd coming of Christ.
3. If this is right the Lord’s final return is discussed in one out of 30 verses in the New Testament.
4. Those who have studied this matter have found out something else.
5. 23 of the 27 books of the New Testament say something about the Lord’s final return.
6. The four books that do not refer to this event were either written to individuals or the Galatians.
THE BIBLE REPEATEDLY TELLS US THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK. WHEN WE THINK OF WHO JESUS IS WE MUST SAY THAT HE IS SOMEONE WHO WILL BE RETURNING.
A. This description of the Lord is worthy of special study.
B. We can contrast the Lord’s first trip with His final trip.
C. We can see the similarities and the differences.
D. In life we know that when people return things are not always the same.
E. I
recently read a story about a young man from
F. This young man went off to war. His family waited and waited for him to return.
G. Each day they hoped to hear news about his return.
H. One day it was announced that this young man had returned. He made it through the fighting.
I. His family went out to greet him.
J. The family found that they no longer recognized their relative.
K. That boy that had left for war had turned into a different person.
L. His hair was gray; he was old, tired; worn out.
M. The son returned but he returned in a way that was disappointing.
N. The family was glad that he was back but things were a lot different.
2. What we do know about the Lord’s return?
3. The first thing that we know is that He is the one will be coming back.
4. Sometimes people return by a third party.
5. A person says “I will be back” but they do not literally return.
6. People might send someone else in their place.
7. Instead of actually coming back some decide to make a phone call or send a letter.
8. Not everyone returns.
9. The Bible says that Jesus is coming back.
10. He was here once in person and He is coming back in person.
11. Jesus will take a “hands on” approach to ending the world and judging man.
12. We heard this in the scripture reading.
13. 1
Thess.
14. This is emphatic.
15. Jesus is the one who is returning.
16. The second coming is an event that will not be left up to any angel.
17. According to the apostle Paul we know who will return.
18. The
passage in 1 Thess.
19. Another passage that reveals the fact of Jesus’ return is Col. 3:4. READ
20. Paul said, When Christ, (who is) our life, shall be manifested.
A. Paul said did not say “if” Jesus appears.
B. This apostle knew that the Lord is coming back.
C. He knew He is coming back in person.
D. We can either believe this or not believe it; our belief about the matter is irrelevant.
E. Whether we choose to believe the truth or not, Jesus Christ is returning.
F. This piece of information may be contrasted with what we see in the world.
G. There are some cases where people do not return.
H. People may be too embarrassed to return to a certain place.
I. There are reunions that people are invited to but they don’t come because of shame.
J. Others may be shy about returning to a certain place.
K. Jesus is not shy, embarrassed, or fearful.
L. He is coming back.
21. A few minutes ago it was noted that people can return but they may not be the same person.
A. Those who return to a place may be drastically different.
B. They may have aged, become affected with ill health, or suffered in some other way.
C. It is also possible that people who return are better off than when they left.
D. What can be said about the Lord’s final return?
E. To answer this question let’s think about the Lord’s first coming.
22. Upon His birth He entered into a relatively obscure part of the world.
A. He came into the world through childbirth.
B. His
coming was casual and gradual because He “grew up” (Lk.
C. The Bible says He advanced in wisdom and stature.
D. Humility and modesty were all part of the Lord’s first appearance.
E. Lk. 2:7 adds that there was “no room” for Jesus.
F. Another text that tells us about the Lord’s first trip here is Mt. 2:13-14 – READ
G. For a time the Lord and His family were on the run.
H. They had to leave the country and live in foreign land.
I. Earthly powers put the Lord’s family to flight.
J. Human rulers mocked the Lord and had Him scourged.
K. Earthly powers said that Jesus needed to be crucified.
L. The Lord was hung on a cross.
M. The Jesus that had to flee and was put on the cross is coming back.
N. He is making a return trip.
O. What will the Lord’s next appearance be like?
P. The reading that we heard from 1 Thess. 4 gives us some idea.
23. When Jesus returns for the final time He will come from “heaven.”
24. At His final return the Bible says He will “descend.”
A. He will not come into the world through childbirth.
B. Jesus is not going to be chased around by the kings of the earth.
C. There will be nothing inconspicuous about His final return.
D. Jesus is coming back as God.
E. From the scripture that we heard Jesus will arrive with a “shout.”
F. The “trump of God” will sound.
G. The “dead in Christ” will “rise first.”
H. The rest will then be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
I. There will then be a world wide judgment before the throne of Christ.
25. The first coming of the Lord was largely one of mildness.
26. There might even be a sense in which it is called subtle.
27. Jn. 3:17 says that Jesus was not sent into the world to judge it.
28. The Lord’s first trip to earth was to “save” mankind.
29. When He returns this will no longer be His role.
30. His role of saviour for the whole world will be changed in to that of a judge.
31. The Lord’s birth into the world was pretty obscure.
32. Instead of crashing into the world Jesus was born into a lowly family.
33. People had the opportunity to reject Him.
34. People had the chance to walk away from Him.
35. The next time Jesus appears, things will be very different.
36. None will walk away from Him.
37. None will misunderstand who the Lord is.
38. Everyone will know who the Lord is.
39. This clear because of the information in Mt. 25.
A. This chapter uses different pictures to describe the saved and the lost.
B. The Lord pictured Himself as a shepherd who separates sheep.
C. Good sheep (the saved) are put on His right hand.
D. Bad sheep (the lost) are put on His left hand.
E. Those are saved are described as “blessed” (verse 34) and “righteous” (verse 37).
F. Those on His left hand are the “cursed” (verse 41) and simply “these” (verse 46).
40. If we ask who the Lord is we must say that He is someone who is coming back.
41. He is returning to show the world the glory and power that He has.
42. He is coming back to send every single person to an eternal home.
43. We have a pretty good understanding of the Lord’s first appearance.
44. We have all seen babies. We have seen young people grow up.
45. The Lord’s baby stage is past.
46. He has been exalted to the right hand of God the Father.
47. He has received the name above all other names.
48. The Bible says that every knee will bow to Jesus.
49. Listen to John’s description of Jesus – Rev. 1:12-17 – READ
50. I once read about an African chief who angered a government.
51. The government decided to punish this chief and his village by destroying him and the village.
52. Word of the attack was leaked and a runner went to the chief and told him the news.
53. The chief didn’t want to hear that kind of talk so he had the runner killed.
54. The next day a second courier arrived with the same message.
55. This messenger was also killed; the chief didn’t want to hear about any gunboats.
56. Other messengers came and they too were killed.
57. The gunboat finally came and leveled the village.
58. Jesus is coming back.
59. His return will be just as the Bible describes.
60. Some do not want to hear that message.
61. There are people who pretend to be spiritually deaf.
62. We can be like the chief. We can ignore the warnings and perish.
63. Or we can remember that 1 out of every 30 verses in the New Testament describes Jesus’ 2d coming.
64. Knowing and remembering this is an incentive to be and stay prepared.
65. Are we ready to meet the Lord?