Why Must Jesus Come Again? Series

Introduction

In December 1941, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan launched an invasion of the Philippines, a U.S. territory at the time.

General Douglas MacArthur commanded the U.S. and Filipino forces defending the islands.

Despite fierce resistance, the U.S. and Filipino defenders were overwhelmed by the superior numbers and firepower of the Japanese.

Three months later, in March 1942, under orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, MacArthur and his family, along with select members of his staff, evacuated to Australia to avoid capture, leaving behind tens of thousands of soldiers who would later endure the brutal Bataan Death March.

Upon arriving in Australia, General MacArthur told the press, “I came through, and I shall return.”

This promise became a rallying cry for both the American military and the Filipino people, symbolizing the commitment to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation.

MacArthur kept his promise.

Two and a half years later, on October 20, 1944, MacArthur made a dramatic return to the Philippines, landing on the island of Leyte with U.S. forces.

In a radio broadcast, he announced: “People of the Philippines, I have returned!”

The subsequent campaign to liberate the Philippines was lengthy and costly, but it marked a turning point in the war in the Pacific.

General Douglas MacArthur’s “I shall return” became one of the most iconic quotes of World War II. It symbolized resilience, determination, and the eventual triumph of Allied forces in the Pacific.

Jesus did not use the exact words, “I shall return,” but the Bible contains several statements in which Jesus promises to come back again.

Perhaps the best-known statement about Jesus’ return occurs in his Upper Room discourse on the night of his betrayal and arrest before his crucifixion the next day.

Jesus’ disciples were understandably worried that something horrible might happen to Jesus and that their leader would be leaving them.

He assured his disciples that they would be fine without him.

Moreover, he promised that he would come back again.

Scripture

Let’s read John 14:2-3, where Jesus said:

2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Lesson

This year’s Advent series is “Questions About the Birth of Jesus.”

So far, Pastor Scott and I have answered the following questions:

• “Why did God become man?”

• Why did Jesus come when he did?”

• Why did Jesus come?”

Today, I plan to answer the question, “Why must Jesus come again?”

The Bible teaches us that there are several reasons why Jesus must come again.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. To Fulfill Prophecy

2. To Establish God’s Kingdom

3. To Judge the World

4. To Defeat Satan

5. To Restore Creation

6. To Bring Eternal Life

7. To Demonstrate His Glory

I. Jesus Must Come Again To Fulfill Prophecy

First, Jesus must come again to fulfill prophecy.

Most likely, Jesus and his disciples left the Temple on the Tuesday before his crucifixion. Jesus predicted the Temple would be destroyed (see Matthew 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-2; Luke 21:5-6).

Jesus and his disciples walked up the Mount of Olives adjacent to the Temple.

On the Mount of Olives, the disciples asked Jesus when the destruction of the Temple would occur.

The disciples also asked Jesus about when he would come again.

We read in Matthew 24:3: “As he [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ ”

Jesus then delivered what scholars call “The Olivet Discourse,” which is so named because Jesus taught his disciples on the Mount of Olives.

He warned his disciples not to be led astray.

He told his disciples that many would claim to be the Christ and lead many astray.

He gave many signs to let his disciples know that his return to Earth would be imminent.

Then, Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 24:29-31:

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”