A Tale Of Two Homecomings

A TALE OF TWO HOMECOMINGS

Revelation 19:7, Daniel 12:1-3

Intro: Homecoming at the “Creek”. What a wonderful time to be a part of our church. We see many here this morning that we usually don’t see and we are excited about visiting with you today. Homecoming is a time to remember. To look back.

. An elderly woman walked up to the preacher that had come back to preach the morning service for homecoming. She went up to him and said “I am so glad that you came back this morning. Since you were here a few years ago, I have had all my teeth pulled , a tummy tuck and a face lift. Can you tell the difference?

. That’s kind of like a woman asking a man if the dress she is wearing makes her look fat. Is there a right answer.

. While I may not remember all of the names of our guests, I am certainly honored by you attendance today.

. Homecomings are special. We spend countless hours preparing meals, sprucing things up. Getting ready for guests.

. As I meditated and prayed about the sermon today, I realized that while homecomings are a time to remember the bible speaks of a future homecoming.

. A feast, much like we will have today.

. I call this the best homecoming ever. This will be the final homecoming.

. There will be a feast like we have never experienced.

. We see this recorded in the Revelation to John in chapter 19 verse 7: Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.

. The best homecoming ever will be when the bride of Christ, the Church, is called up to Heaven and the great feast will begin. The ultimate homecoming.

. Scripture tells us that the bride of Christ, Christians, those who have been born again through the blood of Jesus Christ will be at this homecoming.

. The wedding feast of the lamb or as some translations say the marriage supper of the lamb. A great feast, a great homecoming.

. Sadly, there is another homecoming that is to come also. That homecoming will be for those who have rejected God’s free gift of salvation through belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that He made for our salvation.

. Our scripture this morning speaks of these two homecomings.

. Daniel 12:1-3: At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.2Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to deverlasting life and some to shame and deverlasting disgrace.3Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.

. In this passage , the prophet Daniel speaks of two homecomings.

. The first is the homecoming of the believer.

. Here in verse two Daniel writes: 2Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up,

. The first ones to come to the homecoming will be those that are resurrected.

. Daniel writes that there will be a resurrection.

. A teacher was talking about the resurrection of Jesus with her Sunday school class one Sunday. She asked the question. What did Jesus say when everybody saw him after He had been resurrected. The whole class sat there in silence. After a minute or two of silence, one little girl raised her hand and said I believe that I know what He said. the teacher said ok what was it/ the little girl stood and in a very loud voice said TA DA.

. Now I don’t believe that when we arise out of the ground that we’ll hear Jesus crying TA DA but will arise with a shout.

. Here in verse one it says that Michael will standup.

. The Michael that Daniel is talking about is the Archangel Michael.

.

. We get a little more clarity over in 1 Thessalonians 4: 15 16 Paul writing to the church in Thessalonica writes:

. 15We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord breturns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.16For 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.