2nd Peter 3: 1-8 WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? 2-23-13
Today I want to talk for a few minutes on "the promise of His coming".
We're told in our text today that the skeptics would be asking that question, and we're reminded that this would be in the last days, so this is one way that you and I can know that we're nearing the time of His return to earth.
* Listen as I read our text found in 2nd Peter 3:1-8
1This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,* (desires)
4And saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. "
5For this they willingly are ignorant of, (they've not considered this) that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (they've not considered this)
7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition * (destruction) of ungodly men.
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
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Let me remind us that God don't look at time the same as we do, to you and me, it's been over 2000 years since Jesus went back to heaven, but to God it's only been a couple of days.
>> one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. <<
We that are saved believe that His coming is imminent; that is, just any time, He's coming back at the set time on Gods prophetic calendar.
Listen; If He should come back right now there would be no longer any hope for the lost to be saved if they had ever heard the truth about Him before, I believe that He'll come back for His Church when it is complete, God has a number in His mind that will make up the Lord's Church and when that number is met then I believe that's when the rapture will take place, then after 7 years of tribulation He'll return to the earth with His Bride, the Church.
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When talking about the Lords coming, have you ever heard someone say something like, "I've heard that all my life?"
„« James said that our life is as short as a vapor.
>James 4:14 For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
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When we hear the scoffers make a remark like that it's a sure sign that we're living in the last days according to what Peter says in our text.
Verses 3 and 4 of our text speak of something we are to know and be sure about; something that relates particularly to the last days, the closing days of the Dispensation of Grace, just before the Lord Jesus returns.
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* Listen as I read verse 3 and 4 once again.
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,* (desires)
4And saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?"
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* All through the O.T. we find the PROMISE OF HIS COMING.
Listen, there are 39 books in the O.T., they are ~~
The 5 books of Moses, called the Pentateuch, Genesis to Deuteronomy; ~ then 12 historical books, Joshua to Esther; ~~ then 6 books of poetry, Job to Song of Solomon, ~~ then the 17 books of the prophets, Isaiah to Malachi, as we include Lamentations written by Jeremiah ~~
* And each and every word in the O.T. as well as the N.T. was given by inspiration of God.
> 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: --
> 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
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* Remember we're talking about "the promise of His coming" today.
We find the 1st promise of His coming in;
> GEN. 3:15 - as God is talking to Satan:
And I will put enmity* (hostility) between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; listen- it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
~~ thou shalt bruise his heel ~ is telling about the first advent of the Lord Jesus, which was fulfilled at Calvary, where the Lord Jesus was crucified in our stead, He paid our sin debt.
„« Jesus said to the Pharisees and made reference to Satan in;
> Luke 22: 53-- but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
At His return is His glorious hour.
Listen; God said to Satan in Gen.3:15 --
~~ It shall bruise thy head~~ "the seed of the woman", Jesus.
Here is the "promise of His coming" When He comes back He will destroy Satan, along with his Antichrist.
> 2ND Thess. 2:8-9 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, (antichrist) whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders --
> Rev. 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
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„« We find the "promise of His coming" in:
GEN. 22: & 23: & 24: in these chapters;
Abraham is a type of God the Father; that sends his servant Eliezer; who is a type of the Holy Spirit; to search out a bride for his son Isaac; who is a type of the Lord Jesus; and Eliezer finds Rebecca; who is a type of the Church, to be Isaacs's bride.
That is what the Holy Spirit is doing at this time, He is calling out a Bride for Christ, and when the complete Church is found, is saved, and then comes "the promise of His coming".
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„« Also in Gen. 41:45 we find Joseph who is a type of Christ; and during his rejection by his brothers he ends up in Egypt (type of the world) and there he took a Gentile bride, a picture of Jesus being rejected by the Jews, His brethren.
> Gen. 41:45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaph-nath-pa-aneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On.
Zaph-nath-pa-aneah: means a reviler of secretes.
Joseph is the best picture of Christ in the Bible as for as people are concerned.
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> Acts 15:14-15 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16After this I will return, --
Once again; the Holy Spirit is right now calling out a people, "bride for Christ; and then "the promise of His coming" will be next.
And let me say, that I'm sure that Jesus is as anxious to be with His Bride as we are to be with Him.
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„« Another reference to "the promise of His coming" is found in:
>Gen. 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
>JOB 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: --
Wonder how Job knew about the Redeemer? He didn't have the scriptures to refer to as you and I, Job was before any of the Scriptures were written down.
Nothing is found about the Mosaic Law in Job.
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„« WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING?
> Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, -- the day He returns to earth.
> Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
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„« WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? -- There's much in the four Gospels about His return, spoken by Jesus Himself.
>MATT.16: 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
>Matt. 24: 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be-
>Matt. 24: 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
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>MARK 13: 24-27 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
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„« WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? -- Jesus said in;
>LUKE 21: 25-27 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
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„« WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? -- Jesus said in;
>JOHN 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
>John 21: 21-22 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
„« Dear friends, do you believe what Jesus said? -- If we can't believe Him then who can we believe?
Paul said in;
>Rom. 3:4 -- let God be true, but every man a liar; --
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Angels were present at Jesus birth; Luke 1:28-33; 2:8-14, also at His resurrection Matt. 28:1- 8.
„« Listen to what the angels said about His coming again.
>ACTS 1: 9-11 And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men (angels) stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, (not ye men of Pickens s. c.) why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Think of it; this same Jesus, I'm glad it's the same Jesus; we're not interested in any other so called Saviour, only the One that died on the cross in our stead.
And we'll not have to be introduced; we'll know Him the instant that we see Him.
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„« WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING?
When we partake of the Lords supper we are reminded of the promise of His coming.
1st. Cor.11: 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
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„« And there are many more references to "the promise of His coming"
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„« The coming of the Lord Jesus is the Christians blessed hope:
>Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; --
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„« Paul said it very well in:
>1 Cor. 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
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I don't know about you, but at this point in my life I have more loved ones yonder than I have here now, I'm looking forward to seeing them again.
The Bible has much to say about "THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING."
