HoHum:
Herbert Washington, whom co-workers at Significant Plastics Inc. say was unduly concerned with the rapture and the second coming of Christ, suffered a serious heart attack when co-workers pretended they'd been caught away without him. "We didn't mean to scare him to death," said one woman. "He's just always talking about it, so today we decided to turn the tables on him." Washington underwent bypass surgery and is recovering well and "digging into the Bible like never before," says his wife.
WBTU:
Talked a few weeks ago about the Return of Christ, the Second Coming. More on that
Popular teaching today is the Rapture, after the Rapture and the Great Tribulation, the Lord will come back to set up a physical kingdom on earth, after 1,000 of this kingdom the Lord will come back again to take us to our eternal home. This is confusing and unnecessary.
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.” "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.” Luke 17:26, 28, NIV. Notice when Noah got into the ark, all those left outside the ark drowned. When Lot escaped from Sodom, all those left behind were burned alive.
When Jesus returns that is the end of this life and the beginning of a new life. We do not have a detailed or clear account of all that will happen before Christ’s return, that is on purpose. However, we have many Bible verses that declare that there is one second coming of Christ.
“There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--” Ephesians 4:4, NIV. We have one hope, one Second Coming.
Thesis: What will His coming be like?
For instances:
Coming Visible to All
“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” Revelation 1:7, NIV. Even the wicked will understand what is happening and they will mourn
Jesus said that any news report of His coming if proof that He has not yet come. Any explanation that He has come is automatically proof that He has not come. When he does come, everyone will know it. Matthew 24:23, 26, 27, 30
From Matthew 24 we see that he is coming with power and great glory. This is in contrast to His First Advent, Coming where he came humbly as a baby. “so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28, NIV.
II. Coming to Judge the world
Jesus’ coming will bring blessing and cursing, hope and dread, promise and punishment. It will be wonderful and terrible? How? Time of judgment for righteous and wicked:
Unbelievers
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, NIV.
Jesus is coming to eternally punish the wicked at the same time He glorifies His saints.
Believers- Christians will go to the New Jerusalem, New Creation. John 14:1-3, NIV.
Coming to destroy the earth
Matthew 24:35-39, NIV. Several truths here:
This earth will one day be destroyed
No one knows when it will happen
It will be similar to the days of Noah
It will take place when Jesus comes again
Life on the earth will be normal up to that time
The end will come unexpectedly
The wicked will be taken away without a second chance.
2 Peter 3:3-7, 10, 13, NIV. Understand many things related to Jesus’ Second Coming
Unbelievers, living in lust, ridicule Jesus’ next coming
They willfully ignore the evidence of a worldwide flood
The world that existed in Noah’s time perished
God who once destroyed earth with a flood is preparing to destroy it a second time with fire.
The destruction of the earth will not be man’s doing. It will happen “by the same word” that flooded the world in Noah’s time; it will be “the day of the Lord.”
No one knows when it will happen
The end will come unexpectedly like the coming of a thief
Not only the earth but also the heavens will be dissolved.
It will be a time of judgment and perdition for the wicked; no second chance is mentioned
It will be the beginning of new heavens and a new earth for righteousness.
Coming to shut the door
When Noah and his family entered the ark: “the Lord shut him in” (Genesis 7:16). The door to heaven will be shut when Jesus comes: Matthew 25:1-13
The door was shut. When Jesus returns, it is all over- no last hour repentance, no last minute plea, and no time to reflect and change. “The door was shut” has a ring of finality about it. When Jesus comes, eternity begins. Dead or alive we will all stand before the Judge for Him to declare our destiny. Our opportunities will cease. The door will be shut.
Jesus is coming. Are we ready? Old proverb: Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, only one death. Only one return of Christ. Only one opportunity to get right with God- now, in this life, before death or before Jesus returns. Do it today while there is time. “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:44, NIV.
