1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV (Please look this up in your Bibles and follow along)
(While they look up the Scripture ...)
Is there anyone here who enjoys the Advent Season; when we anticipate the arrival of Jesus on earth? Well, if you do, you should be happy now because we have been in an advent season for almost 2,000 years!
And in those 2,000 years would it surprise you to find out that Christians have found much to disagree about regarding the return of Jesus?
(But first let’s read 1Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Preterism - this is the theology that all of the prophecies found in the book of The Revelation are actually historical events that took place in the year AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome. Even though Preterism also teaches that Jesus “returned” it teaches that He did not return physically but symbolically.
Some say that Jesus will return at the beginning of the seven years of the Great Tribulation, some say half way through the Great Tribulation and others say Jesus will return at the end of the Great Tribulation.
Others have made predictions as to the date of Jesus’ return:
500
A Roman priest living in the second century predicted Christ would return in 500 AD, based on the dimensions of Noah's ark.
1809
Mary Bateman, who specialized in fortune telling, had a magic chicken that laid eggs with end-time messages on them. One message said that Christ was coming. The uproar she created ended when an unannounced visitor caught her forcing an egg into the hen's oviduct. Mary later was hanged for poisoning a wealthy client. History does not record whether the offended chicken attended the hanging.
1984
The Jehovah's Witnesses made sure, in 1984, that no one else would be able to top their record of most wrong doomsday predictions. The Witnesses' record currently holds at nine. The years are: 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, and 1984. Lately, the JWs are claiming they're out of the prediction business, but it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. They'll be back. (1994)
1998 = 666 x 3
1988
The book, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture is in 1988, came out only a few months before the event was to take place. What little time the book had, it used effectively.
1989
After the passing of the deadline in 88 Reasons, the author, Edgar Whisenant, came out with a new book called 89 Reasons Why the Rapture is in 1989.
All of this was done in spite of the fact that Jesus said,
Matthew 24:36, 42 NIV
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father … Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Acts 1:7 NIV
"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority."
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NIV
“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
The point is, when the Lord tells you that no one will know don’t waste your time trying to find out.
A Promised Return
Jesus said He was coming back.
The angels at the ascension of Christ said He was coming back.
The Holy Spirit through the apostles and other Biblical writers said He was coming back.
So, guess what? He’s coming back!
Jesus said in
John 14:1-3 NASB
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
The angels at Jesus’ ascension said in
Acts 1:11 NIV
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
And, here’s one of my favorite Scriptures of Jesus standing upon the earth at the final resurrection of the dead and it comes from what may very well be one of the oldest books in the Bible.
Job 19:23-27 NIV
“Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever!
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
“I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
So, if Jesus is coming back what should we be doing?
Illustration:
Imagine this; suppose Robert Neller, Commandant of the Marine Corps, visited a Marine Base and when he was leaving he told them that he would return and when he did return they had better be ready for an inspection in every area of the camp from the entry gate to the smallest broom closet and that every marine should be mentally and physically prepared for any task that could possibly be set before a marine.
Now, the Commandant did not say when he would return, only that the return could happen at any time with no advance warning.
OK. So suppose that the marines at the camp spent all of their time trying to guess when the Commandant was coming back instead of preparing the camp and themselves for inspection.
What do you think would happen when the Commandant returned?
A Glorious Return
The first time Jesus came to earth He kind of snuck in the back door.
Even though there had been prophecies for hundreds of years …
Even though the coming of Jesus had been announced by Gabriel to Zechariah in the Holy of Holies in the Temple of Jerusalem …
Even though angels announced the birth of the Messiah to shepherds …
Even though the shepherds found the Baby just as the angels said and spoke to everyone about what had taken place …
Even though Magi had come from the east to find the One born King of the Jews
Even though the chief priests and teachers of the law spoke to the Magi about where the Messiah would be born …
Even though a star came and actually stood over the house where the child was so that the Magi could find Him …
In spite of all of this it seemed as if Jesus had snuck into humanity through the back door.
But … His return won’t go unnoticed …
Mark 13:24-26 NLT
“At that time, after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
“Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory.”
Revelation 1:7 AMP
“Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes (nations) of the earth will mourn over Him [realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath]. So it is to be. Amen.”
We shall see Jesus!!!!!!!!
Who? Those who are saved? Yes!
Those who are unsaved? Yes! EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM!!!
A Troubling Return
Have you ever been driving down the road and you come around a curve and you see that the police have a road block set up ahead of you and there are officers standing on the centerline of the street stopping people and waving some of them through and motioning others to pull over?
If so, what is the first thing you might do? Look at your inspection sticker. Is it up to date?
If it is not, you’re in trouble. They’ve got you. Just try turning around and going the other way, see if that works. There’s no escape. They will come and get you.
If your inspection sticker is up to date then No Problem!
Especially if you see that the police office is a friend of yours.
What’s it going to be like when you hear the voice of the arch angel and hear the trumpet call of God and see Jesus returning to the earth. What will it be like for you?
Will you rejoice? Will you shout Hallelujah?
Or, will you try to hide your face from the One you’ve rejected time after time after time and now it’s too late?
What about your acquaintances, what about your co-workers, what about your family members? Did you warn them? It’s too late now, but, did you warn them?
Will they be rejoicing? Will they be shouting Hallelujah?
Or, will they be trying to hide their faces from the One they never heard about from you even though the Holy Spirit prompted you time after time after time to tell them.
Many of us, even as born again Christians, never give a thought to the return of Jesus. Most of us suppose that we will grow old and then one day die and make the transition from this earthly life into the presence of God.
What is it about living that way that is out of focus?
Me. That’s what’s out of focus.
I’ll live my life.
I’ll grow old.
I’ll die.
I’ll go to heaven.
We can close our eyes and pretend that Jesus will never return in our life time and we might be right, but, what if we’re not?
Even as Christians we should long for the return of Jesus and at the same time be filled with anxiety about His return.
Those of us who love the Lord our God with all of our heart and all of our soul and all of our mind and all of our strength should be chomping at the bit to see the face of our Savior.
And, those of us who love the Lord our God with all of our heart and all of our soul and all of our mind and all of our strength should dread His return because the day of decision will be past forever even for our closest loved ones whether they have come to know Jesus as their Savior or not.
Closing remarks, invitation if the Lord leads and closing prayer.
