People who are ordinarily rational, reasonable, relaxed individuals seem to lose those characteristics and become contentious, aggressive, hostile and belligerent, with red faces, snarling lips and bulging eyeballs when it comes to disagreement about Bible versions or translations, interpretation and application.
Some are extremely closed minded and others more open and liberal.
Some are stuck on one particular version as though it had been lowered from heaven by a gold chain.
Some are convinced that the Sabbath is the day for worship and others choose Sunday as The Lord’s Day.
One topic that has as many interpretations and understandings and divisions as any other is the Second Coming of Jesus.
At the outset let me say that I have no intention or wisdom to sort out or settle the different perspectives on the tribulation or millennium. Frankly, I don’t care which interpretation you select, pre-mill, post-mill or a-mill. Whichever you choose, let us consider that there are some things we can agree on:
1. Our interpretation is not a salvational issue.
2. We must not judge someone as a heretic who differs in understanding from us.
3. We can believe that Jesus is coming and that all events thereafter are totally under His control.
4. Those who know Him will be with Him forever in Heaven – those who don’t know Him will spend eternity away from Him, condemned by their own choice.
5. One of the last things Jesus would want is for His people to divide on such an issue as to how we interpret the Millennium.
I like what Peter wrote about the return of Christ to earth. “
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’ For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:3-13 (NASB). Consider these truths:
I. HE WILL COME AGAIN:
A. “The day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” It is further clearly declared
1. By the Old Testament prophets: ”I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10 (NASB).
2. By the Apostles, as John wrote: “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” Revelation 1:7 (NASB).
3. By Jesus Himself, "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." Luke 12:39-40 (NASB).
B. As a small boy, I reasoned that if there were no clouds in the sky, Jesus couldn’t come, so I didn’t need to worry about being real good. But let the clouds appear, my behavior somehow improved. Be ready, because ready or not, clouds or no clouds He is coming, like a thief.
1. Not that He sneaks in and covertly hides His coming.
2. It is that thieves don’t leave a phone message or send a postcard telling the homeowner when .they plan to strike.
3. Jesus is coming but we don’t know when, so be ready.
C. Readiness is
1. Being mindful that this might be the very day.
2. Living lives of which we need not be ashamed when He comes.
3. Serving Him faithfully and actively. Being ready is not sitting around in idle anticipation.
4. Praying and studying, and obeying His word.
5. Helping others be ready by your witness to them.
D. On Sunday mornings Marlene helps me get ready by buttoning my collar button because my fingers are not nimble enough to handle a little bitty button and an undersized button hole. It’s like pushing cooked spaghetti through the eye of a needle. So we also all need to help others be ready.
E. We have had plenty of forewarning. A young preacher illustrates that. In one of his early sermons, he began by shouting, “I am coming!” Not getting the response he desired, he shouted “Behold! I am coming!” Still the congregation showed little reaction. A third attempt was made. “Behold! I tell you the truth! I am coming!” and with that he tripped, fell forward into the lap of an elderly lady in the front row. He was absolutely mortified and was profuse in his apologies. The kindly old lady said, “that’s all right young man, you told me three times you are coming.” Just so, Jesus says, “I am coming!”
It gets better: He is coming and
II. HE WILL COME AGAIN SOON:
A. The song by Gene and Val Johnson said,
Coming soon and the whole world will be witness
Oh, be ready for He is coming soon
B. Because He had delayed His coming, skeptics in Peter’s day scoffed, saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4 (NASB).
C. But “soon” is a Relative thing. “Soon” means different things to different people.
1. For some “soon” can mean a couple of months.
2. For some “soon” can mean within the next 10 minutes.
D. Time is not a factor with God.
1. “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
2. “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” James 5:7-9 (NASB).
E. Two teens, siblings, were engaged in the task of cleaning up their grandma’s flower beds. One of them hummed and whistled as he worked, and accomplished a lot. The other boy muttered and grumbled with every weed pulled and accomplished little. After about 4 hours, Dad came to check their work and to take them home.
The happy helper said, “Are you here already? We haven’t been working very long.” The whining weeder said, “Not working long? It seems like all day. Dad, I thought you’d never come!”
For one boy, Dad’s coming seemed to be soon. For the other boy, Dad’s coming seemed to be long delayed.
The waiting time was identical. The difference was attitude and focus. The happy boy focused on the job and the unhappy boy focused on the clock.
If we work heartily, cheerfully for the Lord, it won’t speed Him up, but the time will seem to pass more quickly and we will accomplish more until He comes. If we grumble and complain, it won’t slow down His return, but it will make the time pass slowly, the labor long and wearying and less effective.
But there is more to anticipate
III. HE WILL COME AGAIN SOON IN REGAL POWER:
A. The song said,
Once He came to this old world of sin and sorrow
An humble babe in a manger in Bethlehem
But this time He’s coming in all His power
Great kings of earth will bow and worship His great name.
B. Paul wrote that after He humbled Himself to become a man and to die on the cross, “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB).
1. There will not be
a. The Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild Came To Earth As A Human Child.”
b. The humble carpenter, teacher and object of rejection and ridicule by His enemies.
2. But there will be
a. Power and authority! He is King of kings, Lord of lords, Mighty God, Reigning Ruler.
b. A universal response. Every eye shall see Him; every ear shall hear Him, every knee will bow before Him, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. No exception. All will confess.
C. “By His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
1. The demons of hell will cower and tremble; the heart of every anti-Christ will fail them; every enemy will cry out in terror.
2. But for those who love Him there is joy and victory and celebration.
D. But God is holding it back, but “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Yet the time will run out, and He will come in power.
E. Let me give an example of coming in power: General Douglas Mac Arthur’s unit was facing defeat. Quickly Mac Arthur gathered his many soldiers and they left the Philippine Islands. As the US troops left, Mac Arthur made a vow: "I shall return." For the enemy, that was bad news; for the Philippinos it was good news and a basis for undying hope!
As promised, Mac Arthur returned to the Philippines, and with vengeance won the victory. Finally the troops captured what had been the POW camp.
Our men had been abused. Many had died of disease and many starved to death in the camp. As Mac Arthur’s jeep rushed into the camp, he saw the captured soldiers helping each other to stand. When the General came into their presence, the crippled, wounded, starved men were standing, leaning on each other--standing at attention to salute and greet their General.
May we be found being so supportive and faithful to our fellow believers and as excited to see the Lord.
He’s coming soon and it will be a time of liberation and victory. The song said,
And when He comes He’ll bind the power of old Satan
Little children with the lamb and lion will play
And all the Earth will be so filled with His glory
No need for crying for all tears are wiped away.
He is coming soon in power and glory and all of life’s trials, pains, injustices, persecutions, and every kind of suffering will fade away not to be remembered.
Of all people we are closest to the time of His coming. It gets closer every day. And whatever we have endured will be worth it all when we see Jesus.
As we stand to sing consider what you need to do with Jesus and your faith in Him. CONFESS, REDEDICATE, BE BAPTIZED, TRANSFER.
The song said,
Coming soon, Jesus in all His glory
Not just a Savior, but a reigning King
Coming soon and the whole world will be witness
Oh, be ready for He is coming soon.
