Jesus Is Coming!
We must start toninght by making a distinction between the rapture and the second coming of Christ.
-At the rapture all the Saints will be taken away
-After 7 years of tribulation at the battle of Armageddon then the Lord will physically return to earth.
We know that these are two distinct events.
**** Most of us here tonight are mature Christians --- so we will not spend too much time discussing the difference between these two events.
TONIGHT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON. MANY OF THE SIGNS WE DISCUSS WILL REFER TO THE RAPTURE SOME WILL REFER TO THE SCOND COMING.
ALL WILL SHOW US THAT WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS AND JESUS IS COMING SOON!
I.Who Said Jesus is coming back again?
A)Jesus Himself.
JN 14:1-3 (just before he was betrayed and died on the cross)
B)Angels have declared it.
Acts 1:11 (At the empty tomb)
C)Paul the Apostle taught it.
2 Thes. 14:16-18 (Rapture scripture)
There are some who argue, "people have said Jesus will return for centuries and He still has not come!"
-They have given up hope.
-They have turned their back on God and said Christianity is hype and fake.
-They feel stood up!
·Here is a silly date story that illustrates how some people treat the Rapture and the second coming…
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A young woman was expecting her date. She was dressed-up and waiting patiently.
However, by the time he was an hour late she figured she’d been stood-up. So, she
took off her makeup, put on her pajamas, gathered all the junk food in the house
and sat down to watch TV with the dog. As her favorite show was just coming on,
the doorbell sounded. It was her date. He stared at her wide-eyed: I’m two hours
late, and you’re still not ready?
II.What are some signs that this prophecy is true?
God Has given us signs for Isreal & Signs for the whole world that Jesus is coming soon!
(PROPHESIES CONSERNING ISRAEL ITSELF HAVE COME TO PASS.)
D)Jews return to the land of Israel.
Isaiah 11:12 (READ-GOOD)
E)Israel will be a fruitful land.
Isaiah 27:6 (READ)
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The #1 exporter of flowers is not Holland anymore but – Israel.
Israel is One of the world largest exporters of fruit.
Isreal from space looks like a green blob. (It is green surrounded by brown desert!)
(PROPHESIES CONSERNING THE WHOLE EARTH HAVE COME TO PASS.)
a)Increase in wickedness –
2Timothy 3:1-5
b)Many family members and friends will betray Christians.
Mark 13:12-13
*Many people interpret this scripture as not taking place until after the rapture but we can already see it is happening now!
*** Jesus said this is a sign that the end is near.
c)Natural disasters / Men’s hearts will faint for fear.
Luke 21:25-28
Most scholars believe this passage is referring to the great tribulation but we can see at least some signs of natural disasters increasing now!
d)Evil / False teachings given the name of Christ.
1 Tim. 4:1-2
e)Anti-Christ’s will come.
*Not just One Big Anti-Christ
but many claiming to be Christ!
-Father Divine –22,000,000 followers
-Moon
-David Koresh
-etc.
2Thes 2
f)False Prophets
Spiritism, Russelism, Native Religions, etc.
Mark 13:22 (read)
G)Christians will Grow COLD
MT. 24:12
THESE WERE SOME OF THE PROPHESIES THAT SHOW US WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS AND JESUS IS COMING SOON!
WE MUST BE CAREFUL TO REALIZE THOUGH THAT GOD DID NOT GIVE US THESE SIGNS SO WE CAN WRITE A DATE IN OUR CALENDAR BUT SO WE CAN BE READY!
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"The last days are upon us. Weigh carefully the times. Look for him who is above all time, eternal and invisible"
-Jack VanEmpy did not make this quote.
-Nor did any other modern scholor…
*It was a man named Ignatius, who lived in 110 AD, just a few decades after 1 John was written.
Here are some more quotes from people of the past who missed it…
"There is no doubt that the Antichrist has already been born. Firmly established in his early years, he will, after reaching maturity, achieve supreme power" It was written by a Christian leader named Martin living in 375 AD.
In the year 236 AD a church leader named Hippolytus predicted that Christ was sure to return by 500 AD.
The years between 999 and 1030 AD were characterized by excessive speculation about Christ’s second coming among Christians, so much so that it led to social chaos as farmers didn’t plant crops for the next year, buildings weren’t repaired, and the details of daily life were neglected because they thought Christ would return in their lifetime.
In the 1500’s the Protestant reformer Martin Luther said, "We have reached the time of the white horse of the Apocalypse. This world will not last any longer… than another hundred years"
Christopher Columbus said he was sure the world would end by 1656
In the 1800s a Christian named William Miller said, "I am fully convinced that somewhere between March 21st, 1843 and March 21st, 1844 Christ will come"
-When Miller’s date came and went, hundreds of people walked away from the Christian faith. If their pastor was wrong about that, what else was he wrong about?
Timothy Peck writes,…
-In our own generation, many modern day prophecy experts guessed that 1981 would mark the rapture of the church and the beginning of the terrible 7 year tribulation period that would culminate in the battle of Armageddon.
-Now as we near the year 2,000 dozens of prophecy experts on Christian TV, radio and in books are making new predictions related to the year 2,000.
Christian historian Richard Kyle cautions us, "Through two thousand years of Western history millions of…sincere, devout, and knowledgeable people have seen the end as [about to happen in their own lifetimes]…But they have all been wrong"
GOD DOES NOT GIVE US PROPHESIES SO WE CAN MARK OUR CALENDARS… BUT SO WE CAN PREPARE OUR LIVES, FAMILIES, WORLD FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST!
THE BIBLE WARNS US THAT THESE ARE THE SIGNS TO WATCH FOR…. WHEN WE SEE THEM BEGING TO TAKE PLACE JESUS WILL COME SOON! – So we better be ready!!!!
-If Christians of the past saw the signs… how many more we see in our day!!!!
III. How soon will Jesus come after these things begin to take place?
*** SOON!!!!***
Rev22:7 – “behold I come quickly”
Rev 22:12 – “Behold I come quickly”
Rev 22:20 – “Behold I come quickly”
**Jesus will come soon –And QUICKLY!
1 THES 5:2 – “As a thief in the night”
Mat 24:27 – “As a lightning flash”
Mark 13:36-- “He will come suddenly”
1 Cor. 15:52 – “In a moment in the twinkling of an eye”
IV. Why should all true believers be hopeful and not fearful???
Mat 25:10 “They that were ready went in with Him… and the door was shut.”
(Parable of 10 virgins)
2 Thes 1:10 –“He shall come to be glorified in his saints.”
Phil. 3:21 - “He will change our bodies into glorified bodies”
1 John 3:2; Col 3:4 – “We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.”
V.Jesus Is not trying to trick us!
*God wants us to be ready that is why He has given us all these signs.
*He wants us to be ready that is why He gives us all these opportunities to be ready.
Mat. 24:44 “Be ready for such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”
REVIEW:
1)Jesus is coming again (rapture / 2nd coming).
2)Many prophesied this fact. (including)
a. Jesus
b. Angels
c. Paul
3)The Bible shows us many prophesies so we can know we are in the last times.
a. To Israel
b. To the whole world
4)In the past many have tried to mark their calendars.
a. God wants us to prepare our lives
b. Prepare our world
5)The Bible says that Jesus will come soon after these things come to pass.
6)The Bible says the Lord will come quickly.
7)True Believers have hope!
8)God is not trying to trick us but wants us to be ready!
