THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST
INTRODUCTION: New years. We anticipate the coming of the New Year. But there are many outside of these doors that are also anticipating it. They don’t realize that 1998 might not come! You see the reality is that Jesus Christ could come before this year is out! Tonight we are going to talk about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
I. THE MANNER OF HIS COMING
JOHN 14:1-3
A. PRE-EMINENT v.1, "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me." Jesus prefaces His comments on His second coming by affirming His diety. Jesus is coming to complete our redemption--He is coming victoriously as God. If you deny the Second Coming of Jesus-you deny faith in Christ. In Matthew 26:64 as in this passage, Christ reveals that He is God by affirming His Second Coming.
B. PERSONAL v. 2-3, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and recieve you unto Myself."
I COR. 15:51
C. PROPHETIC v. 51, "Behold, I show you a mystery." The details of the Rapture were not revealed until this time. The word "MYSTERY" refers to something in the plan of God that up to this time was not divulged.
ILLUSTRATION: Before Christopher Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue in 1492, many people warned him that he would fall off the end of the earth. You see everyone believed that the earth was flat. But he not only discovered the New World, he discovered that the earth was really round. That unveiling of that mystery radically changed the world that he lived in!
D. SWIFT v. 52, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." Literally, ’in an atom of time." It is a point of time which cannot be cut or divided. It is THAT SUDDEN and UNEXPECTED!! Jesus likened His coming to that like a "theif in the night."
ILLUSTRATION: Rain is called precipitation because it is sudden and unexpected! Can you imagine planning a wedding outdoors, and not having a back up place to go? You must because rain could pour unexpectedly!
E. PROFITABLE v. 53, " For this corruption must put on incorruption." Our redemption will be complete!
Romans 8:22-23, "For we know that the whole creation, groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
F. PREVAILING v. 54, "Death is swallowed up in victory . . . thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
II. THE MISSION OF HIS COMING.
I THES. 4:16-17
A. TO RESURRECT HIS SAINTS v.16, "And the dead in Christ shall rise first." "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," (IICor. 5:6).
B. TO RECIEVE HIS SAINTS v.17, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." The word "caught up" implies that an external power will raise us into the clouds. We will not slowly ascend to Christ--He will pull us out of this wicked world to be with Him."
C. TO REWARD HIS SAINTS Rev. 22:12, "And behold I come quickly: and my rewad is with me." I John 2:28 And now little chldren abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at His coming. I Cor. 3:11-15 says that in that day our works will be tried, and we have two options: RECIEVE REWARD or BE SAVED AS BY FIRE!
D. TO REMOVE HIS SPIRIT. II THES. 2:6-8 Jesus has to get us out of the way so he can judge the world.
III. THE MOTIVATION OF HIS COMING.
A. PERSPECTIVE Titus 2:13,"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." We need to be looking for Jesus tonight!
B. PURITY I John 3:2-3," Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know tha, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he (Jesus) is pure.
C. PERSERVERANCE I Cor. 15:58," Therefore (in light of the Rapture) my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
CONCLUSION: Jesus came into this world the first time a baby-- He will return the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He came to purchase our redemption--He will come to complete our redemption. When He came the first time He died for all mankind. When He comes again He will come to claim those who have accepted His SACRIFICE!!!
