JESUS’ SECOND COMING
ACTS l:ll
It was a sad day for the followers of Jesus the day He was killed. It must have seemed their hopes just crumbled around them. Still there was yet another sad day. But this one was when Jesus come crashing from that grave and walked again upon earth. Sad for Satan and his followers because Jesus wouldn’t stay dead.
After this happened, the disciples said now will you restore the kingdom again to Israel. Jesus said all this is not meant for you to know. But this you do need to know: After the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will be witnesses unto me. After He had spoken, while they were looking, or in their sight; Jesus ascended into the clouds. I can imagine they were looking at the spot in the air where they last saw Jesus, when two men dressed in white said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Folks this isn’t human speculation but divine revelation. Jesus coming again is the blessed hope of all Christians in their life time. Christian doesn’t want to experience death but experience rapture. When is He coming? I don’t know. We have had some date setter, but usually I find them up setters.
More about the question of His coming we do have a hint of what things will be like just before His coming. I turn to some words spoken by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24, “As it was in the days of Noah,” and as it was in the days of Lot, even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
I was talking to a church member of another denomination recently. I made mention of just what Jesus said as in the days of Noah, and about I believe we are about there. He said O preacher don’t preach doom to me. Folks if you are saved by the blood of Jesus, His coming isn’t doom but a welcome inviting hope.
But allow me to give some principles concerning the Lord’s return from His statement. First of all we can determine from this God’s judgment is determined.
In the book of Genesis we find how disobedience brought about God’s judgment upon the earth. The Bible states that even the thoughts of man were evil. God saw the wickedness of man and said I will destroy man whom I have created. He sent the flood that destroyed all the human race except for 8 people, Noah, his wife their sons and wives.
But that isn’t all, Jesus said also as in the days of Lot. We find the same wickedness God moved in and this time with fire and brimstone destroyed Sodom and Gomorra the wicked cities. Again all the human race in these cities except for Lot and just part of his family.
What of the day of Christ’s return? As it was, so shall it be. Of the sin and unbelief in the world today we are rapidly approaching those days if we aren’t already there. Some believe God isn’t paying attention to all that’s going on. But my friend, God speaks for a time He will act. The Lord Jesus shall appear from heaven with His mighty angels taking vengeance on them that know not God. Judgment is determined.
Something else we notice in the Words of our Lord, that is God’s mercy was declared. Nowhere in the Bible do you find judgment without mercy. Noah didn’t only devote himself to the building of the ark, but warning the people about the judgment to come. For l20 years he built the ark and preached obedience to the Word of God. God’s mercy was being declared before judgment. even at this very moment folks God’s mercy is being declared. I am not worthy to be classed with Noah or even Lot, but I do declare the mercy of God while there is still time. Very soon the mercy of God will cease. His Son Jesus will step out on the cloud and call the saved to heaven. This is called the Rapture of the church. Then comes God’s judgment upon this earth. Preacher how bad will it be? Imagine the worse you can imagine and the bible says it will be worse than that.
But I don’t want to preach judgment without preaching mercy. While God’s judgment upon the earth you can be with Jesus in heaven. But the answer is up to you. Will it be judgment or will you come to Jesus this morning? Mercy now judgment later. One day the last soul will be saved and it will all be over. The saved and unsaved will be separated. The saved to live in the new Jerusalem with the very Son of God. There will be no more death. No pain and to live eternally in that state. The unsaved in the lake of fire also to live eternally. Where the Bible says there is screaming and gnashing of teeth.
