BE READY, JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!
Acts 1:9-11
“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘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.”
Professor Charles Erdman points out that the doctrine of Christ’s return is fundamental, scriptural, and controversial. It is fundamental in that all true Christians believe that one day Jesus himself will return to the earth. It is scriptural in that our faith rests not in our dreams but in the clear revelation of God’s Word. It is controversial in that Christians have often differed among themselves regarding the details pertaining to Christ’s return.
In this message, I just want to ask one question: What will the Second Coming of Christ be like?
Let’s consider three answers to that question.
I. JESUS COMING WILL BE PERSONAL (v.11)
Acts 1:11 makes it clear that Jesus himself will one day return to the earth. It will be “this same Jesus” who is coming again. Twice in one verse Luke uses the word “same” to make it clear of His Second Coming. The same Jesus who left will one day return. And he will return the same way that he left.
In plain English, those words teach us that Jesus is coming back personally, literally, visibly and bodily. We can assume that his return to the earth will be no less amazing and no less surprising.
The truth is that the actual, historical figure who lived 2000 years ago on the other side of the world is returning to the earth one more time.
Illustration
In 1800 William Miller predicted the return of Christ in 1844 All over the Northeast, half a million Adventists awaited the end of the world on April 3, 1843. Journalists reportedly some disciples were on mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in union with their departed loved ones.
In 1992 Harold Camping predicted the end, again nothing happened and he changed his date to 1993 and then 1994.
In 1995, there was a person who announced that the Lord told him that He is coming on October 28. Later I learned that the leader was imprisoned for staffa because he used his employers money for his campaign.
I just want to give one comment. These groups—however were misguided—but were right about one thing. God in the person of Christ is coming back someday.
“I will come back,” Jesus said (John 14:3). One day those words will be fulfilled before our very eyes.
II. JESUS COMING WILL BE GLORIOUS (v. 9)
Acts 1 tells us that Jesus was caught up in a cloud and taken to heaven. The cloud that carried Jesus into heaven was no ordinary cloud but was in fact the same cloud that led Israel in the wilderness. It is the cloud that represents the glory of God. Luke 21:27 tells us that Jesus will return “in a cloud with power and great glory.”
There are differences surrounding Jesus first coming to his second coming. The first time Jesus came unnoticed into the world, the second time “every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7). In his first coming Jesus humbled himself, being born in a stable in Bethlehem. When he returns, he will come back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The first time he came he was judged and sentence by the people according to their wrong standard, but when he comes, he will judge every person according to God’s standard.
Illustration
Christian writer and commentator Warren Wiersbe, tells about a town where a horse bolted and ran away with a wagon carrying a little boy. Seeing the child in danger, a young man risked his life to catch the horse and stop the wagon. The child who was saved grew up to become a lawless man, and one day he stood before a judge to be sentenced for a serious crime. The prisoner recognized the judge as the man who, years before had saved his life; so he pled for mercy on the basis of that experience. But the words from the bench silenced his plea: "Young man, then I was your savior; today I am your judge, and I must sentence you to be hanged." One day Jesus Christ will say to rebellious sinners, "During that long day of grace, I was the Savior, and I would have forgiven you. But today I am your Judge."
When Jesus first came into the earth the religious leaders shouted in scorn Him saying, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” (Matthew 27:42). The day is coming when the whole world will see Jesus as he really is. When that happens, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus will one day return “in power and great glory.”
III. JESUS COMING IS IMMINENT
The Bible also tells us that the coming of Christ is imminent, which means that it could happen at any moment. Again and again, the New Testament exhorts us to “watch” and be ready for his return (Matthew 24:42)
Paul teaches that Christian must expect at any moment that Jesus will soon return to the earth.
Illustration
The story is told of a businessman who, having an duty to run at his office, took his young son along with him. He asked the boy to wait on the steps while he went inside to do his work. Soon he became so engrossed with his business that he forgot about his son waiting outside. Leaving the building by a different door, he went home alone. Several hours later the family sat down to dinner, but the son was not present. His mother became anxious and wondered where he might be. Then the father remembered where he left his son. Hurrying back to his place of work, he found his son, tired and hungry, waiting as he had been instructed to do. “I knew that you would come, father,” he said, “you said you would.”
It’s been 2000 years and some of God’s children feel tired and hungry. We wonder why Jesus hasn’t come back yet. Perhaps he has forgotten us. Perhaps he made other plans. If you feel like that little boy, take heart. He said he would come back—and he will. All true Christians believe that Jesus will come back someday. He said he would—and he never forgets his promises.
The word imminent does not mean immediate. Paul was not mistaken for that. He expected to see Christ return in his lifetime, and said so. When we use the word imminent for the Second Coming, it means two things:
1) The Uncertainty as to time - Story: Y2K - Millenium bug
2) The Possibility of nearness. – Story: Mountain people “there!”
“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come” (Mark 13:33). This should warn us against the danger of setting dates and reading too much into the “signs” of the end times. Jesus wants us to see that knowing the exact date is not important but being ready is!
Story: New invented clock
I Thess 5:2, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."
While we work and while we pray, let us always remember our “Blessed Hope”, the return of Jesus to the earth.
Let’s be ready for His coming!
Conclusion
Before I end this sermon, I would love to give you some simple questions through song:(Actually, we prepare to sing it to you but Bro. Jess told me that your instrument has a problem)
If He came here today would you be ready?
Do you know for sure that He’s your Lord?
If you say, “I hope so” or “I’m not sure,” you really aren’t ready at all. This song will guide you also what to do:
By accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
You will live with the King forevermore!
You can be ready by opening your heart and trusting him as your Savior and Lord.
Song: MARANATHA
I
In the twinkling of an eye He is coming
Like a thief in the night He’ll be there
We shall meet Him in the air in all His glory
Maranatha! He is coming He’ll be there.
Chorus)
Maranatha, Maranatha, Jesus is coming again (2x)
He’s coming again!
II
If He came here today would you be ready
Do you know for sure that He’s your Lord
By accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savor
You will live with the King forevermore!
(Repeat Chorus)
Pastor Joel B. Santos
Evangelical Christian Church-Manila
PHILIPPINES
November 20, 2005
http://www.eccmanila.net
