THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
JOHN 14:1-3
A. THE PROPHETIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST COVERS THE SACRED PAGES OF THE BIBLE
1. The first recorded promise:
a. Was given to our first parents at the time He had to sentence them because of sin - Gen 3:15
b. During the reign of sin and sorrow the believers found a gleam of hope in the promise of the
Messiah.
2. It is inspiring to note how Enoch, the seventh from Adam, pointed to the second coming of Christ: Jude 14,15
3. The theme of the Patriarchs centered in the coming of the Redeemer:
a. We think of Job, in the hour of great sorrow and pain, pinned his hope on the return of his
Redeemer - Job. 13:17; 14:13; 19:25
b. The Psalmist emphasizes the importance of the coming of the Lord - Ps. 50:1-9
c. Abraham rejoiced that he was permitted to see the consummation of God’s promises, which will
culminate in the second coming of Christ - John 8:56
d. Angels reassured the sorrowing disciples that Jesus would come again - Acts 1:10, 11
B. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
1. Paul called it the "blessed hope": Tit. 2:13
a. It is the blessed hope of the sleeping saints -John 5:28, 29; 1 Cor. 15:22, 23
b. In John 14:1-3 the Lord assures us that He will come to reunite with the believers.
2. Events connected with the second coming of Jesus Christ:
a. The first resurrection takes place; it is the time when the dead in Christ shall come forth out of their dusty chambers - Dan. 12:2; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; John 5:28, 29
b. It is the time when the Lord will bestow immortality upon the saints - 1 Cor. 15:13-18; 50-58
c. Saved families will be reunited - Jer. 31:15-17; 2 Thess. 2:1-3. That will be wonderful to behold-Ps. 126:2
3. For the world:
a. Separation of the wheat from the tares - Matt. 13:40-44; 25:12, 31-38
b. It will not be a time of conversion of the wicked, as assumed by some people. Compare Luke 13:25 with Heb. 9:28, 29; Matt. 25:31-33; Rev. 6:14
c. That will be a real shock for some deluded souls when they find that their hope was pinned on falsehood and deception.
C. ATTITUDE OF MEN TOWARD THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
1. The saints:
a. They are praying, "Come Lord Jesus" - Rev. 22:20
b. They will say, "we have waited for him" - Isa. 25:9
c. They have actually looked for His appearing - Heb. 9:28; Phil. 3:20
d. They are making preparation for His coming. Compare 1 John 3:1-3 with Rev. 19:7, 8; Matt.
22:1-12; 24:44; 25:12
2. The world at large:
a. Will be occupied with the sinful pleasures of this world - Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-31
b. Many professed Christians will be indifferent to His coming - Matt. 24:48-51; Luke 14:16-32
c. Some will actually scoff at the promise of His coming - 2 Pet. 3:1-3
d. To all these the Lord will come suddenly, when they do not think that He will come. Compare 1 Thess. 5:1-6 with 2 Thess. 1:7-9
e. They will seek shelter beneath the rocks and the mountains - Rev. 6:13-17
3. "Be ye ready also":
a. This is the admonition of the Lord, and we are wise if we heed it.
b. As it is, we are a long way from being ready to stand before the Son of man when He comes - Rev. 3:14-17
c. We know considerable about the coming of the Lord; it is, therefore, up to us to be prepared when He comes.
d. May the God of mercy and grace give us the courage to make ready for that blessed event.
