Returning Glory (7) :
1. Review of Glory
a. The Glory of God is defined as “VISIBLE MAJESTY OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE. “
b. Understanding and Seeing/Encountering God’s Glory is important to us because:
i. It causes us to worship.
ii. We assume our rightful, created place and purpose before our creator.
iii. It leads us to transformation.
c. We also have looked at Jesus’ glory while on earth and found that he revealed it during his first miracle at Cana, at the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and during the transfiguration where his divinity became visible to the disciples, who up to this time, had considered him just an extraordinary rabbi.
d. We examined why and how we are to reflect God’s glory.
e. And last week we looked at the concept of God’s glory departing from our lives.
2. Our subject today is Jesus’ Return in Glory.
a. I have heard very little teaching describing the person of Jesus Christ when it comes to His return.
i. Most of what I have heard has had to do with the sequence of events and timing of His return and the events surrounding His return.
ii. In fact, I recently got an invitation to a “prophecy conference” hosted by a local church.
iii. I tossed it in the trash.
iv. Why? Because so much more emphasis is on the rapture, the tribulation, the nation of Israel, and even given to the antichrist in some of these teachings that Christ himself!
v. So today, we will focus on Jesus.
1. Not on the events, not on the timing, not even on all of the other characters of the end time. Just Jesus. And His Glory. And how we are to prepare and conduct ourselves in light of what we believe about His return.
3. But to get to the return, we must first grapple with the departure of Jesus.
a. In Luke 24:26 “Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
i. Right after the resurrection, on the road to Emmaus with two of the disciples, Jesus appears (they don’t recognize him) and travels with them, explaining what had happened.
ii. Over and over again, before his crucifixion, while the disciples are looking for the Messiah to be the conquerer, Jesus keeps pointing to a suffering cross.
iii. This is because there is a foundational principle concerning glory. Suffering must precede glory.
1. Most of us view suffering as the “ultimate” evil.
2. We run from suffering, we flee from it’s threat.
3. We take pain pills, we avoid painful situations…and it is part of our survival wiring we are given.
4. Yet, suffering is common to all people.
5. Suffering is something we really cannot control. But what we can control is our response to it:Why Me?
a. “In all fairness, if we ask the ‘Why me?’ question in regard to our burdens, we should also ask it in regard to our blessings.
b. “We take for granted 100 days of perfect health, and then grumble about one day of aches and pains.
c. “We drive the freeway hundreds of times without incident, and then ask, ‘Why me?’ the one time we have a flat tire or engine trouble.
d. “We casually accept the fact when our family is together for the holidays, but when we are separated, we dwell on our loneliness.
e. “How often do we say, ‘Why me?’ as we count our blessings?
f. “Rather than feeling sad about what we don’t have, doesn’t it make more sense to feel a kind of rollicking rejoicing over everything we do have?
6. And suffering is not the worst thing that can happen to us. Separation from God is the worst thing. Suffering is a natural and normal part of life in this deteriorating, human body.
7. Yet Jesus embraced suffering, knowing it would be redemptive, it would purchase people back from rebellion toward God. Jesus knew that suffering was not the worst evil…lost men and women were the worst thing in creation. And he would pay the price to win you and I back.
iv. Look at Hebrews 2:9-10 “ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect (complete) through suffering.”
v. It is through suffering that God makes us complete. Painfully complete. And through suffering is found glory.
b. The bottom line is the one that I have shared each week with you during this series.
i. There is no shortcut to glory.
ii. The only path to glory, to seeing and experiencing God’s glory and for you to taste glory, is through the Cross.
iii. Through the putting to death of the old man, the old way, the old nature. This is the path to glory. Jesus said that “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher and the servant like his master.”
1. In other words, if Jesus had to taste the cross, so do we. It is part of being a disciple. No cross, no crown.
2. Peter says it well and ties sufferings with glory very closely.
a. Most of the latter half 1st Peter chapter 4 speaks about the necessity and normality of suffering in the Christian’s life.
b. Especially 1Peter 4:13 “Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
3. Did you catch that? When His glory is revealed?
a. That is what is coming!
b. His glory is going to be revealed to us and the world!
c. Peter is speaking of Christ’s return in glory, and that His glory will be unveiled for all to see!
4. Jesus in Glory.
a. Hebrews 1:3 “And he is the radiance of His (God’s) glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High.”
b. 1 Peter 1:20-21 “For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
c. Hebrews 2:7 “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels, you have crowned him with Glory and honor and have appointed him over the works of your hands.”
d. What is this glory that Jesus entered into?
i. Jesus’ prayer is recorded in John 17:1-5, and in verse 5 it concludes, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
ii. Jesus and the Father are One, it is only with the entry into this world that the Glory of Jesus has been masked by humanity.
1. In his return to the heavenlies, the divine majesty is once again made visible.
2. All of heaven sees His glory.
3. And we find in the book of Revelation, description after description of the glorious lamb on his throne, with all of heaven bowing before him.
5. Jesus return in Glory Foretold
a. One of the most powerful and pride shattering events in human history will be the return of Jesus in His glory. Mankind has refused Him, they have refused to believe in Him, but all of the skeptics will be silenced by his appearance and return.
b. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence.
i. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ—an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses.
ii. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event.
iii. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second!.
iv. Foretold by Prophets – the most notable prophecy in the bible that speaks of the return of the Messiah in majesty and glory is found in Daniel chapter 7. In reading Daniel 7, it is easy to get caught up in all of the peripheral activity that is going on and miss this central message.
1. “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)
v. Foretold by Jesus – Jesus quoted this passage from Daniel twice, once with his disciples while telling them what to expect during the end-times, and the other time during his trial before the Pharisees just before his crucifixion. He applied the passage to himself.
1. Luke 21:27-28 "Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
2. Mt 26:63-65 “The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God; Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “Yes it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you; In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy!”
a. The reason the High Priest tore his clothes and said it was blasphemy is that the passage Jesus quoted was from Daniel. Any self-respecting Jew knew this passage pointed to the glorious Messiah. And Jesus was applying it to himself…under oath!
vi. Foretold by John in Revelation
1. Rev. 1:7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.”
2. John expresses what he is seeing in heaven, Jesus, the Lamb of glory, coming on the clouds of heaven, to return to earth and to fulfill and complete the work of redemption.
c. I would like to describe the return of Jesus:
i. Even though the Gallup poll tells us that 62% of Americans believe in the 2nd coming of Christ, there will be widespread shock and surprise when he comes.
ii. Imagine the telescopes looking upward in the sky, the astronomers and scientists and the Generals of the armies of the world. A blinding light comes from the skies…it is no sun or moon or asteroid. It is no spaceship or other worldly wonder. It is a blinding glorious light that is accompanied by a shout and what will sound like a trumpet. The noise should be deafening.
iii. All of the learned people, the self important will look at this and recognize that it is not a cosmic event from space; it will be an instantaneous recognition of the glorious savior, Jesus, coming with an vast army of angelic beings. The Book of Revelation says that tens of thousands of thousands of these heavenly messengers and warriors will be with Him. He will descend from the heavens and the words of Rev. 1:7 will ring true: “And every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him.”
iv. 10 Greek Words
6. Purpose of His Return
a. He comes to Complete the salvation of the saints. (Heb 9:28, 1 Peter 1:5) and to be glorified in them (2 Thess 1:10).
b. He comes to Judge (Ps. 50:3-4, Jn 5:22, 2 Tim 4:1, Jude 1:125, Rev 20:11-13)
c. He comes to Reign (Is. 24:23, Dn 7:14, Rev 11:15)
d. He comes to Destroy Death (1 Cor 15:25-26)
7. Manner of His return in Glory.
a. Coming is Personal.
i. Jesus will come in person.
1. He will not send someone else to do this work.
2. There will not be another prophet, another messiah, or savior.
3. He will come, not in humility and meekness as in his first advent.
4. But he will come in power and glory, and in person!
b. Coming is Sudden
i. Over and over again we are told in the scriptures that we are to be ready for his return.
ii. While the world has an excuse, because they don’t believe, you and I do not have an excuse why we aren’t ready and waiting for Him.
iii. Don’t be seduced into thinking that because such and such sign hasn’t happened yet, that Jesus can’t return. The apostle Paul and the disciples were ready for his return and waiting expectantly for His return despite the so called signs not having happened. Why is this? Because those so called signs are our interpretations of God’s word and are not specific and clear. Jesus would not have said that he would return like a thief in the night if he could be expected.
iv. 1st Peter speaks (which we will discuss further tonight) about the Christian should not be caught unexpected by the return of Christ in Glory. If anything, the believer must be ready because it is his nature to be looking for Christ’s return. We are called to be vigilant.
v. Mt 24:42-45 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think {He will.}
vi. Luke 12:39-40 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."
1. What would cause us not to be vigilant? Absorbtion into the world, preoccupation with this life to the degree that we ignore the Savior who is returning.
2. Remember last week, we learned what causes the glory to depart? When God is not in charge of our lives?
3. If His glory is gone from our lives, we can expect not to be ready!~
c. Coming is Audible (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
i. He will come with a TRUMPET! Mt. 24:29 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET
d. Coming with Angels (Mt. 16:27, 25:31, Mk 8:38, 2 Thess 1:7)
i. Mt 24:29 then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will morn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power of great glory.
e. Coming is Visible
i. Matt 24:27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
ii. Rev. 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
iii. Acts 1:9-11 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 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.
iv. Isaiah 60:2 “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you”.
8. We will…
a. Look for, wait for, watch for, pray for, haste to, and be ready for his return.
i. 1 Co 16:22 – “Come O Lord! Maranatha!” It was a cry, a prayer that Christ would return soon.
ii. 2 Peter 3:11-12 “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”
iii. How do we speed its coming? Acts 3:19-21: “Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord and that he MAY SEND THE CHRIST, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”
1. Repentance will lead to a time of refreshing in our life. If you are burdened and carrying a heavy load, God promises refreshing if you will turn to Him. He promises to carry your load and to carry you.
2. Repentance means to change direction.
a. Turn from a “I know what to do” life to a “God, what do you want me to do” life.
b. Turn from a me-centered life to a God centered life.
c. And God promises you will find refreshment.
3. Repentance will also speed His coming! Jesus will return at the appointed time, and in this verse, we are reminded that it is somewhat tied to our response to Christ.
b. .
9. The “revelation” of His glory!!!!
a. The word Revelation” comes from the word “apokolypsis” which means “unveiling.”
b. To lay bear, disclose that which is hidden. Manifest or appear.
i. 1 Peter 4:13, speak of this “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
ii. 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober {in spirit,} fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
iii. 1 Peter 1:7 “so that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
iv. 1 Peter 5:1 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as {your} fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,”
v. 1 Peter 5:4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
1. “
vi. 2 Thess 5:7 “and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed (apokolypto) from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.”
vii.
10. Is it your heart that Christ return soon? That his glory be soon revealed and unveiled from heaven? If not, then perhaps your love what you have or what you hope to have more than you love the Lord Jesus Christ. If your heart doesn’t ache for Christ’s return, if you find your subconscious mind saying, “Just hold off a few days, weeks or years Lord, so that…” then you might be among those who will be caught unaware, by a thief in the night. You aren’t really ready.
a. There really is nothing in this life that will ever replace what God has for you in Glory! There is no experience so great, so meaningful, that it can be worth exchanging the Lord of Glory for. The treasure we have in Christ will make everything from this life and world pale into absurdity and insignificance.
