The Anticipation Of Christ's Return Is A Vital Encouragement To Live Holy

ANTICIPATING HIS RETURN

TEXT: John 14:3 (KJV), "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also."

INTRODUCTION: "Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today."__Sandra Jean Pathik, Evangelist in Cebu, Phillippines

One of the many reasons for God's children to appreciate prophecies concerning Jesus' Second advent is the information found in 2 Timothy 3:1-3. This Scripture portion tell of intense meaness occurring prior to the rapture of the Church. These things have almost always been; but, we cannot help noticing they are greater intensity and frequency of occurrence at this time in which we live. They are: You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good,...__The New Revised Standard Version

Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ.

One scholar estimated that 1,845 references of Christ's second coming are found in seventeen Old Testament books .

23 of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event.

For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ's first advent, there are eight which look forward to His second!

The Rev. Dr. John Walvoord, second president of Dallas Theological Seminary, stated,

Prophecy at its very heart

is designed to unfold the

beauty and loveliness of

our Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ.

Now, please consider these five points:

I. What We Already Have

II. His Promise To Return

III. Reasons For His Return

IV. How He Will Come Back

V. Then What?

THEME: The anticipation of Christ's return is a vital encouragement to live holy and seek to do God's will.

I. What We Already Have

A. rich provisions from God

1. promises

2. remarkable blessings

3. advantages in this life that outweigh present troubles

a. needs being supplied

b. divine direction available

c. sins covered/guilt taken away

d. assurance, i.e., 1 John 5:13

e. peace with God

f. ability to live harmoniously with others

g. sicknesses healed

B. Jesus return to earth will be His ultimate revelation

1. 1 Cor. 15:19 (KJV)

2. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men

most miserable."

II. His Promise To Return

A. Jesus often told His disciples He would return.

B. Some say circa 300 vss in N. T. concerning the 2nd advent.

1. Jesus taught most of that number.

2. It is a doctrine common to all the New Testament writers.

a. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

b. Paul, Peter, Jude, and James

c. angels--Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 14:6

III. Reasons For His Return

A. to reward His people

1. Revelation 22:12

2. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward

is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

B. Jesus' return will prove, once and for all, that the Heavenly

Father is truthful.

1. Some doubt and some deny.

2. Jesus will return.

C. Good ultimately overcomes evil.

D. There is a created moral order in the universe.

IV. How Will He Come Back?

A. As he left--Acts 1:9-11, And when he had spoken these things, while

they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their

sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up,

behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also 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.

B. There will be two phases of His second coming.

1. coming for His saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

2. coming with His saints ( Matthew 24:27; Revelation 11:19-15)

a. This return is like lightning for all the world to see (Matthew 24:27).

b. "...the heavens will be ablaze with the glory of God accompanied

as He is by millions of holy angels and saints [Jude 14], who are

moving from heaven to the Mount of Olives..."

__ Walvoord, Dr. John F.

V. Then What?

A. The curse on this earth will be removed.

1. curse of sin

2. A curse settled over the earth when man rebelled against

God's Lordship.

B. Earth will become as God intended it to be.

CONCLUSION: We have considered these five points:

I. What We Already Have

II. Jesus' Promise to Return

III. The Reason for His Return

IV. How He Will Come Back

V. Then What?

Satan hates this doctrine of Christ's coming because it is a purifying doctrine.