The Day Of His Coming! Series

Introduction:

God is admonishing the nation of Israel to come back to Him. Do you think God is admonishing America… the church… families… individuals?

How presumptuous it would be of us to ignore His plea to prepare for His earthly return.

The Main Point: Because Christ is the sovereign Lord; you ought to prepare for His earthly return.

God is giving His people a final admonition to return to Him. He presents the destinies of the righteous and the wicked.

The Day of the Lord is a significant theme in the Scriptures. It is referred to in 12 books of the Bible. It is not a literal day but rather a period of time. It begins at the start of the seven year tribulation and encompasses all end time events until the creation of the new heavens and new earth. Thus it will last over 1000 years.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up (Zeph. 1:14-18; 1 Thess. 5:2).

Are you preparing for it?

What do you need to know about His earthly return?

I. The righteous will be a distinguished treasure! Vv. 3:17-4:1

ILLUSTRATION

Tares and wheat (Matt 13:24-30; 36-43)

A. The righteous will be spared (3:17-18).

Rom 8:1 … there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

1. HOW: God will show tender compassion or sympathy to them (the helpless).

Psa 103:13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

2. WHY: They are a peculiar treasure or special property of God.

B. The wicked will be set ablaze (4:1).

1. It is a time of judgment.

2. It is a time of just recompense (payment).

Isa 66:15-16 For behold, the LORD will come in fire And His chariots like the whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For the LORD will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on all flesh, And those slain by the LORD will be many (24).

2Pe 3:7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Should we take this fire as being literal? Consider the following…

Tribulation:

Rev. 8:7-11 Trumpet judgments: hail and fire; Rev. 9:6; 16-18.

Rev. 11:5 (context: two witnesses cast into the earth) fire flows from them

Rev. 14:10-11 (context: people that worship the beast) tormented w/fire

Rev. 16:8-9 (Bowl judgments) no repentance

Rev. 17:16-18 (judgment of Babylon); Rev. 18:7-8

Second Advent:

Rev. 19:12 (coming of Christ); 19:20

End of Millennium Reign:

Rev. 20:9 (wicked try to assault God)

Great White Throne Judgment:

Rev. 20:12 (raise wicked dead in their bodies); 15; 21:8 (who are the wicked?)

Why do these people burn? They are chaff (stubble) (4:1)

Rev. 15:2 (righteous singing)

ILLUSTRATION

The world is one massive farm… every individual is a field… bearing its own yield… some 30/60/100 fold (good or evil)

Application:

Now what?

You yield what you yield because you are the field you are! Minnick

The Day will reveal what every man raised in his field. The field (YOU) will not be consumed only the yield. The field is eternal (wicked will exist in an everlasting fire)!

What yield are you producing? Is anything going to be left over after it is tried by fire? What is your life’s work going to amount to (gold/ashes)? Are there things that need to change in your life? All combustible material will be burnt up!

What do you need to know about His earthly return?

Transitional Statement: First, the righteous will be a distinguished treasure; secondly…

II. The righteous will be completely absolved (vindicated)! Vv. 4:2-3

A. They will be eternally healed (2).

Context: The Future Glory of Zion

Isa 60:1 "Arise, shine; for your light has come(coming Redeemer), And the glory of the LORD (Messiah) has risen upon you.

Physical deliverance and bodily resurrection

1. Your impurities will be forever removed.

2. You will live in perfect obedience to the Lord!

B. They will be instruments of judgment on the wicked (3).

1. You will tread down the wicked.

2. They will be like ashes under their feet.

What do you need to know about His earthly return?

Transitional Statement: First, the righteous will be a distinguished treasure; secondly, the righteous will be completely absolved (vindicated); thirdly, the righteous need to prepare for this coming Day!