Why I Know Christ Is Coming Again Series

Introduction: One ironic thing is that we live in a time when even the scoffers are in a state of rather fearful expectation. The frightening potential of worldwide destruction exists on several levels. Even the most impassioned secularists must acknowledge the very real potential that the world as we know it could end at any time – through nuclear war, nuclear accident, an energy crisis, various ecological disasters, new killer viruses like AIDS (or worse), or even a cosmic collision of some kind. In fact, most people recognize that this world cannot exist forever. And we face constant reminders of this. For nearly the whole of the twentieth century, an unremitting string of books, articles, scientific studies, and even Hollywood productions have assaulted the public consciousness, warning us that if we do not collectively change the way we’re living, we’re going to go out of existence along with our little planet. In fact, the most vocal doomsayers today are not people who expect the return of Christ, but secularists who have recognized that this world and all life on it inevitably will end someday. They are right. It will end, but not because of ecological irresponsibility or human destructiveness.

How will it end? Can we know? Yes, we can. The Bible gives a very clear, direct answer. The world as know it will end with the return of Jesus Christ. The history of the will climax in His literal, bodily return to the earth.

This is as certain as any truth in Scripture. Here are nine reasons from Scripture by which we know that Christ is coming again –

How will it end? Can we know? Yes, we can. The Bible gives a very clear, direct answer. The world as know it will end with the return of Jesus Christ. The history of the will climax in His literal, bodily return to the earth. This is as certain as any truth in Scripture. Here are nine reasons from Scripture by which we know that Christ is coming again –

I. Why must Christ return? Nine reasons that prove it

A. The Promise of God demands it -

1. The OT was full of Messianic promise. In fact, it’s fair to say that the coming Messiah was the main focus in the Old Testament. The first hint of a Messianic Redeemer came in Genesis 3, right after Adam’s fall, when God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (v.15). In the closing chapter of the final book of the Old Testament, God promised that “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healings in His wings” (Malachi 4:2). And between those two promises, the entire Old Testament is filled with prophesies of the coming Deliverer – at least 333 distinct promises, by one estimate.

2. More than 100 prophecies were literally fulfilled at the first advent of Christ. All the prophecies dealing with the first advent of Christ were fulfilled precisely, and literally. His riding on a donkey, the parting of His garments, the piercing of His hands and feet, and the vivid prophecies of His rejection by men in Isaiah 53 – all these have been interpreted symbolically by Old Testament scholars before Christ. But the New Testament record repeatedly reports that such things were fulfilled in the most literal sense, so “that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled” (Matthew 26:56; cross references – 2:15;4:14-16;8:17;12:17-21; 13:35; 27:35; John 12:38; 15:25; 19:24,28)

3. It stands to reason, then, that the remaining two-thirds of Old Testament Messianic prophecies will also fulfilled literally. And that requires the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.

4. Scripture says God “cannot lie” and that He will not change His mind (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19). What He promised, He will do. And much of what He promised about Christ requires that the Savior return to earth in triumph in order to bring it to pass. The truthfulness of the Bible is at stake.

B. The Teaching of Christ demands it –

1. Christ’s own words also make it clear that He will return. His earthly teaching was filled with references to His Second Coming. Many of His parables spoke of it. In fact, the Gospels include entire chapters dealing with events related to the Second Coming (Matthew 24-25; Luke 21).

2. On the night of His betrayal Christ told the disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself” (John14:2,3). Not only is the credibility of God at stake in the Second Coming, but so is the credibility of His Son. If Jesus doesn’t return He’s a liar.

3. But His own words are a divine guarantee that He will be back. “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).