Are You Ready?

Are You Ready?

Exodus 12:11 & Matthew 24:44

Introduction:          

I.          When is he coming?

A.         The Second Coming is in two parts.

            1.         He comes in the air for his saints (The Rapture)

            2.         He comes to the Earth with his saints (To Rule as King)

B.         There is no event or series of events that must happen prior to the Rapture, It could happen at any time.

C.        There are events that must happen before He returns with his saints.

D.         He will come as a thief in the night, when we least expect him.        

II.         Reason to live righteously.

A.         His coming is mentioned 318 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament, it occupies one in every 25 verses. 

B.         We constantly urge people to be ready, because death could overtake them at any moment.  However; Jesus and the N.T. authors urged people to be ready because the master may return at any moment.

C.        Jesus said Luke 21:34-36  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

D.         Their incentives, hope, and convictions rested on Jesus’ return to gather his saints.

E.         You cannot come to a full understanding of the word of God, unless you are open to the truth of the second coming of Christ.

III.        Description of the event.

A.         It is a signified event:  We do not know when he is coming, but we are to be watching for it.

B.         It is a Sudden event:  He will come “in the twinkling of an eye…”, “As a thief in the night…”   When we least expect him.

C.        It is a shocking event:  Many will be shocked when our savior comes in the air.  Matthew 24:40-41  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

D.         It is a separating event:  The saved will be caught up, and the unsaved will be left.

E.         It will be business as usual.  Luke 17:26-30  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

IV.        How to prepare.

A.         Accept Christ!  Luke 21:35-36  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

B.         Believe his coming.   1 Thessalonians 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

C.        We should pray for his coming as John did.  Revelation 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

D.         We should love his coming.   2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

E.         We should watch for his coming.   1 Thessalonians 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

F.          We must live for his coming.   Philippians 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Conclusion:

            A.         The return of Jesus should bring us joy, comfort, peace, hope, and assurance.

            B.         We can It will only be joyous if you have accepted Christ as your savior.

            C.        We should do nothing that we would be ashamed of When Jesus returns

            D.         We must be able to assure others of his coming.

            E.         Even so, come, Lord Jesus.