The Return of Christ

We know that Jesus is going to return

John 14:3 (ESV)

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

We don’t know when he is going to return. (Matt. 24:44)

Matthew 24:44 ESV

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Jesus did give us some signs of what would happen before his return.

1. False Christs and false prophets. (Matt. 24:4-5)

Matthew 24:4–5 ESV

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

Mother-God group

The Gospel according to Matthew 2. The Beginning of the Troubles, 24:3–14

The fact that God’s true Messiah has come will not prevent false teachers from arguing persuasively that they are the Messiah, and convincing many. This will be confusing for ordinary followers of Jesus, and it is important that his apostles be clear on the truth: there is but one Messiah, and Jesus is he.

A few verses on this:

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 ESV

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Philippians 3:20 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

2. Wars, Rumors of Wars (Matt. 24:6)

Matthew 24:6 ESV

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

storygirl at the house church.

Do not be alarmed. Don’t panic or worry.

The Gospel according to Matthew 2. The Beginning of the Troubles, 24:3–14

In those troubled times Jesus’ followers are to see to it that they are not troubled.

3. Famines and earthquakes (Matt. 24:7)

Matthew 24:7 ESV

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

4. Universal hatred of Christians (Matt. 24:9-10)

Matthew 24:9–10 ESV

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

The Gospel according to Matthew 2. The Beginning of the Troubles, 24:3–14

This signifies that people in authority will take the initiative against Jesus’ followers; they must expect special trouble in the last days and not simply the suffering they will share with all people, such as the famines and earthquakes of which Jesus has just spoken. They will suffer because of who they are—Christians, and their suffering will be no insignificant discomfort but the trouble that crushes.

1st Century - Persecution under Nero.

Christians in China.

Professing Church in Germany during the Nazi Regime.

Condemned for values:

Closed minded.

Old-fashioned.

Intolerant.

5. Many will renounce the faith (Matt. 24:10)

Matthew 24:10 ESV

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

The Gospel according to Matthew 2. The Beginning of the Troubles, 24:3–14

These people will encounter disaster: they had professed to be Christians because of the peace and joy they sought in a difficult world, and instead they find persecution. In such a situation nominal Christians readily find the faith a trap and seek to get out of it promptly. GNB paraphrases with “will give up their faith,” and NRSV with “will fall away.” That certainly is the outcome, and they will go so far as to hand one another over (the verb is that used in v. 9);

Application: Don’t quit Matt 24:13

Matthew 24:13 ESV

But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The Gospel according to Matthew 2. The Beginning of the Troubles, 24:3–14

Saving faith is known not by some firm declaration or a well-intentioned beginning, but by endurance.

6. The gospel will be proclaimed throughout the whole world. (Matt. 24:14)

Matthew 24:14 ESV

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Eventually, Satan will be bound for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4-5)

Revelation 20:1–6 ESV

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Theologians have termed this, the Millennium.

View 1: Amillenial - The view that the millenium is now, and when it ends, then Jesus will return.

View 2: Postmillenial - The view that the millenium will come gradually, and Jesus will return after the millenium.

View 3: Premillenial - The view that the millenium will come suddenly, and Jesus will return before the millenium.

What we can be sure of:

Satan will be released from prison to gather those he has deceived for battle Rev. 20:7-8

Revelation 20:7–8 ESV

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

At the end of that battle, Jesus will defeat Satan and he will be thrown into the lake of fire forever. Rev. 20:10

Revelation 20:10 ESV

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Jesus will execute final judgment and reign as King forever.

Application: This should give us a confident hope that is a foundation of constant underlying joy in our lives.