Wake up to Jesus coming back

How does Jesus’ coming help us live a holy life?

What doJesus and Paul say about Jesus’ return?

When?

Only the Father knows when it is going to happen:

Matt 24:36 ““But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Matt 24:4-5 “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.”

2 Thes 2:3-4 “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.”

2 Thes 2:7-12 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

2. Before it happens it will get harder:

Matt 24:6-12 “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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “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. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”

3. Before it happens the gospel will be preached to all nations:

Matt 24:14 “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.”

4. There will be signs in the skies just before Jesus returns

Matt 24:29 ““Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

5. Jesus will appear with power and glory but earthly people will mourn

Matt 24:30“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

6. All the followers of Jesus will be gathered.

Matt 24:31 “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

7. Matt 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

What should we do to get ready for it?

Keep watch and be ready

Matt 24:42 “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

Matt 24:44 “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

2. Don’t quit or think he isn’t coming

Matt 25:1-13 Parable of 10 vigrins

10 = God’s authority over mankind and the divine completion he has made

3. Keep using all that God has given you to grow the kingdom, don’t turn to wickedness or laziness

Matt 25:14-30 Parable of bags of gold

4. Love the poor, needy and oppressed

Matt 25:31-46 The sheep and the goats

What happens to those who are saved or not saved?

Matt 25:46 “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””

Matt 25:30 “And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Matt 24:51 “and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

1 Cor 15:51-52 “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

2 Thes 1:5-10 “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

How does this motivate us?

1 Thes 3:12-13 “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

1 Thes 4:13-18 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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.”

2 Pet 3:3-16 “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord …”

1 Thes 2:10-12 “You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

2 Tim 4:6-10 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.”

Amplified Bible Chapter 4

6 For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit’s] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free.

7 I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

8 [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).

9 Make every effort to come to me soon.

10 For Demas has deserted me for love of this present world and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens [has gone] to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Paul here is saying that there is a crown of righteousness which the Lord will award to all who have loved, yearned and welcomed his return. It seems that this is what motivated Paul - knowing that Jesus is coming back. He loved, yearned and welcomed it. And yet in contrast, Demas has deserted Paul because of his love for the present world. There seems to be a choice which Paul talks about in

Col 3:1-5 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Paul loved it, yearned for it and welcomed it - when Jesus would come again.

What do you think of more? The things of this world or Jesus’ return? What do you long for more? The things of this world or Jesus’ returning?

MORNING STAR

Num 24

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible F. The Plains of Moab (22:1–36:13)

Balaam’s fourth oracle (24:12–25) is, in effect, a continuation of his third oracle. After Balak expresses his anger, Balaam reminds him that all along he could speak only as the Lord of the Israelites permitted him to. He will now warn Balak what this people will do to Balak’s people. Balaam repeats what he has said before but adds that he has received knowledge from the only exalted, enthroned God. Balaam first of all elaborates on what he only intimated before (23:21, the shout of the King is among them). He speaks of the star and the scepter who is to rise. Here is a prophecy of the Christ who is the light and guiding power of Israel. Thus, not Israel as a people, but the sovereign Christ, coming from Israel, is the conquering One. The Christ was not yet present, or near, but to see Israel was to see the Christ whom the Lord had promised. Balaam then speaks of the Christ as sovereign judge and executor. He, the offspring and ruler of Israel, will crush the forehead and/or temple of the Moabites. He will uproot Edom from its land. Amalek, who came out to fight Israel (Exod. 17:8–13), will be destroyed. The Midianites (Kenites) who joined Moab in requesting the curse on Israel will be captured by Assyria; and Assyria in turn will be destroyed.

Three remarkable factors stand out in these oracles of Balaam. First, he repeats in one form or another the covenant promises the Lord had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 12:1–3, 15; 17; 22). Second, the kingship of God is absolute. He rules over all thoughts and actions of men. He holds total dominion over all nations. At the heart of his kingship is his rule over, protection of, provision for, and use of his covenant people whom he has redeemed for himself. Trust, obedience, and sanctity in all areas of life are required of the Lord’s people. Third, the Lord will execute the curse of the covenant upon all those who refuse to assist the redeemed people of God, upon all those who oppose them or seek to have them cursed.

Isaiah 14

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible A. Babylon (13:1–14:23)

Babylon’s fall is great (14:11–15). The king is compared to the “morning star, son of the dawn” (v. 12a). As the morning star is not the sun which distinguishes day from night, the king of Babylon is not God! However, in its drive to rule the world, Babylon’s pride was unlimited (Dan. 4:30) and it acted as God on earth. In its imperial ambitions it acted no differently than the ancient people who built a city to make a name for themselves (Gen. 11:1–9). Likewise, Babylon’s goal was to reach into heaven and to take the place of the Most High. But it, too, will be cast down. The greater the aspirations, the worse the fall. Isaiah uses this dramatic interlude to build up suspense. Will the spirits of the netherworld welcome the king of Babylon?

The spirits first gaze with amazement at the beggarly and weak king, covered with maggots. They respond with unbelief, mocking the mortality of Babylon. At this, they cast him out of the netherworld (14:16–20a). There will never be any rest for the king of Babylon and his offspring! He does not get the burial of a hero, but is like a soldier missing in action. The spirit of Babylon is doomed to roam.

God has reserved a time of judgment for all evildoers (14:20b–21). They may flourish and thrive, but then they are suddenly cut off. In Old Testament language the king and his sons, representative of the spirit of Babylon, will be cut off forever. Their memory will be forgotten. Thus the Lord will do to all evildoers. In the biblical conception of Babylon, as we have seen, Babylon represents the spirit of man without God, the spirit of autonomy, the spirit of secularization, and the spirit of antichrist. For God’s kingdom to be established, the Lord must deal with any manifestation of evil.

The application is clear. Babylon must fall by the will of the Lord (14:22–23). Its judgment is sealed, and its final state is likened to a swamp, good only for animals (v. 23).

Rev 22:16 ““I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.””

Jesus is the bright morning star. No one is above him. He is all power and royalty, he will reign forever. Jesus is coming back.