What are we waiting for?

What Are We Waiting for?

1 Thessalonians 1:9,10

9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

INTRO: On the great Day of Atonement, the High Priest went within the veil.

The people stood and waited outside for his reappearing.

Now Christ, our great High Priest, has gone within the veil by His own blood, and the church is waiting without and looking for His appearing according to His promise

John 14:3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I. WAITING FOR THE SON OF GOD FROM HEAVEN.

Philippians 3:20

A. “Our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”

B. We are not waiting for death, the Spirit, or the conversion of the world before He comes.

Luke 17:26

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man”.

The world was not converted before the flood came!

C. Great worldwide revival before Jesus comes is wishful thinking. A picture of pre-Rapture days:

2 Timothy 3:1–5; 3

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Matthew 24:12 Jesus said;

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Revelation 3:15, 16

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

II. WAITING FOR THE COMPLETION OF OUR SALVATION

A. Hebrews 9:28

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

B. Our salvation now, is great but it is, just a foretaste of what is yet to come. We have been saved from the penalty of sin, but not from its presence. Sin is still with us!

C. We are still in the midst of suffering and sorrow.

He who has begun this good work will perfect it until the day of his coming (Second Coming).

D. Then we will be safe forever from the power and the presence of sin and Satan Matthew 24:13

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

III. WAITING FOR THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODIES.

A. “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” Romans 8:19

“We with patience wait for it” v. 25

“We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for … the redemption of our body” v. 23

B. “New Body ” for the redeemed.

Philippians 3:20,21

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

C. A Transformed soul with a transformed body! It is good to hear His Word, but it will be better to see Him!

D. Even better to be like Him This is eternal life!

1 John 3:2,3

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

IV. WAITING FOR THE BRIDEGROOM OF THE CHURCH.

A. “At midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him!” Matthew 25:6

B. A cold-hearted bride is not longing for His coming!

C. If He tarries, wait for Him!

Matthew 24:44

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

V. WAITING FOR THE REWARD THAT IS TO BE OURS AT HIS COMING.

A. Luke 12:36

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

B. 1 Peter 1:13

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

C. “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” Revelation 22:12

D. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober”

E. Mark 13:35

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

VI. WAITING FOR A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.

A. “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” 2 Peter 3:13

B. The apostle said again, Acts 3:21 speaking of jesus;

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

C. God’s testing fire will only purify 2 Peter 3:10–13

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness

D. It is new heaven and new earth for new creatures!

CONCLUSION: We must see that we fall “behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7

It is all-important that we be ready for His appearing.

For to be left means entering into seven years of terrible tribulation.