Waiting for His return...

Our Hope

I usually don’t use the Lectionary, but during Advent Season, it helps me not to overlap the same Scriptures year after year, as we look at the topics of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Christ.

This morning, we’re going to look at our Hope. Many Jews longed for the Messiah to come. Many years had passed since the promised Messiah, The Hope of David, the One who would sit on David’s throne, and the one who was called to set His people free.

Charles Wesley penned a hymn so many years ago that expresses this and it is still true for us today.

1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

I wonder what the Jewish people were longing for:

A King...

An Army General...

A Negotiator...

What picture do you have in your mind when you think of Jesus?

A long haired man, standing by a door in a glistening white robe, waiting for the door to open...

Maybe you think of a crown of thorns pressed into his head, torn flesh from his back...

Who is this that you are longing to see?

Today we’re going to look at Mark 13:24-37. It gives us a picture of what to expect, as well as signs of the end.

Leading into this, Jesus speaks to the Tribulation, but here He speaks to the Second Coming.

Let’s read,

Mark 13:24–27 NLT

“At that time, after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

Events preceding the Second Coming...

Many of you have heard of the Rapture of the Church and the Great Tribulation. I believe that these events are still coming.

Mark 13:3–23 NIV

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

You might ask,

Where does the church fit in to all this?

That’s a good question. There are many that believe that the church will be taken before the Great Tribulation. Darby made this view popular in 1830. Dakes and Scofield also taught it.

I would think that most of us grew up with this, at least those that grew up in Pentecostal Churches.

During the last discussion on our Statement of Essential Truths, Classical Premillennialism and mid-tribulation rapture of the church teachings were brought up. As for us today, God calls us to look for His return. Jesus is coming for those who are looking for Him.

Titus 2:11–13 NIV

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

A little later we’ll get to nobody knowing the day or the hour, but as for now, let’s look at

The Day of the Lord

Mark 13:24–25 NLT

“At that time, after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

After the seven years of Tribulation, the anguish of those days, creation is going to be affected: The sun will be darkened and the moon will give no light. Even the stars will fall from the sky.

This will fulfill Old Testament prophecy.

Isaiah 13:10 NIV

The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.

In the New Testament, John saw a vision,

Revelation 6:12–13 NIV

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.

After this takes place, Jesus will return.

Matthew 24:30–31 NIV

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Leading up to the great and dreadful day of the Lord, there will be great devastation. When we look at our world today, we see these wars and rumours of wars. Birth pains are happening. The contractions are getting closer together.

As we continue, let’s look at the question:

What about the fig tree?

Mark 13:28–31 NLT

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

Most trees in Israel are green all year round. Fig trees lose their leaves and they begin to produce leaves and bud.

Spring has returned and summer is on its way.

According to John Courson,

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 13)

...the fig tree is the national symbol of Israel. Therefore, it is my strong conviction that Jesus is talking about the re-blossoming of the nation of Israel that took place in May, 1948, when the Jews returned to their land—the only time in history when a nation came back from the dead—exactly as prophesied by Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah.

We have just passed 75 years since Israel became a nation. The question was asked,

“Can a nation be brought forth in a day?”

Isaiah 66:8 NIV

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.

This happened on May 14, 1948. Truly, it was nothing short of a miracle. Many times I have wondered how a such a small parcel of land could be so highly contested.

Regardless if the budding of the fig tree means Israel, which I believe it does, we must be ready as we watch what is going on in our world.

Jesus promised that when we see the budding of the fig tree, this generation will not pass.

Are you watching the signs of the times? Have you listened to the scoffers that would say this could never happen?

2 Peter 3:1–7 NLT

This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles. Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

Each and every day we need to be ready to meet Jesus. If Jesus came today, would you be ready to meet Him? If you were to meet Him today if you breathed your last breath, would you be ready?

Jesus promised one thing, “Heaven and earth will pass away...”

Yes, God has placed us here as caretakers, but we look forward to a new Heaven and a new earth.

We must be careful not to pick dates, but how long can it be before Jesus comes?

Let’s read Mark 13:32-37

Mark 13:32–37 NIV

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”

Many have tried to determine what day Jesus would return.

The Great Disappointment...

took place after October 22, 1844. William Miller, a Baptist minister, taught that Jesus was supposed to return on October 22, 1844. Many sold their possessions and waited for the Second Advent or as we like to call it, the Second Coming.

Could you imagine the disappointment, the fall out, and even the shame? The repercussions were immense: some walked away, others were mocked and some were tarred and feathered.

Was it lack of education, wishful thinking, or not knowing the word?

We can know the signs of the times, but when Jesus was on earth, He said that He didn’t know, nor the angels, but only God the Father.

What will Jesus find us doing?

A master goes away on a trip and comes back unannounced. Will he find his servants working or will he find them doing their own thing?

As a parent you know, or maybe when you were children you remember the note on the table,

“We have gone for parts. We aren’t sure how long it will take.

There are cookies in the cupboard that you can have for lunch.

Please feed the chickens and the pigs.

Love

Dad & Mom”

The cookie part is easy. Maybe I’ll watch a little tv while I’m having my snack. It will be a while before Mom and Dad get home. I’ll have lots of time.

Is that how we treat the return of Christ? Will we be ready or will we be doing our own thing?

Mark 13:35–37 NLT

You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

My prayer is that it wasn’t the same answer as I sometimes gave my parents.

I was going to...

What is our hope?

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 NKJV

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

No matter how desperate the world appears to be. Look up for your redemption is nearer than when you first believed.

Always love Him! Take time to follow Him! Even when life seems over your head, it’s still under Jesus’ feet.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus will not fail you. His words shall endure forever.

Let’s pray!