The End: Our Hope

Get excited: The end is near.

(What does this means for us. Hence the three points.)

Here’s the thing: Regardless of how we believe the events of the end shall unfold, of which there are different schools of thoughts and we’ll touch on that, we are going to spend our time in Scripture today looking at the things that Scripture plainly tells us about the end - the stuff we need to be ready for and excited about. So, we’re not going to be exhaustive here about how the events could unfold. Rather, we’re going to stick to the bug picture: What our hope is and why.

Jesus Is Coming SOON

From the SOET: Our great hope is for the imminent return of Christ in the air to receive his own, both the living who will be transformed, and the dead in Christ who will be resurrected bodily. Christ will complete at his second coming the restoration begun when he initiated God’s kingdom at his first coming. Christ will liberate creation from the curse, fulfil God’s covenant to Israel, and defeat all powers that oppose God. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

There is a lot to get through here. This section sums up well for us how why we hope in Christ’s soon return. But it’s not just about what this statement says, but what this statement and our believes are founded upon. So, how do we see this lining up with the Word of God?

Is the return of Christ actually imminent? Could it happen at any time?

1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 ESV

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

As we considered Paul’s words here, we see that Christ could return at any time. Having said that, any time could be in the next second, on in the next 2000 years. There have been many people over the years who have tried to predict when Jesus would return. Anyone remember this pamphlet?

Show 88 reasons pic

Unfortunately, and with full respect the the author for their hard work in putting this together, it clearly was wrong. Either that or a bunch of us forgot to buy tickets in time!

God’s Word makes it clear, Christ’s return will be like a thief in the night. In other words - you’re not going to see it coming!

Christ will return, gathering his people in the air - as 1 Thessalonians 4:17 tells us. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 helps paint a picture of what Christ will do at his return for his own:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (ESV)

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.

This passage demonstrates the reality that Christ will return, and that we can expect a resurrection - like Christ’s own resurrection - to take place.

Further to this, when Jesus returns he will complete the restoration that was started back at his first coming. Acts 3:20-21 tells us:

Acts 3:20–21 ESV

that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

What does this mean that Christ will restore all things? Christ’s work didn’t stop at his death and ressurection, though to be sure he won the victory and conquered both sin and death. When man rebelled against God way back at the beginning in Eden, human kind and all of creation fell, and was corrupted. We look forward with hope to the day when God will completely restore all such things. All the effects of sin and death will be gone! Restoration will include the coming of the kingdom of God in its fullness. Yes, we experience glimpses and tastes now. We believe in healing, or miracles, but with the view that this is but a taste of the beautiful and glorious life we will have in Christ in his kingdom.

This is why the SOET affirms that Christ will liberate all creation from the curse. Freedom in fullness from the effects of sin will come. When you think about it that way, it’s no wonder we all should be getting excited for Christ to return soon! It’s going to be amazing!

God Will Bring Justice

From the SOET: Ultimately, God will judge the living and the dead. Such judgement is God’s gracious answer to humanity’s cry from justice to prevail throughout the earth and is consistent with God’s character as loving, holy, and just.

This next point shows us that as we look with hope to the end on this world as we know it, and the beginning of eternity, we look forward to God bringing justice.

Scripture tells us in Acts 10 42

Acts 10:42 ESV

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

Similarly 1 Peter tells us:

1 Peter 4:5 ESV

but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

God is the judge of all. Lest we think that death is an escape, it really is the doorway into the next part, where judgement will happen. At the end, when everything is put in its place under God’s authority, humanity will be judged. There will be a separating of the sheep from the goats - as Matthew 25:32-33 tells us.

Eternity Awaits

From the SOET: The unredeemed will go away into eternal punishment, but the redeemed into eternal life. The redeemed will enjoy the presence of God where there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Conclusion - What this means right now.

Philippians 1:27 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,