Second Coming

Intro

One of the best ways to make time slow down is to REALLY look forward to something

Like a kid before Christmas, or Silas counting down the days until his birthday, or the 3 longest weeks of my life before my wedding

Now, capture that feeling of anticipation...

It is the EXACT emotion that should come to mind when we think about the return of Jesus

Last week = acknowledge that all (living and the dead) are awaiting a future resurrection and new heaven and new earth

As good as heaven will be, there is something even better on the horizon

What event will usher in our eternal hope? The second coming of Jesus

First coming = Christmas (the Word became flesh)

Second coming = future event that brings God’s eternal plan for Creation to completion

Now THAT is something worth anticipating (much more than a vacation, or birthday or even a wedding)

One passage that describes the importance of Jesus’ return is actually an account of His ascension; when He left to return to heaven

Read Acts 1:6-11 and pray

Pillar: Jesus is Coming Back

Cf. Acts 1:9-11.

Jesus has promised to return, and His return is exactly what we are anticipating

Cf. Hebrews 9:27-28.

Author of Hebrews not only reinforces the return of Jesus (appear a second time), but also connects it to our eternal hope (save those who are eagerly waiting for him)

OT context: the Day of the Lord

Referred to the time when the Lord would judge the wicked and restore His chosen people of Israel

After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the “day of the Lord” quickly became equated with Christ’s return

Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2.

The coming of Jesus is not just an idea that was created by the NT authors; it has ALWAYS been part of God’s plan for His people

As shown in the OT prophets

ALL of Scripture promises that Jesus will return

Pillar: No One Knows When

Cf. Acts 1:7.

While the promise of Christ’s return is solid, no one knows when this will happen exactly

According to the angel in the Book of Acts, it is the Father who knows the “time or season” that he has fixed by his own authority

Have fun here talking about Malachi nagging me to do something

This is just a very biblical way to say, “none of your business”

God will do what He sees fit; He is in control of the plan and fate of all Creation

It never ceases to amaze me how often people ignore this pillar, and go ahead and prophesy a date for the second coming!

A glimpse of those who have made such predictions:

Martin of Tours (400)

Hippolytus of Rome, Sextus Julius Africanus, and Irenaeus (500); based on the dimensions of Noah’s ark

Pope Innocent III (1284); 666 years after Islam… gotta love the Crusades

Thomas Muntzer (1525); Anabaptist that was killed by government troops in the German Peasants’ War

William Miller/Millerites (March 21, 1844… Oct. 22, 1844)

Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide Church of God (1936; 1943; 1972; 1975)

Harold Camping (Sep. 6, 1994; Sep. 29, 1994; Oct. 2, 1994; March 31, 1995… May 21, 2011; Oct. 21, 2011)

We are not supposed to know; we are not supposed to predict; this event will be surprising

Consistently in the NT, we are told that the second coming will happen “like a thief in the night”

Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2.

Provides a wonderful picture of how we will truly be surprised

Remember having someone break into our garage shortly after moving to Steinbach

We were completely suprised and unprepared for this to happen

Jesus will return in a similar manner

Though it will be a MUCH better experience than having something stolen (focus is on the surprising nature, not the thief)

The result of the first two pillars (Jesus WILL return; no one knows the date) has led to every single generation of Christians believing they were living in the end times

The apostles and the earliest church expected Jesus to return before they died

Subsequent generations continued with this belief

Turmoil in the world increases Christian’s expectation of the return of Jesus to set everything right

Everyone is living in constant expectation… and that is not a bad thing (as we shall see)

Pillar: The Return of the King Completes the Kingdom

Cf. Acts 1:6.

Disciples were still thinking in terms of the “Day of the Lord”

Expected Jesus (as the Messiah) to re-establish the kingdom of Israel on earth

Even though the kingdom of heaven looks different (as we learned), the disciples were on to something

The return of the King completes the Kingdom

Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

What Paul is describing is the return of the true King of the universe

Kind of like what Tolkien envisioned in “Return of the King”

Read excerpt from page 298

When the King arrives, the kingdom arrives in full

Looked at the kingdom of heaven (already, but not yet)

When Jesus returns, the time will be here!

Fullness = Complete = Perfect = “Telos”

Moves from a foreign outpost to the overwhelming reality

The fullness of the kingdom is God’s eternal plan for Creation

Creation -> Fall -> Redepmtion

Jesus is King, reigning over the eternal kingdom on the New Heaven and New Earth

Framework: The return of the king does not require a rapture

Where is Jesus headed when he returns? “The Lord himself will descend from heaven”

He is coming DOWN; His destination is the New Heaven and New Earth

Which we will explore more fully near the end of our series!

Those that are “caught up together with him in the clouds” are like an envoy that greets a dignitary outside the gates and lead them into the city

The Bible is consistent that it is the New Heaven and New Earth that is our destination along with Jesus (not a spiritual heaven)

But Pastor, what about Matthew 24 and Luke 17?

Those would be EXCELLENT questions for the Q&A

Regardless of where we fall in the framework of a rapture, our takeaway from the second coming is all the same:

Conclusion: Live In a Constant State of Readiness

Cf. Acts 1:8.

While the followers of Jesus were promised His return and the fact that the kingdom would be fulfilled, they didn’t know when this would happen

But they were NOT to rest and twiddle their thumbs while they waited; they needed to wait in constant readiness

For the initial disciples, they received the Holy Spirit and were tasked with spreading the good news of Jesus to the entire world

Peter was one who received these instructions, and passed them onto the church

Cf. 1 Peter 1:13.

“Prepare your minds for action”

Literally “girding up the loins of your mind”

Gird loins = tuck up tunic to be ready for action (battle)

What does this look like?

Live with principles we have learned about the kingdom of heaven

Share the task of the disciples in spreading the good news of Jesus

“Be sober-minded”

We know what it means to be sober; Peter is urging us not to become under the influence of the priorities of the world

Refer back to childlike anticipation; everything else seems like a minor detail to get through to the main event

When these details take the place of priority, we are no longer “sober-minded”

They dull our senses and bring us under an influence other than the Holy Spirit

Things can be enjoyed; under the primary anticipation of our eternal hope

Marriage can prepare you; you can disciple your kids; friends can sharpen you; you can share hope with others

Let us continue to focused on the hope found in the return of King Jesus and the fulfillment of the eternal kingdom of heaven

Everything, everything else, pales in comparison

Pray

Benediction

The church during the time of Revelation LONGED for the return of Jesus

They were persecuted; they needed the king to break through

Let us leave with a similar sense of urgency

Cf. Revelation 22:17; 20