Christ's Return (3)

We believe in the personal, bodily, and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission. Article 9, EFCA Statement of Faith.

The Doctrinal Convictions of the EFCA, and our church are centered around the gospel. They desire to ‘major on the majors, and minor on the minors’, or avoid division over issues which they feel are not central to the gospel. Christ’s return is connected to the gospel in that it is the culmination of our salvation, the time when Christ will make all things new, and complete His work of redeeming His Creation. However, this part of the doctrinal statement is less central to one coming to salvation, and being certain of that salvation. One can be saved and not agree with this article of our statement of faith. Additionally, the understanding of exactly how God is going to complete His work of redemption is varied among those who are saved. So, why include it in this statement of faith? A footnote from the Introduction of Evangelical Convictions answers this question succinctly. It states,

“The position of premillennialism (in Article 9) is recognized as less central to our understanding of the gospel and is included more as a denominational distinctive.” Evangelical Convictions, 2011, pg.20

The EFCA moved away from premillennial in 2019, changing that word to “glorious”. They allowed churches to decide whether to adopt the new 2019 statement of faith, or retain the previous statement. EFBC has not adopted the new statement, and has retained the old statement which includes ‘premillennial’.

We as a church have had this doctrinal conviction since we began.

Another element which was a part of our doctrinal statement historically has been preserved in the Distinctives section of our Bylaws.

We also believe Christ’s return is “imminent.”

This word was in a previous version of the EFCA statement of faith and was removed in 2008.

The significance of that word will be explained as we work our way through this statement.

PERSONAL, BODILY, PREMILLENNIAL RETURN

The Christian’s “blessed hope” that Christ will return for us is well documented in the Scriptures by its many authors, and is meant to be a source of hope and comfort.

Matthew 25:31 (NIV84) — “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

Mark 8:35–38 (NIV84) — For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

John 14:1–3 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Acts 1:6–11 (NIV84) — So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Titus 2:13 NIV

while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 9:28 (NIV84) — so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

James 5:7–8 (NIV84) — Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

1 Peter 1:7 (NIV84) — These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:13 (NIV84) — Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 4:13 (NIV84) — But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 John 2:28 (NIV84) — And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

1 John 3:2 (NIV84) — Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Revelation 22:7 (NIV84) — “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”

Revelation 22:12 (NIV84) — “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

Revelation 22:20 (NIV84) — He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

PERSONAL

Jesus Himself will come for us, and Jesus Himself will come back to the Earth to establish His Kindgom.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NIV

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

BODILY

Jesus will not just appear to come, or come in spirit. His coming is not just a spiritual analogy. He will come in His glorified, resurrected body.

Acts 1:11 NIV

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Philippians 3:20–21 (NIV84) — But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Why is it important to emphasize “the personal, bodily . . . return of our Lord Jesus Christ”?

Some groups claim that the 2nd coming is just a spiritual renewal of the earth, and the church reigning. e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses claim Jesus began reigning in 1914.

PREMILLENNIAL

There are three major views concerning when Christ will come to earth the second time: Post-millennialism, Amillennialism and Premillennialism. The difference behind these views is how one should interpret the scriptures regarding unfulfilled prophecy of the Kingdom, Israel and the Church, and the covenants of God. Well meaning, and mature believers through the ages have disagreed on this particular area of church teaching. These different views are presented here briefly before explaining Premillennialism in an effort to aid the understanding of our position as a church.

POST-MILLENNIALISM

Post-millennialism uses an allegorical interpretive method when it comes to unfulfilled prophecy regarding the kingdom, Israel and the covenants of God.

It teaches that Christ will return after a period of time (not necessarily 1000 years) during which the church has spread throughout the world, and the world has come more and more to be under Christ’s reign.

With the coming of World War I & II, people began to realize the world is not getting better and better as Christianity spreads, and Post-millennialism was not held, until it began to become popular, again, recently.

AMILLENNIALISM (ST. AUGUSTINE, CATHOLIC view, 4th Century)

Amillennialism uses an allegorical interpretive method when it comes to unfulfilled prophecy regarding the kingdom, Israel and the covenants of God.

Allegoristic interpretation had its beginnings in the early 3rd Century, championed by Origen

Augustine and others of his time believed that salvation was found in the holy, catholic church alone. During this time period (not necessarily 1000 years), the church is the kingdom of God on Earth, and eventually, after spreading that kingdom, Christ will return.

AMILLENNIALISM / INAUGURATED OR REALIZED MILLENNIALISM (WARFIELD)

This is the traditional reformed view. Though returning to a normal, literal interpretation of scripture, the reformers continued to use the allegorical interpretive method for unfulfilled prophecy of the Kingdom, Israel and the covenants of God. They were still very anti-semitic, and would not believe prophecies regarding Israel would be fulfilled literally, because God was done with Israel.

Unlike Augustine, they did not see the Catholic church as the Kingdom of God on Earth. Rather, Christ is sitting on the throne in heaven and His kingdom is there. The world will progressively grow worse, and eventually, at the end of this time period (not necessarily 1000 years), when Christ returns, He will usher in eternity.

PREMILLENNIALISM

Though most reformed theologians would say Amillennialism is the historic view of the church, that only goes back to the heavy influence of the Roman Catholic church beginning in the 4th century, and continued with the reformers who retained the allegorical method of interpretation for future events, because the literal interpretation includes Israel.

“Their rotten and unbending stiff-neckedness deserves that they be oppressed unendingly and without measure or end and that they die in their misery without the pity of anyone.”

Can you imagine a pastor saying this from their platform today? What if one of the modern leaders of the Christian community wrote a book and said this? Worse yet, what if sentiment like this informed the theologies of a majority of Christians for centuries?

Shockingly, the author of this quote was John Calvin, the famous 16th century Reformer. And the people he is so wincingly attacking are the Jewish people.

For many followers of Jesus, this type of glaring antisemitism comes as an alarming surprise. How could one of the most respected theologians in Christian tradition spout off something so toxic? Others might wonder if I am simply framing Calvin unfairly, taking his quote out of context. With that in mind, here’s one of the many quotes of Calvin’s contemporaries – Martin Luther:

“Set fire to their synagogues or schools and bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might see that we are Christians.”

Both of these men contributed much to our bible interpretation and theology. However, though they despised allegorical interpretation, their hatred for the Jews led them to embrace allegorical interpretation for what is yet to come, because they would not believe God would work with Israel again, as He promised.

Romans 11:11–12 NIV

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

Romans 11:18 NIV

do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Romans 11:25–36 NIV

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

PREMILLENNIALISM

Premillennialism, also known as chiliasm (1000), was the historic, majority view of the church prior to Augustine. (Chafer has an extensive review of this history in his Systematic Theology, quoting often from George N. H. Peters’ Theocratic Kingdom.

logosres:chafersysth;ref=VolumePage.V_4,_p_267;off=730)

The first non-chiliastic writings do not occur until the beginning of the 3rd Century A.D. This actually corresponded with the beginning of allegorical interpretation being adopted by Christians. It started with Clement of Alexandria (north africa), who was trained in Greek allegorism until he became a believer later in life. He then continued using this method as he influenced his pupil Origen, who is chiefly recognized with promoting allegorical interpretation in the church.

Augustine, who started as gnostic, continued the used of allegorical interpretation, and led the major shift away from the chiliastic teaching of scripture.

Systematic Theology Chapter XIII: Introduction to Eschatology

It is a common practice with some theologians to brand chiliasm as a modern theory, not remembering that, in its restored form, even justification by faith is comparatively a modern truth. Both justification by faith and chiliasm are taught in the New Testament and were therefore the belief of the early church. These doctrines, like all other essential truths, went into obscurity during the Dark Ages. The Reformers did not restore all features of doctrine and along with justification by faith they retained the Romish notion that the church is the kingdom, fulfilling the Davidic covenant, and appointed to conquer the world by bringing it under the authority of the church. This idea has prevailed in spite of the clear, uncomplicated testimony of the New Testament that this age must end in unprecedented wickedness.

The premillennial view is rooted in the normal, literal interpretation of scripture, including the unfulfilled prophecies regarding the Kingdom, Israel and the covenants of God.

We believe the most natural understanding of the Bible is that Christ’s coming will be premillennial, or before the setting up of the earthly, millennial (1000 year) kingdom of Christ on Earth as described by the Old Testament Prophets, the record in the gospels, and in passages like Revelation 20.

Prophecy Knowledge Handbook

A good resource for seeing how every prophecy in the scripture that has been fulfilled, has truly been fulfilled literally.

Every Prophecy in the Bible

The current reprinted version of Prophecy Knowledge Handbook.

Premillennial

Revelation 20:1–10 NIV

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

This is just the prophecy in Revelation 20. The Old Testament prophets gave God’s revelation of this coming Earthly Kingdom over which the Son of Man would rule.

Daniel 2:44–45 NIV

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

Daniel 7:13–14 NIV

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Daniel 7:23–27 NIV

“He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. “ ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

Both our Premillennial conviction, and our conviction about the Imminent Rapture of the church flow from our Bible Interpretation.

Here are our Distinctives as a church:

Interpretation

We will teach and encourage all believers to use a ‘Normal’, Literal method of interpretation when it comes to the Bible. By normal, we mean that the Bible should be read for the normal meaning or sense, keeping in mind the words used, the grammatical syntax, the historical setting. This is opposed to an Allegorical interpretation in which the normal, literal, sense is ignored, and another meaning is assigned to a passage by the interpreter. The Normal interpretation does keep in mind that idiomatic language, and allegories are used in scripture. However, idiomatic language and allegories have one meaning, which is not up to the interpreter, but rather is determined by the grammatical and historical setting of the text. A good question for proper interpretation is, “What did this mean to the original audience?” The other distinctives we hold, flow from this Normal/Literal method of understanding God’s message found in the Bible.

IMMINENT

Christ’s Second Coming to the Earth to establish His Kingdom has been foretold by Christ as having signs, or specific events which will occur first giving an indication that it is about to happen.

Daniel 9:24–27 NIV

“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

Daniel 11:31 (NIV84) — “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

Daniel 12:11 (NIV84) — “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Matthew 24:3-31

Revelation 4-19

The Old and New Testament passages are clear about Christ coming to earth to establish His kingdom. However, there are some things in the New Testament that are called mysteries, that is, things which were not clearly revealed in the Old Testament, that are now revealed in the New Testament. The object of the mystery is the church; Christ bringing Jew and Gentile who believe in Him together in one body, for His glory.

For instance, why the separation of the final 7 years in the prophecy in Daniel? What takes place between the 69th and 70th ‘week’ in Daniel?

The Mystery… The Church!

Ephesians 3:3–10 NIV

that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

Colossians 1:25–27 (NIV84) — I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

In Romans 11, the Spirit explains the mystery of the church is that God was going to temporarily set aside His working with the nation of Israel, the physical descendants of Abraham, to work with the spiritual descendants of faith, who are joined together in the church.

Romans 11:25 NIV

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,

Romans 16:25 (NIV84) — Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,

Other passages reveal the end of the mystery of the church, when Christ comes in the air, to take His church to be with Him.

This is prior to the 70th week of Daniel, which is when God begins to pour out His wrath on the world, and at the end of which, He comes to the Earth and establishes the kingdom.

1 Corinthians 15:51–58 (NIV84) — Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

John 14:1–3 (NIV84) — “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NIV

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This coming in the air for the church is what we call the rapture.

The differences between the rapture and the second coming is who, when, where, why. This coming for the saints of the church is something for which we are to be anxiously waiting. It could happen at any time without prerequisite signs.

Our church’s Pre-Tribulation Distinctive:

Holding to the normal, literal interpretation leads us to a Premillennial, Pre-tribulation return of Christ for His church. The Premillennial view (vs. Amillennial and Postmillennial) holds that Revelation 20 speaks of a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on Earth following His second coming. The Pre-tribulation view holds to the fact that the 7 year period commonly called the Tribulation is the time of God’s wrath as described in the Old Testament Prophets and in the New Testament (vs. Mid-Tribulation/Pre-wrath which view only the latter part of the 7 year period as God’s wrath). This view also believes the scriptures that tell us that the church will be kept from the wrath (vs. Post-Tribulation) (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:1-11)

Romans 8:23 (NIV84) — Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Philippians 3:20 (NIV84) — But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV84) — Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 NIV

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

This coming in the air to rapture the church is imminent, because it precedes the wrath of God, the Tribulation; the signs of the second coming to establish His Kingdom on earth.

Romans 5:9 (NIV84) — Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-13

Revelation 3:10 (NIV84) — Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Revelation 6:17 (NIV84) — For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

AT A TIME KNOWN ONLY TO GOD

The timing of Christ coming in the air for His bride, the church, the Day of the Lord (the time of wrath/Tribulation), the Second Coming (to earth) to establish the Kingdom has not been revealed. These events will occur at a time known only to God the Father.

Matthew 24:36 NIV

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mark 13:32 (NIV84) — “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Acts 1:7 (NIV84) — He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

DEMANDS CONSTANT EXPECTANCY

As believers, these prophesied future events are a source of hope and comfort. They also serve as an exhortation to remain faithful and diligent.

Matthew 24:42–51 (NIV84) — “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Romans 13:11–14 NIV

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 (NIV84) — Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

James 5:8–9 (NIV84) — You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

2 Peter 3:10–14 (NIV84) — But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Revelation 3:3 (NIV84) — Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you..

MOTIVATES THE BELIEVER

We believe the coming of Christ motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

2 Thessalonians 1:6–8 (NIV84) — God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV84) — Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.

Titus 2:14 (NIV84) — who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Hebrews 9:28 (NIV84) — so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

1 John 3:2–3 (NIV84) — Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

2 Peter 3:10–14 NIV

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

In the past, some groups have sold everything, gone to the hills and waited expectantly for Christ to appear. How do we remain expectant, and yet continue to faithfully live godly lives, and serve in energetic mission?

MEMORY VERSES:

Titus 2:11-13

1 John 3:2-3