Hope in view of Judgment

Jer 33:14 / Luke 21:25-36

Advent

Connecting Prophecy to fulfillment in Jesus

Connecting the expectation of Jesus 1st coming to His return

Refocus our hearts and minds towards Christ Jesus

Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

No Hope in view of Judgment

Jesus is coming on purpose

Jeremiah 33:14–15 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”

The arrival of Jesus and His ministry marked the beginning of judgment.

Matthew 10:34–36 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

How do we connect this statement with John 3:17 ?

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Because the saving of a people means to protect them from all enemies and pawns of the enemy that would do them harm.

Exodus 15:1–2 “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

So the question is to you, the hearer of this message: When the prophecies are read of the second coming of Jesus, do you see Him as savior and find hope and strength, or do you see Him as the coming judge and the bringer of reconning for all your sin?

Hope in view of Judgment

Luke 21:28 - your redemption is near

That does not mean a second chance for unbelievers, but rather is a promise to all who are in Christ that the completion of our salvation is near; our rescue from the presence of sin and our glorification and entrance into paradise.

We will dwell securely

Jeremiah 33:16 “In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.”

Revelation 7:17 “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.””

This is where we are promised no more tears, no aging, no death, no sorrow, no misery, no disease; nothing will threaten the existence, peace, or contentment of the people of God after the triumphant return of Christ Jesus, the Righteous Judge and Savior.

The Lord is our righteousness

Jeremiah 33:16 “In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Our sanctification shall then be complete. The outside will finally match the incorruptible soul that was saved and sealed. There will be no need of repentance; we will never again need to apologize.

We shall see Jesus

Luke 21:27 “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Job 19:26–27 “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”

This then, is the pinnacle! Of course, we often say we can’t wait to see our loved ones who have gone on, but I tell you there will be NOTHING greater, NOTHING we will be more anxious to see than the physical immediate presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

What now, then?

Seeing then that we have a sure hope in Christ Jesus, what instruction do these prophecies hold for us?

Flee the coming Judgment - Luke 21:35

Watch Yourself - Luke 21:34

Stay Awake - Luke 21:36

Stand Now - Luke 21:36

Pastor: “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”

Congregation: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”