Jesus Returns

Recap

One World Government

The Antichrist and the False Prophet

Jesus Returns

Ascension

The entirety of the Bible centers around two main events — the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the Earth. 

Acts 1:5–6 NLT

John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

Acts 1:7–8 NLT

He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After He gave them these final instructions, He lifted His hands and He blessed them. Then after the blessing, suddenly, His feet leave the ground! Can you imagine how startling this was? They were standing there and He was talking to them and they were talking to Him.

Now His feet leave the ground and He starts up. They were trying to figure out what was going on here. Every eye was riveted on Jesus.

He ascends and finally He reaches the level of cloud cover. The Bible says, “ ... a cloud received him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9) They were looking and hoping to catch one more glimpse and maybe even wondering perhaps if He will come back.

While they were standing there, all of them gazing up into the sky, two men in white apparel stood by them. This is in Acts 1:11. These two special messengers from God said, “ ... Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” It was the promise that Jesus is coming back to the Earth.

These disciples had no clue that the promise would last for 2,000 years. It hasn’t happened yet and it’s been almost 2,000 years from that time right now but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. This is a firm promise and it’s the promise of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Second Coming

One thing we need to understand as we study the Second Coming (because this is going to affect every single one of us - every person on earth): the Second Coming is not going to be like the First Coming. Jesus felt it was important that we understand that. Because He knew that there would be people show up claiming to be the Messiah and even claiming to be the Second Coming.

We have already witnessed it.

Every once in a while: “Oh! there’s a messiah!

There have been many in the Middle East and Asia come around.

A lot of people believe that the Muslim messiah is coming. Called the Mahdi.

It’s not going to be these. And it’s not going to be as he came before (baby). He won’t slip through a back door and mysteriously show up somewhere.

Here’s what Jesus said:

Matthew 24:23–24 NKJV

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:25–26 NKJV

See, I have told you beforehand. “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.

Why? Matthew 24:27 says:

Matthew 24:27 NKJV

For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Jesus is telling them don’t pay attention to people who say the Messiah is here or there. Because when I come back, it’s going to be as the lightning flashes from the east to west. I am coming in the clouds of heaven! I’ll show up there! And all will see me.

Timing

Let’s look at a few more details about what will happen, because we will most likely see this in our lives soon.

Matthew 24:29–30 NKJV

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:31 NKJV

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

And later in this chapter, it tells us that when the Rapture happens, the Second Coming happens:

Matthew 24:40 NKJV

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

So we see that the Tribulation is something that the church will see.

Post-trib

Pre-trib

Imagine!

The Bible also says two women shall be grinding at the mill (an example for the day they were in).

Luke 17:34 NKJV

I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.

Maybe a husband and a wife; maybe the husband doesn’t serve God and the wife does. At 3:00 in the morning, the husband wakes up and something bothers him like the bed had moved beside him. He reaches over and she’s not there. He looks up to see her feet disappear through the ceiling.

Immediately, he knows what it is because she’s been talking to him and praying for him for a long time. He runs out and sees her clear the roofline and head through the sky.

The sky will probably be illuminated by the brightness of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He may cry out, wait, help me! Too late! That’s what it’s going to be like. It’s going to be marvelous if you’re the one taken; it’s going to be terrible if you’re one that is left behind.

What else do we know?

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 NKJV

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:15–16 NKJV

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 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.

The dead will rise first. Then…

1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV

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.

Here’s more:

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 NKJV

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Revelation gives us a lot of information about the Second Coming. And what’s interesting about the Book of Revelation is that it is actually not:

“Revelations”

“The Book of Revelations”

It actually is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”.

The word Revelation comes from the Greek word “apocalypsis” which means the revealing or the “unveiling.” So actually, it can even better be called “The Unveiling of Jesus Christ.” This is what the book is about!

Though it will be a wonderful time for God’s people who are caught up in the air to meet Him, it will be a terrible time for those who chose to live in rebellion and refused to give their lives to God or believe the Gospel.

We often emphasize the mercy and love of God but fail to preach about God’s judgment. Those who reject Christ will receive the Wrath of God.

Revelation 6:17 NKJV

For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

People will run to hide in the rocks and mountains and cry for them to fall on them to hide them from the Wrath of God!

The Last Battle

Revelation 11:18 NLT

The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.”

The nations anger will cause them to invade Israel at Armageddon. Their attempt to destroy Israel will make God angry at their rebellion.

Revelation 11:19 NKJV

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

This is going to be a dramatic culmination…

Revelation 19:19 NKJV

And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

So we see a clear final battle between God and Satan. Good and evil.

Revelation 17:12–14 NKJV

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

All of a sudden, in the midst of this battle, Jesus is going to return in the clouds, mighty in battle. And when it looks like the Antichrist’s forces were going to win, He will take charge and help destroy the enemy forever.

Revelation 19:20 NKJV

Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Then:

Revelation 20:1–3 NKJV

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

Revelation 20:4 NKJV

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

This is specifically referring to those who were killed because the resisted the Mark of the Beast which will be used in the future.

Revelation 20:5–6 NKJV

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Did you know we are in training right now to reign?!

The unrighteous dead will remain dead until after the 1,000 years — until the Great White Throne of Judgment.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

The Kingdom of God is here!

Conclusion

To some, Jesus will return as a loving Bridegroom, receiving His bride to spend eternity with Him. To others, according to 2 Thessalonians 1:8, He will come “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

At His First Coming, Jesus gave His life to purchase a plan of salvation so all would have an opportunity to make themselves ready for His Second Coming. He told us to be ready! In Matthew 24:44 Jesus said,

Matthew 24:44 NKJV

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

We must be ready!