Looking For His Return

Mark 13:24-37

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven…32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Lakeview Baptist Church

December 3, 2017

Introduction

This passage is from what theologians call the “Olivet Discourse.” The Olivet Discourse is the expanded and systematic teaching of Jesus Christ, to His disciples, on the Mount of Olives.

Mark 13:1-4 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

The Olivet Discourse

Peter, Andrew, James and John approach Jesus “privately” in order to understand His comment:

4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

Jesus does not refer to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple which takes place in 70 A.D., instead He goes to the time when He will return after the great judgement of the “Tribulation”.

The main subject of the Olivet Discourse is the “end times.” We can also find this discourse in Matthew 24:1-25:46 and Luke 21:5-36. By its shear size, Matthew’s account is the most extensive of the three. The Gospel of John does not include this teaching.

One other point to note: The teaching in this discourse is about the Nation of Israel. It does not concern the Church. This is the future of the Israel.

God has a special place in His heart for the Children of Israel. He sent His Son to declare to them, “The Kingdom of God/heaven is at hand.”

However, the Children of Israel;

· would not hear the words of the prophets

· would not hear the words of John the Baptist

· would not hear the words of the Son of God

· would reject Jesus as their Savior

God will use the “scroll, bowl and trumpet” judgment of the End Time to cause them unto repentance and restore their fellowship with Him. Basically, it is Israel’s last chance. The life ring will be tossed to them, all they need do is grab it to live.

Where does the Church come into the picture?

You might be asking, “How does the Church fit into the End Times?” According to dispensational premillennialists, the next event for the Church is the “Great Snatch” or the “Taking Up” of the saints. Paul refers to this event as the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). Most modern-day Christians believe this event is predicted and described, using the Greek word "harpazo", "rapio" in Latin from which we get the word “rapture.” Its meaning is to snatch away or seize, as found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The term "rapture" specifically distinguishes this event from the event of the "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ to Earth.

The word rapture is a very common word in Christian circles, describing how God will resurrect every believer, both dead or alive, where they will meet Christ in the air and be taken into heaven.

The word rapture is not found in the bible, but it teaches the principle of the rapture. However, the bible doesn’t use the word trinity either, but it teaches the principle of the trinity: God is 3-in-1.

Jesus introduces the disciples to the evidence of the return of Christ in normal life:

Matthew 24:36-44 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.37For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect..

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Turn with me to John 14:1-3

John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Like today, the early church had a lot of misunderstanding concerning the Church in the End Times.

The Apostle Paul writing to the church at Corinth

1 Corinthians 15:50-53 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

The Apostle Paul writing to the church at Philippi

Philippians 3:20-21 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

The Apostle Paul writing to the church at Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 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.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.15 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.16 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.17 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.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Conclusion

The “Take-Aways” today are the following:

1. Since we do not have a date for the “rapture” we must be ready and watch.

Time of Christ’s return is not revealed, so watch for the Lord to come

Mark 13:32-33 But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come..

“May the Lord come soon,” Maranatha – Our Lord will come

1 Corinthians 16:22 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

2. What will take place at the point of Jesus Return in the Air?

The dead in Christ shall rise first, then those which are alive

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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.17 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.

3. Promise of Christ’s return,

Jesus told His disciples that He would return for them.

John 14:3 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

4. At the point of Jesus return, the dead and alive will all meet Jesus in the Air

Resurrection at rapture,

1 Corinthians 15:51–55 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

5. Don’t get caught up in “date-setting” for the return of Christ.

Folly of date setting, 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3.

Titus 2:13 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

6. Not everyone will believe this message

Scoffers in last days,

2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Perhaps the Apostle Peter Sums It Up Best

Coming Lord and King, Hebrews 9:24–28.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.