Seeing the Lord's Second Coming

(Temple 01/06/2018) Christmas is the time to celebrate the coming of Christ. After Christmas is the time to anticipate His second coming. The ninth chapter of Isaiah combines His first and second comings in two verses, 6-7. The Holy Spirit did not stop with the birth of Christ. He inspired Isaiah to record a summary of the second coming of Christ. Let’s look at both verses.

(Temple 01/06/2018) Christmas is the time to celebrate the coming of Christ. After Christmas is the time to anticipate His second coming. The ninth chapter of Isaiah combines His first and second comings in two verses, 6-7. The Holy Spirit did not stop with the birth of Christ. He inspired Isaiah to record a summary of the second coming of Christ. Let’s look at both verses.

Isaiah 9:6–7 AV

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

These two verses foretell the two comings of Christ. The first time, He came as a child born of the lineage of David. He came as the Son of God given as the Sacrificial Lamb for sins. He came in meekness. He came as a servant.

These two verses foretell the two comings of Christ. The first time, He came as a child born of the lineage of David. He came as the Son of God given as the Sacrificial Lamb for sins. He came in meekness. He came as a servant.

The second time, He will come as the rightful heir of the throne of David. He will come in might! He will come as Sovereign Lord!

See His Vast Domain!

Governments tend to grow. Many countries today see the increase of government in regulation, taxes, and personnel. The government of the Lord Jesus Christ will be a vast domain, far greater than the one imagined in the song, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.”

The domain of Christ will continue to expand. I don’t want to get into sci-fi ideas of planetary expansion as some cults speculate. Nevertheless, His government will increase.

I fully support His expansion of government because He created the whole environment for His government. Everything belongs to Him anyway!

I also fully support His expansion of government because His purposes are pure and trustworthy. Every work of God is good, and His government is good. Man’s motives lack such purity and trustworthiness, so manmade governments must be held in checks and balances. And one day, manmade governments will be replaced by God’s government.

See His Never-Ending Peace!

As the government increases, God’s peace will likewise increase. Man’s expansions create conflict. The 20th century bears witness to two world wars because of aggressive expansion.

However, with the government of the Prince of peace, peace will expand. Social upheavals and riots will be unthinkable. Can you imagine what the nightly news would be like? Tonight, peace breaks out in another region! I could also imagine the History Channel’s series, “Before Christ Came: A World Insane.” Such a perfect world is hard to imagine because sin and its consequences are so rampant, while Satan seeks to kill and destroy. With man, some things, such as lasting peace, are impossible; but with God, all things, including everlasting peace, are possible.

See His Throne and Kingdom!

This government of God will not be a democracy or a republic. It will not be socialist or communist. There will be no elections. The eternal government of God will be a kingdom with the Lord Jesus Christ as the everlasting King of kings.

See His Everlasting Justice!

In eternity, Justice will always prevail! Eternity begins with the Judgment seat of Christ and the Great White throne of God as every man, woman, and child must give an account of themselves before the Holy One. After that time, judgment and justice will be established forever.

See His Never-Failing Zeal!

God in His intense fervor will accomplish this! God has determined to establish this government and is determined to establish this government! No powers in heaven or on earth can prevent God from setting up His kingdom!

God is not establishing His government throughout the earth from a lust for power. He is absolutely self-sufficient. He does not need a world to serve Him. Neither is God establishing His government throughout the earth from some need to be recognized. Again, He is completely self-sufficient. God the Father is establishing His perpetual kingdom for the Son so that His creation can enjoy Him forever!

See the Lord’s vast domain! See His never-ending peace! See His throne and kingdom! See His everlasting justice! See His never-failing zeal!

Now, look for these elements of that eternal state (or State, if we think of a government) in these verses:

Revelation 21:1–18 AV

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. … And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 21:21–27 AV

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Beloved, we have a glorious future ahead of us! Aren’t you glad to be counted in that number?

Beloved, we have a glorious future ahead of us! Aren’t you glad to be counted in that number?

Our Father in heaven, hallowed is your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever! Amen.