An Expected Appearance
Notes
Transcript
An Expected Appearance
An Expected Appearance
Titus 2:11-13
Titus 2:11-13
Text:
Title: An Expected Appearance
Introduction:
One of the most often asked questions I receive is, “Are we living in the last days?”
The Simple answer is “yes”. The rest of the answer should be: “now are you ready for what comes next in these last days?”
Ill – Some people decided to let their three-year-old son record the message for their home answering machine. The rehearsals went smoothly: “Mommy and Daddy can’t come to the phone right now. If you’ll leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, they’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
Ill – Some people decided to let their three-year-old son record the message for their home answering machine. The rehearsals went smoothly: “Mommy and Daddy can’t come to the phone right now. If you’ll leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, they’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
Then came the test. They pressed the record button and their son said sweetly, “Mommy and Daddy can’t come to the phone right now. If you’ll leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, they’ll get back to you as soon as Jesus comes.”
Indications of the Last Days
Indications of the Last Days
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Wars and Rumors of Wars
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Israel’s Return to the Land
Israel’s Return to the Land
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Israel’s Return to the Land
(1948)
Rise of False Prophets
Rise of False Prophets
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Increased Transportation and Technology
Increased Transportation and Technology
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Increased Transportation and Technology
An increased interest in Occult Practices
An increased interest in Occult Practices
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
A rise in Occult Practice
New strains of Diseases and Earthquakes-increasing in frequency, and strength.
New strains of Diseases and Earthquakes-increasing in frequency, and strength.
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Diseases and Earthquakes
Yet, for the Christian, this news is not discouraging news!
But for the unbeliever there is no hope with knowing Jesus Christ as Saviour.
Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive Introduction
• A number of years ago, a submarine sank off the coast of Massachusetts, and that submarine went by the title S-4. It sank in deep waters, and many ships sped to the rescue to see if they could raise that ship and rescue that crew. They sent a diver down many feet beneath the surface, and that diver put his gear up to the shell of that submarine. And, there was being tapped out, on the surface of that submarine, a message in Morse code. And, the diver, who knew Morse code, listened as they continued to tap. And, here was the question that was being asked from inside that submarine—the question was this: “Is there any hope? Is there any hope?”•
That’s what this world wants to know. I mean, is there any hope? For some people, there is no hope. As one person said, “It looks like we’re looking into the muzzle of a loaded cannon.” Somebody said that “hopelessness is the saddest word in the human language.” For other people, they have hope, but their hope is a false hope. Somebody said, “There is no greater false hope than the first four hours of a diet.” For many people, there is hope, but it is a false hope. For other people, they have hope, but it is an uncertain hope; it is not a certain hope. But, the Bible here, in this passage of Scripture that I just read to you, speaks of the Second Coming of Jesus. It calls the Second Coming of Jesus “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,” and the Bible calls it, there, a “hope,” “a certain hope,” a “blessed hope.” (Titus 2:13)
In the early church, there was great anticipation of the Lord’s return. The return of Jesus Christ was particularly an anticipated event when the church faced much persecution in the early days of that Apostolic period.
In the early church, there was great anticipation of the Lord’s return. The return of Jesus Christ was mainly an anticipated event when the church faced much persecution in the early days of that Apostolic period.
Every writer of the New Testament gave some information about the Lord’s return and the hope it brought to those in suffering and persecution.
Many had loved ones and friends dear to them that have passed away, so the hope of seeing them again one day was also comforting.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Three areas of hope:The promise, the presentation and the preparation of/for His Coming.
I. The Promise of His Coming
I. The Promise of His Coming
I. The Promise of His Coming
Here we see the reasons for our hope:
I. The Promise of His Coming
I. The Promise of His Coming
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2.
A. It is a sure coming.
A. It is a sure coming.
A. It is a sure coming.
A. It is a sure coming.
Note - “Looking For” means to expect
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Accept, Accepted, Acceptable
3. prosdechomai (προσδέχομαι, 4327), pros, “to,” and No. 1, “to accept favorably, or receive to oneself,” is used of things future, in the sense of expecting; with the meaning of “accepting,” it is used negatively in Heb. 11:35, “not accepting their deliverance”; of receiving, e.g., Luke 15:2; Rom. 16:2; Phil. 2:29. See ALLOW, LOOK (FOR), RECEIVE, TAKE, WAIT.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Ill - There is an inscription in the dome of our Capitol in Washington, about which few people know. It says: “One far-off divine event toward which the whole creation moves.” A visitor saw this inscription and asked the guide what it meant. He said: “I think it refers to the Second Coming of Christ.” When Capitol building was erected, some God-fearing official ordered that inscription to be etched in the dome of our seat of government, believing that its truth was vital to the concern of our nation.
Ill - There is an inscription in the dome of our Capitol in Washington, about which few people know. It says: “One far-off divine event toward which the whole creation moves.” A visitor saw this inscription and asked the guide what it meant. He said: “I think it refers to the Second Coming of Christ.” When Capitol building was erected, some God-fearing official ordered that inscription to be etched in the dome of our seat of government, believing that its truth was vital to the concern of our nation.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Ill - There is an inscription in the dome of our Capitol in Washington, about which few people know. It says: “One far-off divine event toward which the whole creation moves.” A visitor saw this inscription and asked the guide what it meant. He said: “I think it refers to the Second Coming of Christ.” When Capitol building was erected, some God-fearing official ordered that inscription to be etched in the dome of our seat of government, believing that its truth was vital to the concern of our nation.
B. It will be a sudden coming.
B. It will be a sudden coming.
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
· The Great D.L. Moody used to say, “I never preach a sermon without thinking that possibly the Lord may come before I preach another.”
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
· Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, the distinguished British clergyman, said, “I never begin my work in the morning without thinking that perhaps He may interrupt my work and begin His own. I am not looking for death; I am looking for Him.”
· The Great D.L. Moody used to say, “I never preach a sermon without thinking that possibly the Lord may come before I preach another.”
· Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, the distinguished British clergyman, said, “I never begin my work in the morning without thinking that perhaps He may interrupt my work and begin His own. I am not looking for death; I am looking for Him.”
II. The Presentation at His Coming
II. The Presentation at His Coming
Turn to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
A. The Presentation to His saints– The Rapture
A. The Presentation to His saints– The Rapture
Two Phases of the 2nd Coming of Jesus
Rapture=Coming FOR His Saints
Revelation=Coming WITH His Saints
Note- the Second Coming of Christ has two phases: the "rapture"-Christ coming for His saints and the " Revelation"-Christ returning with His saints. These Rapture and the Revelation are separated by the seven-year Tribulation period.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Note – “Caught Up” – Latin is Rapturo.
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Note – “Caught Up” – Latin is Rapturo.
1. The Lord will descend personally.
1. The Lord will descend personally.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also 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.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
11 Which also 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.
2. Jesus will save us from the wrath to come.
2. Jesus will save us from the wrath to come.
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
2. Jesus will save us from the wrath to come.
B. The Presentation to the World – The Second Coming
B. The Presentation to the World – The Second Coming
B. The Presentation to the World – The Second Coming
Note – Show the Lahaye chart.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Note - The world will be gathered against Christ. Every eye will see Him coming.
Note - The world will be gathered against Christ. Every eye will see Him coming.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
The promise of His Coming
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
The Presentation of His coming
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Note - The world will be gathered against Christ. Every eye will see Him coming.
III. The Preparation for His Coming
III. The Preparation for His Coming
Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive I. A Purifying Hope
• In New England, they were going to build a dam, and the dam was a very important dam to generate power and conserve water. And, down where—in the little valley—where the dam was going to be built, there was a village and some beautiful homes down there. Those homes were bought by the government and condemned because when the water came in, those homes would all be under water. They said to the people, “The dam is not yet ready to be built. We’ve signed the contract. Your home is sold, but we’re going to let you continue to live in these houses until a certain time and then you’ll have to move out.” It was a beautiful little village, but from the moment the contract was signed, the thing began to deteriorate, and it began to run down. And, the people—they would not repair their houses. They didn’t take care of their lawns. They didn’t do all the things that people normally do. And, what was once a beautiful little village, a little community, became just almost a slum. People continued to live there for a while. Somebody said, “How do you explain that psychologically?” And, here was the answer: “Where there is no faith for the future, there’s no work in the present. Where there is no faith for the future, there is no work in the present.” If people have a hope, if people can see that there’s something in the future, then they’re going to take care of the present.•
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Ill - After church, where she had been taught about the Second Coming, a little girl was quizzing her mother.
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Ill - After church, where she had been taught about the Second Coming, a little girl was quizzing her mother.
“Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?”
“Yes.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“In a few minutes?”
“Yes, dear.”
“Mommy, would you comb my hair?”
A. Prepare through Salvation – verse 11 and 13
A. Prepare through Salvation – verse 11 and 13
Note – The Grace of God has appeared.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Note- Have you ever accepted Christ as Saviour.
Note- Have you ever accepted Christ as Saviour.
B. Prepare through Separation – verse 12
B. Prepare through Separation – verse 12
We are hearing a lot about separation in these days.... “social distancing” keep 6 feet away from other people or they may give you what they have.
If salvation prepares us for a future destination, then separation shows us how to live until we get there-Paul Chappell
Note - If salvation prepares us for a future destination, then separation shows us how to live until we get there-Paul Chappell
1. Soberly – temperately, with a sound mind, discreetly
1. Soberly – temperately, with a sound mind, discreetly
2. Righteously – agreeably to do right, justly, doing what is in line with righteousness.
2. Righteously – agreeably to do right, justly, doing what is in line with righteousness.
3. Godly – mindful of our duty towards God, God-conscious living. Being aware that God lives in us
3. Godly – mindful of our duty towards God, God-conscious living. Being aware that God lives in us
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Note – We don’t talk about purity much in our culture.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Note – We don’t talk about purity much in our culture.
C. Prepare through Steadfastness
C. Prepare through Steadfastness
“In this present world”
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Quote – “I don’t know why some people change churches—what difference does it make which one you stay home from?”
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Quote – “I don’t know why some people change churches—what difference does it make which one you stay home from?”
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
The promise of His coming is sure.
The Presentation of His coming will be deliberate.
(These two are the aspects left to God.)
The Preparation for His coming is up to you.
