sf363 - The Second Coming Of Christ - Part 2 Of 11 -The Certainty Of The Second Coming (Acts 1 1-11)
Acts 1:1-11
Introduction
The doctrine of the Second Coming is a cardinal doctrine of Christianity.
However, not everyone that calls themselves Christians believe in the Second Coming.
In a recent survey among Protestant pastors at a church convention in Evanston, Illinois, 90% said they had no expectation whatsoever that Christ will ever really return to earth.
Yet as much as one-third of the prophetic passages in the Bible refer the Second Coming of Christ.
To deny the reality and necessity of the Second Coming would be to deny much of the Bible.
Today we will examine seven Biblical reasons that assure us that Christ is coming again.
1A. The Prophecies of the Old Testament Foretell It
There are at least 333 distinct promises in the Old Testament concerning the coming of the Messiah
1B. More than 100 were literally fulfilled in the first advent of Christ.
The virgin birth of Christ (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18, 22-25)
The birthplace of Christ (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1)
The triumphant entry on a donkey (Zech. 9:9; Luke 19:35-37)
His betrayal by a friend (Ps. 41:9; Matt. 10:4)
The scattering of His followers when he is stricken (Zech. 13:7; Mark 14:50)
The price of Judas’ betrayal (Zech. 11:12-13; Matt. 26:67; 27:29-30, 57-60)
His suffering on the cross (Ps. 22; Isa. 53; Matt. 37:35, 42-43, 46; John19:23-24)
That none of His bones would be broken (Ps. 34:20; John 19:33)
2B. Many of them still await fulfillment
The Lord will conquer all nations (Ps. 2:8-9)
The Lord will rule with justice (Isa. 9:6-7)
The Lord shall reign in peace (Mic. 4:3)
The Lord will literally reign upon the earth (Jer. 23:5)
The Lord will rule from Jerusalem (Zec. 14:4-9)
2A. The Teaching of Christ Declares It
1B. Jesus taught it in parables
The parable of the two servants (Matt. 24:45-51)
The parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13)
The parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30)
2B. Jesus declared it before the Sanhedrin
Mark 14:61-62 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" 62 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
3B. Jesus promised it to His disciples
On the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24:27-31)
On the night before His crucifixion (John 14:1-3)
3A. The Words of the New Testament Affirm It
1B. Paul took comfort in His coming (1 Th. 4:13-18)
2B. Peter hoped in His coming
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
3B. John anticipated His coming
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
4A. God’s Plan for the Church Necessitates It
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
1B. The bridal price
Acts 20:28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
2B. The betrothal
He has committed Himself to His bride (Eph. 5:25-27)
He has given His bride gifts (Eph. 4:8)
He has gone to prepare a place for her in His Father’s house (John 14:2)
3B. The marriage feast (Rev. 19:6-9)
5A. The Justice of God Demands It
Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
John 5:25-27 "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 "and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 "and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
6A. The Future of Israel Depends on It
Zechariah 12:10 " And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Romans 11:25-27 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
7A. The Glory of Christ Assures It (Phi. 2:9-11)
1B. Satan will be destroyed
Revelation 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
2B. The saints will rejoice
Revelation 7:9-10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Application
1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Acts 1:1-11
1A. The Prophecies of the Old Testament _____________________ It
1B. More than 100 were literally fulfilled in the first advent of Christ.
The virgin birth of Christ (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18, 22-25)
The birthplace of Christ (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1)
The triumphant entry (Zech. 9:9; Luke 19:35-37)
His betrayal by a friend (Ps. 41:9; Matt. 10:4)
The scattering of His followers when he is stricken (Zech. 13:7; Mark 14:50)
The price of Judas’ betrayal (Zech. 11:12-13; Matt. 26:67; 27:29-30, 57-60)
His suffering on the cross (Ps. 22; Isa. 53; Matt. 37:35, 42-43, 46; John19:23-24)
That none of His bones would be broken (Ps. 34:20; John 19:33)
2B. Many of them still await fulfillment
The Lord will conquer all nations (Ps. 2:8-9)
The Lord will rule with justice (Isa. 9:6-7)
The Lord shall reign in peace (Mic. 4:3)
The Lord will reign upon the earth (Jer. 23:5)
The Lord will rule from Jerusalem (Zec. 14:4-9)
2A. The Teaching of Christ ____________________ It
1B. Jesus taught it in parables
The parable of the two servants (Matt. 24:45-51)
The parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13)
The parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30)
2B. Jesus declared it before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:62)
3B. Jesus promised it to His disciples
On the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24:27-31)
On the night before His crucifixion (John 14:2-3)
3A. The Words of the New Testament Affirm It
1B. Paul took comfort in His coming (1 Th. 4:13-18)
2B. Peter _____________ in His coming (1 Peter 1:13)
3B. John anticipated His coming (1 John 3:2)
4A. God’s Plan for the Church Necessitates It (2 Corinthians 11:2)
1B. The bridal ____________ (Acts 20:28)
2B. The betrothal
He has committed Himself to His bride (Eph. 5:25-27)
He has given His bride gifts (Eph. 4:8)
He has gone to prepare a place for her in His Father’s house (John 14:2)
3B. The marriage _________________ (Rev. 19:6-9)
5A. The ___________________ of God Demands It (Matt. 16:27; John 5:25-27)
6A. The ________________ of Israel Depends on It (Zec. 12:10; Rom. 11:25-27)
7A. The Glory of Christ Assures It (Phi. 2:9-11)
1B. Satan will be destroyed (Rev. 20:10)
2B. The saints will __________________ (Rev. 7:9-10)