Light on Christs Coming Again

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

January 17, 1988 (PM)

Introduction:

When you mention the "Second Coming," or talk about the history of our planet coming to an end by the direct intervention of God's divine power, you classify yourself with the oddballs and strange people. [Only scientists and philosophers talk seriously about doomsday; the rest of us don't want to hear about it.]

The one tenet of Christian faith that is certain to be ridiculed by non-believers—a tenet that is very sorely neglected by most Christians—is the clear teaching that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth in the same manner that He went away. But Christ's return is as sure and certain as the fact that He came the first time. [The wonder of Christ's FIRST coming—God invading earth—"goes right by" most Christians, let alone the unbelievers.]

One reason 2 Thessalonians was written was to straighten believers out on this matter of Christ's return. Paul was telling them: "when it comes, you'll know it! But you had better be prepared!"

If we are to preach the whole counsel of God's Word we need to deal with what it says about Christ's coming to earth again. So many wild things have been said about Christ's Second Coming that many ministers may be like I am: hesitant to be classed as any kind of prophecy specialist."

I. WHAT IS GOD'S WORD ON "END TIMES?"

  1. There are several popularly preached scenarios:
    1. Some center around the timing of Christ's coming in regard to the time of "tribulation." (pre-trib/ post-trib/ mid-trib theories) [Try to tell Christians just NOW who are suffering for Jesus—in Gulag . . . in Mozambique . . . or who suffered in other times in history for their witness—that "tribulation" is something we "don't have to worry about!"]
    2. A few have used the seven churches of Revelation as "church stages"—but almost always these end up by saying, "We are in the Laodocian age..." We have been stuck there for centuries!
    3. Many have elaborate scriptural charts and proofs worked out: And no doubt there are charts that are 99% accurate. But still . . . there are
  2. SCRIPTURAL CERTAINTIES:
    1. Jesus will return in a personal, physical way (Acts 1:11:"As you have seen Him go into heaven.")
    2. His coming will be surprising (Matthew 24:44: "In such an hour as you think NOT the Son of man cometh.")
    3. His coming will not be private or a secret: In Mark 14:62 the high priest asked Jesus point blank: "Are You the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, plainly: "I AM; and you will the Son of God coming in clouds of great glory!"
    4. So in summary, what we can say about the Second Coming with the most certainty is that it is imminent—it has both qualities of certainty and uncertainty
  3. It is to be a time of vindication/retribution/judgment.
    • VINDICATION: That is DOES pay to serve Jesus! That God IS both GOOD and LOVING and ALL-POWERFUL!
    • RETRIBUTION: One of the things we don't understand about some of the Psalms are the "imprecation prayers" or "cursing" of God's enemies. We don't fully understand that, and certainly we should never appropriate that cursing for personal or selfish reasons.

      But clearly, this will take place when Jesus returns again (2 Thes 1:8,9: "retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ"-"These will pay the penalty of ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power."

    • JUDGMENT: Matthew 25:3— "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another . . .
  4. It has not taken place as yet:

II. HOW MAY WE BE READY FOR CHRIST'S COMING?

  1. We can never "get ready" as He comes; we have to be ready. And this cannot be at some artificially high level of emotional tension. It has to be something we can live day in and day out.
  2. Should we study prophecy and become "experts" in this field? We should study, and should increase our expectancy and desire; but I doubt if we shall ever be true "experts" in the matter.
  3. But we may be certain we will not be the subject of Christ's vengeance or retribution if we care for two matters:
    1. WE MUST BE CERTAIN THAT WE KNOW GOD. (1:8) What does in mean 'to know God'?? Certainly NO ONE knows Him in any comprehensive way. And knowing God is not a matter of 'searching Him out' by superior intelligence or privileged gifts and status. Knowing God must come in response to revelation: knowing God is always the result of a deliberate, submissive response to God's approach to our innermost self.

      James says: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you . . . "

      Paul says: "I have counted all things as loss that I may know Jesus . . . "

      Simply put: KNOWING GOD MEANS BEING SAVED! LETTING JESUS COME INTO YOUR HEART! RESPONDING TO HIS REQUEST TO 'COME IN!' (Revelation 3:20)

    2. WE MUST BE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE OBEYING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. (also 1:8) Perhaps these are two sides of the same coin— knowing God and obeying the Gospel.

      But if we know God, we will be evidencing life, and living for Him. We will be concerned about THE GREAT COMMISSION! We will try to live THE GREAT COMMANDMENT!

      We will experience THE GREAT PROMISE!

Conclusion:

Revelation 22:10-21 And he (the angel) said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star."

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. . . . . . . He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly."

Amen. COME, LORD JESUS!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

#24 (Exalt Him) I Cannot Tell