“Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you have proclaimed the Lord’s death UNTIL HE COMES”. 1 Corinthians 11:26.
A. THE PROMISE OF HIS RETURN
The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus to Earth is a subject of great significance for Christians. The New Testament authors refer to it over 300 times, often using an urgent tone.
The foremost thing we must understand about the Second Coming is that it is UNDENIABLE.
1. Jesus Spoke About His Own Return
“At that time the sign of the Son Of man will appear in the sky, and the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory”. Matthew24:30. See also John 14:2-3.
2. Angels Foretold It
“They were looking intently into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. Men of Galilee, ‘they said, ‘why do you stand there looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken back from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go to heaven’”. Acts 1:10-11.
3. The Early Christians Encouraged One Another With It
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words”. 1Thessalonians 4:16-18. See also Revelation 1:7.
4. The Holy Spirit Bears Witness Of It
“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” 2Corinthians 5:5.
“But be patient, my brothers, as you wait for the Lord to come. Look at the farmer quietly waiting for his precious harvest. See how he has to possess his soul in patience till the land has had the early and late rains. So must you be patient, resting your hearts on the ultimate certainty. The Lord’s coming is very near”. James 5:7-8 Phillips Translation.
See also Hebrews 10:37.
B. HOW WILL HE RETURN?
1. Unexpectedly
“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly… ”. 1Thessalonians 5:1-3. Read also verses 4-11.
2. Like The Lightning
“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man”. Matthew 24:27. See also Luke 17:24.
3. In The Same Way That he Left
“… This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven”. Acts 1:10-1.
4. With Power And Great Glory
“At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” Luke 21:27.
5. In Full View Of All
“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen” Revelation 1:7.
C. DRAMATIC EVENTS TO TAKE PLACE
1. The Mystery Of The Ages Will Be Completed
“… There will be no more delay! But in the day when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets”. Revelation 10:6-7. See also Romans 16:25-26.
2. God’s People Will Enter Their Full Glory
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so they will be like his glorious body”. Philippians 3:20-21.
See also1Corinthians 15:35-53.
3. The Dead In Christ Will Be Raised To Life
“… because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence”. 1Corinthians 4:14. See also John 6:40; 11:25.
4. Those Believers Still Alive Will Be Caught Up To Meet Him
“And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other”. Matthew 24:31.
5. Creation Will Be Set Free From Its Bondage
“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God”. Romans 8:19-21. Read also verse 22 and Isaiah 35:1-7.
6. Every Enemy Will Be Destroyed
“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet”. 1Corinthians 15:24-25. See also 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:8.
7. Satan Will Be Bound
“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years”. Revelation 20:1-2. Read also verses 3, 7-10.
“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled… This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power.
2Thessalonians 1:6-9.
9. A Kingdom Will Be Set Up That Will Never Be Destroyed
“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever”. Daniel 2:44. See also Revelation 19:15-16.
