Jesus Is Coming Again
John 14:1-4
Intro: One Bible scholar has concluded that
one out of every twenty-five verses in the Bible deal with the Second
Coming. I’ve not counted, them, but one
thing is clear – the event that we call the Rapture is a vital Biblical
doctrine. In fact, it is such a major
doctrine that it has become one of the basic fundamentals of the faith. R.A. Torrey included this doctrine in his
list of fundamentals, along with the Inspiration of Scripture, the Doctrine of
the Resurrection, the Substitutionary Atonement of Christ, and the Virgin
Birth. There are many other vital
doctrines, but these have been called the Fundamentals.
One’s belief
in the Rapture will “fundamentally” affect how they live their life. Many
people profess to believe that Jesus is coming again, but to look at their
life, you wonder if they really do believe it.
ILLUSTRATION: I read a book many years ago entitled
“Peace Child” by Don Richardson. He also
wrote “Lords of the Earth” about his experiences in Papua New Guinea back
during the days of cannibalism and his early mission work. He told of a story when they were building a
landing strip in the jungle. The men he
hired wouldn’t work when he left the jobsite.
When he returned, he’d find them sitting down talking. So he took his
glass eye out and set it on a stump and told them to keep busy because he had
his eye on them. They worked non-stop
when they thought that his eye was on them!!
Are we living
like we believe he’s coming back?
·
Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and
the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
I. The Cautions of His Coming
A. Against Disbelief – II Peter 3:1-4 Where is the promise of his coming…”
Illustration: A book is out now entitled “Left
Behind and Loving It” written by Mark Davis
The author
denies the biblical account of a rapture.
His book summary states:
“Left Behind and Loving It is a cheeky
critique of popular writings about the end times. Rather than presenting a
steroid-buffed Jesus wrapped in an American flag and "coming again in
clouds of gunfire," Left Behind and Loving It invites readers to approach
some of the most controversial and scary portions of the Scriptures with the
utter confidence that "God's steadfast love endures forever." Rather
than asserting a hope premised on a few chosen ones escaping the world, Left
Behind and Loving It argues that if it is Jesus who is to return (and not his
evil twin), then the second coming has redemption written all over it. Many
today cannot accept the escapist, violent, end-of-the-world scenario envisioned
by "Left Behind" theology. Left Behind and Loving It invites readers
not to fear but to trust in God's steadfast love and look at the finitude of
the world with hope in an infinitely loving God.”
One of the
“experts” that recommend this book is a theologian in a so-called Bible
College.
"Rapture theology has become a
great chuffing beast, feeding on fear, imperial aspirations, and our growing
sense of alienation from God's good creation. Mark Davis aims a few well-chosen
arrows at the beast, and lo, the rapture business turns out to be nothing more
than a lot of hot air. This book points us toward our home on this earth, where
God, whose steadfast love endures forever, dwells with us."
-Stanley
P Saunders; Columbia Theological Seminary
B. Against Delusion – SEE
Luke 12:35-40 at an hour when ye think not…
Many true
believers have convinced themselves that Jesus is really not going to come
back.
They’re
living under the delusion that the Rapture is imminent, just not anytime soon…
·
Luke 12:54-56 And
he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west,
straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the
south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the
sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
C. Against Distraction
·
1 John 2:28 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.
II. The Conditions of His Coming
A. During a time of Slumber
Throughout
the Scriptures, many passages of Scripture refer to the coming of Christ at a
time when His people are sleeping. He
constantly warned us as believers to stay awake and to watch for His coming.
·
Mark 13:33-37 Take
ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far
journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every
man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the
master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or
in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto
you I say unto all, Watch.
·
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took
their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were
foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom
tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
B. During a time of Sin
·
Luke 17:26 And
as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of
man.
III. The Comfort of His Coming – John 14:1-3
A. It is Comforting because
of its Source – ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
God said it;
that settles it!
He knows our
hearts, and he knows our susceptibility to be troubled.
TROUBLED: disquieted,
distressed, disturbed, to become doubtful
God doesn’t
calm our doubts by denying our present problems; He calms our doubts by drawing
our attention to the prospective promises.
B. It is Comforting because
of its Supply – I go to prepare a
place for you…
Most of
people’s life is spent working and struggling simply to provide a place to
live.
Their house,
their abode and the surrounding costs dominate a huge portion of their time and
money.
It is a
comfort to know that the God of heaven is working to prepare me a place.
A permanent
place. A perfect place. A peaceful
place. A personal place.
C. It is Comforting because
of its Security – where I am, there
ye may be also
When We See Christ
Written by Esther Kerr Rusthoi (1941) Died at the
age of 53 from ill health. Married to an evangelist and pastor…
Verse 1
Oft times the
day seems long, our trials hard to bear, We're tempted to complain, to murmur
and despair;
But Christ
will soon appear to catch His Bride away, All tears forever over in God's
eternal day.
Verse 2
Life's day
will soon be o'er, all storms forever past, We'll cross the great divide, to
glory, safe at last;
We'll share
the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown, The tempter will be banished,
we'll lay our burden down.
CHORUS
It will be
worth it all when we see Jesus, Life's trials will seem so small when we see
Christ;
One glimpse
of His dear face all sorrow will erase, So bravely run the race till we see
Christ.
