The Return Of Jesus 9-15-24 PM

          I.            Jesus will come again.

a.      Some might think, you just said this.

b.      I did, but we need to make sure that is what the Bible teaches.

c.       John 14:1-3.

                                                                i.      This statement was made to the apostles the night of Jesus’ betrayal.

                                                              ii.      Jesus was giving them encouragement before He was to be taken from them.

d.      Jesus plainly let them and us know that He would come again.

e.      Notice Matthew 25:31.

                                                                i.      Jesus said, “When the Son of Man shall come in his glory…”

                                                              ii.      He was there then, so this has to mean that He is coming back at some point in His glory.

        II.            Jesus will return as He went.

a.      Jesus returned to heaven in a cloud (Acts 1:9).

b.      The apostles were amazed and stood looking up at that cloud.

                                                                i.      While they did this, two angels appeared to them.

                                                              ii.      Acts 1:11.

c.       Notice what Paul was inspired to write (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

d.      John was inspired to write…(Revelation 1:7).

      III.            The time of Jesus’s return has not been revealed.

a.      Matthew 24:36 is very plain.

                                                                i.      The context of the verse shows us that the “day and hour” that is not known by man is the return of Jesus.

                                                              ii.      Matthew 24:42, 44.

                                                            iii.      Matthew 25:13.

b.      Sadly, many have not taken these passages at their word and made bold predictions about the second coming of Jesus.

                                                                i.      Read from sheets.

                                                              ii.      There are some New Testament passages that seem to teach an imminent return of Jesus (James 5:8; Philippians 4:5 for example).

                                                            iii.      However, those must be understood with Matthew 24:36 in mind.

c.       We do know that there was confusion in the early church about the return of Jesus.

                                                                i.      Near the end of each chapter of 1 Thessalonians is a reminder of the return of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:16; 5:23).

                                                              ii.      This apparently confused many of those brethren, so Paul was inspired to write 2 Thessalonians, urging them not to be shaken about the return of Jesus (2 Thessalonians 2:2).

                                                            iii.      Paul let them know that certain things would occur before the Lord’s return (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12).

d.      What Paul and Jesus taught was to be ready for His return (Matthew 24:44).

     IV.            The return of Jesus will result in the physical world being totally destroyed.

a.      2 Peter 3:10.

                                                                i.      Some say that this simply means a global wildfire cleansing the earth and allowing a renovation of it to take place.

                                                              ii.      Notice the wording of 2 Peter 3:10-11.

1.      Shall pass away – means to perish or die.

2.      Shall melt and shall be dissolved are the same Greek word – means to destroy.

3.      Shall be burned up – means to consume with fire.

b.      Peter repeated these phrases in verse 12.

c.       Jesus said “heaven and earth shall pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

       V.            The return of Jesus will bring about the raising of the dead.

a.      Jesus made this point very simply.

b.      John 5:28-29.

     VI.            The return of Jesus will cause those living to be changed.

a.      The dead will be raised and the living will be changed.

b.      Our mortal bodies will put on immortality is the way Paul was inspired to write it.

                                                                i.      1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

                                                              ii.      The reason is that flesh and blood cannot inherit heaven (1 Corinthians 15:50).

   VII.            The return of Jesus will bring about judgment for all men.

a.      Matthew 25:31-33.

b.      Acts 17:30-31.

 VIII.            The return of Jesus will be sudden and unexpected.

a.      1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.

b.      Christians will not be caught unaware (1 Thessalonians 5:4).

From an article by Hugh Fulford