JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!

JOHN 14:3 “I will come again”

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The Bible has a clear, unmistakable, undeniable message for any who are open to receive it – Jesus is coming again! There may be unbelievers who deny it but it is true just the same - Jesus is coming again! There is no way in one message or even is a series of messages I can cover everything about this Bible doctrine but we will scratch the surface again today. The First Coming of Christ covered a period of over 30 years – from His conception in the womb of the virgin to His ascension. Likewise, the Second Coming of Christ is a multiyear series of events beginning at the Rapture of the Church and continuing until the Great White Throne Judgment over 1000 years later so there is a lot of ground to cover. Add to this, there are many different preachers calling the same event by different names – they are not necessarily disagreeing on the doctrine, they just might use different wording to describe the same event.  In the 1860s there was a war in North America which went by many names – primarily the Northern historians call it “The American Civil War” while Southern historians call it “The War Between the States.” Same event, different names.

   Before the Tribulation the Lord Jesus will come for Christians, the world will not see Him but the Christians will. This event is called by most solid Bible teachers “The Rapture.” At the end of the Tribulation, approximately seven years later, the Lord will appear to the whole universe to stop the destruction of the world caused by the antichrist and other ungodly forces. Many Bible teachers call this “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” but I feel this is somewhat confusing even though I understand its usage. I prefer the term, “The Touchdown Coming” because the Lord will actually touch down on the earth once again (Zechariah 14, Acts 1). Enough introduction, lets get to it.

 

I. THE RETURN MENTIONED So you would surely expect so great a doctrine as the Second Coming to be mentioned multiple times in the Bible, right? Actually it is mentioned more times in the Old Testament than the First Coming of Christ is mentioned. But let me just give you a sampling of New Testament mentions:

1. By Christ Himself [John 14:1-3]

2. By Angels [Acts 1:11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

3. By the Apostle Paul [1 Th. 4:16-17] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

4. By the Apostle Peter [1 Pet. 5:4] when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5. By the Apostle John [1 Jn. 3:2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

6. By Jude [Jude 14] And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.

-and many, many other mentions all through the New Testament.

 

II. THE RAPTURE MANDATES Certain truths surround the Rapture of the Church.

 

1. There will be a Rejoining of Spirt and Body [1 Thess. 4:14, 16]

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. . . For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

2. There will be a Change of the Living Christians as well. [1 Cor. 15:51-52]  

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

3. There will be a Closeness to Christ Unparalleled in our experience. [Jn. 14:3, 1 Th. 4:16b-17]

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

III. THE REJOICING MANIFESTED

 

1. Rejoicing will be Manifested over the Re-creation [1 Jn. 3:2, Psalm 17:15]

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

2. Rejoicing will be Manifested over the Reunions [1 Th. 4:16b-17]

the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

3. Rejoicing will be Manifested over the Rightness of It All [2 Pet. 3”13]

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.