HEBREWS 9:28
Pastor Rick
Jackson
In the
Bradford Baptist Church Confession of Faith it reads, “We believe in the
visible, personal and premillennial return of Jesus Christ,” but what exactly
does that mean? The first coming of Jesus, God incarnate, covered a period of
approximately 33 years. The second coming will cover approximately 7 years or
1007 years if you include the millennium as part of that coming. Of the 7 years
there are 2 major parts- the Rapture and the Touch-down Coming. Seven years
separate these two events but both will be visible, personal and premillennial.
I. THE
RAPTURE
– Rapture is not a Biblical word but it is a
Biblical teaching (much like “Trinity”, “local church,” and “vicarious death”.
1. The
Rapture is Visible but to Christians Only [Titus 2:13, 1 Jn. 3:2]
- Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ;
-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.
2. The
Rapture is Personal – Christ Himself will return, not a representative [Acts 1:9-11,
1 Th. 4:14-17, 1 Jn. 3:2]
-And when he
had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud
received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven
as he went up , behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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. The
Rapture is Premillennial [1 Th. 4:18-5:11]
-premillennial
means before “the Millennium” [1000 year reign of Christ on earth]
-postmillennialists
believe the Rapture is after the Millennium which they think the church will
usher in as things get better and better [2 Tm. 3:1-13]
-amillennialists
don’t believe in a millennium [Rev. 20:2-7] “aww- there ain’t going be no
millennium”
II. THE
TOUCHDOWN COMING [Zech. 14:1-4]
Behold, the
day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall
be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city
shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut
off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those
nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in
that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and
the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and
toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain
shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
1. The
Touchdown Coming is Visible [Mt. 24:21-31, Rev. 1:7]
Behold, he
cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced
him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
2. The
Touchdown Coming is Personal [Rev. 19:11-16]
3. The
Touchdown Coming is Premillennial [Rev. 19:17-20:6]
III. THE
IMPACT OF THE TRUTH OF THE SECOND COMING
1. We Should
Be Ready [Mt. 24:44]
Therefore be
ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
2. We Should Be Right [1 Jn. 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.
3. We Should Be Real [2 Tm. 4:8]
Henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also
that love his appearing.