Historical Posts
He’s Coming Again!
Jesus Christ is coming again. Be ready.
Christians find great comfort in the promise that Jesus Christ is coming again. His return is either stated or implied more than three hundred times in the New Testament. For almost two thousand years gospel preachers have been proclaiming the coming of Jesus.
From the beginning, it was understood that this message would not be well received by all. Peter warned of scoffers who would ask, “Where is the promise of his coming, for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation?” (2 Peter 3:4).
The apostle answered their question saying, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God hasn’t forgotten His promise. Jesus is coming again. But, each day His return is delayed additional souls will have opportunity to prepare for His arrival (2 Peter 3:15).
When will He come? In spite of the many predictions which have been, and continue to be, made, no one knows the answer to that question. His coming is to be like the “thief in the night” (2 Peter 3:10). Thieves do not make appointments. At least the ones who broke into our home several years ago didn’t let us know when they were coming. He’s coming! That’s certain! When? God only knows!
Am I ready? That is the crucial question we must each answer for ourselves. According to the Scriptures, when He comes the world will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10-12). Opportunity will be lost forever at that time. If we are not ready then, we never will be. For those who are prepared, God has something better planned (2 Peter 3:12).
He is coming again. Are you ready? Have you accepted His salvation?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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The Presence of God – audio
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I can’t imagine what it’ll be like to be in God’s presence, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be the best thing about heaven.
- What will it feel like?
- What will he look like?
- What will it be like?
I want that, but I’m not ready for it yet. People can’t be in the presence of God, not actually, not yet. We couldn’t survive it.
Whenever God revealed himself to people in the Bible—even in some kind of limited way—he spelled out the things they must do to be ready . . . and not die.
After the Israelites left Egypt, God met them at Sinai to give them his law, but he couldn’t just “come down” and talk to them. He told Moses to consecrate them for two days, let them wash their clothes, and be ready the third day. And then he put limits concerning how close they could come to the mountain where God would reveal himself. Get too close and die. Break through the barrier to try to get a glimpse of God . . . and die. It was a serious matter.
That’s the way it’s always been. We can’t come close to God because of our sins. We’ve got to be cleansed to enter God’s presence.
That’s why verses like this one are fascinating: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8a).
Us? Close to God? How?
Through Jesus, of course. He cleanses us, makes us holy, and grants us access to God.
Remember the temple’s veil being torn in two pieces during the crucifixion? That veil had always symbolized a barrier between sinful people and a holy God. When Jesus died, he tore the barrier down.
But what James puts right after he tells us to draw near to God is interesting: “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:8b-10).
We still don’t come to God flippantly.
He’s forgiven us, but that does not mean we stop repenting. He’s declared us righteous, but we still acknowledge our sinfulness.
We are reminded of that weekly when we come to the Lord’s Table. We don’t deserve to commune with Christ, and it’s incredible that he lets us sit and eat and drink with him.
But as we draw near to him we remember.
We remember the ways we’ve sinned against him. We remember the times we lost focus and said something wrong or did something sinful or thought something impure.
And so we draw near to God, but not without remembering what it cost to give us that access.
One day, when we receive our glorified bodies, we’ll draw near to him with no barriers at all.
No sinful flesh, no broken vessel. We’ll bask in his immeasurable holiness and light.
That’s the day we’re all waiting for.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Second Coming of Christ Jesus
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(The Second Coming)
Introduction
1. A fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith is the second coming of Christ…
a. That Jesus will literally one day return
b. To usher in a series of events that will transform our existence
2. This “second coming” will be…
a. At the “last day”
b. At the end of time as we know it
c. The beginning of a totally new existence that will last for eternity
Body
I. THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING
A. BY JESUS HIMSELF…
1. At the last supper, before His arrest and crucifixion – John 14:1-3
2. Comforting His disciples with the promise of His return
B. BY HIS ANGELS…
1. When Jesus ascended into heaven – Acts 1:9-11
2. The “two men…in white apparel”
3. Who said, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
C. BY HIS APOSTLES…
1. Peter, in his second recorded sermon – Acts 3:19-21
2. Paul, in writing to…
a. The Corinthians – 1 Corinthians 11:26; 15:22-23
b. The Thessalonians – 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 2:19; 3:13
c. The young evangelist, Timothy – 2 Timothy 4:1
3. The writer to the Hebrews – Hebrews 9:27-28
[As I believe in Jesus and His apostles, I believe in their promises. Besides the promise of His coming, there is also…]
II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING
A. TO RAISE THE DEAD…
1. Both the righteous and wicked dead – John 5:28-29
a. Note there is but one resurrection, including both good and evil, that will occur at one time
b. As Paul said, “there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” – Acts 24:15
2. Those who are alive at the Lord’s coming…
a. Will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, clothed with immortality and incorruption – 1 Corinthians 15:50-54
b. Then “caught up…to meet the Lord in the air.” – 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18
B. TO DELIVER THE KINGDOM TO GOD…
1. When all are made alive at His coming – 1 Corinthians 15:22-24
2. Contrary to the view that Jesus has yet to establish His kingdom on earth, He has been ruling over His kingdom since He first ascended to heaven!
a. In fulfillment of the prophecy that God would raise up the Christ to sit on the throne of David, Jesus was raised from the dead and made “Lord” – Acts 2:30-36
b. All authority has been given unto Him – Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 3:22
c. Christians are said to be “in” His kingdom – Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9
d. Christ will continue to reign “till He has put all enemies under His feet” – 1 Corinthians 15:25
1) Note that His reign will be concurrent with the fact enemies are still present
2) As prophesied by the Psalmist: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies!” – Psalm 110:1-2
e. Thus Christ is now “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of Lords” – 1 Timothy 6:15; cf. Revelation 19:16
f. And He will reign “till He has put all enemies under His feet” – 1 Corinthians 15:25
1) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death itself – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:26
2) Which we have seen will be destroyed at the coming of the Lord when He will raise the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
3. So when He comes, it will not be to “set up”, but to “deliver up” His kingdom!
a. As Paul clearly told the Corinthians – 1 Corinthians 15:23-26
b. As taught by Jesus in His Parable of the Tares – Matthew 13:36-43
1) His kingdom will last until “the end of this age”
2) After which “the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father”
C. TO JUDGE THE WORLD AND PUNISH EVIL…
1. God has appointed “a day” in which He will judge the world – 2 Peter 3:7
a. The one appointed to be the Judge is Jesus Christ – Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10
b. The standard by which He will judge will be the words He has spoken – John 12:48
2. It will be a day of perdition (utter destruction) of ungodly men – 2 Peter 3:7
a. Those who know not God and have not obeyed the gospel will be punished with “everlasting destruction” – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
b. Those whose names are not in the “Book of Life” will be cast into the “lake of fire” – Revelation 20:11-15
D. TO USHER IN THE “NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH”…
1. As taught by Peter – 2 Peter 3:10-14
a. This will follow the “passing away” of the present heavens and earth
b. In fulfillment of God’s promise – cf. Isaiah 65:17-19; 66:22-23
c. Something we are to “look for”
d. It will be a realm where righteousness dwells, therefore the need for us to be found “in peace, without spot and blameless” when Christ returns
2. As taught by John – Revelation 21:1-22:5
a. It will follow after the first heaven and first earth have “passed away” – cf. Revelation 20:11
b. It will be the place where the “Jerusalem” will abide when it “comes down out of heaven” – Revelation 3:10c; 21:10
c. God will dwell with us in this “Jerusalem” that has “come down out of heaven”
Conclusion
1. If there will not be a second coming, then there will not be…
a. A resurrection of the dead
b. A transfer of Christ’s kingdom to the heavenly kingdom
c. A judgment of the world and subsequent punishment of evil
d. A new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness dwells
2. If there will not be a second coming, then Christians are to be pitied…
a. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen – 1 Corinthians 15:16
b. And if Christ is not risen, our faith is futile and we are still in our sins – 1 Corinthians 15:17
c. Those who have died in Christ have perished – 1 Corinthians 15:18
d. If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men the most pitiable – 1 Corinthians 15:19
3. But we can have confidence in the second coming of Christ…
a. If we believe there is a God
b. If we believe the Bible is the Word of God
c. If we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
4. The fact that Jesus has not yet come is only an indication of God’s long-suffering (2 Peter 3:8-9). But rest assured, as promised that “day” will come!
5. In the meantime, what should be our attitude be toward the coming of our Lord?
a. One of prayerful preparation – Luke 21:34-36; 2 Peter 3:14
b. One of joyful expectation – Philippians 3:20-21
c. One of patient endurance – Hebrews 10:35-39
6. Is that your attitude…?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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