Subscribe to our PODCAST here.The Second Coming
The Second Coming
Intro.
A. Last week the judgment seat of Christ - will not be alone, will be alone, face to face with my Savior, my life will be revealed.
B. I’m glad that I will not be the judge, nor be judged by fallible humans. We jump to conclusions, show partiality or harshly blame. Story of Alaskan hunter, left dog to guard his family when he left; came home didn’t see his child, but saw the dog with blood all over him; concluded had attacked his son, so shot him; learned the dog had fought a wolf that had attacked his son.
1. Jesus committed Himself “to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23).
2. Jas. 2:12,13; Tit. 3:5 “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing...”
C. The final judgment - “one which puts an end to a suit or action.”
1. 2 Thess. 1:5-10; Phil. 2:9-11
2. None will “jump bail” nor have trial “moved to more favorable location.”
Body:
A. It is certain to happen
1. The second coming is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament (average of 1 in 25 vs.).
2. Jesus said, “when the Son of Man comes in His glory” (Mt. 25:31 - not “if”).
3. Acts 17:30,31; 1:9-11 (Rev. 1:7); Heb. 9:27,28
B. The time is uncertain - to man.
1. The Thessalonians had gotten idea Jesus’ coming was eminent (1 Thess. 4:14-17; 2 Thess.
2:1,2).
2. Men delight in speculating about the time of His coming: William Miller (in 1831 announced the second coming would be 1843, then 1844; thousands of people believed him, sold their possessions and waited; from his teachings came Seventh Day Adventists;
they do not set specific date, but say “this generation is the last.”) Charles Russell first pres. of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (1884) said 1914 and their doctrine still says “within the generation of those alive in 1914.” Latest prediction was Fall, 1975 - May 1, 1968 Watchtower says “1975...End of 6th 1,000-year day of man’s existence (in early autumn)” then “2975...End of 7th 1,000-year day of man’s existence (in early autumn).” (After that - righteous will be on earth eternally; only 144,000 ever go to heaven).
Judge Rutherford (1920 wrote “Millions Now living will never Die” - taught Jesus was first created being, was Michael, did not bodily arise from the dead, the resurrection of the faithful would begin in 1925, “we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die” p. 97). Hal Lindsey in “Late Great Planet Earth” said within generation of Israel, 1948 - which he was about 40 years — 1988 (later changed and said did not know how long a generation was nor when to start, but still knows we are near the end – and still selling his sensational books!
3. 2 Pet. 3:10
C. Did God give any signs for the end of time?
1. Mt. 24 (Mk. 13; Lk. 21) - signs for the destruction of Jerusalem - not second coming.
a. Mt. 24:1-3; Mk. 13:1-4; Lk. 21:5-7
b. All the signs were fulfilled before 70 A.D. and cannot refer to the second coming.
c. The abomination of desolation is the Roman army - flee to the mountains (24:15; Lk. 21:20,21); go immediately (vs. 17,18), worse on mothers (v. 19), or in winter or Sabbath day (v. 20; Neh. 13:19).
d. Those listening to Him would see all these signs (24:32-35). (Vs. 36-51 are debatable
but probably refer to Jerusalem; no signs are given in those verses; general warning.)
2. What will happen at the end?
a. The kingdom will be delivered up (1 Cor. 15:22-26).
b. The heavens and earth will be destroyed (2 Pet. 3:3-13).
c. March 5, 2000 bulletin - article “Just 183 Billion Shopping Days” - “Earth’s fate depends on the sun, which like any other star, will not last forever, said James F. Kasting, professor of geosciences at Pennsylvania State University...Warm tempera-tures will cause the oceans to absorb carbon dioxide, thus removing from the atmosphere a gas essential for plant life. In about 500 million years, the atmosphere wil be so short of carbon dioxide that all plants will die, followed eventually by al lfie that depends on plants.” Another professor, Fred Adams, physics professor at University of Michigan said the earth will fry, not freeze, because “the sun, like stars of its type, will exhaust its fuel.” Science indicates the universe had a beginning (is not eternal), is running down and will end. I have no idea of when. (Will He wait another 500 million years? No one knows - but He surely has more patience with us than we have with one another! 2 Pet. 3:9).
Conclusion:
A. The Biblical and scientific confirmations - show fallacy of theory that the earth is eternal and that some of the righteous will be here eternally. The righteous and wicked will be raised and judged on the last day (Jn. 6:39,40,44,54; 12:48).
B. There are no promises to a specific nation (such as Israel) for land today, nor in the future. Christ now reigns over His kingdom - composed of those who obey Him (Jn. 3:5; Col. 1:13); their sins have been remitted, blotted out (Acts 2:38; 3:19) and will not be remembered.
Intro.
A. Last week the judgment seat of Christ - will not be alone, will be alone, face to face with my Savior, my life will be revealed.
B. I’m glad that I will not be the judge, nor be judged by fallible humans. We jump to conclusions, show partiality or harshly blame. Story of Alaskan hunter, left dog to guard his family when he left; came home didn’t see his child, but saw the dog with blood all over him; concluded had attacked his son, so shot him; learned the dog had fought a wolf that had attacked his son.
1. Jesus committed Himself “to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23).
2. Jas. 2:12,13; Tit. 3:5 “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing...”
C. The final judgment - “one which puts an end to a suit or action.”
1. 2 Thess. 1:5-10; Phil. 2:9-11
2. None will “jump bail” nor have trial “moved to more favorable location.”
Body:
A. It is certain to happen
1. The second coming is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament (average of 1 in 25 vs.).
2. Jesus said, “when the Son of Man comes in His glory” (Mt. 25:31 - not “if”).
3. Acts 17:30,31; 1:9-11 (Rev. 1:7); Heb. 9:27,28
B. The time is uncertain - to man.
1. The Thessalonians had gotten idea Jesus’ coming was eminent (1 Thess. 4:14-17; 2 Thess.
2:1,2).
2. Men delight in speculating about the time of His coming: William Miller (in 1831 announced the second coming would be 1843, then 1844; thousands of people believed him, sold their possessions and waited; from his teachings came Seventh Day Adventists;
they do not set specific date, but say “this generation is the last.”) Charles Russell first pres. of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (1884) said 1914 and their doctrine still says “within the generation of those alive in 1914.” Latest prediction was Fall, 1975 - May 1, 1968 Watchtower says “1975...End of 6th 1,000-year day of man’s existence (in early autumn)” then “2975...End of 7th 1,000-year day of man’s existence (in early autumn).” (After that - righteous will be on earth eternally; only 144,000 ever go to heaven).
Judge Rutherford (1920 wrote “Millions Now living will never Die” - taught Jesus was first created being, was Michael, did not bodily arise from the dead, the resurrection of the faithful would begin in 1925, “we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die” p. 97). Hal Lindsey in “Late Great Planet Earth” said within generation of Israel, 1948 - which he was about 40 years — 1988 (later changed and said did not know how long a generation was nor when to start, but still knows we are near the end – and still selling his sensational books!
3. 2 Pet. 3:10
C. Did God give any signs for the end of time?
1. Mt. 24 (Mk. 13; Lk. 21) - signs for the destruction of Jerusalem - not second coming.
a. Mt. 24:1-3; Mk. 13:1-4; Lk. 21:5-7
b. All the signs were fulfilled before 70 A.D. and cannot refer to the second coming.
c. The abomination of desolation is the Roman army - flee to the mountains (24:15; Lk. 21:20,21); go immediately (vs. 17,18), worse on mothers (v. 19), or in winter or Sabbath day (v. 20; Neh. 13:19).
d. Those listening to Him would see all these signs (24:32-35). (Vs. 36-51 are debatable
but probably refer to Jerusalem; no signs are given in those verses; general warning.)
2. What will happen at the end?
a. The kingdom will be delivered up (1 Cor. 15:22-26).
b. The heavens and earth will be destroyed (2 Pet. 3:3-13).
c. March 5, 2000 bulletin - article “Just 183 Billion Shopping Days” - “Earth’s fate depends on the sun, which like any other star, will not last forever, said James F. Kasting, professor of geosciences at Pennsylvania State University...Warm tempera-tures will cause the oceans to absorb carbon dioxide, thus removing from the atmosphere a gas essential for plant life. In about 500 million years, the atmosphere wil be so short of carbon dioxide that all plants will die, followed eventually by al lfie that depends on plants.” Another professor, Fred Adams, physics professor at University of Michigan said the earth will fry, not freeze, because “the sun, like stars of its type, will exhaust its fuel.” Science indicates the universe had a beginning (is not eternal), is running down and will end. I have no idea of when. (Will He wait another 500 million years? No one knows - but He surely has more patience with us than we have with one another! 2 Pet. 3:9).
Conclusion:
A. The Biblical and scientific confirmations - show fallacy of theory that the earth is eternal and that some of the righteous will be here eternally. The righteous and wicked will be raised and judged on the last day (Jn. 6:39,40,44,54; 12:48).
B. There are no promises to a specific nation (such as Israel) for land today, nor in the future. Christ now reigns over His kingdom - composed of those who obey Him (Jn. 3:5; Col. 1:13); their sins have been remitted, blotted out (Acts 2:38; 3:19) and will not be remembered.