Is The Lord’s Return Imminent?
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Why are so many people interested in predictions about the imminent end of the world? |
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What difference would it make in your life if you knew Christ was going to return today? In 2010? |
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Some people suggest we should "read the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other." What does this mean? How do we do it? |
I. The message of Scripture is that Jesus will return again:
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Numerous Old Testament passages speak of a coming Merssianic kingdom: Eg. 2 Samuel 7:16, Psalm 2, 72, Isaiah 22:1-5, 11:1-10, 40:3-5, Micah 4:1-3, etc. |
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Over 250 New Testament refernces speak of the Lord’s return Eg. Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21, Acts 1:11, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, Hebrews:9:28, Revelation 1:7, 22:20, etc. |
II. This second coming will be very different from the first (Christmas)
Jesus’ first coming took place in obscurity and weakness, barely causing a ripple in human history.
Jesus’ second coming will be in public and in power, instantly altering the course of universe-al events.
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He will come in glory (Matthew 20:30, Daniel 7:13, Acts 1:9-11, etc.) |
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Every eye will see him (Revelation 1:7) |
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History will come to an end (1 Corinthians 15:24) |
III. The purpose of the second coming
- To remove all God’s enemies – sin, death, the devil (1 Corinthians 15:22-57, Revelation 12:7-11, 20:1-10)
- To establish a new order/a new heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:1-13, Revelation 22:1-15)
- To resurrect those who have died (John 5:28
- To judge all people (Matthew 16:27, Acts 10:42, Romans 2:3-16, Jude 14-15, etc.)
- To deliver his people (Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, etc.)
IV. The time of the second coming
"Tell us … what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3)
| "you will hear of wars and rumors of wars … but the end is still to come." (24:6) |
| "nation will rise against nation … there will be famines and earthquakes … all these are the beginning of birthpangs" (24:7) |
| persecution of the church (24:9) |
| falling away from faith (24:10) |
| false teachers (24:11) |
| the "abomination of desolation" (24:15) – from Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11 |
| rumors that Christ has reappeared in various places (24:23-28) |
These are all rather vague. They have existed – in various forms – in every generation since Jesus’ resurrection. Throughout history, Christians have believed they were living in the last days! Jesus did not give us specific signs, apparently because he did not want us to be preoccupied with watching for them!
| "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (24:36) |
| we do not know (24:42) |
| it will be unexpected (24:44) |
| we are not to know! (Acts 1:7) |
| if Jesus did not know, how can we claim to know (24:36)!See also Mark 13, 2 Timothy 3 |
V. So what are we to do?
- "Therefore, keep watch …"
What does that mean? Keep a checklist? Be ready?
Consider Matthew 24:45-25:46:
 | Jesus expects us to be living like his people not sitting not sitting around awaiting his return all the time, |
| Jesus does not seem to expect us to be preoccupied with "signs" (Why do some people seem preoccupied with signs? What difference does it make in their lives?) |
| But , yes, it could happen at any time! (Romans 8:19-25, Philippians 4:5, Titus 2:13, James 5:8-9, Jude 21) |
2. "Continue in what you have learned …" (2 Timothy 3:14)
3. Live like a believer! (see Ephesians 5:1-20, Colossians 3, etc.)
4. "Encourage one another and build each other up …" (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
5 We don’t need to be afraid! It’s what we’re waiting for! It is our "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13)
Dr. Bruce Martin
Email zion@interbaun.com
Edmonton AB
January 23, 2000