Jesus is Coming - Our Blessed Hope

Jesus is Coming Again – Our Blessed Hope

Text: Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

Christians have hope in a world that seems hopeless. Jesus is coming again. He promised to come back for us the night when He was betrayed. When He arose into the air 40 days after His resurrection, two angels promised that He is coming back the same way that He left. He left in the clouds; He will return in the clouds. He rose in a visible body; He will return in a visible body. He left from the Mount of Olives, and He will return to the Mount of Olives. His last promise is: Surely I come quickly. Amen. (Revelation 22:20) There are about 300 promises of the return of Christ. His return gives all true believers hope.

The rapture:

The Bible indicates that there are two phases of the second coming of Christ. First, He will come for His saints. Seven years later, He will return with His saints. In the first phase, He will come in the clouds; in the second phase He will come to the earth for the 1000-year millennium. In the first phase, He will come secretly. In the second phase, He will return openly.

Phase one is called the rapture (being caught up.) I Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (old English, means precede) them which are asleep (dead in Christ as believers). 16. 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: 17. 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. I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (be dead in Christ), but we shall all be changed. 52. In a moment, on 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. 52. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

This rapture is followed by the rise of the AntiChrist leading a world-wide rebellion against God for seven years. The earth is nearly destroyed. Half of the earth’s population will be decimated. At the concluding battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ will openly return in the clouds with His angels and the saints and overthrow the rebellion and reign during the millennium. Revelation 1:7 briefly outlines both phases: Behold, he cometh with the clouds (first and second coming) and every eye shall see him (second coming). 

Resurrection:

Jesus stated: (John 11:25-26) I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this? Jesus rose from the dead and went to heaven. He lives in the believer and will not leave us. Thus, we also will rise again from the dead. 

The redemption:

Jesus redeemed us from death and the grave. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together unto now: 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The reunion:

We will be reunited with our loved ones and friends when Jesus returns. Once again, notice I Thessalonians 4: 16. 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: 17. 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.

A day of rejoicing:

We will receive a new body like His – one without pain or sin. There will be no parting and sorrow. I John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 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; because we shall see him as he is.

Conclusion:

We serve an all-powerful, all-loving God who cannot lie. These promises are unconditional to those who have received Christ as personal savior. As we think about the promise of his resurrection on Easter (Resurrection Sunday), let us rejoice in the future which He promises to all who accept Him, and let us rejoice in hope.