Sermon Notes
Pastor Jeff Stanfill

"Jesus' Second Coming"
August 27, 2006 - PM Service

JESUS' SECOND COMING
TEXT: JOHN 14:28, ACTS 1:11
INTRO:
The local paper carried the account of a local contractor who was nearly crushed in a vehicle accident earlier this summer. The accident occurred 1/3 of a mile from here. While the fire department freed the driver from his truck with the Jaws of Life, he struggled with claustrophobia. The fire chief on the scene stayed near the man and encouraged him with updates on the rescue's progress.

The driver closed his eyes to shut out the oppressive closing in of the truck cab. What helped him was not only the fire chief's presence but at times his father got close enough to the truck to call out to his son to hold on.

Like Jeff Courvillion in the flattened cab of that truck, believers today can feel oppressed by the closing in of darkness and sin. But what gives great courage and hope is the promise of Jesus' return.

I. THREE WORDS.
The NT uses three different words concerning Jesus' promised return.
1. Parousia. (1 Cor. 15:23) This is the most common word. It means coming, arrival, or presence. In the NT times this word was used for an emperor's visit. The use of this word communicates Jesus is definite about His return and that He will come Himself as He did the first time.

2. Apokalypsis. (2 Thess. 1:7) This word means "revelation". It is used to tell us that the Lord's coming will reveal who He is as well as what the world truly is. Many things that presently are hidden will be made known.

3. Epiphaneia. (2 Thess. 2:8) It means "appearing" or "manifestation". It, too, holds the meaning of something have been held back in secret but now disclosed as an object being hidden behind a door which is then opened.

4. The OT tells of the glories of the Messiah many of which were seen when Jesus came the first time. But some things the OT tells about are glories yet to be seen and are reserved for another coming of the Messiah. (the everlasting kingdom of David 2 Sam. 7:16, the enthronement of Messiah over all the nations Ps 2, the establishing of global peace Micah 4:1-3).

II. THE NATURE OF HIS RETURN.
What will Jesus' second coming be like? His first was somewhat quite being announced only to a few. He came with human limitations and actually died. What of His return?
1. Literal. John 14:3 Jesus said, "I will come again." 1 Thess. 4:16 says that the Lord Himself will descend. The weight of the Biblical evidence is that those who think Jesus return is symbolic or figurative are clearly misinterpreting Scripture.

2. Glorious. Jesus said in Mt. 24:30 that His return would be with power and great glory. Here is a great contrast with His first coming as a babe in obscurity, clothed in human weakness. But this time, His coming will show His majesty and even is transcendent glory. Will it not be rewarding to be on the side of glory for once ourselves? Presently the refuse of the world, then the Church will be with the one of glory!

3. Sudden. According to Jesus own words of Matt. 24:44, He will come at an hour when He will not be expected. While signs indicating His coming will be observable, His coming will be swift and sure!

III. THE PURPOSE OF HIS RETURN.
1. Completion. We have seen that the Kingdom of God is presently in two-dimensions, now and not yet. And we are told in the Bible that when Jesus returns He will bring salvation to us (Heb. 9:28). When Jesus first came His life, death, burial, and resurrection accomplished all that the was needful of the mission of redemption for the Kingdom now. It is not that He must come back for the first was inadequate or not properly done. Rather, He will return to implement all of the plan of redemption. He will return for completion. All the enemies of God, sin, death, the devil, the fallen world order will be completely vanquished and the new will be fully complete and realized.

2. Resurrection. John 5:28-29. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. Jesus' return will enact the promised resurrection. He will return so that those who have died over all time since Adam will be called back into a form of embodied life.

3. Judgment. As taught in both the OT and the NT, judgment is appointed to all people and people groups. The judge presiding this divine court will be none other than the returning Jesus Christ. 2 Tim 4:1. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: While some will receive the completion of eternal life and others will receive the beginning of eternal punishment, all will at some point stand before the returning Jesus Christ to receive rewards based upon what is truly just.

4. Liberation. Matt 24:21-22. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Dan 7:21-22. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. Passages such as these indicate that Jesus second coming will be to liberate His people from the persecution and tribulations of the world. He will gather His people to Himself.

CONCL:
There are many details of Jesus return and of the end times over which true believers disagree. Some of those differences we will address if the Lord wills. But what all true believers agree upon is the promised return of Jesus Christ, our blessed hope.

We hope in His return, we are encouraged by it like the fire chief and father encouraged the man in the crushed truck cab, for we often need it rehearsed in our ears and reassured of the validity of the promise. In deed, we are commanded to encourage one another with the words of His promised return (1 Thess. 4:17).

1. Be encouraged that one day the evildoer will be punished. Let the Holy Spirit bring tranquility and rest to your troubled sense of justice. No one escapes. ILLU: M. Hooper and Zach one afternoon after work - "They all get caught!"

2. Be strengthened in well doing for one day you will be rewarded. For now no good deed goes unpunished but then no good deed goes unrewarded! Let the Holy Spirit give you the heart to continue on and not grow weak.

3. Take heart, God's kingdom will be vindicated. Though for today to you it may look as if the rule of God in the hearts of men and women is weak or frail; God's rule will endure and grow as mustard seed grows into a tree and yeast works through the whole batch. Allow the Holy Spirit to refresh your hope today.

4. Be united with true believers, avoid division over end time interpretations. For me, my boundary lines are broad. If someone believes in the sudden, personal, visible, bodily, literal return of Jesus Christ I accept them as my family. They may think that there is a rapture or no rapture; that Jesus will come before the tribulation, during the tribulation, or after the tribulation; we can agree that He will return as He promised. The Holy Spirit tonight desires to unite the true people of God.

Let's be encouraged today with these words.