Today

He’s coming back Are you ready?

Promise of His return

‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen

him go into heaven’

Acts 1:11

Promise of His return

‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am’

John 14:3

When will He return?

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the

Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming

of the Son of Man.

When will He return?

For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in

marriage, … and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the

coming of the Son of Man

Matt 24:36-39

When will He return?

God is Sovereign - His timing is perfect

1st coming

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman,

born under law

Gal 4:4

When will He return?

God is Sovereign - His timing is perfect

2nd coming

… the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time

1 Tim 6:14-15

How will He come?

A Visible return

Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of

Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory

How will He come?

A Visible return

He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the 4 winds,

from one end of the heavens to the other

Matt 24:30-31

See also Dan 7:13, Matt 24:27, Rev 1:7

.

How will He come?

A Sudden return

for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While

people are saying, ‘Peace and safety’, destruction will come on them suddenly, as

labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

How will He come?

A Sudden return

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief

1 Thess 5:2-4

See also Matt 24:37-44, Luke 12:40, 1 Thess 5:1-6, Rev 22:7, 12, 20,

How will He come?

A Triumphant return

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of

the archangel and with the trumpet call of God …

1 Thess 4:16

See also Dan 7:13-14, Matt 24:30-31, Luke 21:27,28, Phil 2:9-11, Rev 19:11-16

How will He come?

A Glorious return

while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of

our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ

Titus 2:13

Prelude to His return

• Religious Apostasy Matt 24:4b-5

• Conflict Matt 24:6-7a

• National/International disasters Matt 24:7b

• Persecution Matt 24:9

• Godless society 2 Tim 3:1-4

• Worldwide witness Matt 24:14

All these are the beginning of birth-pains

Pieces of the jigsaw surrounding His return

Tribulation Matt 24:21

Anti-Christ

2 Thess 2:3-4

Rapture

1 Thess 4:17

Millennium Rev 20:2-3

Jews Conversion Rom 11:26

Purpose of His return

Resurrection So will it be with the resurrection of the

dead. The body that is sown is perishable … raised imperishable … sown in dishonour …

raised in glory; sown in weakness … raised in power; sown a natural body … raised a

spiritual body – 1 Cor 15:42-44

Purpose of His return

Resurrection So will it be with the resurrection of the

dead. The body that is sown is perishable … raised imperishable … sown in dishonour …

raised in glory; sown in weakness … raised in power; sown a natural body … raised a

spiritual body – 1 Cor 15:42-44

Purpose of His return

Transformation But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who … will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like

his glorious body

Phil 3:20-21

Purpose of His return

Judgement of Unbelievers He will punish those who do not know God

and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting

destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might

2 Thess 1:8-9

Purpose of His return

Judgement of Believers

For we shall all stand before the judgment seat (bema) of Christ

Rom 14:10

See also 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Preparation for His return

Watch expectantly

Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding

with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come

Matt 24:40-42

Preparation for His return

Wait patiently

It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness … and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in

this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great

God and Saviour, Jesus Christ

Titus 2:12-13

Preparation for His return

Work enthusiastically

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain

1 Cor 15:58

Preparation for His return

Encourage one another

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together

with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in

fact you are doing

1 Thess 5:10-11

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says,

“Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Rev 22:20

Christ has died

Christ has risen

Christ will come again