Why I Believe In The Second Coming

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                            "WHY I BELIEVE"

                          In The Second Coming

INTRODUCTION

1. Another fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith is the second
   coming of Christ...
   a. That Jesus will literally one day return
   b. To usher in a series of events that will transform our existence

2. This "second coming" is not to be confused with other "comings" of
   the Lord...
   a. The Scriptures speak of more than one "coming" or "day" of the
      Lord
   b. In the OT, God came in judgment against various nations
   c. Jesus also spoke of more than one "day" - cf. Lk 17:22
   d. One such "day" was His coming in judgment on Jerusalem in 70 A.D.,
      as foretold in His Olivet Discourse - cf. Mt 24, Mk 13, Lk 21

3. This "second coming" will be...
   a. At the "last day"
   b. At the end of time as we know it
   c. The beginning of a totally new existence that will last for
      eternity

[Why do I believe in the second coming of Christ?  First, there is...]

I. THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING

   A. BY JESUS HIMSELF...
      1. At the last supper, before His arrest and crucifixion - Jn 14:
         1-3
      2. Comforting His disciples with the promise of His return

   B. BY HIS ANGELS...
      1. When Jesus ascended into heaven - Ac 1:9-11
      2. The "two men...in white apparel"
      3. Who said, "This same Jesus, who was taken up from into heaven,
         will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

   C. BY HIS APOSTLES...
      1. Peter, in his second recorded sermon - Ac 3:19-21
      2. Paul, in writing to...
         a. The Corinthians - 1 Co 11:26; 15:22-23
         b. The Thessalonians - 1 Th 1:9-10; 2:19; 3:13
         c. The young evangelist, Timothy - 2 Ti 4:1
      3. The writer to the Hebrews - He 9:27-28

[As I believe in Jesus and His apostles, I believe in their promises.
Besides the promise of His coming, there is also...]

II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING

   A. TO RAISE THE DEAD...
      1. Both the righteous and wicked dead - Jn 5:28-29
         a. Note there is but one resurrection, including both good and
            evil, that will occur at one time ("the hour")
         b. As Paul said, "there will be a resurrection of the dead,
            both of the just and the unjust" - Ac 24:15
      2. Those who are alive at the Lord's coming...
         a. Will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, clothed with
            immortality and incorruption - 1 Co 15:50-54
         b. Then "caught up...to meet the Lord in the air." - 1 Th 4:
            16-18

   B. TO DELIVER THE KINGDOM TO GOD...
      1. When all are made alive at His coming - 1 Co 15:22-24
      2. Contrary to the view that Jesus has yet to establish His
         kingdom on earth, He has been ruling over His kingdom since He
         first ascended to heaven!
         a. In fulfillment of the prophecy that God would raise up the
            Christ to sit on the throne of David, Jesus was raised from
            the dead and made "Lord" - Ac 2:30-36
         b. All authority has been given unto Him - Mt 28:18; Ep 1:
            20-22; 1 Pe 3:22
         c. Christians are said to be "in" His kingdom - Co 1:13; Re 1:9
         d. Christ will continue to reign "till He has put all enemies
            under His feet" - 1 Co 15:25
            1) Note that His reign will be concurrent with the fact
               enemies are still present
            2) As prophesied by the Psalmist:  "Rule in the midst of
               Your enemies!" - Psa 110:1-2
         e. Thus Christ is now "the blessed and only Potentate, the King
            of kings and Lord of Lords" - 1 Ti 6:15; cf. Re 19:16
         f. And He will reign "till He has put all enemies under His
            feet" - 1 Co 15:25
            1) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death itself
               - cf. 1 Co 15:26
            2) Which we have seen will be destroyed at the coming of the
               Lord when He will raise the dead - 1 Co 15:51-54
      3. So when He comes, it will not be to "set up", but to "deliver
         up" His kingdom!
         a. As Paul clearly told the Corinthians - 1 Co 15:23-26
         b. As taught by Jesus in His Parable of the Tares - Mt 13:36-43
            1) His kingdom will last until "the end of this age"
            2) After which "the righteous will shine forth as the sun in
               the kingdom of their Father" (i.e., the heavenly kingdom)

   C. TO JUDGE THE WORLD AND PUNISH EVIL...
      1. God has appointed "a day" in which He will judge the world
         - 2 Pe 3:7
         a. The one appointed to be the Judge is Jesus Christ - Ac
            17:31; 2 Co 5:10
         b. The standard by which He will judge will be the words He has
            spoken - Jn 12:48
      2. It will be a day of perdition (utter destruction) of ungodly
         men - 2 Pe 3:7
         a. Those who know not God and have not obeyed the gospel will
            be punished with "everlasting destruction" - 2 Th 1:7-10
         b. Those whose names are not in the "Book of Life" will be cast
            into the "lake of fire" - Re 20:11-15

   D. TO USHER IN THE "NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH"...
      1. As taught by Peter - 2 Pe 3:10-14
         a. This will follow the "passing away" of the present heavens
            and earth
         b. In fulfillment of God's promise - cf. Isa 65:17-19; 66:22-23
         c. Something we are to "look for"
         d. It will be a realm where righteousness dwells, therefore the
            need for us to be found "in peace, without spot and
            blameless" when Christ returns
      2. As taught by John - Re 21:1-22:5
         a. It will follow after the first heaven and first earth have
            "passed away" - cf. Re 20:11
         b. It will be the place where the "New Jerusalem" will abide
            when it "comes down out of heaven" -  cf. Re 3:10c; 21:10
         c. God will dwell with us in this "New Jerusalem" that has
            "come down out of heaven"

CONCLUSION

1. If there will not be a second coming, then there will not be...
   a. A resurrection of the dead
   b. A transfer of Christ's kingdom to the heavenly kingdom
   c. A judgment of the world and subsequent punishment of evil
   d. A new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness dwells

2. If there will not be a second coming, then Christians are to be
   pitied...
   a. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen - 1 Co 15:16
   b. And if Christ is not risen, our faith is futile and we are still
      in our sins - 1 Co 15:17
   c. Those who have died in Christ have perished - 1 Co 15:18
   d. If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men the most
      pitiable - 1 Co 15:19

3. But we can have confidence in the second coming of Christ...
   a. If we believe there is a God
   b. If we believe the Bible is the Word of God
   c. If we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God

That Jesus has not yet come is only an indication of God's
long-suffering (2 Pe 3:8-9).  But rest assured, as promised that "day"
will come!

In the meantime, what should be our attitude be toward the coming of our
Lord?

   * One of prayerful preparation - Lk 21:34-36; 2 Pe 3:14
   * One of joyful expectation - Ph 3:20-21
   * One of patient endurance - He 10:35-39

Is that your attitude...?
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