Tag: second coming of Christ

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With the Lord

“And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

When will that happen? It will happen when Jesus comes for his people and takes them to his Father’s house in heaven. We may take his word for it. He promised, “I will come again.” At the time he departed from the earth an angel said to his disciples, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back” (Acts 1:11). The Bible is full of references to his second coming.

What will happen? At the time of his appearing there will be two outcomes, one for those whose faith is in him, and one for those who reject and deny him. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul wrote that those who die as believers in Christ will be resurrected to be caught up to be with the Lord. They are said to be the “dead in Christ.” They will be raised from the dead. Believers who are alive when he returns will be transformed and caught up with those who have been resurrected, and “together” they will be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Paul says believers will “meet the Lord in the air.” Frankly, that is hard to imagine. But it is a thrilling prospect. At his ascension, Jesus was taken up into the clouds (Acts 1:9-11). The Old Testament patriarch Enoch was “taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away” (Hebrews 11:5). Something like that happened to the prophet Elijah: “Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:11). Paul himself had an experience which he found hard to describe. He was caught up to heaven, where he saw and heard things that were amazing (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).

Fanciful? Unbelievable? Wishful thinking? I think not. The Bible is full of supernatural occurrences. If we deny the supernatural, we deny the power of God and the word of God. God’s word says the coming of Jesus to take his people to be with him will be a supernatural event that is as certain as his first coming to earth. If we believe his word, we will expect his coming.

We deny this at our peril. The same scriptures that promise salvation for those who have faith in Jesus also predict another outcome for those who reject him. When the Lord returns it will result in “sudden destruction” for those who are in spiritual darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:3). “The day of the Lord” will be a future time when God will intervene with judgment for those who reject him. This will be as unexpected as “a thief in the night.” There will be no escape.

If your faith is in Jesus, the Bible says you “are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

Come, Lord Jesus.

Pastor Randy Faulkner

 

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Jesus is Coming

I have been teaching and preaching on the second coming of Jesus for over fifty years. I have noticed that people of all ages in every generation have an interest in this subject. The troubles of the world, such as wars and natural disasters, with death and suffering on a mass scale, often cause people to wonder if Armageddon is right around the corner.

The world has always had such troubles, and people have always been fearful of the future. Jesus told his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled . . . I will come back” (John 14:1,3). This is the basis of Christian hope. Just as the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming were fulfilled with amazing accuracy, so the prophecies of his second coming will be literally fulfilled.

He is coming. His coming could be at any time. According to the Bible, “The coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-9). Believers are taught “to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). We are to be “awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7). “We eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20-21). This is the Christian’s “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). So we join with the ancient church in praying, “Maranatha,” which means “O Lord, come” (1 Corinthians 16:22).

This is not escapism. This is the desire for the fulfillment of the eternal life  which Jesus died to purchase for us. It is a desire for the eternal life which God promised to all who believe in Jesus (John 3:16). It is a desire for the eternal life for which we were originally created.

The Christians in Thessalonica were discouraged by the troubles of life. They had experienced “severe suffering” (1 Thessalonians 1:6), “strong opposition” (2:2), trials and persecution (3:4), and grief because of the deaths of loved ones (4:13). Paul wrote to them to remind them of the reason for our hope. Every chapter in 1 Thessalonians mentions the return of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus returns, there will be a resurrection of the dead who have trusted in him (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Paul wrote that he did not want them to be uninformed about this. The New Testament was written to give us knowledge upon which to base our faith. Faith in the resurrection is not unreasonable. Paul bases it on the historical fact of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

“We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). The closer I get to the finish line of my earthly life, the more precious these words are to me.

When Jesus returns, there will be a rapture. This word is not found in our English Bibles. It is based upon the Latin translation of the phrase “caught up,” found in verse 17. It is a term used by biblical scholars to denote the catching up of God’s people who are alive at the time of the Lord’s 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, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Last year the city in which I live, Valdosta, Georgia, was hit by a devastating hurricane. The unprecedented disaster of Helene caused millions of dollars in property damage here. Many local residents evacuated the city before the storm hit. The rapture of God’s people when Jesus comes will be like a massive evacuation before the terrors of God’s judgment descend upon a world that is at war with him. These judgments are described in the Book of the Revelation.

Bible teacher John Phillips illustrated it this way: “Take a mixture of metals — gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, and zinc. Scatter those metals on the ground, and bury some of them beneath the soil. Then take a powerful magnet and pass it over that site. Immediately one kind of metal will leap skyward to meet the magnet in the air. The magnet will leave behind the gold, the copper, the lead, and the zinc. It will draw to itself just one kind of metal — the iron. Why does the magnet attract only the iron? Because the iron has the same nature as the magnet!

“When Jesus comes at the rapture, he will draw to himself one kind of person, only one, not necessarily the rich or the poor, the religious, the respectable, or the moral, the church member or the theologian, but those who have the same nature as himself. That fact, of course, is what gives all the more point to the Lord’s word to Nicodemus: ‘Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, you must be born again’ (John 3:6-7).”

The all-important question we all must ask ourselves is, “Have I been born again? Am I ready to meet the Lord?” Jesus is coming. Believe on him as your savior and live for him in order to be ready for his return.

Pastor Randy Faulkner

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He Ascended

“He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”

This statement from the Apostles’ Creed repeats a truth that is taught in several New Testament passages. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus’ disciples watched in awe as he was taken up to disappear into the clouds. Angels told them that he would come again from heaven in a similar way (Acts 1:11).

Peter wrote that Jesus “has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand — with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him” ( 1 Peter 3:23). Paul wrote that Jesus, the one who descended, “is the very one who ascended higher than the heavens” (Ephesians 4:10). God “seated him at his own right hand in the heavenly realms far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21).

What is Jesus doing in heaven now? He is sharing in the rule of Almighty God over the universe. He has the title “Lord” which indicates his fulfillment of the prophecy of Psalm 110 which says that a descendant of King David will rule from God’s right hand. This present rule is in anticipation of his future coming to earth to rule his visible kingdom.

He is also preparing a place for his people in a heavenly home he calls “my Father’s house” (John 14:2-3). He told his disciples that he would be going away to get a place ready for them. He promised to come back and take them there personally. This is very good news for all who believe in Jesus.

In addition, the Lord Jesus is interceding for believers as our great high priest (Hebrews 4:14-5:10). The Jews in the Old Testament had priests who were authorized under the law to represent them before God. They offered sacrifices and prayed for the people that their sins might be forgiven. Today Jesus is the only priest anyone needs to stand in for them before a holy God. His death on the cross atoned for sinners. He is the only mediator between God and humanity.

He is praying for his people and his prayers are effective. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that though he experienced temptation and the sufferings of the human condition, he was without sin. Raymond Brown wrote, “No one on earth, before or since, has been through such spiritual desolation and human anguish. For this reason he can help us in our moments of temptation.” As our perfect representative, he is our sympathetic advocate.

Therefore, we are invited to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). We are promised mercy to cover the sins of yesterday, and grace to meet the needs of today.

My wife and I were having a conversation with a friend who is not yet a Christian. “Why do I need an intermediary between me and God?” she asked. “Because God is holy and we are sinners,” I answered. We went on to explain how Jesus’ sacrifice and present ministry at God’s right hand make believers acceptable to God by grace.

This is what we mean when we join the confession, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”

Pastor Randy Faulkner

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Could This Be the Year?

Could 2024 be the year in which Jesus comes again? Christians of all theological persuasions believe (or are taught to believe) that Jesus is coming again. The New Testament reminds us to anticipate our Lord’s return. These reminders to be alert and watchful lead to the conviction that Jesus could come at any time.

Romans 13:11-12 — “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.”

1 Corinthians 1:7 — “You eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed”

Philippians 3:20 — ‘But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 1:10 — “To wait for his Son from heaven”

Titus 2:13 — “While we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”

Hebrews 9:28 — “So Christ . . . will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation, to those who are waiting for him.”

James 5:7-9 — “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. . . . The Lord’s coming is near. . . . The Judge is standing at the door.”

1 Peter 1:13 — “Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Jude verse 21 — “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

Revelation 3:11, 22:7, 12,20 — “I am coming soon.”

There have been those in every generation since these words were written, who have believed that Jesus could come at any time, even in their own lifetimes. His coming is imminent. It could happen at any time. That is why believers are taught to watch and be ready.

The verses cited above refer to the next great event on God’s prophetic schedule. It is described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians.

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

Paul says this is a “mystery.”  A mystery is is a truth that was not revealed in the Old Testament scriptures, but is now revealed through the teaching of the apostles of Jesus. Elsewhere Paul refers to it as “the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints” (Colossians 1:26, see also Ephesians3:5, 9).

Furthermore, he says this great event will involve the resurrection of dead believers and  the transformation of living believers without their having to die. This will happen when our Lord returns to take his people away with him to their heavenly home.

“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, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are alive and are left will be caught up  together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

If the idea of being “caught up” seems strange and hard to understand, we are given examples in the Bible where it has already happened. At his ascension, our Lord was “taken up” into the clouds (Acts 1:9) This was witnessed by his disciples.

The apostle Paul was “caught up” to Paradise and returned to earth (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). When he described the “catching up” of believers to heaven, he knew what he was talking about!

There are two notable examples from the Old Testament. “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). Enoch bypassed death. God took him directly to heaven.

The same is true of the prophet Elijah. 2 Kings 2:1-11 describes how he was caught up to heaven in chariot of fire. He did not die. If we believe the Bible, then we must take seriously its historical accuracy. These events actually happened. If Jesus, Paul, Enoch, and Elijah were caught up to heaven, it is not beyond belief that the church of Jesus Christ will be suddenly caught up to meet him in the air as promised.

This teaching is a source of encouragement and blessing. We are told to “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). These truths are  our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). Christians are called to live expectantly. The first century believers had a one-word prayer which expressed this: “Maranatha,” which means, “Our Lord come” (1 Corinthians 16:22).

He could come at any time. There are no intervening events, signs, or prophesies that must take place before the Lord comes to “catch up” his people. This new year could be the one in which the dead in Christ are raised and living believers join them in meeting the Lord in the air.

Does this thought fill you with dread or with hope? Are you ready to meet Jesus as your savior and redeemer? If you are not certain, open your heart today, confessing your sin, and trust in Jesus who died and rose again to rescue us from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

Pastor Randy Faulkner

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Solstice

Solstice

The sun hangs low in the southern sky, a faint, refracted, pale reprise;

A flickering portent of heaven’s reply: “The Sun of Righteousness will rise.”

The winter’s night is bleak and dead with lingering, anxious darkness blind;

But morning comes with One who said: “My life is light for all mankind.”

Relentless chill pervades, suffuses, as this world’s love grown cold with strife;

But the brittle, grave-like cold now loses deathly force: “In him was life.”

This day’s distance from comfort, light foretells: “No need of sun or moon;”

His presence, warmth, light, healing, right, announces: “He is coming soon.”

 

    –  Pastor Randy Faulkner

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