Tag: The second coming of Christ

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He Will Come Again

“He will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

This phrase from the Apostles’ Creed reminds us that Jesus promised to return and that God the Father has committed all judgment to him. Unfortunately, this teaching is sadly neglected in churches today.

I have been retired from pastoral ministry since 2018. I have attended worship services every Sunday since that time. I cannot remember hearing a single sermon on the second coming of Christ. Research in the religious life of America bears this out. People in the pews are not hearing as much as they used to about the “blessed hope” of the Lord’s return. They are uninformed about this precious truth. Ignorance of this subject led Paul to write about the coming of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 4.

When he wrote about the “coming” of Jesus Christ, Paul used a word (parousia) which meant showing up in person. It was a word that might have been used of the arrival of friends from a journey, their personal presence. The apostles Peter and Paul used the word ten times in their writings to refer to the Lord’s second coming.

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul describes some spectacular supernatural events that will accompany Christ’s coming. First, the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, or “loud command” (v.16). Most likely this refers to his call to the believing dead to rise in new bodies suited for eternity.

The archangel will speak. The only archangel named in the Bible is Michael, the defender of Israel. His voice will be a shout of victory over the devil and his dominion. This is a reminder of the role of angels in the events described in the book of the Revelation. The archangel’s announcement will mark the beginning of the end for Satan.

The trumpet of God will sound. Paul’s Jewish readers would think of the blowing of the ram’s horn (shofar) for the feast of trumpets. Paul’s Gentile readers would probably associate this with an army bugle call to close ranks and march into battle.

Of course all this represents a disruption in the status quo of history. This reminds us that all things are not going to continue as they have been indefinitely. Jesus’ second coming will be a supernatural intervention. Paul goes on to boldly describe it in terms that are nothing short of miraculous.

The miracle of resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14-15)

“Those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” are the Christian dead. Their bodies, not their souls, are asleep, awaiting the awakening called the resurrection. For believers, death is not unconsciousness. The “dead in Christ” are as alive as he is. “Asleep” is a word picture to illustrate the temporary nature of death for their physical bodies.

At the resurrection, the bodies of those who are in Christ will be reconstituted. Their new bodies will be joined to their spirits, already with the Lord. They will “rise first” (v.16), before the living believers ascend. Then together, the living and the resurrected believers will be transformed and will be taken to be with the Lord forever.

The miracle of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

“Rapture” is a word used to refer to the snatching away of all of God’s people worldwide “to meet the Lord in the air.” Jesus taught that no one knows when this will occur. Paul’s attitude (“we”) was one of expectancy and we should also live in anticipation of the sudden appearance of “the Lord himself” (v. 16).

Who will be “caught up,” or raptured? The context tells us that it is those who are “in Christ,” living and dead. Throughout the New Testament they are referred to as spiritually chosen in Christ, new creations in Christ, crucified and raised with Christ, seated in the heavenlies in Christ, complete in Christ, baptized into Christ, abiding in Christ and sanctified in Christ.

What will happen at the rapture? The apostle John answers, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).”

The miracle of reunion ( 1 Thessalonians 4:17)

“Together” is a beautiful word. It implies the gathering of God’s people in the presence of Jesus and the complete absence of the sins, ignorance, and misunderstandings that spoil our relationships here on earth. There and then we will know and be known with clarity, joy and perfect harmony. If family reunions are good here on earth,  how much better will they be in heaven?

Are you ready for all this? Do you love the thought of Jesus’ return? Do you pray the way we are taught  to pray in the New Testament: “Come, Lord Jesus, come?” Can you speak the words of the Apostles’ Creed with certainty: “I believe that he will come again to judge the living and the dead”?

Pastor Randy Faulkner

 

 

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Noah’s Warnings

The war in the Middle East has prompted some people to ask questions about the second coming of Jesus Christ. When Jesus was asked about his return at the end of the age, he used Noah and his generation as an example.

“No one knows the day or the hour, 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. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:36-39).

In his response to the question about the end times (Matthew 24:3), our Lord cited the flood, the one great historical demonstration by God that there will be a future universal judgment. He reminds us that those who refuse God’s merciful warnings will not escape his wrath. Judgment came once, and it will come again.

Noah’s life  was a warning to his generation. He was preaching by his words and actions that judgment was imminent. The people did not take him seriously even though he was building a boat the size of an ocean liner. It was a visible offer of safety to any who would pay attention. Noah was a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), challenging the ignorance and immorality of his generation.

Noah’s character was another warning. He stood alone in his generation as a “righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). He could be called blameless because of God’s grace. “Noah found favor (grace) in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). He did not find favor with God because he was righteous. He was righteous because he found favor with God, or because of God’s grace. It is the same for people today. The way to be righteous before God is to be “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Noah was motivated by faith in God. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7). Noah’s preaching and example “condemned,” or rebuked the ungodly lives of the people of his generation (Genesis 6:5). His message was a warning to them of God’s coming judgment.

Jesus said that just before the his return,  the world will be going about its business indifferent toward spiritual things. They will behave as in Noah’s day: “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” without any regard for God. People’s brains were hardwired to be skeptical of Noah’s message. The sad truth is that the majority of people today are willfully ignorant of the Bible’s warnings of God’s judgment and of his gracious offer of salvation.

John MacArthur wrote “The next judgment will be different in two ways. First, it will not be by flood (Genesis 9:15) but by fire (2 Peter 3:10). Second, it will be the last. . . . The only security is refuge in God’s ark, Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Randy Faulkner

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Here Comes the Groom

This weekend Connie and I are in Grand Lake, in northeastern Oklahoma. I have the honor of officiating for the wedding of friends of ours. Connie and I have been meeting with them for several weeks in premarital counseling. They are excited and so are we! We are especially pleased that they affirm their desire to have a Christ-centered marriage.

There are aspects of any marriage ceremony that are universal: the involvement of the community, the atmosphere of celebration and happiness, the solemnity of vows, promises of love and faithfulness, and the invocation of divine blessing. In the case of Christian marriage, there is the added symbolism of human marriage as a picture of the relationship of Jesus Christ to his church.

The New Testament repeats this bride and bridegroom theme in many places. One of the most prominent is Ephesians chapter five where Paul writes of the love the Bridegroom (Jesus) has for his bride (the church). Paul calls this relationship “a profound mystery” (Ephesians 5:32). This illustrates the present and future of the church, those who are “in Christ” through faith.

To understand this better let’s think about the elements in a wedding as it was practiced in Bible times. A wedding in the ancient near east involved three main elements: a betrothal, a presentation, and a marriage feast. The Bible says the church is made up of all who have put their faith in Christ. It is said to be betrothed to Christ. Paul wrote, “I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him” (2 Corinthians 11:2). 

Betrothal was part of a carefully observed tradition that developed over hundreds of years in the ancient near east. The groom would bring to the father of the woman he wanted to marry a sum of money or a letter of intent indicating how he would support her as his wife. If the father agreed they would formalize the engagement in a binding agreement called betrothal. It might last for as little as a month or as long as a year before the wedding.

When the time came for the wedding ceremony, the next tradition was the presentation. The bridegroom would come at the appointed hour with an elaborate procession of friends and family dressed in their finest apparel. The bride would be waiting for him in her father’s house dressed in wedding attire accented by jewelry, flowers, a veil, and a crown. Her attendants were nearby, expecting the arrival of the bridegroom. There was excitement in the air.

The groom would make his way through the town with singing and dancing. It was a big celebration involving the entire village. The groom and his party would arrive at the home of the bride’s parents and escort her and her family and friends to his own home, weaving their way back through the village.

In Revelation 21:9 we read, “One of the angels said to me, ‘Come and I will show you the bride of the Lamb.'” The bride is the church. The Lamb is Jesus. He will come for his bride. Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory for the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.” Behind this picture are the wedding customs as practiced in Bible times. It is our Lord’s intention to “present her (his bride) to himself as a radiant church” (Ephesians 5:27).

Next was the wedding feast. When the wedding procession reached the house of the groom there would be a great feast prepared for all the attendants, friends, and neighbors. The festivities would go on and on, perhaps for a week. When the Lord Jesus famously changed water to wine at a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee, it was at just such a feast.

Then came the official conclusion of the ceremony. A town or synagogue official would stand and ask the bride and groom if they were ready to assume the responsibilities of marriage There would be ceremonial vows spoken before the entire community. Sometimes this was solemnized by a written contract which would be presented to the bride’s family.

The bride and groom would be standing under a tent-like canopy or shelter. It symbolized the tents in which Abraham and the other fathers of Israel lived. It also pictured the protection of God over his people and the blessing of God on this marriage.

With beautiful simplicity and clarity, the word of God is telling us that Jesus loves his church. He gave his life to redeem the church. The church is so precious to him that he calls us his bride. The church is betrothed to him.

We want to represent him well as we live in this world. Revelation 19:7-8 says that “His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given to her to wear. Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.” The apostle Peter put it this way: “Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12). He had the second coming in mind. Jesus’ bride should be getting ready to meet him when he comes. We do that by the way we live now.

Like the wedding party waiting for the groom, the church is told to wait expectantly for the coming of the Lord. Jesus promised that he would come again and take his people to be with him in his Father’s house, just like the groom in the biblical wedding. He prayed in John 17:24, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me.”

That is Jesus’ prayer for his bride, the church. No prayer of Jesus will fail to be answered. He is coming. Are you ready to meet him?

Pastor Randy Faulkner