He’ll be Back – Sermon 25 May, 2014

He’ll Be Back
Acts 1:1-14Ephesians 1:15-23
The doctrine of Christ’s return is fundamental, scriptural, and controversial.
It is fundamental in that all true Christians believe that one day Jesus himself will return to the earth.
It is scriptural in that our faith rests not in our dreams but in the clear revelation of God’s Word.
It is controversial in that Christians have often differed among themselves regarding the details of Christ’s return.
As we look to the passage written about the Ascension, I just want to ask one question:
What will the Second Coming of Christ be like?
Let’s consider three answers to that question.
His coming will be;
1. Personal
Verse 11 makes it clear that Jesus himself will one day return to the earth. It will be “this same Jesus” who is coming again. Twice in one verse Luke uses the word “same” to make it clear of His Second Coming. The same Jesus who left will one day return. And He will return the same way that He left.
In plain English, those words teach us that Jesus is coming back personally, literally, visibly and bodily. We can assume that his return to the earth will be no less amazing and no less surprising.
The truth is that the actual, historical figure who lived 2000 years ago is returning to the earth one more time.
Many have predicted the return of Christ by setting dates which did not come true.
I just want to give one comment. These predictions were misguided, but were right about one thing. God in the person of Christ is coming back someday.
“I will come back,” Jesus said (John 14:3). One day those words will be fulfilled
2. Glorious
Acts 1 tells us that Jesus was caught up in a cloud and taken to heaven. The cloud that carried Jesus into heaven was no ordinary cloud but was in fact the same cloud that led Israel in the wilderness. It is the cloud that represents the glory of God. Luke 21:27 tells us that Jesus will return “in a cloud with power and great glory.”
There are differences surrounding Jesus first coming to His second coming.
The first time Jesus came unnoticed into the world, the second time “every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7).
In his first coming Jesus humbled himself, being born in a stable in Bethlehem. When he returns, He will come back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The first time He came He was judged and sentenced by the people according to their wrong standards, but when He comes, He will judge every person according to God’s standards.
When Jesus first came into the earth the religious leaders shouted in scorn Him saying, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” (Matthew 27:42). The day is coming when the whole world will see Jesus as He really is. When that happens, every knee will bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus will one day return “in power and great glory.”
3. Pending
The Bible also tells us that the coming of Christ is pending, which means that it could happen at any moment. Again and again, the New Testament urges us to “watch” and be ready for His return (Matthew 24:42).
Paul teaches that Christian must expect at any moment that Jesus will soon return to the earth.
It’s been 2000 years and some of God’s children feel tired and hungry. We wonder why Jesus hasn’t come back yet. Perhaps he has forgotten us. Perhaps He made other plans. If you feel like that little boy, take heart. He said he would come back—and He will. All true Christians believe that Jesus will come back someday. He said he would—and He never forgets his promises.
The word pending or imminent does not mean immediate. Paul was not mistaken for that. He expected to see Christ return in his lifetime, and said so. When we use the word imminent for the Second Coming, it means two things:
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will comeback” (Mark 13:35).
This should warn us against the danger of setting dates and reading too much into the “signs” of the end times. Jesus wants us to see that knowing the exact date is not important but being ready is!
While we work and while we pray, let us always remember our “Blessed Hope”, the return of Jesus to the earth.
Let’s be ready for His coming!
Krikor Youmshajekian