SERMON FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2003
Will Jesus Come Again? by Brian Bill
Matthew 24:1-51
Will Jesus Come Again?
Rev. Brian Bill
5/20/01
This past Tuesday night Beth had a meeting here at church. As the girls and I
watched her get ready, we noticed that she was leaving with two wonderful
desserts. When we couldn’t get her to give us some before she left, we pleaded
with her to bring some home after the meeting. She promised that she would.
As the night went on, the girls repeatedly asked me just one question, “Dad,
when’s mom coming home?” When it got dark, the questions crescendoed. I told
them I wasn’t sure of the exact time but I knew she was going to come. At
about 8:30, the troops were getting restless so we went outside to wait for her.
No one had shoes on and some of us were in our pajamas (you can tell that I was
in charge that night!).
At first we sat on the front porch and just waited. But then, the girls started
doing cartwheels in the grass. Eventually, one of them got out her pogo stick
and we all tried jumping on it. The girls really laughed when I attempted to hop
around. The later it got, the more distracted we became. We were so focused on
just being goofy that we stopped asking about mom. Megan got tired so I put her
to bed (that way I could eat her portion of the dessert). About 9:20, Beth
rolled into the driveway. She was startled to see us outside in our pajamas and
we were glad to finally get our dessert.
The second coming of Jesus is a bit like this. We know He’s coming but we
don’t know when. While many of us are filled with expectation, several of us
are distracted by other things, and some of us have just fallen asleep.
Before we jump into this topic, I want to make some preliminary comments.
1. I’m just going to scratch the surface. This is a huge subject matter that
deserves a more in-depth treatment than I can give it this morning. One scholar
has estimated that there are over 2,000 references to the second coming of Jesus
in the Bible. For every prophecy concerning the first coming of Christ, there
are eight that look forward to His second! (Today in the Word, April 1989, page
27).
2. There are differences of opinion among Bible-believing evangelicals. The
theology of the end times has been debated and argued down through the
centuries. My own understanding of this doctrine has not been without some
struggle. When we come to terms with what we believe the Bible to teach, we must
be gracious towards those who have a different view.
3. Having said that, the second coming of Christ is a very important doctrine.
As we strive to understand this key part of theology, we’ll discover that it
has some relevant ramifications to our lives today.
I want to ask and answer three questions this morning:
• Will Jesus come again?
• When is He coming?
• What difference does it make?
Will Jesus Come Again?
Let’s begin by looking at the first question: Will Jesus come again? According
to a recent survey in U.S. News and World Report, 61% of Americans believe in
the Second Coming of Christ. A Newsweek poll reports that 45% believe that
Christ will return in their lifetime. Even though theologians differ over the
details of His return, there is widespread agreement that He is coming back.
The Bible is clear that the return of Christ is certain. John 14:3: “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.” After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to people
for 40 days. After giving some final instructions, He was transported to Heaven
before their very eyes. Two angels then appeared and said in Acts 1:11, “Men
of Galilee, why do you stand 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.”
The early Christians were convinced that Jesus was going to return. In fact,
they thought it was going to happen in their lifetime. From the first century up
to now, Christ followers have always believed that Jesus could return at any
time.
That’s exactly how the doctrinal statement of Pontiac Bible Church reads,
“We believe in the literal, personal, imminent, pre-tribulation, and
pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ…” Literal means that He’s
actually coming back. Personal means that it will be Jesus Himself. Imminent
means it could happen before we take our next breath. Pre-tribulation refers to
the belief that Jesus will remove true Christians from the world before the
terrible time of tribulation, which will last 7 years. Pre-millennial means that
Jesus will return to the earth with believers at the end of the tribulation
period and set up a thousand-year reign.
When Is He Coming?
The timing of His return is a bit more difficult to establish than the certainty
of His coming.
Please turn in your Bible to Matthew 24. This chapter contains more about the
end times from the lips of Jesus than any other section of Scripture. The
material here has reference not only to events that were about to take place in
Jerusalem but also to those stretching far into the future. Specifically, two
momentous occurrences are intertwined throughout the chapter:
• The coming judgment upon Jerusalem
• The final judgment at the close of the world’s history
It had been a wonderful day in the temple for the disciples. Their master had
answered every question thrown at him and had lambasted the Pharisees for their
hypocrisy in chapter 23. I picture them strutting as they walked away from their
wonderful worship center when some of the disciples came up to Jesus and pointed
out the beauty of the temple building in verse 1. I think they were pumped
because they were convinced that Jesus was going to set up his kingdom and they
would have some prime personal office space.
Jesus shocks them in verse 2 when he drops a bombshell on their plans: “Do you
see these beautiful buildings? They will be obliterated.” Then, without any
further explanation, Jesus walks about another ½ mile and sits down on the
Mount of Olives, where they can overlook the temple mount.
By the way, it is highly significant that Jesus chose to teach on the end times
while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives. When I cross-referenced this
passage, I discovered an amazing prophecy in the book of Zechariah that gave me
goose bumps when I read it. Referring to the second coming of Christ, Zechariah
14:4 says, “On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of
Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west,
forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving
south.”
After hearing the prediction of the temple’s demolition, they turn to Jesus
and ask Him some questions in verse 3: “…when will this happen, and what
will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
In the first part of his answer in verses 4-14, Jesus gives us three significant
signs to let us know that His return is right around the corner. Let’s look at
these briefly.
3 Signs
1. The first sign has to do with False Things. We see this in verses 4-5:
“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming,
‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
There have been many examples of false messiahs in recent memory. Jim Jones in
Jonestown. David Koresh in Waco. As we near the return of the real Jesus, there
will be an increasing number of leaders who will claim that they are the Christ.
A lot of these so-called saviors have been surfacing in the land where Jesus
actually lived. According to a recent TIME magazine article, a Psychiatric
Hospital in Jerusalem treats over 50 false messiahs a year.
There will also be an increased amount of false teaching and a false sense of
security as the end nears. The Bible clearly pictures the coming of Christ at a
time when the world does not expect it. 1 Thessalonians 5:3: “While people are
saying, ‘Peace and Safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor
pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
2. That leads to the second significant sign in verses 6-13. Our world will
increasingly experience Bad Things that will range from cataclysmic natural
disasters to an outpouring of evil like we’ve never seen before.
Doesn’t it seem to you that natural disasters are on the increase? Killer
hurricanes, deadly floods, and life-shattering earthquakes are almost a daily
occurrence in the news. The bad news is that these disasters will only get more
frequent and increase in their intensity as we approach the end of time as we
know it. Jesus very clearly taught that earthquakes and famines are only the
beginning of birth pains in verse 8. Coupled with natural disasters, we will see
an acceleration of unbridled evil. 2 Timothy 3:1 says, “But mark this: There
will be terrible times in the last days.”
I don’t like to be a prophet of doom, but I need to warn you that based upon
the very words of Jesus, things are only going to get worse! If these are the
last days, and I believe they are, then we ain’t seen nothing yet! Random
violence will continue to break out around the world. Nuclear weapons will
appear in the hands of unstable people. Societies will break down, families will
fall apart, and chaos will increase. Things are bad but the greatest evil is yet
to come. Verse 12 tells us that even love will be in short supply: “Because of
the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”
3. These first two signs are negative, let’s take a look now at a positive
precursor that will indicate that the return of Jesus is close at hand. Sign #3
refers to some Good Things.
The first good thing that will happen as a prerequisite to the Second Coming may
surprise you. Listen to the words of Jesus in verse 14: “And this gospel of
the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations,
and then the end will come.” The word ‘nations’ in this verse does not
refer primarily to political entities but to the various ‘people groups’ of
the world. In other words, every group of people must hear the gospel message
before the end will come.
As we approach the end times, there will be a marked increase in the tempo of
world evangelization. There will be a renewed interest in communicating the good
news of forgiveness and eternal life through Christ. We will see a new sense of
urgency to penetrate the entire world with the life-changing message of Jesus
Christ.
I believe that is precisely what is going on right now. There are reports from
China, Latin America, Africa and from the former Soviet Union of unprecedented
church growth. As people hear about Jesus they are responding to His offer of a
new life.
One of the reasons why Jesus has not returned yet is precisely because He wants
to give everyone a chance to hear about His first coming. For the last 2000
years, the life-changing message of Jesus has penetrated cultures, nations, and
thousands of languages. While there are still a number of people groups that
have not yet heard the good news, the progress of the gospel is truly amazing!
In tandem with the spread of the good news around the world, we will see an
openness to spiritual matters in the last days. You see, God not only wants to
give everyone a chance to hear, He wants to give each of us an opportunity to
respond. 2 Peter 3:9 says that, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise,
as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
I sense this spiritual hunger on a regular basis. In just the last two weeks, I
had the privilege of leading two individuals to faith in Christ. When I’m out
in the community, I’m asked on a regular basis for our worship service times.
One of our neighbors reads sermons from our web page. God continues to use the
Jesus Video– I know of at least one couple who is attending PBC right now as a
result of this video. As we continue to pray the Prayer of Jabez, God will burst
our ministry boundaries. I love seeing the excitement among our new members and
recent attendees. There is a measurable sense of enthusiasm for the things of
God in this church!
What’s going on? I think it’s another indication that the return of Christ
is closer than we think. Sure, there’s a lot of false stuff and a lot of bad
stuff going on. But, at the same time, there are a lot of good things happening.
The gospel message is going out around the world -- and it’s penetrating
hearts right here in this community as well.
In verses 15-28, Jesus reveals some specific events that will take place just
prior to His return. Then, in verses 29-31, He speaks of His return to the earth
in great power and glory. I want to focus now on the last part of chapter 24,
where Jesus addresses the question of “when.” Let’s consider 3 facts about
the timing of His Second Coming.
Fact # 1: We can know the general time but not the precise moment. Take a look
at verses 32-33: “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its
twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so,
when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”
The story of the fig tree has two applications. First, it is a truth from
nature. When the leaves begin to come out in the springtime, we know that summer
is near. By the same token, when the signs of Matthew 24 begin to take place,
then we will know the return of Christ cannot be far away.
Second, the fig tree is a common biblical symbol for the nation of Israel in
Hosea 9:10. It may be that Jesus is here alluding to the restoration of the
nation of Israel in the end times. Historically, Israel ceased to exist after
the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. But in 1948 Israel became
a nation once again. This restoration is likely the first step in the
fulfillment of the prophecies of Ezekiel 36-39, Daniel 9:24-27, and Romans
11:26.
No one will ever know the precise moment of His return as Jesus declares in
verse 36: “No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father.” The best we can do is to read the signs and
know that the time is at hand. If anyone ever tells you that they know exactly
when Jesus will return, don’t believe him. That person is either a false
prophet or a seriously deluded Bible student. Jesus strictly forbids setting
dates for His return.
Fact # 2: Jesus will return at a time when the world is completely unprepared.
Look at verses 37-41: “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. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 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.”
Here Jesus makes a very simple comparison to the days of Noah. What was it like
in Noah’s day? It was “business as usual.” While Noah patiently built the
ark and warned people of coming judgment, people laughed at him and said, “It
will never happen.” Noah’s day was like our day - an age of skepticism and
moral relativity. The more Noah preached, the more his contemporaries mocked
him. They refused to believe that anything like a worldwide flood was possible.
For years and years life continued without a change. With each passing day Noah
looked like more of a fool than the day before. But finally the heavens opened
and the rains came down. When Noah entered the ark, I’m sure his friends
pounded on the door and said, “Noah, we’re sorry. You were right and we were
wrong. Open up. Let us in.” But it was too late.
And just as the flood brought sudden judgment to the world, the return of Christ
will do the same. When Jesus returns to the earth, unbelievers will once again
be “taken” in death and judgment and only believers will be preserved by
God. And just as the ark saved Noah, even so Jesus Christ is the “ark of
safety” for those who believe in Him.
These verses teach us that this present age will end in a sudden, dramatic
judgment with a complete and final separation of the saved and the lost. We had
better be prepared.
Fact # 3: We are called to be ready because Jesus may return at any moment. Look
at verses 42-44: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day
your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at
what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not
have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of
Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Note the two main commands: “Keep watch” and “Be ready.” How does a
thief come to your house? Sudden and unannounced. After all, if you knew a
robber was coming, you’d be ready for him, but thieves rarely call and make
appointments in advance.
Jesus is coming like a thief in the night. When we least expect Him, He will
return to the earth. Therefore, keep your eyes on the skies and be ready at any
moment to meet the Lord face to face.
That leads me to ask a simple question: When was the last time you got up and
said to yourself, “Jesus may come today?” For many of us, it’s been a long
time since we’ve thought about His return.
What Difference Does It Make?
The final question relates to the relevance of the Second Coming. What
difference does it really make? I see at least three ways this doctrine can
transform the way we’re living.
1. Encourage one another. This topic is not meant to make us apprehensive or
terrified. After a lengthy discussion of the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul
points out the comfort that comes from knowing that Jesus is returning. In verse
18 he challenges us to do something: “Therefore encourage each other with
these words.”
The message of the coming of Christ ought to fill us with tremendous excitement.
These are great days to be alive. Let’s encourage each other to “go for
it” spiritually. Let’s be completely committed, fully engaged, passionately
involved in kingdom living. This is no time to play it safe.
The first Christians used to greet each other with the phrase, “Maranatha,”
which literally means, “Come, Lord Jesus!” We see it used in the
second-to-the-last verse in the Bible in Revelation 22:20: “He who testifies
to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Believers also used it when they wanted to emphasize something. I wonder if we
could start using this phrase in our conversations? Let’s say, “Maranatha”
to each other. Another goal would be to talk to at least one person every day
about the return of Christ.
2. Live pure lives. Here’s a good question to ask yourself when you’re
involved with something that may be questionable: “Would I want to be doing
this when Jesus returns?” Wouldn’t it be terrible to be ashamed when Jesus
comes back? 1 John 2:28: “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that
when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
We don’t have time to study verses 45-51, but here’s the Biblical balance as
we await the return of the Lord: Live as though He might come today.
If you knew that Jesus was coming tonight at 8:00 p.m., what would you do
differently? What changes would you make? Here’s the deal. One day He will
return. Therefore, let’s live in light of His coming today.
3. Ask Jesus to save you. If you have never turned your life over to Christ and
received His salvation, then I want to appeal to you with all my heart. Be
reconciled to God before it’s too late! Listen to 2 Peter 3:9-10 in the
Message Translation: “God isn’t late with His promise as some measure
lateness. He is restraining Himself on account of you, holding back the end
because He doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to
change. But when the day of God’s judgment does come, it will be unannounced,
like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything
disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the
scrutiny of Judgment.”
Friend, I can’t beat around the bush. The consequences are too staggering and
the stakes are way too high. Let me say it as clearly as I can. If you have
never made a decision to put your faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins,
you will be in deep trouble when Jesus comes back. Your judgment will be
certain, swift, and severe.
Don’t be left behind. Jesus right now is seeking a relationship with you.
Respond to Him before it’s too late!