"When Christ Comes"
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Intro:
Many things will be different when Jesus comes back. Things will happen that can not happen until that day. Things will change. The Bible tells us we can expect a number of things to take place when Jesus appears. We have much to look forward to.
It is impossible for us to review all that will transpire when Christ comes, even in those first moments when Jesus descends, but what I have done is made a brief study of a few of the highlights. Anyone interested can use tonight’s sermon as an example of how to do a similar Bible study for your own benefit.
All I have done is taken a few of the Scriptures that speak of Christ’s return, and that mention something happening with His return, and have noted what that event is. I hope you will pick up where I leave off.
When Christ Comes ...The Righteous Dead Will Live Again
...a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29 and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. (Jn 5:28b-29)
The grave is almost always a solemn setting. Because it means a separation for as long as this life endures we tend to think of it as permanent. But the grave is NOT a Christian’s "final resting place." Actually, it is not anyone’s final resting place for we will all eventually end up spending eternity in one of two places. Elsewhere we read, 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. (1 Th. 4:16)
The hope of life after the grave is a wonderful promise for the redeemed. For we know the life enjoyed eternally is greater than the one experienced this first time around. We are not being raised to re-live an existence of the same quality and nature. We are raised to eternal life. This is a quality of life far superior to our present condition. It is a far better life we have been promised than the one we have been assured would be our lot in this "three-score years and ten." (Ps. 90:10) The Bible has warned us that our 70-80 years here would be filled with suffering. It has been right about that, why shouldn’t we believe what it says about the next life? I do not mean that as a down-hearted remark, I mean for it to be encouraging. God has not sugar-coated the facts of life for us so there is no grounds for us to be pessimistic about the future.
When Christ Comes ...We Will Be Resurrected
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him. (1 Cor. 15:21-23)
When Jesus comes back, those of us who have gone the way of the grave will be resurrected. Though dead, the saints of the ages will live again in the resurrection. It was this resurrection that Martha believed in at Lazarus’ tomb. Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." (Jn. 11:23-24) The Old Testament Patriarch, Job, believed in the resurrection of the righteous. I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)
The promise of God to you and I is, if we are taken by the way of the grave, we will one day be raised from the grave to enjoy eternal life in the presence of the Lord. That day will be when Jesus comes back.
When Christ Comes ...We Will Be Changed
in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15:51-52)
We will be changed into His likeness ...we’ll be like Him. (1 Jn. 3:2) we will be given a resurrected body. It will be given to us in a glorified condition. The old hymnist wrote,
"On the resurrection morning when all the dead in Christ shall rise,
I’ll have a new body ... praise the Lord, I’ll have a new life.
Sown in weakness, raised in power, ready to live in paradise,
I’ll have a new body ... praise the Lord, I’ll have a new life." (#134, COG, I’ll Have A New Life)
When Paul says, we shall all be changed he is speaking of the physical transformations that will accompany the resurrection of the body. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Cor. 15:53) We are not given all the particulars of what our glorified bodies will be like, but I think it within reason to think of them at least in these terms. They will be disease free, pain free, injury resistant, ageless, incapable of death. It is possible they will also be able to pass through walls, fly through space, and who knows, maybe even sit on a cloud! Whatever they are really like, they will be wonderful. I can make you this promise, no one will have any complaints about the body they’ve been given. (Something probably not true about our present ones.)
When Christ Comes ...We Will Be With Him
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Col. 3:4)
When Jesus returns we will be with Him. We will be saved from the presence of sin, for we will be with the Lord and sin can not abide in the presence of His holiness. (1 Th. 4:17) What a promise we have that we will not only see the Lord but we will be with Him! 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. (1 Th. 4:17)
When Christ Comes ...Persecutors Will Be Punished
...This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels. (2 Th. 1:7)
When He comes He will punish those who have persecuted us.
When Christ Comes ...We Will Be Glad We Witnessed
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? (1 Th. 2:19)
When Jesus returns we will be proud of the converts and disciples we have made. If anyone is serving Jesus because of our witness, if we have those we mentor in the body of Christ who are growing in Him, we will be glad we have invested the time.
Daniel says, And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Dan. 12:2-3)
When Christ Comes ...We Will Be Blameless
May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones. (1 Th. 3:13)
When He comes we will be blameless - if we have truly endeavored to be so.
When Christ Comes ...We Will Be Lifted Into His Presence
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. (1 Th. 4:17) "then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air" (KJV)
... that you may be where I am... (Jn 14:2)
"a door open in heaven and a voice saying ‘Come up here!’" (Rev. 4:1)
This is very similar to the point we made earlier, we will be with Him. This one is different in that the emphasis is on the rapture, our being lifted from this earth and into His presence.
Close:
Tonight we have only considered eight things we can expect when Jesus comes back:
When Christ Comes ...
...The Righteous Dead Will Live Again
...We Will Be Resurrected
...We Will Be Changed
...We Will Be With Him
...Persecutors Will Be Punished
...We Will Be Glad We Witnessed
...We Will Be Blameless
...We Will Be Lifted Into His Presence
There is so much more we can anticipate with His return. I recommend a sturdy of the New Testament teachings on all that will transpire at the coming of the Lord. The Gospels have much to say on this subject that we have not mentioned here.
