THE KING IS COMING
Text-2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and by our fathering together
unto him,
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as
from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that
day shall not come, except there come a falling
away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition:
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that
is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he
as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing him-
self that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I
told you these things?
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken
out of the way.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the
Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and will destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in
them that perish; because they received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
Introduction-
Elaborate preparations are always made when the
President of the United States visits a city, or
another country.
1. First, there is a clean-up, beautification eff-
ort, to make the city look its best.
2. Then, there is also a heightening of security,
so that the President will not be endangered.
A route is planned for his travel, and an emer-
gency situation is considered. Special agents
are scattered everywhere-on the tops of buildings,
in the crowds, etc. to give maximum security.
3. Hospital preparations are made in the event of
some terrible tragedy, and doctors and medical
staff prepared for an emergency.
4. Then, meals have to be considered, and his
lodging, and other considerations.
All of this was evident to me one day when Pres-
ident George Bush came to Meridian, Mississippi.
I was in the crowd when Airforce 1 landed on the
runway. I was privilaged to meet the President,
and shake hands with him; however, I was ever
conscious of the fact that I was being watched,
as was everyone by the secret agents. When
Airforce 1 was about to land, the excitement was
evident in the crowd. It intensified as the
crew and passengers exited the plane, and then
as the President appeared and greeted the crowd.
There stood the most powerful man on earth, in
our city. When he was seen, the crowd applauded
and cheered. It was an exciting moment. Yet,
I couldn’t help but think what it will be like
when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. He’s not
coming on Airforce 1, but in Heavenforce 1, with
power and great glory. Nothing will ever compare
with the splendor of His appearing when He returns
to this earth.
By the way, I also got to see Richard Nixon one
day when he visited Meridian, and all the Water-
gate gang was there on the stage with him. You
could just sense the power and glory of the
Presidency when Nixon shook his fingers with that
so familiar "V" shaped sign.
We need to know about our Lord’s return, and the
reasons He is returning. He doesn’t want us to
be in the dark about His 2nd coming. Why is He
coming back?
I. First, HE IS COMING BACK TO DRAW HIS PEOPLE UNTO
HIMSELF.
1st Thessalonians 4:16-"For the Lord himself shall
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and
the dead in Christ shall rise first."
Most scientists say that the world began with a
"Big Bang." I don’t know if that is true, or not,
but I do know that it is going to end with one.
With a shout! With the voice of the archangel!
With the trumphet of God! Talk about fanfare!
You an’t seen nothing like the show God is going
to put on.
1st Thesssalonians 4:17-"Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so
shall we ever be with the Lord."
This, of course, refers to the rapture of believers
when Chrsit returns. We will join Him at the
marriage supper of the Lamb in the heavens. After
the Tribulation Period, He will return to this
earth to rule and reign.
II. Secondly, HE WILL RETURN TO THIS EARTH TO TAKE
VENGENCE ON THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD REDEMPTIVELY.
2nd Thessalonians 1:8-"In flaming fire taking
vengence on them that know not God, and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jeus Christ.
2nd Thessalonians 1:9-Who shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power."
It won’t be a happy time for those who do not
know Christ. The day of grace will be over, and
the day of vengence will have begun. It’s so
sad to think about the terrible end of those
not ready to meet Him. God help us to get the
Gospel out to the ends of the earth!
III.Thirdly, HE IS COMING BACK TO DESTROY THE ANTI-
CHRIST.
2nd Thessalonians 2:8-"...whom the Lord shall
consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall
destroy with the brightness of his coming.
2nd Thessalonians 2:9-Even him, whose coming is
after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders."
Revelation 19:20-"And the beast was taken, and
with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that
had received the mark of the beast, and them
that worshipped his image. These both were
cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimestone."
IV. Fourthly, CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN TO RULE AND
REIGN UPON THIS EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS.
Revelation 19:15-"And out of his mouth goeth a
sharp sword, that with it he should smite the
nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of
iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
When He rules and reigns, it will be a time of
un-paralleled peace.
Isaiah 11:6-"The wolf shall also dwell with the
lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
and the calf and the young lion and the fatling
together, and a little child shall lead them."
Isaiah 11:7-"And the cow and the bear shall feed;
their young ones shall lie down together; and the
lion shall eat staw like the ox."
Isaiah 11:8-"And the sucking child shall play
on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child
shall put his hand on the cocatrice’s den."
Isaiah 11:9-"They shall not hurt nor destroy in
all my holy mountain: for the earth shal be full
of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover
the sea."
Unfortunately, this peace will not last forever,
for there will be a final revolt against the Lord,
even after 1,000 years of perfect peace.
The most important thing is to be ready.
Mark 1 3:35-37,"Watch therefore, for ye know not
when the master of the house cometh, at even, or
at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the
morning."
Luke 21:34 & 36-"And take heed to yourselves, lest
at any time your hearts be over charged with surf-
eiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and
so that day come upon you unawares. Watch ye
therefore, and pray always, that ye may be account-
ed worthy to escape all these things that shall
come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."
2nd Peter 3:14-"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that
ye look for such tings, be diligent that ye may
be found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless."
Invitation-Are you prepared for His coming? Trust
Him now, and be ready!
