September 28, 2003
Title: Parousia
Text: Rev. 19:11-21
Introduction
1. Well, it has been an interesting month!
We have covered the span of time from before the creation of the world...
we have talked about the Rapture...
We have talked about the tribulation...
and now we come to the Second Coming of Christ...
Some people mistakenly refer to the Rapture as the 2nd Coming...
but during the Rapture, Christ doesn’t actually come back to earth...
He calls His saints, those who are saved...
and He meets them in the air...
During that time, we are enjoying sweet communion with Christ...
We have the Marriage Supper of the Lamb...
a great wedding party for the Bride of Christ (that’s us)
and the Groom (Jesus)
Meanwhile, those who are not saved...
those who have been left behind...
they remain...
they go through the Tribulation
Or the rest of the Tribulation...
(depending on your view...)
And all this sets up an incredible event that we call The Second Coming of Christ.
I simply use the word "parousia" in order to differentiate between the Rapture and the true Second Coming.
Parousia is a Greek word simply meaning "to be present"...
Parousia is when Christ comes back to earth...
Parousia is what the Choir sang about this morning:
"the next time He comes, He won’t have to die for me,
the next time He comes, there won’t be a Calvary"
2. Let’s read about it in our text: Rev 19:11-21
Body
1. Prophet, Priest, and KING
A. First of all, let’s quickly summarize the life of Christ...
Before the beginning of time Christ was there...
Christ was there at Creation...
And when the time was right, Christ came to earth and was born of a human female...
thus we have Jesus Christ...Jesus, fully human....and Christ, fully God--the God-man.
during the years that Christ walked this earth...
He was known as a great Prophet...
of course, we know that He was more than a Prophet...
but He certainly occupied that position...
as He told those early followers about events that were yet to come.
B. But then Christ was crucified...
tragically and horribly killed on a cross
3 days later, He rose from the dead...
and 40 days after that, He ascended into heaven...
Now, Christ is occupying the position of Priest...
He intercedes for us "Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us " Romans 8:34 (NIV)
Christ is our mediator...
Christ in our High Priest
Hebrews 8:1 says, "We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man." Heb 8:1-2 (NIV)
The Priest is the one who presented sacrifices to God on behalf of sinful people...
When Christ submitted to death on the cross...
He was actually serving as our High Priest by presenting the final Sacrifice...
by giving Himself as the sacrifice...
He was serving as a Priest...
offering the Sacrifice for our sins...
C. But, now we come to the Second Coming...Parousia...
This time...when He comes...He won’t have to die for me...
there won’t be a calvary...
because when He comes again...He is coming as
KING
Listen to this description:
Rider on a white horse (the white horse symbolizing victory and conquest)
He is called Faithful and True...
He judges with Justice...
He makes war with sin...
He eyes are blazing like fire...
On His head are many crowns...
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood...
representing the blood that Jesus shed for you and for me.
The armies of heaven follow Him...
Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword...
On His robe and on His thigh, His Name is written...
King of Kings and Lord of Lords...
D. When Jesus comes again...
He comes as the King...
He comes as a conqueror...
maybe when Christ was here before there were people who thought that Jesus was weak...
someone they could just push around...
His followers were hoping that Jesus would come and install an earthly kingdom...
but instead, Jesus was killed...
But Jesus WILL install an earthly kingdom...(which we will talk more about next week)
And when Jesus comes again, He won’t be someone to kick around...
He comes to rule with an Iron Sceptor...
He comes to conquer...
He comes to install His earthly kingdom...
2. But it won’t happen without a battle!
A. The most horrific battle in the history of the world will take place...
The Battle of Armeggedon.
Last week, we saw in looking at the 7 bowls...
the 6th Angel poured out the 6th bowl...
and the Euphrates River dried up in preparation for the Battle of Armaggedon.
then, Revelation 16 shows how the forces of evil begin to come together in preparation for the Battle of Armaggedon.
B. and in our text, it describes how the forces of God come together for this Battle.
The forces of evil will be quite hopeful...
but this will be the most lopsided victory...
Our text describes Christ "out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron sceptre. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty"
Rev 14 describes this battle in even more graphic terms, (read Rev 14:14-20)
C. At the end of the Battle of Armageddon,
there are 2 people who aren’t killed, they are the beast, and the false prophet.
Scripture tells us that they are cast into the "fiery lake of burning sulphur"
where they will remain for eternity.
Satan is bound and cast into the Abyss, where he stays for 1,000 during the time of the Millinneum.
3. With all the casualties and bloodshed from the Battle of Armegeddon,
A. you would think that this would leave behind a horrific environment for God’s people to live...
but Christ takes care of that too.
In stark contrast to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb...
we have the "great supper of God" which we read about in our text.
an angel calls out to all the birds to come and clean up the mess...
and Scripture tells us in Revelation 19:21 that "all the birds gorged themselves on" the flesh of those killed in the Battle of Armageddon.
Conclusion
1. I realize that this is pretty gruesome stuff...
and it certainly isn’t pleasant to talk about or to think about...
but the problem is, this is reality...
John has prophesied about what is going to happen.
2. Jesus is going to come again...
and when He does...He won’t be a helpless Baby in a manger...
He won’t be soft spoken
He won’t be a push over...
He is coming to conquer...
He is coming to overthrow the powers of evil...
He is coming in victory.
on the one hand, we who are saved...
those of us who have remained faithful to Christ...
we will be with Jesus...
we will be victorious...
we will enjoy an eternity in heaven...
3. But on the other hand, those who aren’t saved...
those who have rejected Christ...
those who have turned a deaf ear to His voice...
they will be defeated...
they too will live for eternity...
but their eternity is in hell...
filled with suffering...
and agony.
4. Why does it have to be that way?
Well, we were all created for eternity...
the moment we are concieved, we are given a spirit, a living soul...
a soul that will live for all eternity.
but because of sin, that soul is black and diseased...
and it will remain so, unless we invite Christ in to our life...
to give us a NEW life
5. Sin must be punished...
and God had to have a plan to adequately deal with the sin problem...
that plan has been in place since before the beginning of time...
that plan included the idea of Christ coming to earth as a Baby...
and becoming the atoning sacrifice for our sin...
but not everyone will avail themselves of the new life that Jesus provides...
and ultimately sin must be punished...
and ultimately, when everything is said and done...
sin will be ultimate separation from God...
but before that happens, this Battle of Armageddon takes place...
and those who have chosen to live a life of sin will be conquered...
it is all a part of God’s plan...
6. God hates sin...
He hates it so much, that He formulated this plan to deal with it...
He hates it so much that He couldn’t look at His only Son, hanging on the cross...
because when Jesus was dieing on the cross, He was carrying the sins of mankind upon Him...
that includes your sin and my sin.
But, not only does God hate sin...but God loves you...
and God has this plan whereby you don’t have to live in sin.
and therefore, God has given you an opportunity to repent...
He has given you an opportunity to deal with the sin in your life...
if you have (or if you do) then you will enjoy eternity with the Living Lord...
but if you don’t...well, you too will live for eternity...apart from Christ.
7. The most important decision of you life...
isn’t going to be what career you have...
it isn’t going to be who you chose to marry...
or where you are going to live
those are all important decisions...
BUT the most important decision of your life...
What are you going to do with Jesus?
What are you going to do about the sin problem in your life?
The picture I’ve painted today of the Battle of Armageddon...
and the defeat that comes to those who do not follow Christ...
You can avoid all that...
simly by coming to Christ...
allowing Him to live in your heart and life...
and making you a new creature...
and, if you remain faithful...
you will have a new destiny as well.
But the decision is yours...
what will it be?
