Good Morning!

Today we will look at another promise of God’s – Jesus’ return. I suppose this is all tied together with God’s promise that Jesus will come in the first place. We see the first hint of this in the Garden of Eden, just after The Fall. Then, throughout the pages of what we know as The Old Testament, we read of all sorts of prophecy of someone very, very special. One day, I hope to make a study of OT prophecy of Jesus. I should know more than I do about this. This prophecy of Jesus’ first appearance adds incredible legitimacy to all of Jesus’ claims of deity. Then, to top it off, he was a walking miracle machine. Then came the day of his death, but that didn’t stop him because he rose from the dead, just like he said he would. Just like scripture said he would. I have read all sorts of explanation on the resurrection, but I still find it almost possible to wrap my head around it.

Then, he disappeared. Into the sky. Just like that.

Can you imagine what may have been going on in everyone’s minds? I mean, there are times when I wonder what could possibly happen next, but my life is nothing compared to what these people went through. Right? I need to store that fact someplace that I can easily get to, just in case I feel overwhelmed someday.

The good news for those folks back then, and for us today, is that Jesus is coming back. Now, that’s an incredible promise to make, isn’t it? Yet, that’s what he said. Why should we believe him? Because scripture promised his first coming, plus his death and resurrection. Jesus promised that, too, and he delivered. We have no reason to doubt him other than our own arrogance. It’s amazing how human pride could possibly be that huge, but it is. Mine was. Even though I am a believer, I am still amazed how much my pride interferes with my relationship with God. We’ll examine that another day.

For now, let’s look at a few verses that are sure to encourage you!

Matthew 24:29-31 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Matthew 24:42-44 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief is coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have left his house broken into. Therefore you must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 25:31-32 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

2 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Honestly, which ones do you NOT include? There are so many! Here’s something that one simply cannot miss. Jesus will come; and when he does, it will be really good news for some and really bad news for others. If we remember from our previous lessons, there will be few that will rejoice because only a few will strive to enter by the narrow gate. The many, who enter by the wide, easy gate, will mourn.

Tell you what, let’s look at one more passage.

Acts 1:6-11 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

So, my friends, we wait. The Holy Spirit has come upon us, as promised, and dwells within all who believe. If we die before he returns at the rapture, we, in our spirit, will see his resurrected body in heaven and receive our resurrected bodies at his return. Those who have not died will receive their resurrected bodies when he comes.

This much is true. He WILL come. Do everyone a favor and tell them about it. Be His witness. Enjoy the privilege. I mean, really, enjoy it! What an incredible joy it will be to be taken up in the air to meet him! Why not get into the “Rapture Spirit” today and get yourself really, really excited about this great event. Seriously, Minnesota slobbered all over herself for weeks before the Super Bowl. Can we honestly compare an annual event like this to the greatest day on earth? Huh?

Fire up, folks! This world in not going to last. Tell everyone about Jesus!

Father, fire up your workers! Give them energy that simply busts through their chests. Send them everywhere to share the good news of Jesus! Amen!

Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers