The Day is Nearer Romans 13:11-14 Forest Hills Bible Chapel 30 October 2005

Review of Romans Introduction – 1:1-17 Introduction – 1:1-17 Condemnation – 1:18-3:20 Condemnation – 1:18-3:20 Justification – 3:21-5:21 Justification – 3:21-5:21 Sanctification – 6:1-8:39 Sanctification – 6:1-8:39 Vindication – 9:1-11:36 Vindication – 9:1-11:36 Application – 12:1-15:13 Application – 12:1-15:13 Conclusion – 15:14-16:27 Conclusion – 15:14-16:27

The Return of Christ: (Some of ) The Church’s Response

Remember “Y2K”?

Just a Few Examples Around A.D. 50, some of the Thessalonians thought that the day of the Lord had already occurred – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2. Around A.D. 50, some of the Thessalonians thought that the day of the Lord had already occurred – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2. “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by prophecy or by word of mouth of by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.” “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by prophecy or by word of mouth of by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.”

Just a Few Examples Hippolytus "calculated that 5,500 years separated Adam and Christ and that the life of the world was 6,000 six full 'days' of years until the seventh the day of rest." His calculations in 234 indicted there were still two centuries left. Hippolytus "calculated that 5,500 years separated Adam and Christ and that the life of the world was 6,000 six full 'days' of years until the seventh the day of rest." His calculations in 234 indicted there were still two centuries left.

Just a Few Examples A.D This year goes down as one of the most pronounced states of hysteria over the return of Christ. All members of society seemed affected by the prediction that Jesus was coming back on Jan 1, 1000 AD. The magical number 1000 was primarily the sole reason for the expectation. I call this “Y1K”.

Just a Few Examples During December 999 AD, everyone was on their best behavior; worldly goods were sold and given to the poor, swarms of pilgrims headed east to meet the Lord at Jerusalem, buildings went unrepaired, crops were left unplanted, and criminals were set free from jails. The year 999 AD turned into 1000 AD and nothing happened.

Just a Few Examples William Miller was the founder of an end- times movement that was so prominent it received its own name-- Millerism. From his studies of the Bible, Miller determined that the second coming would happen sometime between A spectacular meteor shower in 1833 gave the movement a good push forward. The build up of anticipation continued until March 21, 1844, when Miller's one year time table ran out. Some followers set another date of Oct 22, This too failed, collapsing the movement.

Just a Few Examples If the year 2000 is the end of the 6000 year cycle, then the rapture must take place in 1993, because you would need 7 years of the tribulation. This was the thinking of a number of prophecy writers. Harold Camping, in his book, “Are You Ready?” concluded from numerology that the Lord would return in the year 1994.

Just a Few Examples If you divide the year 2000 by 3 (i.e., members of the Trinity), you get …, the number of man from Revelation, and the number associated with the Devil. Thus, some speculated that the year 2000 would be the year in which the Triune God would once and for all defeated Satan. If you divide the year 2000 by 3 (i.e., members of the Trinity), you get …, the number of man from Revelation, and the number associated with the Devil. Thus, some speculated that the year 2000 would be the year in which the Triune God would once and for all defeated Satan.

Just a Few Examples Hal Lindsey in his “Late Great Planet Earth” suggests that a generation (=40 years) from the formation of Israel (i.e., 1948) means the Second Coming would be in 1988 ( ), and that the rapture, preceding the 7 year tribulation (1988 – 7) would occur in 1981). Later, he suggested that the 1967 war was when Israel got all of the land; thus = 2007; = 2000, when the Rapture would occur. Hal Lindsey in his “Late Great Planet Earth” suggests that a generation (=40 years) from the formation of Israel (i.e., 1948) means the Second Coming would be in 1988 ( ), and that the rapture, preceding the 7 year tribulation (1988 – 7) would occur in 1981). Later, he suggested that the 1967 war was when Israel got all of the land; thus = 2007; = 2000, when the Rapture would occur.

My Own Experience In April of 1971, a prophecy speaker at my own church stated (I was there; I heard it), “The Lord Jesus Christ will return, at the very latest, September of this year [1971]. In April of 1971, a prophecy speaker at my own church stated (I was there; I heard it), “The Lord Jesus Christ will return, at the very latest, September of this year [1971]. After the signing of the Camp David peace accord by President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister in 1978, a prominent prophecy speaker declared, “Folks, we’ve got no more than five years left.” After the signing of the Camp David peace accord by President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister in 1978, a prominent prophecy speaker declared, “Folks, we’ve got no more than five years left.”

My Own Experience For much of my adolescence, and even my young adulthood, the second coming of Christ was not a blessed hope; it was a “blessed fear.” For much of my adolescence, and even my young adulthood, the second coming of Christ was not a blessed hope; it was a “blessed fear.” I was terrified at the prospect of the return of Christ, and I dreaded it. I tried not to “think about it.” I was terrified at the prospect of the return of Christ, and I dreaded it. I tried not to “think about it.”

The Day is Nearer Romans 12:1-2 urges us to live properly in the present on the basis of the past – what God has done in Christ. Romans 12:1-2 urges us to live properly in the present on the basis of the past – what God has done in Christ. Romans 13:11-14 urges us to live properly in the present on the basis of the future. Romans 13:11-14 urges us to live properly in the present on the basis of the future.

The Day is Nearer Understand the present time – 13:11-12a. Understand the present time – 13:11-12a. It is time to “wake up.” It is time to “wake up.” Our salvation (i.e., our future, corporate deliverance and resurrection – to take place at the return of Christ) is nearer now than when we first believed. Our salvation (i.e., our future, corporate deliverance and resurrection – to take place at the return of Christ) is nearer now than when we first believed. The “night” is nearly over; the “day” is almost here. The “night” is nearly over; the “day” is almost here.

The Day is Nearer Put aside the deeds of darkness – 13:12b. Put aside the deeds of darkness – 13:12b. Put on the armor of light. Put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime – 13:13. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime – 13:13. Not in drunkenness. Not in drunkenness. Not in sexual debauchery. Not in sexual debauchery. Not in dissension and jealousy. Not in dissension and jealousy. Cf. Galatians 5: Cf. Galatians 5:19-21.

The Day is Nearer “Be properly dressed!” – 13:14 “Be properly dressed!” – 13:14 “Clothe” yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ. “Clothe” yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. This is the way a people are to live, in light of the ever nearer return of our Lord and Savior! This is the way a people are to live, in light of the ever nearer return of our Lord and Savior!