God’s Plan for Man THE RETURN OF JESUS

The Return of Jesus WHO W N H E A H T W WHEREWHY AND SOMETIMES HOW

The Return of Jesus Introduction:  What is the greatest story ever told?  Who was the greatest man ever born of woman?  What is the greatest event in the history of the world?

The Return of Jesus The WHAT of today’s lesson is The Return of Jesus.

The Return of Jesus Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The Return of Jesus Jesus made a promise to the disciples prior to his death in John 14:1-3. What was it?

The Return of Jesus That he was going to prepare a place for His saints, he was coming again to gather the kingdom, so we could be with Him.

The Return of Jesus Over and over we are told in the scriptures that Jesus will return. Because He has not yet does not mean that He is not going to.

The Return of Jesus I Thess 5: 2 tells us that He will come “as a thief in the night.” This tells us that we must be prepared. How do we do this?

The Return of Jesus I Thess. 5:4-6 “4. But you brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief. 5. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

The Return of Jesus II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Let us remember the trustworthy nature of Jesus.

The Return of Jesus  When Is Jesus To Return?  Matt. 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only”

The Return of Jesus II Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a their in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”

The Return of Jesus It is folly to try to figure out the time of the Lord’s return. We instead should anticipate the Lord’s coming by living in a holy and godly manner.

The Return of Jesus II Peter 3:11-13 “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

The Return of Jesus 12. Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

The Return of Jesus  Who Will Return?  Jesus, The Son of God, the Messiah, our Savior, Our Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

The Return of Jesus  All of mankind will be affected; from Adam, to the last person born on earth before the coming of Christ.  How will man be affected?

The Return of Jesus  II Thess 1:7 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.”  Who do the he’s refer to in this verse?

The Return of Jesus  II Thess 1:7-9 “Read”  Matt 11:28-30 “Read”

The Return of Jesus John 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

The Return of Jesus  HOW WILL JESUS RETURN?  I Corinthians 15:51-53 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed

The Return of Jesus 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immorality.”

The Return of Jesus Knowing that we will be changed into an incorruptible spiritual being and understanding all that is involved in this change are two different things.

The Return of Jesus I John 3:2 “It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

The Return of Jesus WHY WILL JESUS RETURN?  In order that all mankind can be resurrected to eternal life. Both good and bad; from Adam to the last day.  All will stand before God in judgment. Christ was just the first fruits of the resurrection.

The Return of Jesus  I Thess 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

The Return of Jesus What a day, glorious day, that will be for those in Christ. God’s desire is that all would come to know His Son. He wants all to be saved because of His amazing love for us.

The Return of Jesus Be obedient. Be faithful until death or the coming of Jesus.

The Return of Jesus  Next Week:  The Judgment  Matthew 25:  John 12:48  Acts 17:31  Romans 2:5-10  II Corinthians 5:10