2. Disciples know that Jesus will return

3. Acts 1: 7-11
 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

4. Disciples know that Jesus will return
What do we know about Jesus’ return?
When will it be?
Should we be fearful?
What are the implications for me?

5. What do we know about Jesus’ return?
1. Jesus talked about it
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (Matt 16:27)
“The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt: 26: 63-64)

6. What do we know about Jesus’ return?
Jesus will return on the clouds with a multitude of angels
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.” (Matt 25:31)
3. He will come in glory
“ God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels”. (2 Thess 1: 6-7)

7. What do we know about Jesus’ return?
4. It will be loud ”For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thess 4: 16-17)

8. What do we know about Jesus’ return?
5. Every one who is alive will see him “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” ( Rev 1: 7-8)

9. What do we know about Jesus’ return?
6. It will be sudden, unexpected and unmistakable
27 ”For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matt 24: 27,37 and 42)

10. What do we know about Jesus’ return?
7. He will come with a purpose
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:” (2 Tim 4:1)
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:1-4)

11. What do we know about Jesus’ return?
8. We are to be eager about his coming “7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ( 1 Cor 1: 7-8)”

12. What do we know about Jesus’ return?
Jesus talked about it
He will return on the clouds with a multitude of angels
He will come in glory
It will be loud
Every person who is alive will see him
It will be sudden, unexpected and unmistakable
He will come to judge the living and the dead
We are to be eager for his coming

13. When will Jesus return?
We do not know, but it will be sudden “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

14. When will Jesus return? We do not know, but it will be sudden
42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” ( Matt 24: 36-44)
“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” ( 1 Thess 5:2)

15. When will Jesus return?
We do not know, but there are signs (Matthew 24) 1: False prophets claiming to be the Messiah (v5) 2: Wars and rumours of wars (v6)

16. When will Jesus return?
We do not know, but there are signs (Matthew 24) 1: False prophets claiming to be the Messiah (v5) 2: Wars and rumours of wars (v6) 3: Famines and earthquakes (v7) 4: Persecution of Christians (v9)

17. When will Jesus return?
We do not know, but there are signs (Matthew 24) 1: False prophets claiming to be the Messiah (v5) 2: Wars and rumours of wars (v6) 3: Famines and earthquakes (v7) 4: Persecution of Christians (v9) 5: Many will turn away from the faith (10) 6: There will be an increase in wickedness (12) 7: The gospel will be preached in the whole world (14)

18. Should we be fearful? There is no reason for Christians to fear
 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matt 25: 31-34)

19. Should we be fearful? There is reason for non Christians to fear
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
(Matt 25: 41-46)

20. So what are the implications for me?
Two big questions: 1. Do you know that you are going to heaven? “16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) 2. If so, how will I live my life until I die or he returns?

21. How will I live my life?
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matt 25: 1-13)