Read at beginning of service:
1 Peter 1:13-25 (NIV)
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
INTRODUCTION
Read text: 2 Peter 3:1-18
Friends I believe our world is in the midst of the end times. What do I mean? I mean that I believe we as time goes on we are coming closer and closer to the period where the world will experience what the Bible refers to the tribulation. A period of 7 years where God withdraws Christians and His spirit from this planet and a the Anti-Christ will arise with the spirit of Satan and seize power over the whole world and set himself up as a world ruler and even going so far as making himself a god and deceiving people over all the world into worshipping him. The book of Revelation describes the tribulation as a terrible time. In fact, in the last three and a half years of this tribulation the Bible says that God?s wrath will be poured out upon the earth and there will be such devastation that very few people in the world will survive. The Bible says that at the end of this period the nations of the earth led by the antichrist will march against the Jews in Jerusalem in defiance of God and to destroy it but at the last moment something tremendous will happen. Jesus will appear. Jesus with His army of Saints will reveal Himself to our world and in an instant the army of the antichrist will be destroyed and rendered powerless. Then the Bible says that following the Messiah?s destruction of the Antichrist?s armies, Jesus Christ will establish His glorious millennial Kingdom. Christ?s Second Coming will usher in the long-awaited kingdom of God that will endure throughout eternity.
I believe we are in the last days ? the days leading up this tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ. Now you may ask me why do I believe that?
Matthew 24:32-34 (NIV)
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
In Matthew 24 Jesus answered his disciples question, they asked, “?what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3). Jesus began to tell them of some of the things they would see happen. Then He drew there attention to a fig tree and said that in the same way you can observe a fig tree and know that summer is drawing near you can observe certain things in the world and know that His return is soon. Friends I believe that we are in the end times because I am a student of God?s word and I am aware of the many prophecies concerning the Second Coming of Christ that are being fulfilled in our day. I believe Jesus is returning soon!
(refer people to prophecy handout)
Yes, I believe we?re in the last days but there are a couple things I?d like to clarify.
I do not know the day or the hour or the year of Christ?s return.
Matthew 24:36 (NIV)
36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
I do know He could return at any time and that He will return.
Matthew 24:44 (NIV)
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
The Second Coming of Christ will begin with the rapture and will be complete with His victory at Armageddon.
The Rapture is the modern term used to describe the supernatural moment when Jesus Christ will transform the bodies of all living and departed believers into their new spiritual, immortal bodies that will “rise to meet him in the air.” Naturally, the word “rapture” does not appear in the English translations of the Bible, yet the concept of the resurrection-s rapture is taught in a number of passages.
Matthew 24:37-41 (NIV)
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV)
16 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.
The rapture of the church should not be confused with the Revelation of Christ?s Second Coming. Although these two events are the two most significant occurrences connected with Christ?s return in the last days, they are quite separate events involving separate participants, as well as different times, purposes, and locations.
The rapture will occur at some time before the tribulation and will take place in the air as all living and departed saints rise to meet Christ and return to heaven. At the Rapture, Christ will come to take His saints home. Only the saints (those who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior) will experience the Rapture; non-believers will not be aware of it until they witness the disappearance of the Saints.
The revelation of Christ will take place when He and His saints as part of His victorious army return to earth to defeat Antichrist at Armageddon (Revelation 19:7-9) This occurs at the end of the tribulation.
The rapture will reveal the Lord?s transformation of the mortal bodies of believers into new resurrection bodies for eternity, while His Revelation at the Battle of Armageddon will reveal the glory of Jesus Christ as our returning Messiah.
The Second Coming of Christ refers to the whole period of time that begins with the rapture and is fulfilled when He appears in all His glory and might at Armageddon.
In one sense our world has been in the end times from the moment Christ ascended into heaven after His resurrection.
Acts 1:10-11 (NIV)
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.”
Certainly the clear teaching of the New Testament demonstrates that the Holy Spirit taught His Church that Christ?s return is imminent ? that is that it is certain to occur at some point in the future, that it could occur the next moment, but that its precise timing is unknown. In fact in the early church there is a greeting that was very common among Christians when meeting each other, “Maranatha” – an Aramaic word that translated to English means, “The Lord Comes!” I counted at least 29 passages in the New Testament that illustrate the early church?s belief that Christ?s return is imminent.
I believe Christ?s return is imminent. I believe that at any moment the world will be very surprised and filled with shock when His church is “caught up” with Christ in the air and disappear from the scene. No doubt there will be a struggle here on Earth to try to explain what has happened.
I?ve said all this today (given you a brief over-view of what the Bible prophesies about the end times) to come to this question, “If you knew Jesus Christ was returning one year from today, how would that change your life now?” (then ask about one month- one day ? one hour).
The point I want to make with you this morning is that it is one thing to believe that Christ?s return is imminent and it is another thing to live what you believe! The New Testament contains numerous exhortations to hold on to the hope of our Lord?s soon return as the focus of our spiritual life. The “blessed hope” of the Rapture should be a cornerstone of every Christian?s spiritual life, for many reasons.
Expecting Christ?s return calls all believers to constant spiritual watchfulness.
Returning to our text for this morning,
2 Peter 3:8-10 (NIV)
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Paul writes,
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 (NIV)
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
This hope motivates us to witness to unbelievers in light of His imminent coming.
Here?s a sobering though ? when the rapture occurs all who are left will go through the tribulation?who will tell?
John 9:4 (NIV)
4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Our hope for the return of Christ should affect our relationship with others!
Some critics who oppose the literal Second Coming and the reality of the kingdom of God raise a curious argument that suggests that belief in such will dissuade Christians from responsible caring for the earth or helping others in need. However historical evidence supports that those who long for the Second Coming and His kingdom are usually found on the front lines of organizations for evangelism, world missions, as well as practical medical and social efforts. The financial support from these premillenial Christians formed a huge portion of those who supported world missions and evangelism during the last two centuries. Far from abandoning their concern for the world and its suffering humanity, those who love His soon return are motivated by their love for Christ to assist those in need. (p. 268-9 of Triumphant Return by Grant Jeffery)
This hope reminds us to walk daily in holiness in an immoral world while we await His soon return.
2 Peter 3:11-12 (NIV)
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
2 Peter 3:14-15 (NIV)
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
1 John 3:3 (NIV)
3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Titus 2:11-13 (NIV)
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
How do you want to be found when Christ returns? The answer to that question should govern our life.
Our motivation?
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
His return comforts the saints by reminding them of their eternal destiny with Christ.
John 14:1-3 (NIV)
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
The return of Christ encourages sinners to repent and accept the Lord while they still have time.
2 Peter 3:10 (NIV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Acts 3:19-21 (NIV)
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you–even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Tags: Christs-return, rapture, second-coming, signs