(Pastor Leonardo Maste)
1. The return of Christ should be eager for Believers.
2. The return of Christ should be feared by unbelievers.
3. Christ's return must be prepared for all.
Amos 4 God says:
11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto ME, saith the LORD.
12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
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Matthew 24 Jesus says:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
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II. ASSURANCE TO THE RETURN OF JESUS:
1. Christ testified - John 14: 1-3
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in ME. In MY Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And When I come and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in ME. In MY Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And When I come and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
2. Believed by the Angels - Acts 1: 9-11
"And when HE had spoken these things, while they beheld, HE was taken up; and a cloud received HIM out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as HE went up, behold, two men (angels) stood by them: Who said unto them, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen HIM go into heaven."
"And when HE had spoken these things, while they beheld, HE was taken up; and a cloud received HIM out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as HE went up, behold, two men (angels) stood by them: Who said unto them, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen HIM go into heaven."
3. Preached by the apostles -
"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. " (I Thess. 4:15-17)
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with HIS mighty angels." (2 Thess. 1:7).
"Behold, HE cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see HIM, and they also which pierced HIM: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of HIM. Amen." (Acts 1: 7)
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III. WHEN WILL JESUS COME BACK?
1. No one knows
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Matt. 24:26)
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (Matt. 24:24)
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matt. 25:13)
2. Like a thief
1. No one knows
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Matt. 24:26)
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (Matt. 24:24)
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matt. 25:13)
2. Like a thief
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are
therein shall be burned up." (2 Pet.3: 10)
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IV. THINGS WHICH WILL HAPPEN WHEN CHRIST RETURNS
1. Raise ALL the dead
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear HIS voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)
"For this is the will of MY Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on HIM, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)
"No man can come to ME, except the Father which hath sent ME draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44)
"Whoever eats MY flesh and drinks MY blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:54)
1. Raise ALL the dead
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear HIS voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)
"For this is the will of MY Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on HIM, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)
"No man can come to ME, except the Father which hath sent ME draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44)
"Whoever eats MY flesh and drinks MY blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:54)
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed." (1 Cor. 15:52)
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2. Gather ALL the people to be JUDGED
"But when the Son of man shall come in HIS glory, and all the holy angels with HIM, then shall HE sit upon the throne of HIS glory: and all the nations shall be gathered before HIM; and HE shall set the sheep on HIS right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those who have faith in HIM, Come, you who are with MY Father, keep the kingdom prepared for you; for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt. 25: 31-34)
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