The Glorious Hope of the Christian

Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 22:20
 
    
The glorious hope of the Christian is not a better job, a bigger salary, a finer home, a newer car, more time for pleasure or being admitted to the higher echelons of society. 
The glorious hope of the Christian is the appearing of Jesus Christ when the Christian shall enter into all the privileges of salvation bought for him by Christ’s death on the cross.

THE NEW TESTAMENT EMPHASIS OF THE SECOND COMING

     John the Baptist preached that people should prepare for the second coming.  Matthew 3:2, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  
    
Jesus preached the same message and amplified it:

  • In Matthew 13, He gave seven parables on the kingdom of Heaven.
  • Matthew 24-25, He answered His disciples’ question about the destruction of Jerusalem, the sign of His coming and the end of the world.
  • When He instituted the Lord’s Supper He said, “…I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  Matthew 26:29.
  • On the night before He died He encouraged their hearts with “Let not your heart be troubled: you 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 if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there you may be also.”  John 14:1-3

When He departed Angels proclaimed His Second Coming – “Who also said, Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:11.

The Story of Acts is the story of God’s people filled with the Holy Spirit telling the world about Christ’s first coming so they could be prepared for His second coming.

Romans climaxes in chapters 8, 11, and 16 and each are based on the Second coming of Christ.

1st Corinthians 3 and 2nd Corinthians 15 prepares us for glorification.

Galatians warns that those who practice the works of the flesh shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians envisions the church presented to Christ holy and without blemish.

Philippians reminds us that our citizenship “is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians reminds us of the hope, which is laid up for us in Heaven.

1st and 2nd Thessalonians mentions the Second Coming of Christ in every chapter.

1st and 2nd Timothy climaxes with the promise that the crown of life is reserved for all those who love His appearing. (2nd Timothy 4:8)

Titus assures us that the same grace that brings salvation also teaches us to look for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews brings the true heavenly Tabernacle to us at the Second Coming.  (Hebrews 8-9) (also 12:25-29).

James tells us that the reason the Lord tarries His coming is to “to wait for the precious fruit of the earth.” (James 5:7)

Peter  warns that scoffers of His second coming will appear on the scene in the last days and then exhorts, “but the day of the Lord will come.”  2nd Peter 3:3, 10.

John exhorts us in his first epistle to “abide in Him lest we be ashamed at his coming”  (1st John 2:28) and stirs our soul with the revelation that when He shall appear we shall be like Him. 1st John 3:2.

Jude quotes Enoch as prophesying, “Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints…”Jude 14-15.

Revelation is taken up with one subject from beginning to end – the panorama of the Second Coming.

  THE SECOND COMING IS BOUND UP WITH EVERY MAJOR DOCTRINE.

The Salvation Jesus purchased at Calvary will be completed at the Second Coming.

Justification declares us righteous before God – At His coming we will be perfectly righteous.

Redemption sets us free by the payment of a price.  At His coming we will be forever free from the Devil’s pawnshop.  When our bodies are redeemed creation itself will be set free from the bondage of corruption.  Romans 8:21.

We may declare ourselves sons of God the instant we receive Jesus as our Savior according to John 1:12.  When He comes we shall be like Him.  1st John 3:1-2.

Sanctification separates us from the penalty of sin and power of sin in this life.  At His coming we will be separated from the very presence of sin.

The New Birth brings us into the relation of being a child of God.  The second coming brings us into full participation of our inheritance.

Reconciliation brings us into a condition of peace with God.  The Second

Coming enables us to dwell in peace with God.

Predestination decrees that we will be conformed to the image of God’s Son.  At His Second Coming we will be.

Rewards are promised for faithful service.  At His coming those rewards will be given.

Israel is promised a land, a people, and a nation.  At His Second Coming they will have it.

New Testament saints are declared to be the bride of Christ. At His coming that bride will be presented to Him holy, without blemish and without spot.

CHRIST’S SECOND COMING IS BOUND UP WITH EVERY EXHORTATION TO CHRISTIAN  LIVING

We are to be faithful in observing the Lord’s Supper “till He come” 1st Corinthians 11:26.

The way we use our Christian liberty will be judged at His coming. James 2:12

We purify ourselves by living daily in light of the blessed hope. 1st  John 3:2-3.

We are to be faithful in preaching the Word because Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom – 2nd Timothy 4:1-3.

Those who have experienced the death of Christian relatives are comforted by realizing Jesus will bring them with Him at His coming – 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Christians who are sorely persecuted are to be comforted by remembering the Lord will avenge them at His coming. –2nd Thessalonians 1:4-10.

Pastors are exhorted to be faithful because when the chief Shepherd appears they will receive a crown of glory. 1st Peter 5:1.

Those who are living at the darkest hour of earth’s night are encouraged that  at the close of the long night He will arise as the Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings.  Malachi 4:2

You could take the auricle and the ventricle out of a person’s heart and expect it to still pump blood to the body than take away the Second Coming of Christ and still expect to have the message of the Word of God.

CHRIST’S COMING IS IN TWO STAGES.

A.      For His Saints – 1st Thessalonians 4:16

B.      With His Saints – Revelation 19:11-16

Rapture                             Revelation
As the morning star            As the sun of righteousness
In the air                            To the Mount of Olives
For the church                   To rescue Israel
As a thief                           As the lightning

  CHRIST’S COMING FOR HIS PEOPLE IS IMMINENT.

          1.   The Apostles believed He could come in their time.
          2.   Early Christians were exhorted to be prepared for His coming.

  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”   Matthew 25:13.

  CHRIST’S COMING IS THE GLORIOUS HOPE

Ø       We are to prepare for His coming, not death.

Ø       His coming will be the end of sin and suffering.

Ø       His coming will mean our glorification.

Ø       His coming will mean the receiving of our rewards

Ø       His coming is the one hope for good world government

Ø       His coming is the real hope for Israel

Ø       His coming is the hope for universal, prosperity and blessing.

 

Copyright © 2002 Thomas E Berry
All Scripture quoted from NKJV unless otherwise noted