Ps. Joseph
24 Sep 2017
The Second Coming Of Christ
No one can predict exactly the second coming of Jesus, but we can know the times and the seasons.
The signs of Jesus' second coming can be seen in:
1. The social sphere - lawlessness will increase.
"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Matthew 24:12
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God," 2 Timothy 3:1-4
2. In the political realm, there shall be wars and rumors of wars.
"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" Matthew 24:6
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." Luke 21:25-26
"For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5:3
3. In the spiritual realm, false prophets and false cults shall arise.
"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." Matthew 24:11
"having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" 2 Timothy 3:5
"knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts," 2 Peter 3:3
"Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." Luke 17:28-30
4. Rise of Antichrist
"and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666." Revelation 13:17
Knowing all this, how are we to live?
1. Live in expectation - anytime, Jesus may return.
"So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left." Matthew 24:33-41
2. Live in readiness
"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24:42-44
3. Live in faithfulness
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Matthew 24:45-46
4. Live in holiness
"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:3
“LIVE as if Christ died yesterday and is coming tomorrow” - Martin Luther (Protestant Reformer)