The
Return
Text:
Acts
1:9-12
Now
when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a
cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly
toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why
do you stand 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." 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from
the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.
NKJV
Subject:
Second Coming
Theme:
Insights into the second coming
Introduction:
Lead Sentence: In life if you
have insights into certain things or situations you are better equipped to
handle things in the right manner.
Example: For example, if your
job is to manage people, the more insight you have into human behavior the
better equipped you will be to be successful at you job. When I go to Applebee’s
I don’t order the all you can eat riblets. I did once, but because I cut meat
for twenty years, I have some insight into what real riblets look like, and when
you order riblets at Applebee’s you are not really getting riblets.
Sermonic Explanation:
Likewise, if we will open ourselves to God He will give us insights into a lot
of things.
Proposition:
Christians should have insights into the second coming of Christ so they are not
deceived.
Transitional
Sentence:
Let’s look in the Bible and discover some insights into the second coming of
Christ.
I.
The
first insight into the second coming of Christ is that we know who will
return.
11 who
also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand 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."
a.
There
is a difference between the second coming and the rapture.
i.
The
rapture is when Jesus catches away His church.
ii.
The
second coming is when Jesus comes to execute judgment on the world and then to
reign in righteousness.
b.
Why
do we need to know about the second coming? So that we are not
deceived. Matt
24:23-24 "Then
if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is
the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets
will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the
elect. NKJV
c.
This
same Jesus
i.
This
same Jesus, who died on a cross, was buried, and rose on the third day is coming
back again.
ii.
The
man that is coming back will have nail scars on His hands and feet, and a wound
in His side. John
20:27
Then He
said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your
hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving,
but believing." NKJV
iii.
Those
scars are for eternity: Rev
5:6 stood
a Lamb as though it had been slain, Rev
5:9 You
are worthy to take the scroll,
And
to open its seals;
For
You were slain,
And
have redeemed us to God by Your blood: Rev
5:12 Worthy
is the Lamb who was slain: Rev
13:8 whose
names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
d. Application:
As certainly as Jesus died on the cross; it is just as certain that He is coming
back to reign.
II.
The
second insight into the second coming of Christ is that we know how He will
return. 9
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a
cloud received Him out of their sight. 11 This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
a.
Narration:
This is the scene, Jesus is speaking to His disciples and as He is speaking He
begins to rise up off of the ground. The whole time He is being lifted off the
ground. Then He gets to a certain altitude a cloud comes upon Him, and He
literally rides the cloud out of their sight into heaven.
b.
Exposition:
Two things to keep in mind about the second coming:
i.
#1
It will be visible,
ii.
#2
It will be in the clouds
iii.
Matt
26:62-66Then
the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer
these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the
high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you
are the Messiah, the Son of God."64 Jesus replied, "You have said it. And
in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God's
right hand* and coming on the clouds of
heaven."* 65 Then the high priest tore his
clothing to show his horror and said, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other
witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?""Guilty!" they
shouted. "He deserves to die!"
iv.
Why
did the High Priest get so enraged?
v.
When
Jesus said He was coming in the clouds He was claiming to be God.
vi.
Ps
68:4 Sing
to God, sing praises to His name;
Extol
Him who rides on the clouds,
By
His name Yah, And rejoice before
Him.
vii.
Ps
104:3He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds
His chariot,
viii.
Dan 7:13I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like
the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven
c.
Application:
How
can a person know if it is Jesus or not? He has to come to earth riding in the
clouds and it has to be visible.
III.
The
third insight into the second coming of Christ is that we know the exact place
He will return. 12
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near
Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.
a.
The
Mount of Olives: The Mount of Olives is an elevated region just east of the
temple mount in Jerusalem, and on this mount is an olive groove.
i.
Jesus
spent a lot of time here with the point being argued, it could have been one of
His favorite places.
ii.
This
is where He gave His end-time discourse.
b.
Picture
of the Mount of Olives
c.
Exposition:
The glory of the Lord leaves the temple and goes to the east and returns to the
temple.
i.
Ezek
11:23
And the
glory of the Lord went up from the
midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city.
ii.
The
moment Jesus died on the cross the veil was torn in two from top to bottom. This
is a sign of God leaving the temple.
iii.
Ezek
43:4-5And
the glory of the Lord came into
the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. 5 The
Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory
of the Lord filled the temple.
NKJV
iv.
Jesus
said He will come from the east to the west. Matt
24:2727
For as
the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be. NKJV
d.
Exposition:
The Mount of Olives is where Yahweh is going to come and set up His kingdom.
i.
Zech
14:1-5
Watch,
for the day of the Lord is coming
when your possessions will be plundered right in front of you! 2 I will gather all the nations to
fight against Jerusalem. The city will be taken, the houses looted, and the
women raped. Half the population will be taken into captivity, and the rest will
be left among the ruins of the city.3 Then the Lord will go out to fight against those
nations, as he has fought in times past. 4 On that day his feet will stand on
the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split
apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will
move toward the north and half toward the south. 5 You will flee through this valley,
for it will reach across to Azal.* Yes, you will flee as you did from
the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy
ones with him.*
ii.
Yahweh
and Jesus are going to return to the Mount of Olives, evidence in the deity of
Jesus.
e.
Application:
If any one claims to be the Messiah and does not come from heaven to the Mount
of Olives they are false Messiahs
Conclusion:
Objective
Statement:
This morning we have looked into some very specific insights into the second
coming of Christ. Therefore we can know without a doubt when our Lord returns
and we will never have to wonder if it is really Him.
Summary
Type:
We should always remember that it is the same Jesus who died who is coming back
again. He will come in the clouds and be visible. He will land on the Mount of
Olives.
Powerful
Last Sentence: 2 Peter 3:3-4
Most
importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come,
mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, "What happened to the
promise that Jesus is coming again?
