Second Coming: Nature of the Anticipated Event

The point: Back off and put everything in proper perspective by contemplating the glorious consummation of all things at Christ's return.

Used to illustrate contemporary pressures and frustrations that tempt Christians to adopt a worldly perspective, setting the stage for the need for an eternal perspective.

Now I am confident that anyone living or passing through this particular geographical area of the country is very much aware of what has been called our energy crisis. Most of us, if not all of us, have been made the victims of wasted hours in long lines at Philistines, bowling stations. We've been apprehensive as we've heard the news of the possible effects of the independent truckers' strike, truckers' strike with unavailable foodstuffs and spiraling prices, et cetera. Well, it's in such times as these when the media bombards us with the reminder of these problems, when in conversation with ...

2:50 - 4:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Resist the molding influence of the world and its perspective, and manifest the glory of the Christian's hope in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Compares Christ's 'revelation' to an artist unveiling a painting or statue, where the work was always there but is now openly displayed, illustrating the meaning of 'uncovering' or 'unveiling'.

And that phrase, the revelation of the Lord Jesus, is technical language which refers to nothing less than his glorious, powerful coming at the consummation of the age. And the key word, the regulating word in that phrase, is the word translated in the 19th, 1901 edition, the revelation of our Lord Jesus. It is a word which literally means an unveiling or an uncovering. It's a picture that would be familiar at least to some of us by virtue of what we've read or seen, though perhaps we've not personally experienced it. An artist pours his soul as well as his energy into the composition of a gre...

7:19 - 8:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Every time you look up to the skies, think of them biblically as a veil hiding your Lord.

Suggests that the heavens, until Christ's return, act as a veil hiding the Lord, encouraging believers to see them biblically as concealing his glory.

From heaven. That is our great hope. This same Jesus, who was taken up into heaven, shall come from the heavens in glory and in power. And as I suggested earlier, there's a sense in which as long as the heavens are not split with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God and the outshining of the God of the glory of a returning Christ, Christian, every time you look up to the skies, think of them biblically, they are availed, hiding my Lord.

22:21 - 22:59 Read in full sermon

The point: When sitting in gas lines or facing agitation, look up and remember the veil, and that behind it is your Lord Jesus in glory.

Applies the 'heavens as a veil' metaphor to everyday frustrations like gas lines, urging Christians to look up and remember Christ's veiled presence and coming glory.

It simply exposes it to view. And oh, when we look at the heavens, not only look at them as displaying the glory of God in the firmament showing his handiwork, but begin to think, Christian, when you're sitting in one of those gas lines and you're tempted to let your spirit get all agitated and disturbed and distraught, stick your head out the window and look up. Don't look down the length of the line. Look up and say it's a veil.

23:24 - 23:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second phrase, 'with the angels of his power,' is expounded, showing angels as instruments of Christ's mighty power, not mere witnesses, executing judgment on the wicked and…

Compares the function of wedding attendants (often symbolic) to the angels at Christ's return, contrasting them to emphasize that angels are not just for show but actively exercise Christ's power.

The month of July is wedding month again. I'll have to take part in three of them during the month of July. There's one Saturday when I'll be wedding-less during the month of July. And on...

26:44 - 26:54 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second phrase, 'with the angels of his power,' is expounded, showing angels as instruments of Christ's mighty power, not mere witnesses, executing judgment on the wicked and…

Illustrates Christ's return with angels as a conquering general entering usurped territory with his army to liberate subjects and judge enemies, highlighting the angels' active, utilitarian role.

You see, the picture is not that of our modern weddings. Where the attendants of the bride and the bridegroom really perform no necessary or utilitarian function. But it's the picture of a conquering general who comes into a territory which some usurper has taken over. And he comes to liberate his own subjects and to judge all his enemies.

31:27 - 31:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third phrase, 'in flaming fire,' is explained as symbolizing God's manifest presence and, more significantly, his holiness manifested in consuming judgment against all sin and…

Cited as an example of fire symbolizing the manifest presence of God in the Old Testament.

You remember when God would appear to Moses, he appeared how? In a flame of fire in a bush. When God comes down upon Mount Sinai according to Exodus 19, he appears in a flaming fire and with tempest and with thunder and with lightning. His presence was manifested there.

33:38 - 34:02 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third phrase, 'in flaming fire,' is explained as symbolizing God's manifest presence and, more significantly, his holiness manifested in consuming judgment against all sin and…

Cited as an example of God appearing in flaming fire, tempest, and thunder, symbolizing his manifest presence.

You remember when God would appear to Moses, he appeared how? In a flame of fire in a bush. When God comes down upon Mount Sinai according to Exodus 19, he appears in a flaming fire and with tempest and with thunder and with lightning. His presence was manifested there.

33:38 - 34:02 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third phrase, 'in flaming fire,' is explained as symbolizing God's manifest presence and, more significantly, his holiness manifested in consuming judgment against all sin and…

Cited as an example of God appearing in a flame of fire and smoke to renew the covenant, symbolizing his presence.

In Genesis 15, when he appears to Abraham to renew the covenant, he comes and passes between the sacrifice in a flame of fire and in smoke. You see again and again in scripture, the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day. Fire is a symbol of the presence of God, and it could be that that is the apostle's thought here. That the context of his coming is a symbol of the presence of God.

34:02 - 34:31 Read in full sermon

Driving home: For in the book of Hebrews we read in chapter 12 and verse 29, our God is a consuming fire. And that truth will be revealed when the Lord Jesus comes again, that this Lord Jesus is not only the exalted Lord who came to h…

Compares the 'flaming fire' of Christ's coming to a forest fire that consumes everything in its path, illustrating the consuming holiness of God in judgment.

God now wears a different face in Jesus Christ. Is that so? What could be the greatest corrective than to describe his unveiling with this third prepositional phrase? It will not only be an unveiling, but it will be an unveiling of the Lord. It will not only be an unveiling, but it will be an unveiling of the Lord. It will not only be an unveiling of the Lord, but it will be an unveiling from heaven with the angels of his power, but in flaming fire, in other words, a context of divine holiness, burning and consuming everything in its path that is contrary to itself, even as a forest fire consu...

38:15 - 39:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Live with the perspective of Christ's return as a burning, conscious reality in the midst of life's irritations, sufferings, and disappointments.

Compares the passage of time, like the ticking of a watch, to the steady approach of Christ's return, emphasizing the certainty and nearness of the event.

the new earth wherein dwells righteousness will fill the vision of the people of God of angels of seraphim and cherubim. More of that must await for our study this evening when we move to the second area of this text having considered together the nature of the event anticipated we're going to examine together the consequences of this event described and it's described in terms of a two-fold consequence to the people of God and then to those who are not the people of God but are. My time has gone from us and let me seek to pull it all together in a final word of exhortation my friend as you si...

42:30 - 43:40 Read in full sermon