Excitement for Jesus' Return, Pt. 4

We have much work to do as the Church. We must go to every corner of the earth and proclaim that Jesus not only came, but that He will also come again.

Excitement for Jesus' Return, Pt. 4

"But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

(2 Peter 3:8-9)

Most of the world does not know Jesus. Many have never heard His name or anything about when He came the first time. We have much work to do as the Church of Jesus Christ. We must go to every corner of the earth and proclaim that Jesus not only came, but that He will also come again. He is coming! I believe He is coming for the Church in the rapture of His Bride, so there is no wrath for us. I do not think we will be here during the Great Tribulation. Some Christians believe there is no rapture, and Jesus will come for His Church after the Great Tribulation. I do not see it that way. I believe in the pre-tribulation viewpoint that Christ comes before the time of the Great Tribulation, not after (post-trib). There is certainly much debate on this subject among Christians, but since I have done a great deal of study and preaching on it, I am firm in my convictions. I encourage you to check out my sermon series on the Book of Revelation if you would like to dive deeper into eschatology and are looking for a good starting point.

Charles Stanley said that Jesus refocused the disciples' attention from when He is coming to what they should be doing. What are our responsibilities? Stanley gave four activities we should be engaged in until He comes. When is not as important as what you should be doing.

Be watching faithfully. In 1 John 3:2-3 we read, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." His coming motivates us to live a godly life where we guard our witness to a lost world. We want to be busy until He comes. It is amazing how much of the Bible speaks of the Lord's return. For example, in each of the five chapters of 1 Thessalonians, Paul mentions the return of Christ. The Early Church did not know when Jesus would come back, but they knew precisely what they should be doing until He returned. They watched faithfully; let us do the same!
Wait peacefully. We are not to be worried or hung up on anything. The Apostle Paul said to not be anxious about anything but pray about everything, and God will give you peace (Philippians 4:6-7). In 2 Peter 3:4, the Apostle Peter writes about those who will not only not believe, but they will also mock those who do believe that Jesus is returning. Peter proclaims in verse 7: "But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." Watch out for mockers; do not let them influence you. To mock Christians is to mock Jesus. We can claim the peace of God. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 states, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."