THE HOPE OF CHRIST’S RETURN

Published April 4, 2007

From Genesis 3:15 until Luke 4:8 the world looked forward to the coming of the messiah, the one who would save mankind form the sin and iniquity caused by Adam’s transgression as described in Genesis 3: 6&7. However, since Christ’s resurrection there is a new promise to the Church of the One Body taken out of both Jew and gentile. Why aren’t the Christian churches of today teaching that promise and looking forward to that promise?
What promise you say. Why, the promise of the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The main theme for the churches over the years is Jesus Christ and him crucified and then on Easter Sunday morning they teach he is risen. That is not good enough! Not for God or Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ not only rose from the dead but he ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of God. Because he is seated on the right hand of God we have benefits here on earth such as being “more than conquerors in every situation”(Rom. 8:38), “heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ”
(Rom. 8:17). But that is not the promise. The promise is HE’S COMING BACK!!
Look at Acts 1:9-11 “As he spoke these things, while they beheld,he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This Same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.”
Romans 8:24 and 25 says “ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why does he yet hope for (it)? But id we hope for that we see not, then do with patience wait for it. Are you waiting for it with patience. Do you know that you are going to heaven? If you don’t you should ‘cause you can’t get there on your own merits. No sir, Jesus Christ did it for you! All you have to do is accept what he has achieved. Romans 10:9 and 10 is the start for all Christians.
Romans 15:4 “ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:13 Now the god of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the holy spirit.” I Corinthians 15:19-24 “ If in this life only we hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first fruits, afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end. Do you understand the great significance of this???? Christ rose first then Christ will come back for his church, the Christians. Then cometh the end which is the Book of Revelations. We are saved from all the horrible things that are talked about in Revelations. It just said so. This is not enough proof for you? Then how about I Thess. 1:9&10. ”For they themselves show of uswhat manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. THIS IS OUR HOPE! Are you starting to see why it is so important to the Christian? Doesn’t it make you wonder why the leaders of the Christian churches aren’t shouting from the roof tops?
In the first chapter of Ephesians Paul is praying to God for the believer (Christian) when in verse 18 he says “ the eyes of your (the christian’s) understanding being enlightened; that you may know the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” We have great riches in glory and that is only going to be experienced when Christ comes back for his church. This verse, also, says that God has an inheritance in us. How in the heck is God going to have an inheritance in us if we are going to hell??? He can’t!! If you are born again of God’s spirit (Romans 10:9&10) then you are going to heaven! It is just that simple!
Look at Ephesians 2:11&12 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,who are called the Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” What this is saying is that the gentiles, the uncircumcised ones, so called by the Jews were 1) didn’t have a promise to them by God so they 2) didn’t have a hope of Christ’s first coming nor of a promise to be raised from the dead and live in paradise nor of the hope of Christ’s return to take the body of believers (the Christians) to heaven. 3) They didn’t have God and 4) They were in the world.
Notice that in verse eleven that it says “ the Circumcision made with hands”? God had to clarify that because there is another circumcision and that is of the heart when you are born again of God’s spirit (Romans 10:9&10).
Look at some other verses about the hope. Ephesians 4:4 “ Ther is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. Colossians 1:5 For the hope that is laid up for you in heaven. Colossians 1:23 “If ye continue in the faith rooted and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye heard and which was preached to every creature under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.” Colossians 1:27 “ To whom god would make known what is the riches of the glory of thismystery among the gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory.”
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 “But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, evenso them also which sleep in Jesus (the Christians that are dead) will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (old English for preceed) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch angel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
What a great message to the world today. It should be heralded across the world, from roof top to roof top and blazoned on every TV and computer screen ever made! HE IS COMING BACK. This is our hope. This is our rejoicing. This is why we can put up with all of the junk in this world. HE’S COMING BACK FOR US.

Posted in Biblical