“RETURNING KING.” MATT. 24: 42-44., 1 THESS. 4: 13-18, 1 JOHN 2:28-3:3.
MATTHEW 24:42-44, 1 THESSALONIANS 4: 13-14, 15-18, 1 JOHN 2:28-3:3
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO MATTHEW 24.
There are many different interpretations on the details of Christ’s second coming but Christians should agree on one thing---that Jesus Christ is going to come back a second time to rule and reign as the Lord of this world and all the universe. We may have differences on the details but there should not be disagreements on the fact of His return!
Christians need to live in such a way that they would not be embarrassed if Jesus returned this very moment. We should also help other people be prepared so that they can be ready when He returns.
Dr. Dale Ellenburg, writer of our Advanced Bible Study notes for March and April wrote; when I was a teenager, I went with our youth group to the coast of South Carolina on a retreat. One day we were playing in the ocean when the tide began to go out. Because of the pull of the tide we did not realize how far we were drifting away from the shore on our floats. If you have ever experienced this dilemma, you know how hard it is to fight against the tide in trying to make it back to land. Try as we may, we were pulled farther and farther out to sea.
Some of the group began to panic and frothed wildly at the water. One was screaming for help at the top of his lungs. A girl was crying. In the meantime, someone had seen our predicament and had signaled the rescue station that promptly sent a boat to our rescue. When the boat arrived, it could only carry three of us at a time back to shore. Problem was, there were five of us in the water.
Then it happened---one of those moments that has helped me think biblically about Jesus’ second coming ever since. The lifeguard looked at me, and a friend and said, “You just stay on your raft and be cool. I’ll be right back to get you.” So Danny and I stayed there and floated and talked and enjoyed our selves, until he returned. The difference? We knew that lifeguard was coming back, and we knew everything would be all right.
Jesus promised He would come back for us. And because He is coming, everything is going to be all right for the child of God. This is what Jesus promised, and He always fulfills His promises.
LET’S LOOK NOW AT MATTHEW 24: 1-31.
We have already seen in our previous studies that one of the great characteristics of Matthew is that he gathers together in great blocks the teachings of Jesus about various subjects. In Ch. 24 he gathers together things that Jesus said about the future and gives us the vision of things to come. In so doing, Mathew weaves together sayings of Jesus about different aspects of the future; and it will make this difficult chapter very much easier to understand if we disentangle the various strands and look at them one by one.
It was afternoon as Jesus and the disciples left the Temple to ascend the Mount of Olives. The setting sun would reflect off the white marble of the temple in all its beauty. It may well be that at least some of the disciples had not been very often to Jerusalem. They were Galileans, fishermen, who knew the lakes far better than they knew the city. Some of them at least would be like country folks come to New York for a visit, staggered by what they saw; and well they might be, for there was nothing quite like the Temple in the ancient world. Yet Jesus foretold the destruction of this magnificent structure.
When Jesus was seated on the slope of the Mount of Olives, His disciples began asking questions. Let’s note the order of the questions asked in Matt. 24:3: (1) When shall these things be? That is, when shall Jerusalem be destroyed? The Romans would completely destroy the city in 70 A.D. (2) What shall be the sign of Thy coming? Both Matt. here, and Mark, in his Ch. 13 give the answer to this. (3) What shall the sign of the end (consummation or full end) of the ages? It is not the world as such but the age of which they spoke. This is answered here and in the corresponding passage in the Gospel of Mark. Each wrote as guided by the Holy Spirit.
In answer to their questions in Matt. 24:3 Jesus foretold the disciples in Matt: 24:4-14 how difficult things would be on earth prior to His return---particularly during the great tribulation on earth, described in vv. 15-26. Jesus promised in vv. 27-31 that He would return to earth again. Then He used a series of illustrations in vv. 32-51 to show how we should be prepared at all times for His return.
PLEASE READ MATTHEW 24: 42-44.
The word “therefore” in vs. 42 points to a previous discussion or illustration. Here it connects this admonition to be watchful to the illustration that precedes it. Jesus compared the time of His coming to the days when Noah lived. People were preoccupied with the mundane matters of their daily lives. They were wicked and did not believe God would judge the world. Suddenly the flood came in Noah’s day and people were swept away to judgment.
People of our day are much the same. Most of them are skeptical that Jesus will come again. Many do not even believe the Bible, much less the promise of the second coming in salvation and judgment. Jesus warned, Be alert! The reason this is important is that you don’t know what day our Lord is coming.
In vs. 43 Jesus used a short parable to illustrate how important it is to be alert. Jesus’ point is to be ready and watchful because He might come at any time and catch us off guard. He is not going to send a message to earth ahead of time to warn everyone that He’s coming in the next few hours or days.
Jesus’ coming will be sudden and unexpected---at least by most people. He now applies the lesson of the illustration in vs. 43. Be in a constant state of preparation. Elsewhere in the N.T. Christ’s coming is compared to that of a thief in the night. If thieves announced their intentions, no one would be caught off guard. They do not announce beforehand their intended arrival. Neither will the Lord, so we must walk with Him every day as if this is the day He will come.
Are you ready, right now and right where you are, for the Lord’s return? As we will see in the Thessalonians passage that follows, Jesus could come for us at any moment. Be ready!
Please turn to 1 Thessalonians 4.
Paul spent a few weeks or possibly a month with the Thessalonians on his second missionary journey. While there, he taught them about the second coming of Christ, but he did not have the opportunity to give them an exhaustive treatment of the subject. Some believers had died since Paul was with them, and they had been misled into thinking that those who had died would miss the resurrection that will occur at Jesus’ return. Paul corrected those misunderstandings in this passage.
PLEASE READ 1 THESSALONIANS 4: 13-14.
First Thessalonians probably was Paul’s earliest N.T. letter. Acts 17 and the two letters to Thessalonica give the setting. Paul, Silas and Timothy visited the city on the second missionary journey. Persecution forced Paul to leave after a short time. He sent Timothy back to help the church. When Timothy rejoined Paul in 1 Thess. 3: 1-8 he brought good news and bad news. The good news was the Thessalonian Christians’ faithfulness in times of persecution. The bad news was their failure to make a complete break with their old ways. First Thessalonians 4:13 reveals that they were still looking at death and bereavement, as did others, which have “no hope.”
First century Greek and Roman society faced death and bereavement with despair. Their grief had no note of hope. Non Christians Gentiles were “without Christ…having no hope, and without God in the world.” Literature, epitaphs, and letters from such people bear out what Paul wrote about their hopelessness.
Paul wrote to brethren in Thessalonica to inform them of a key part of what they should have learned. Somehow in the short time the Christian missionaries were there this vital subject had failed to register with these converts whose lives and thoughts had been dominated by unbelief and despair.
Paul was not denying that Christians were able to express the kind of sorry that all humans feel when a loved one dies. The difference between the two groups is not that unbelievers grieve and Christians ought not grieve. For Paul told the Philippians in Phil. 2: 27 that he would have had “sorrow upon sorrow” had their messenger and his coworker Epaphroditus died. Both Christians and non-Christians rightly express grief at the loss of a love one. The distinction that is highlighted in vs. 13 is that the non-Christians has “no hope.”
Christians have hope of victory over death and reunion with dead loved ones. Paul and those of his day described the dead as being asleep because that is how they appeared. But Christians believe that the Christian dead are asleep…in Jesus. Non-Christians think the sleep of death is endless. Christians speak of awakening from death. Jesus used the analogy of sleep for Jairus’ daughter and for Lazarus, both of whom He brought back to life.
The basis for the Christian hope of resurrection from the dead is the fact that Jesus died and rose again. The richest passage on the relation between Christ’s resurrection and the Christian’s victory over death is in 1 Cor. 15. Although many still share this confident hope, many others give only lip service to hope beyond death for themselves and their loved ones. Christians need not deny death: they can join Paul in these death-defying words of praise in 1 Cor.15: 55-57, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Even though Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica was brief, it is clear the people had come to believe in and hope for the reality of their Savior’s return. They were living in expectation of that coming, eagerly awaiting Christ. They knew Christ’s return was the climatic event in redemptive history and didn’t want to miss it.
The major question they had was “What happens to the Christians who die before Christ comes? Do they miss His return? Clearly they had an imminent view of Christ’ return and Paul had left the impression it could happen in their lifetime. Their confusion came as they were being persecuted.
Sleep describes the appearance of the deceased. It describes the dead body, not the soul. Those who sleep are identified in vs. 16 as “the dead in Christ.” The people, in ignorance, had come to the conclusion that those who die miss the Lord’s return and they were grieved over their absence at such a glorious event. Thus the departure of a loved one brought great anguish to the soul. But there is no reason for Christians to sorrow when a brother dies as if some great loss to that person had come.
As Jesus died and rose again, so also will those who die believing in Him rise again so they can be taken to heaven with the Lord. These texts describe the rapture of the church, which takes place when Jesus comes to collect His redeemed and take them back to heaven. Those who have died before that time will be gathered first and taken back to heaven with the Lord.
The phrase “fallen asleep through Jesus” should bring special delight. Some translations render the prepositional phrase as “in Jesus,” but through Jesus is more literal. The idea is that those who die are never separated from Him, He is the one who gives life, and He takes His own through the experience of death. Nothing---not even death---can separate us from the love of God that He gives us through Christ (Romans 8:38-39).
PLEASE READ 1 THESSALONIANS 4: 15-18.
What Paul says in vs. 15 is by a revelation from the Lord. Jesus may have spoken these words during His earthly ministry, though the Gospels do not record them. More likely this teaching is a direct revelation Paul received from the Lord. Either way, this is an eternal truth that we need to know concerning what happens to Christians who die. Some have taken the words “we who are still alive” to mean that Paul fully expected to be alive for Jesus’ return. I don’t doubt that he did in a sense. I believe the early church thought the coming of the Lord was imminent: that was on of the reasons they were so passionate about reaching people for Christ.
That Jesus did not come during Paul’s lifetime did no mean Jesus’ promise is not true. He may come during our lifetime, or He may not. But every generation is called to be on the alert and watchful for His coming.
Whatever generation sees the glorious return of Christ, Paul indicates that they will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. In other words, those who have died will not be inferior or “second class” Christians. In fact, the next few verses show that their bodies will rise first and precede those who are alive into the presence of the Lord.
When God signals the end of the church age and the time comes for all His own to be joined perfectly and completely with Him for eternity, the Lord Himself will come back to earth. No angel or prophet or apostle will appear to carry out this sublime task—Jesus Himself will come. He will descend from heaven where He is currently seated at the Father’s right hand, announced by the archangel’s voice.
The trumpet of God will also sound when Jesus returns. The trumpet of God was used throughout the O.T. to signal victory and deliverance. Paul mentioned this trumpet sound in 1 Cor. 15:52. This trumpet is not the same as the trumpet judgments in Rev. 8-11. For one thing, this trumpet is singular: those are multiple. Also, this trumpet signals blessing: those signal judgment. This trumpet signals Jesus’ coming to rapture His church: those trumpets signal His coming to execute final judgment on the earth.
When the archangel shouts and this trumpet sounds, believers who have died will receive their resurrection bodies. Their souls will return to earth with Jesus and their resurrection bodies will rise. Note Paul’s main point here: They will receive their resurrection bodies first, before those who are still alive when He comes.
Immediately after the bodies of those who sleep in Christ are raised from the dead, their spirits, already with the Lord, are now joined to resurrected new bodies. Then the ones who are still alive at that moment will be caught up together with them. These two events (dead and living believers being taken up to meet the Lord) refer to the rapture of the church, the time when those who are alive at Christ’s coming are taken up in the air at the same time as the resurrected saints to meet the Lord. It will be a glorious event in which the generation of Christians who are alive when Jesus comes will be caught up to meet Jesus without experiencing physical death.
The rapture of the church is but one phase in the great Day of the Lord. The rapture, the tribulation, and the second coming of Christ to establish the eternal order are all aspects of that great Day of the Lord.
Though Bible students differ on the sequence of the rapture and the second coming, it seems best to understand them as two separate and distinct events. Christians can agree to disagree on the specific sequence of events. But this event is a cause for great rejoicing for believers. It describes Jesus’ gathering to Himself those who are His own.
In vs. 18 we are commanded to encourage one another with these words because they promise blessing, not the judgment that will be poured out on the world when Jesus comes. It will be a time when we will meet Jesus face to face. It will also be a time of reunion—we will see loved ones who have died and gone on to be with the Lord. And it is a promise that we will never have to leave Jesus’ presence: we will always be with the Lord.
The primary purpose of this passage is not to teach a scheme of prophesy, but rather to provide encouragement to those Christians whose loved ones have died. The comfort here is based on the following: 1) the dead will be resurrected and will participate in the Lord’s coming for His own; 2) when Christ comes the living will be reunited forever with their loved ones and 3) they all will be with the Lord eternally.
PLEASE TURN TO 1 JOHN 2.
The Apostle John is the author of the three Epistles of John as well as the Gospel of John and Revelation. The beloved apostle wanted to affirm to his readers that Jesus is coming again, and he wanted them to be ready for His return.
PLEASE READ 1 JOHN 2: 28—3: 3
John often referred to his readers as little children, a term of affection as well as one that characterized believers who were young in the faith. John saw himself as an elder apostle with responsibility for those who had recently come to Christ. John’s counsel was for these believers to remain in Him. The issue here is not one of salvation; it is one of fellowship. We are not commanded to remain in Christ so we can keep ourselves saved. Only God can save and only He can protect us. 1 Peter 1: 5 points out that “we who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Saving faith is permanent, it never dies.
False teachers were seeking to lead those young in the faith away from obedience to Christ, from remaining in close fellowship with Him. Apparently these deceivers were telling Christians they could profess faith in Christ without keeping His commandments. John warned against such teaching. He reminded these believers of a certain coming day when He appears, referring to the return of Christ. John wanted them to have boldness and not be ashamed before Christ at His coming.
The word boldness means, “to have confidence, fully assured of one’s position.” In order to have boldness when Christ returns, Christians should follow Jesus daily. John called them to a lifestyle of trust in Christ and obedience to Christ. Otherwise they would be ashamed when Christ returns. How can this happen? Why would Christians, though saved, be ashamed when they see Jesus face to face? There are many reasons, but let me suggest three.
First, we can have hearts full of unconfessed sin that has marred our walk with Jesus. In 1 John 1:9 John gave us the solution “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleans us from all unrighteousness.”
Second, we may have no rewards to receive when Jesus comes. Rev. 22:12 says that “Jesus is coming quickly and His reward is with Him.”
Third, many Christians will be caught off guard when Jesus comes. Our earlier passage in Matthew instructed us to watch and be ready for His coming. Is your life so full of earthly pleasures or problems that you do not look for Jesus and wish for him to come?
Sin always brings a sense of shame. You may have some things in your life presently of which you would be ashamed if Jesus came today. Turn them over to Him.
Vs. 20 says Jesus lived a righteous life. In fact, He lived a life totally without sin. The source of all true righteousness is Christ. And a righteous lifestyle marks a person as a Christian. John said pointedly that everyone who does what is right, that is, lives righteously, has been born of Him. Because His Spirit lives in us, we have the desire to be right and do right.
These righteous works cannot save us, but they do show that we are saved. Since I gave my heart to Jesus my desire toward sin has changed. Like Paul in Romans 7, I want to do what is right and I want to do away with sin.
We all were born with sinful natures; and those who have been born again (given new life by the Holy Spirit) have the nature of Christ. The only way any person can live righteously is to have the Spirit of Christ in his or her life.
Why would God give new life to sinners enabling them to be right with Him and to do right? John was certain of the answer. The reason is that God loves us more than we can ever know. John expressed his amazement at the greatness of the Father’s love for us. He wrote "Look at how great a love the Father has given us." The apostle of love pointed to the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever known. God loves rebellious sinners so much that when they repent and turn to Him through faith in Christ He makes them His own children.
Think of it—those who deserve condemnation and wrath now have complete pardon and love through faith in Christ. And not only are we called God’s children by God Himself; the truth is we are His children. Incredible!
However, the world does not know us as God’s children because the unbelieving world does not know Him. In the opening words of his Gospel, John declared in John 1:10, “He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not know Him.” The world is in spiritual darkness and does not comprehend the spiritual truth about Christ and the Father’s love for His children. This should encourage us when people do not seem to understand why we say what we say and do what we do. Do you have people with whom you associate who indicate they think you are a bit strange when you express a biblical perspective on life? Don’t let that bother you. Just remember where they are coming from.
Vs.1 states who believers are. They are “God’s children.” Vs. 2 reveals what they will be. They will be like Him. The phrase dear friends, translates one Greek word meaning “beloved, those who are loved.” Believers are loved by God and are God’s children now.
The Bible tells us in Eph. 2:6 that we are already seated in heavenly places with Christ, but one day, as the 1Thess. passage showed, we will be in His presence in body and spirit. But there is much more. John went on to say what we will be has not yet been revealed. The total inheritance of God’s children is not fully in view. However, believers do know one amazing truth: when He appears, we will be like Him. In what way will we be like Him?
In another N.T. book, Paul answered this question. He wrote in Phil. 3:21, “He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.”
When Jesus returns and we see Him as He is, we will receive new bodies fashioned like His body. We will also be like Him in spirit, as we will no longer be pressured by the world, the flesh and the devil to rebel against God. We will be able at that time to live the way we have desired to live all our Christian lives.
Seeing Jesus and being transformed by Him have powerful effects on everyone who has this hope in Him. The effect is to keep oneself morally and spiritually pure because He is pure. Just as we cleaned our house because company was coming, Christians want to keep a clean house as we anticipate the return of Jesus. Thus our preparation for His return includes a commitment to purity of thought, words, motives, and actions, which emphasizes both our privilege and our responsibility.
We are not perfect yet, and despite what some denominations teach, we will never achieve sinless perfection this side of heaven. But the child of God wants to be done with sin and be like the Master. We were declared righteous when we were saved, but we should live out that righteousness by seeking to do what is right and pure. Remember that Jesus said in Matt. 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.”
Jesus’ return is evidence of God’s love for us. He will come to deliver us from this world of sin, give us new bodies, and receive us to Himself forever. Our response to this reality is to stay alert, being ready for His appearance at any time. How important it is that we also be diligent in helping others get ready to meet Jesus. Are you expecting His return? If Jesus appeared today, would you be prepared? What actions do you need to take before meeting Him? May God help each of us to be prepared.
04-25-04
NEXT WEEK, MAY 2, WE BEGIN A NEW STUDY THEME TITLED “RELATIONSHIPS WORTH IMPROVING.” THESE 5 LESSONS IN MAY, WILL DEAL WITH 5 DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS. WE BEGIN WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. PROV. 3:5-6,
1 JOHN 2: 1-11. A.V. DAUGHERTY altav@swbell.net http://www.theweeks.org/av/