THE FINAL THINGS-''THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST'' (ACTS 1:9-11)

THE FINAL THINGS

TOPIC:  THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (ACTS 1:9-11)

INTRODUCTION

In our text, the angels told the apostles that Jesus Christ would come back in the same manner they saw Him taken up into heaven (Acts 1:11). Paul said that the return of Christ will be “the glorious appearing of our great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13). Peter said that when Jesus comes back “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pet. 3: 10, 22).

These scriptural passages and many more affirm the second coming of Christ. So, it is not a question as to whether Christ will come again. He will certainly come back. This lesson will serve to explain His purposes of coming back to the earth and the manner of His coming, as well as the need for us to be prepared for the glorious return.

PURPOSES OF CHRIST’S SECOND COMING:

It is very clearly stated in scripture that Christ will come again. There is no dispute about that.  Everyone who believes in Christ and the scripture is therefore waiting for that day. So, then, it is necessary for us to know from the scripture what will be the purposes of Christ’s second coming.

1.    To Raise all the Dead

Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and will come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28,29).  Here, it is clearly stated that the righteous and the wicked will both be raised at the same time.  Again, Jesus stated four times in John 6: 39, 40, 44, and 54 that He will raise the righteous dead on the last day.

2.    To Judge the World

Paul, in Acts 17: 31 told the Athenians on Mars Hill that God has appointed a day that He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ. Jesus said that He will judge by His Word (John 12: 48). Paul also said that “we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14: 10b).

3.    To Deliver the Kingdom to the Father

The kingdom, the Church, was established by Christ on the first day of Pentecost, ten days after He ascended into Heaven. He was raised from the dead to sit on the Kingdom’s throne (Acts 2: 30). According to Paul, after the resurrection of all the dead, “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (I Cor. 15: 24-26).

4.    To Reward the Righteous

The righteous are promised “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4: 17); a crown of life (2 Tim. 4: 8).  Paul also refers to this reward as a “building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5: 1). According to John, when Christ shall appear “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

5.    To Take Vengeance on the Unrighteous

Paul said that Jesus will come “with His mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power…” (2 Thess. 1: 7-10).  Jesus said, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal” (Matt. 25: 46).

THE MANNER OF CHRIST’S RETURN

i)         He will come in the last day (John 6: 40, 44; 12:48).

ii)        He will come in the clouds (Acts 1:9-11).

iii)       He will come in a visible manner (Rev. 1: 7; 1 Tim. 6: 14; 1 John 3: 2).

iv)      He will come with a great noise (1 Thess. 4: 16).

v)        He will coming with His angels (2 Thess. 1:7).

vi)      He is coming in flaming fire (2 Thess. 1: 8, 9; 2 Pet. 3:10).

vii)     He will come with the departed saints (1 Thess. 4: 14).

viii)    He will come at an unexpected time (Matt. 24:44; 2 Pet. 3:10).

CONCLUSION

The second coming of Christ is certain! It is therefore necessary for all Christians to be prepared for Christ’s return. This we must do by staying away from all appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22), and improve on our relationship with God, since no one knows the day and time of His glorious return.

TEACHER:  OKPAN CLEOPAS (MINISTER)