Jesus' Return Part 2

 

    There are many questions about Jesus' return.  We need to focus on what we do know, so that we do not get lost in the unknown.  We do not know when, but we do know that he will return one day when we least expect it.  We believe that his return will happen in two stages.  The first stage will the when the church is raptured.  The second stage will be when Jesus returns with his saints.

    It is thought that the great tribulation is when it becomes clear who are Jesus' people.  They are separated from the rest of the world.  Another option is that this is when God's people are unified with the dead to go to Heaven together.

    There are many observations and thoughts about Revelations.  John was in a dream state seeing a far off future.  He say and experienced things that he had no way to describe.  He did the best he could, but it left a lot of mystery.  Plus, he only recorded what he was told to record.  That means he probably left out portions.

    Your faith is your testimony.  It comes after something that pushed you toward Jesus.  For some people the testimony comes after persecution.  John was in a prison colony in Pathos when he experienced and wrote Revelations.  His focus was on meeting Jesus face to face.  That is where his hope stayed.  It makes the book attention grabbing because it is personal and true.  

    John was not prepared for what he encountered, but he embraced it.  Are you prepared?  One day, dead or alive, you will face the rapture.  You will experience some part of revelations.  Are you ready?  What church do you fall into out of the seven churches listed?  You have to make yourself knowledgeable to be able to answer these questions honestly.  You will have a role in the end, but what will that be?

    John was ordered to record what he saw, felt, and experienced in that dream.  He wrote it in a letter, but it did become the book of Revelations in time.  It is prophetic and the true apocalyptic book.  John was moved by the Holy Spirit in how he wrote the last book of God's Word.  It may be mysterious, but it is true.  It all has meaning.

Matthew 24:29-31, John 14:1-4, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, & Revelations 1:9-20

Jesus' Return Part 1

 

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    The time of when Jesus will return is a mystery.  There are keys to understanding what to expect.  There is theology concepts to help you navigate the book of Revelations to ready it to the best of your ability.  There are terms that need to learned to not misunderstand what is actually being said.

    The book of Revelations is a doctrine deduced from Biblical terms to be understood.  These are words that are not in the Bible, but describe aspects.  Eschatology is the study of the end of times or last days.  Millennium means 1,000.  It describes Christ reign with his saints.  It is also used to describe a possible time frame.  

    Tribulation is a period of evil where Christians are severely persecuted.  Armageddon is possibly the final battle location between Jesus and evil.  It is in northern Israel at the mount at Megiddo.  The rapture is the bodily resurrection of Christians who are still alive when Jesus returns.  At the same time it is believed that the dead Christians will be resurrected. In that case, all Christians will be raptured together.

    The rapture of Christ will be a surprise.  We have signs to look for, but the day will still come unexpectedly.  The birth pains for this day remain a mystery to how long.  It could last centuries, decades, or days.  

    What we do know is that the day Jesus returns it will be in the powerful glory of God.  We do not have to doubt that.  It has been promised by God.  He will come with an army of angels.  Arch angels will be following his commands.  We know of two archangels: Michael and Gabriel.

    When Jesus comes there is death and resurrection for all people.  When we go before him to face judgment, we will be split and sent in the direction of our eternal home.  This ending will be drastically different between believers and unbelievers.  Believers will go home to a place where Jesus had prepared for them.  Unbelievers will go to eternal torment.

Matthew 24:30-31, John 14:1-4, Titus 2:11-14, & Revelations 1:9-20, 20:1-4

God is Lord

 

    When you accept that God is Lord over your life, your perspective of life changes.  You see the need and have the desire to show people who Jesus is.  Jesus is the only son of the living God.  He is not a demigod.  He is not pagan, a lie, myth, angel, prophet, or superman.  He is God's son that lowered himself to be human to connect with us in obedience to his father.

    Jesus is eternally faithful.  He was given to people that did not acknowledge, appreciate, or care who he was, but he never gave up on us.  He died so that we have the opportunity to live in hope.  He fulfilled the truth about God's Word in the Old Testament.  He is proof that God cannot lie.

    When you are a true Christian, you keep God's works in your heart.  Jesus opens your eyes to see the truth.  Seeing and understanding who Jesus is has impact.  He helped God connect to His creations through salvation.  He blinded the minds of the people of the world, so they do not understand the truth until they come to him in faith.  They will be judged for not having faith because the light of truth has been provided.

    Faith changes everything.  The perspective of creator and creation holds meaning.  Your soul changes from being dead to living.  Your faith is the foundation to connect with other Christians to build God's church together.  Satan will never have victory over God's Church because God is the Lord of the church.  

Matthew 16:13-20, John 3:16-21, 6:43-46, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, & Colossians 1:15-20

God's Gift

 

    God's gift to people was Jesus.  Jesus was a common name, but God's son was special.  The name was revered.  It is heavy with significance now because of the Messiah.  In Greek, Jesus is Joshua. It means God saves or salvation of God.  

    Jesus gave new meaning to life and being touched by God.  He changed the perception of human conception, life, death, resurrection, and ascension by giving it meaning.  Jesus experienced all of these as a human, but he never stopped being God.  

    Bar-Joseph means son of Joseph.  Jesus was a gift to Joseph by being his "son" in life.  Joseph never took advantage of the reality.  He loved Jesus as his own son, but he never pretended that he was the real father.  Jesus was always the Messiah.  Joseph was the care giver and protector of the Messiah until Jesus grew up.

    Jesus is the one person that everyone needs.  People had been waiting on him for centuries. We are still waiting on him to return.  Waiting on Jesus' perfect timing is part of being a Christian.  It is not easy, but the wait is worth it.  He brings salvation, hope, and redemption.  He is the good news that brings great joy.

    Christ is a title, but Jesus is Christ.  He is Messiah.  He is savior.  He is the ultimate accomplishment by being the atoner, root of hope, and rescuer.  Jesus is the only one that is God and man.  He is the only way to true freedom.  Do you claim God's gift or are you going to let it go?  Will you become a masterpiece (prized possession of God) or remain living in your sin?

Matthew 16:13-20, Luke 2:21-35, Romans 6:20-23, Ephesians 2:8-10, & James 1:16-18

Who is Jesus?

 

    There are two perspectives on who Jesus is: the world's and those who follow him.  The world sees him as a teach, prophet, loony, or mythical.  Those that walk in faith know that he is the messiah.  He is the only way to be made right with God.  He is the only way to eternal freedom.

    Take inventory of your life. Look at what you value.  Be honest and really see your answers.  Is there anything you need to change to be more eternal focused?  Life is full of distractions, problems, and dilemmas.  None of that matters if your eternal future is not secure.  There is only one question that we ultimately need to get right:  Do you believe in Jesus, his message, the truth, and are you willing to proclaim it?

    People will say what they will about Jesus.  The truth is that he is fully human and fully God.  He lived as one of us for about 30 years, but he is eternal.  He is special.  He is more than a prophet.  He raised the dead to give them life again.  

    You can know all about Jesus and still miss the big picture.  Who is Jesus?  Do you know him as a friend?  It is personal because salvation is personal.  Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say I am?  He is asking you the same question.  Peter was the first to get the answer correct, but just because you have the study guide, doesn't mean that you will get the answer correct.  

    Salvation is a revelation from God.  It affects every aspect of who you are.  It is a gift paid for in full by Jesus.  All you have to do is believe and submit to him as your Lord.  Do you know Jesus?    

Proverbs 30:4, Ecclesiastes 12:8-14, Matthew 16:13-18, John 6:35-40, & Ephesians 2:8-10

God's Only Son

 

    When you think about God only having one son, it comes with a lot of impact.  God is eternal.  His son is eternal.  The Holy Spirit which is often considered the famine aspect of the trinity is eternal.  We have parents.  They have a start and a finish.  We are born and we have an expiration date.  How does it work when there is no death, beginning, or end?

    God and Jesus never have been separated on any level except during the time Jesus lived as a human.  Jesus never experienced eternity without God, except while on the cross.  His time living as a human was the ultimate display of love from God and the son.  

    To follow Jesus is to live life with the attitude of love.  This means you have to understand the nature of God.  You have to learn to adopt the nature of Jesus.  He came to live as a humble servant to people.  He came in obedience to God's decision at the beginning of human history.  Jesus is God's glory, so he is also our glory.

    Have you taken the time to stop and think about the full impact of Jesus' human life really has on everything?  Are you thankful?  Do you see the blessings?  Have you examined your own heart in response to what Jesus has done?  His sacrifice is the ultimate act of love.  Jesus did it out of obedience to God, but also love for people.

Matthew 16:13-20, John 1:1-5, 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, &  Philippians 2:5-11

Purpose of Creation

 

    It is important that we understand our purpose.  We need direction and values in life.  To understand why we are here, we need to understand God's purpose for creation.  God created us to have a relationship with Him.  We were created for Jesus.  Through him we are held together and allowed access to God.

    You are a custom creation.  God created you in the womb to look like you do.  He gave you your personality.  He made you unlike anyone else, so that your relationship with Him is special and unlike anyone else's relationship with Him.  However, all of us that have a relationship with God are connected and united.

    God is in every aspect of your life.  He opened the door to enjoy all aspects of life through Jesus.  You were not an accident.  God wanted you to exist, so He created you.  He spoke life into you.  If you are a Christian, then you spoke spiritual life into your soul when you proclaimed the truth and embraced your faith.  

    Salvation and a real relationship with God requires submission to God's authority and embracing faith in Jesus.  You are strengthened and made powerful for God's purpose through the Holy Spirit.  Submitting to God gives you understanding and wisdom.  You are able to see your worth and still stay humble.  

    God is not done.  He is still creating.  When you become a Christian, you become a new creation.  You are a step closer to the perfection that God always wanted for you.  When you enter your eternal home in Heaven with Him, you will discover your perfection through Jesus.  

    There is no excuse to deny God or turn from the truth of Jesus.  It is a travesty to never discover your purpose with the Holy Spirit.  Life is worthless without God's redemption and a relationship with the trinity.

Romans 1:18-20, 11:33-36, Ephesian 2:8-10, Hebrew 11:1-3, & Revelation 21:1-4