Acts 1:6-11
The Ride Home

The picture upon the Mount of Olives is almost humorous. The King
James puts is eloquently but the truth is that everyone was standing
around looking at the empty sky when they heard a voice saying, "What
are you looking up there for? He’ll be back just like He left."

Then, the angels were gone too! With that promise, the early church
lowered their eyes but kept their hearts focused on the gates of
heaven.

The fact that the return of Jesus was on their mind is obvious from
the Scriptures.  Listen to what some of the Bible writers said:

John the Apostle:
Revelation 22:20  He which testifieth these
things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even
so, come, Lord Jesus.

Paul the Apostle:
2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for
me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and
not to me only, but unto all them also that love
his appearing.

Writer of Hebrews:
Hebrews 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear
the sins of many; and unto them that look for him
shall he appear the second time without sin
unto salvation.

Peter the Apostle:
2 Peter 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for
such things, be diligent that ye may be found
of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

From the Bible, the question has never been, "Is Jesus coming again?"
The question has been, "When is Jesus coming again?"

I. The Bible teaches a literal, personal, pre-tribulational, pre-
    millennial, imminent return of Jesus.
    A. We believe in the literal and personal return of Jesus or
        as the angels put it, "as you have seen him go." \\#11\\
        1. Some believe that Jesus will not literally come back but
            that references to His coming are some kind of symbol or
            parable.
        2. And some go further to say that Jesus did not literally and
            personally rise from the tomb.  At the most, they believe
            Jesus is merely some spirit, no more a fleshly being.
        3. However, what Jesus did in the Upper Room after the
            resurrection made it clear to His disciples—even doubting
            Thomas—that Jesus was literally and personally alive and
            on the earth after His resurrection.
            a. \\Luke 24:36-43\\ Notice:
                (1) \\#39\\ They thought Jesus was a spirit but He
                    let them touch Him and told them a spirit did not
                    have the flesh like they were touching.
                (2) \\#41-43\\ Then He ate.  The text makes it clear
                     that Jesus did this in front of them so they
                     would know He was alive.
                (3) \\#46\\ Jesus said He rose from the dead on the
                     3rd day.  He was not a ghost or spirit but the
                     same One He was before He had died.
                (4) \\#48\\ He told them that they were physical
                     witnesses to tell others that He was alive, not
                     a ghost or spirit, but alive.
            b. Jesus did not just appear once.  He appeared to His
                inner disciples on many occasions and to other
                believers both in large groups and individuals.
        4. Jesus was literally and personally alive when He left and
            the angels said He would return in like fashion.  So
            Jesus will literally and personally return to this earth.
    B. The Bible teaches an imminent return - It could happen at any
        moment.  Again, notice the different writers.

Paul:
Philippians 4:5  Let your moderation be known
unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

The writer of Hebrews:
Hebrews 10:37  For yet a little while, and he
that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

James:
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your
hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest
ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth
before the door.

Peter;
1Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand:
be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

John:
Revelation 3:11, 22:7  Behold, I come quickly:

Revelation 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not
the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for
the time is at hand.

Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things
saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so,
come, Lord Jesus.

    C. Give you some terms:
        1. pre-millennial, amillennial, post millennial
        2. pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post tribulation

II. The Bible \\#1Thess 4:13-17\\ teaches a detailed series of events
     for the Christians.
     A. \\#14\\ Jesus gathers the eternal souls of those who have
         died to bring them with Him.

2Co 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing
rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord.

     B. \\#16\\ Jesus begins His return with:
         1. a shout
         2. the voice of an archangel
         3. a trumpet sounding
     C. The actual rapture begins with the dead rising.
     D.\\#17\\  Then, the living are changed \\#1Cor 15:51-54\\
         \\#1Cor 15:42-45\\.
     D. We all meet in the air.
     E. We are with Him forever.

III. The Bible also teaches a detailed series of events for the lost.
     A. The rapture marks the resumption of the Jewish clock.
         1. \\#Daniel 9:24-27\\
             a. Depending on the exact date used for the decree,
                 adding 483 years will take you to the ministry of
                 John the Baptist, the birth year of Christ, the
                 triumphant entry of Christ, or the year of Christ’s
                 death.
             b. Vs. 26 describes the time period as a "flood of
                 miseries and war of desolations until the end."
        2. \\#Rev 5:1\\ The book of judgments will be opened. We
            refer to that time period as the tribulation.
    B. The rapture marks the beginning of a great delusion.

2Thess 2:11  And for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe
a lie:

        1. The world will believe the devil is God.
        2. \\#2Thess 2:12\\ Why? That they might be damned.

IV. What are the practical implications of our belief?
     A. It keeps us pure.

1John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but
we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be
like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3  And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

     B. It keeps us moving.

1Cor 7:29  But this I say, brethren, the time is
short: it remaineth, that both they that have
wives be as though they had none;
30  And they that weep, as though they wept not;
and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced
not; and they that buy, as though they possessed
not;

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