Radio Sermon 56 <Back to Table of Contents>
The Second Coming of Christ
Jesus is coming again! Just as sure as He came the first time, He will return. But the speculations and erroneous doctrines concerning this grand event are so numerous and so far removed from truth, it is essential to notice some of them. We will study what the Bible teaches about the second coming of Christ today, so stay tuned
But first, the West End Church of Christ presents these fifteen minute sermons each Sunday. We have only one reason for doing it -- we want to preach the truth of God's word without being restricted by human doctrines, creeds, and wisdom. That is why we repeatedly ask anyone who listens to communicate with us if you do not agree with what we teach on this program. This is not done out of a spirit of dare, or challenge, but in sincerity and in the interest of being absolutely right about the most important issue of this life and of eternity.
We also want to invite you to attend our services. Bible study begins at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. We have classes for all ages in which the Bible is discussed and made relevant to living in this world today. At 10 each Sunday morning we assemble to worship -- we honor God in the reading and teaching of His word, several prayers, gospel songs, giving of our means, and partaking of the sacred memorial feast of the Lord's Supper. Sunday evening we assemble for worship at 6 p.m. and mid-week Bible study is each Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
We publish a monthly paper called "The Voice of West End." There is no subscription price to it -- no donations are asked or accepted for it -- it is the freest thing you will ever receive in the mail. So, if you want to get it and read it write or call West End Church of Christ. Our address is 1609 Parkside Drive, Bowling Green, KY. 42101 and our phone number is 842-7880. I will repeat that at the end of today's lesson.
Jesus knew He would be crucified. He knew the impact this would have on His disciples whom He would leave behind. To comfort them and give assurance to all disciples of all ages, He said, "Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3). It may have been somewhat difficult for those simple men to fully grasp what He said. It is still difficult for some to believe He told the truth. But, as surely as He came once, He promises a return.
In the book of Hebrews, two grand facts are affirmed. Hebrews 9:27-28 reads, "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him unto salvation." The next time Jesus appears to mortals will be the second time He has come from His holy habitation in the eternal heavens. There is no interim appearance, nor will there be anything beyond the second appearance. I say this because there are those who blatantly affirm that Jesus has returned at least once since His first coming. From a book called, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, pages 41-42, I read, "For more than forty years Pastor Russell (Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah's Witness Religion), a faithful consecrated Christian, proclaimed to the people by word of mouth, through the public press and through his books, that 1914 would mark the end of the Gentile times; that the world would begin to end at that time, and that Messiah's kingdom would shortly follow." Follow along with me a little further, friends. When would "Pastor Russell" say the Messianic Kingdom come into being? He set the year at 1925. This little book was published in 1920, following the cessation of World War I. Listen again. "Based upon the argument heretofore set forth then, that the old order of things, the old world, is ending and is therefore passing away, and that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then, based upon the promises set forth in the divine Word, we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die." (Ibid., page 97). Friends, no one had to dispute with Pastor Russell and the Jehovah's Witnesses. Time took care of that. 1925 came and went and Jesus did not return, nor did He establish a Messianic reign. But this is only a small sample of the many outlandish views being held by those who fall into the general category of dispensationalists, or millennialists.
Probably the most widely read millennialist is Hal Lindsey. In his book, The Late Great Planet Earth, he sets forth the millennial view of Christ's coming. I quote, "The Latin word for '1000' is 'millennium' and down through history and teaching concerning this earthly kingdom came to be known as the 'millennial kingdom.' Those who reject that Christ will establish a 1000 year kingdom after His return are known theologically as 'amillennialists,' meaning 'no millennium.' Those who believe that Christ will return and set up a 1000 year kingdom are called 'premillennialists,' meaning Christ returns first, then establishes the kingdom on earth." (Page 164). One thing Mr. Lindsey overlooked in his description of "amillennialists" is that they can abundantly show from the Bible that the kingdom is neither millennial nor future, that the kingdom that Christ is king of, is in existence right now and has been ever since He set it up in Jerusalem, A.D. 33.
Yes, Jesus is coming back, but not to establish His kingdom. That kingdom is already established. The scripture says that John the Baptist preached, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). Matthew 4:17 says, "From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The expression "at hand" means very near, ready to take place. And to prove that, read the words of Christ with me. He said, "Verily I say unto you there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom" (Matthew 16:28). That simply means that the Lord would set His kingdom up during the life span of some of those who lived at the same time He spoke these words. If the millennialists are correct, there are some people still on earth who could be two thousand years old!. Who can believe such absurdities?
Jesus told Peter that He would give him the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:19). Peter was to use the keys to allow entrance into the kingdom. Keys is a figurative expression symbolic of the power to open or close. The key to the door of the kingdom is the gospel of Christ, preached for the very first time in all its fullness on the day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2. There, Peter told thousands of people that Jesus is now at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33) and is the ruling Lord of Lords (verse 36). When the hearers were convinced they cried out in anguish, "Men and Brethren, what shall we do?" (verse 37). Peter told them, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (verse 38). Those who obeyed were added to the church that same day (verse 47).
Pentecost was the one time in all of history that the great promises relative to the kingdom of Christ were all fulfilled. The fact that those who first entered it are said to have been added to the church fits well into the whole picture of the kingdom. Paul wrote to the Colossians, that he gave thanks "unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Colossians 1:12-13). Surely no one can dispute the fact that the church in Colosse constituted the kingdom of the Son of God's love.
But why is it that millennialsts argue that Jesus will yet establish the kingdom? They obviously do not understand simple New Testament teaching that the kingdom has been established. They probably suffer from the delusion that the kingdom is to be an earthly kingdom. Listen very carefully to Christ Jesus. He responded to Pontius Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). Jesus never intended to set up anything even remotely similar to the millennial concept of the kingdom. He came to establish this vital spiritual relationship in which He would reign over subjects who willingly surrender their wills and hearts to His royalty. How sad it is to ignore this. It is simply a case of denying this fundamental fact that Jesus has a kingdom, is a king, and now reigns.
The next time Jesus returns will not be to establish anything on earth, but to raise the dead and sit on His seat of judgment. Remember Hebrews 9:27-28? That proves beyond dispute that the next role Jesus fulfills is that of Judge. In fact the very same book of Hebrews affirms, "Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28-29). The kingdom is being received by those who express their full faith in Christ in obedience to His word. Jesus said, "Verily I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven" (John 3:5). If we have to wait for this imaginary millennial kingdom, no one either has, or can be born again of water and Spirit in the kingdom. But, dear friends, that theory is simply false. You can be, and you must be, born of water and the Spirit now. When you are, you will be a member of Christ's kingdom, His church. Peter told those people on Pentecost the very same thing Jesus said in John 3:5. Repentance and baptism equal being born of water and the Spirit. I hope and pray that you will search your heart and your Bible and come to the conclusion today that you must be in His kingdom, and that you will enter it through the same process by which the thousands on honest people did on the Day of Pentecost.
If you have any question at all about this topic, or if you would like extra study materials on it, contact us. If you would like to receive the Voice of West End call or write West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Dr., Bowling Green, KY. 42101. Until the next time we have this opportunity to be with you by radio, may God richly bless you and yours. Good bye.