The Second Coming of Christ

This is the church in heaven. The church from Pentecost all the way to the rapture betrothed to Jesus we been waiting for him to come and literally sweep us off our feet were we would be with Jesus second coming is the culmination of redemptive history.

Today we continue our countdown of Skip's top 40 messages, connect with Skip Heitzigs of you to check the number 38 spot is Skip's message. The second coming of Christ where he shares with Christ returns to the year, but first we want to let you know about an exciting opportunity to visit the ancient land of the Bible. You're invited to join Stephanie toward Israel in the places where the event unfolded significant experience increasing your pay for it comes to life for you ever had all the info inspiration Christmas.com/see ABQ. We're in Revelation chapter 19. As we dive into the teaching with Skip Heitzigs have a friend who wrote a book in the book he talks about that he was visiting a an institution for mentally handicapped children and it broke his heart as he was touring this facility and what he notices he was going from hallway to hallway and run the room. Is that all of the windows that face outside have little handprints on fingerprints and so he wanted to know what's up with that and the director said the children here love Jesus and they're so eager for him to return that the lien against the windows as they look up to the sky. I read that and I said if that's what it means to be mentally handicapped. Let me be so afflicted because here you have these kids eagerly waiting for Jesus Christ to return, but now we come to the second coming. Now we fast forward from the event. We looked at last week to the end of a period of time, typically known as the tribulation. What Jesus described as the worst time ever on planet Earth. That'll make the pandemic look like a cakewalk. It and we talk about judgment of biblical proportions the world to set a whole new standard of biblical proportions when it comes to the last part of that coming. Her breath called the great tribulation that you turn to the end of that Revelation chapter 19. And I want to show you the event as described by John in the vision but I will show you four facets of the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth. And here's the first facet were just about to read it the second coming of Christ will be preceded by a supper very particular event verse one of Revelation 19. After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying hallelujah, salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God, for true and righteous are his judgments because he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication. It's a reference to Babylon though. The last world government will be God babbling the economic side is seen in chapter 18 the religious side is seen in Revelation 17.

All that's passed.

That's over and it says he has avenged on her the blood of his servants shut by her again. They said hallelujah her smoke rises up forever and ever. And the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne saying amen hallelujah me the Pentecostal now is there and do it. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, praise our God all you his servants and those who fear him, both small and great, and I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering saying hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.

Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready and to her was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me right.

Blessed are those periods were called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, these are the true sayings of God. A lot of times we talk about a marriage made in heaven. This is a marriage in heaven. A marriage feast in heaven, only to Skip your quick background, quick in Revelation 19. The camera shifts. The scene is different. Chapter 6 through the end of 18 Takes Pl. on earth. All the focus is on the earth. There's several judgments that take place there are seven seals on the scroll in each one gets busted off judgments.

Pour forth after the seven seals, seven trumpets are blown with each blast of the trumpet more judgments hit the year after that seven more bowl judgments were vials or bowls of judgment are poured out upon the earth.

Each one seems to get worse and worse and worse until it's finally over and chapter 19 Takes Pl. in heaven and it's an incredible scene. It's a wedding scene, a wedding that will be bigger and better and more ground are grander than any Royal wedding that you've ever seen on TV. Whether it's Charles and Diana, or Megan Merkel and Prince Harry is all right get the right so you know we love Royal weddings what's going to go on in heaven is to make all those Royal weddings look like a cheap Las Vegas presided over by a fake Elvis wedding one of those kind of things. It is the marriage supper of the Lamb and the symbolism is pretty straightforward. If you know your New Testament. The Lamb is Jesus the bride is the church. The church is called the bride of Christ and this is Jesus with the bridegroom in a celebration in heaven the last week we told you about the rapture of the church and we talked about the coming of the Lord for his saints, and we gave you the outline of a Jewish wedding member that so just overall refresh your memory really quick.

This couple has probably been arranged to be married since they were little kids. But the couple grows up and there at the age to be married so the groom or the groom to be, goes to the house where the bride lives. Her father's house and makes formal arrangements of betrothal and engagement. Last up to about a year several months to a year after that. After the betrothal he goes back to his father's house and builds a room on his father's house where they will live after their marriage. At some point in the future. He asked dad's permission to go get his bride that gives permission so the groom goes back to the bride's house, she doesn't know when he's coming. She always has to be ready.

If you can't text or 2000 years ago mom away, heads up, so he just shows up and when he comes close somebody with a shofar trumpet blows it to let everybody know parties about to come down and then when he's close by the house of the bride. He lets out a shout to let her know and let them know inside that he is arrived. Then he takes her with him back to the father's house where they have the formal wedding and a wedding feast. The typically last for about seven days plus a background of all of this. This is the church in heaven. The church from Pentecost all the way to the rapture betrothed to Jesus.

We've been waiting for him to come and literally sweep us off our feet or we will be with him. This is the language that Paul had in mind in second Corinthians 11. He said I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, for I have betrothed to you. There's the idea I've engaged you. I have betrothed you to one husband, that I might present you as a chaste virgin to Christ, so we are in the courtship phase there is no physical contact. There is no bodily contact or were betrothed and were awaiting the groom to come and take us away.

That's a background now?

The bridegroom here is referred to first as a lamb. It's interesting to me because of all the titles of Jesus Christ.

Why is the groom referred to as a lamb. Why is Jesus called the Lamb he could he could be called the creator he could be called King he could be called lord he could be called master he could be called Prince of peace.

But here it's the Lamb and the bride and here's here's my thought, he's presented here is a lamb because it was the land that you fell in love with you and fall in love with the creator God you fell in love with the one who offered to take your sin and mine and wash it all away and that attracted you to him. So you fell in love with the Lamb because that was his.

His chief ministry was to come and purge us of our sin, so, so it is the marriage supper of the Lamb. Now you'll notice that it's quite a celebration. It's like the party of all parties, others great joy, enthusiasm there celebration. There seems to be on wedding guests. We have not only the 24 elders in verse four, which I believe is representative of the church item of trying to explain why that is. I wrote a commentary in the book of Revelation where I did that, but it's a motive from Pat chapter 4 and five of Revelation. So I believe the 24 elders are representative of the church.

Notice also. Therefore, living creatures. They show up in heaven and also in chapter 4 and five. These are for special angels of God's presence charitable, who were always around the throne of God to give him praise. Then in verse one. John says I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven. Probably all those angels that John also told us about in chapters 4 and five and noticed that there using a word of praise here. These are four times the word hallelujah and here's what's interesting about the word hallelujah it's the only time it appears in the entire New Testament. It's an Old Testament word shows up a lot of the book of Psalms general read about it in the New Testament until here the Old Testament is spelled with an H Holly believe it's the same idea means praise the Lord before times at the marriage supper of the Lamb hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah is get into it. It's as if they have been restrained until now. And now they let loose something else.

Look at verse six and hers were the voice of a great multitude where they are again but listen to how loud as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings.

Does that sound quiet to you. That sounds pretty boisterous right sounds loud so shows me that heaven is a is a place of lots of activity and pretty noisy. I say that smiling see this is me smiling as I think back to when I was a kid going to church and my mom always said and it's her why she said it's church like okay it's church so should be quiet. Scott's house doesn't like noise, you may want earplugs and when you get to have because because it sounds and looks and reads like it's a very active alive and loud place so so that's the first aspect that's the first facet of this second coming. It is preceded by supper. Second thing I want you to note is that it is predicted by the Scripture particular verse 10 where that's highlighted, says, and I fell at his feet to worship him. This is the angelic being the John sees and bows down to worship.

I just think John is overcome with emotion. He's just reflexively doing this is not really thinking about how you should be worshiping angels. He just doesn't but he said to me, see that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.

But here's the here's the key phrase for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Let that phrase to sort asleep into your mind and soul for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Listen to it in the new living translation for the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus is the central theme of all prophetic literature.

The central focus is none other than Jesus Christ and what's more, they had a lot to say about his second coming. Listen to this next to the subject of faith.

There is no subject discussed more in the Bible than the second coming of Christ.

Next to the subject of faith. There is no subject covered as much as the second coming of Christ the second coming is dealt with 1845 times. Some dudes out there account and that that's a lot of times 1527 times in the Old Testament, 318 in the New Testament.

For every time the first coming is mentioned the Bethlehem event, the second coming is mentioned eight times so it's a factor of 8 to 1. Also, for every time the atonement is mentioned the second coming is mentioned twice.

Jesus personally referred to his return 21 times and 50 times or over 50 times.

We are told to be ready for so Jesus is the star on the stage of Bible prophecy and the second coming takes a lot of that attention the Bible makes prophecies when the prophets were predicting. They were predicting principally one of two things. Either his first coming, or his second coming. And as we mentioned, we talk about the scarlet thread of redemption right we we talked about that before that the sacrifice of Christ is seen through the pages of Scripture. I wrote a book called bloodline on that theme, but more than that, more than the scarlet thread of redemption is the golden thread of his righteous rule at the second coming now. The Jewish people, all Jewish people. Orthodox Jewish people have looked for a Messiah for 3500 years, but most of them don't believe he is calm yet so there's still waiting but Orthodox Jewish people for 3500 years have said a prayer like this. I believe in the coming of Messiah, and even though he Terry I shall wait for him every coming day. I believe in the coming of Messiah, and even though he Terry I shall wait for him every coming day spin their prayer that's been there anticipation well. The prophets predicted that he would come. That's why that there waiting, but Jesus fulfilled those prophecies. We know that we've seen that we looked at when the prophets were looking into the future. They anticipated not only his coming but his coming in glory, terrain and and some of those we are familiar with.

We are familiar with Isaiah's prophecy when he said unto us a child is born of the prophecy, unto us a son is given, you know, when we usually quote that Christmas time. Listen to the whole prophecy, unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given here is, and the government will be on his shoulder. That hasn't happened yet.

And his name will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of peace.

Here is of the increase of his government. There will be no end, upon the throne of David to order it and establish it from this time forth, even for evermore.

Even though the Lord of hosts will perform this zeal of the Lord of horse hosts will perform this. That is about this event, the second coming of Christ.

Daniel predicted this event actually Daniel interpreted the dream of a pagan king named Nebuchadnezzar who couldn't sleep one night a good man. I had a bad dream last night, you better tell me what it is I do know what it is or I will tell you what it is but you have to tell me what it is and what it means nobody could do it. Daniel comes and goes, you saw an image of all these different metals and then in your dream, you saw the stone coming out of the heavens member the dream and in and Daniel chapter 2 it it hit the image destroy the image and that Stone grown the mountain. The covered the earth and Nebuchadnezzar said man, you nailed it. It's exactly what I dream I was a mean so Dennis as well as a whole bunch of kingdoms in the coming year. The first guy on the list you the head of gold, but after you will come other kingdoms but here's this part, then the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and stand forever. That's this event.

That's when it starts that's when the kingdom gets established member. When Jesus stood before Pilate and Pilate had a conversation with Christ and Pilate said so, you're a king and Jesus said you're right to say that I'm a king, but he said, my kingdom is not of this world.

But now the kingdom is now he comes back and he comes to hang up a sign in effect, it says under new management.

Because he is the King of Kings and Lord of lords. Also, Jesus spoke very plainly about this second coming with listen to how he puts it of this is Matthew 24. This is Jesus own eschatological sermon because the disciples that somebody coming back and what are the signs of Allah, so he he tells the Matthew 24 on the Mount of olives, he says immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be dark and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven.

The powers of the heavens will be shaken. All of that is written about in Revelation chapter 6 through 18 then listen to this, then the sign of the son of man will appear in heaven at the second coming and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. So Isaiah the prophet Daniel the prophet, other prophets all the way back have predicted this event, Jesus himself articulated this event. Also some of the greatest songs of the church have been about the second coming you guys know the name Charles and John Wesley. If you know Glenn Rager and again this is church you can raise your hand up publisher see that I can understand case of John and Charles Wesley were these great preacher revivalists. John Wesley was like the preacher guy Charles Wesley wrote songs in many songs. Charles Wesley wrote 6500. Some say update thousand… Let's be conservative. Let's be skimpy.

Here's always 6500 songs I've read like six 6500.

He wrote the majority of Charles Wesley's hymns focus on the second coming of Christ. It is one of the great themes of him knowledge. He through the ages.

Here's one everybody knows not by Wesley but by Isaac Watts because we sing it every Christmas, not knowing it is nothing to do with Bethlehem. It is everything to do with the second coming. Just read the lyrics here is joy to the world, the Lord is come let her receive her pain. It's all about Jesus coming to establish his kingdom is this is great and this is the day Jesus comes in glory that Skip Heitzigs of number 38 message top 40 messages, it's from the series 2020 message and more Scripps teachings watching teach live twice a week@youtube.com/now we want to share about a special resource that will show you how you can enjoy even more abundant and satisfying life in Jesus promised from the American time to provide some say the thing is to accomplish this talents claim or accomplishment in history serve Jesus Christ for the sins of the world resurrect and delete I'm thinking about is on the moon show a connection between the battle for outer space and the quest to conquer interface and how to cry like the tattered five point the only thing that, and secular society.

Realizing there are downside to turning from God turning away from church. You know you see people leaving the church and drove now what you intend higher anxiety higher enough, you have even the lowering of emotional intelligence and church were not in the Bible we are green doing the 1230 go for you heart resource to $35 to support you can come hundred 9292. Tune in tomorrow.

Skip Heitzigs of shares, another top 40 message and considers five aspects of Jesus return and shows you how you can be prepared for everything to come.

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We know that the tribulation period will be very flighty seen a very horrific scene, but but it gets better and better part happens when Jesus comes back and all that is happening on the earth. Tell the politicians move over boys Skip presentation of connection communication through ever-changing time