The Return

We know that the tribulation period will be very blood he seen a very horrific scene but but it gets better in the better part happens when Jesus comes back, he's good and all that is happening on the earth.

He's going to tell the politicians, boys and girls show you how it's done. Jesus will take over the earth, so created. Billy Graham once said Bible teaching about the second coming of Christ was thought of as not anymore is the only way of hope that shines is an ever brightening beam in a darkening today we continue our countdown of scripts top 40 messages on the connect with Skip to check number 37 this is a message the return in which Skip considers five aspects of Jesus return and shows you how you can be prepared for everything ahead. Right now we want to tell you about a resource that will take you on an incredible journey as you explore God's vast love for year was 19 Billy Pres. Kennedy to strong claim. I believe that this nation should commit itself to all this is out landing a man on the moon. 3.full moon and that we do it in the next 10 years and the man come back home. They want an incredible thing to say when all of our faith. At that moment amounted to 15 minutes you hardcover resource for this month. Your copy to $35 to support this program to connect, call 192 connect with.com one 899 as we join Skip to Revelation chapter 19. Most of us know that Jesus was raised in a little town in northern Galilee called Nazareth and am I know how you pictured it, but it's not until you actually go to Israel and you look around you see, and you understand something that Jesus had growing up, and that is a view he had a view from Nazareth. This is the view from Nazareth and that is the valley of Armageddon stretched out 375 mi.˛ Valley stretched out at the bottom of Nazareth. So I just want you to think in your minds of Jesus as a little boy playing and what thoughts would've gone through his mind as he played and looked over every day of his life of his upbringing over this valley that would one day host a battle that would only be stopped when he returned to this earth.

The second time as you turn to Revelation 19 within a look beginning in verse 11.

Add a vision that John the apostle has of the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus comes to stop a battle, but also he comes to start a kingdom and I'll warn you as we go through this study. I warn you that this is going to be a veritable fire hose of a sermon that is.

It's like drinking from a fire hose because this is such a monumental event, I meant to give you so much Scripture, because so much of the Scripture talks about this event. An overview it and see how it's going to come down. It's not a pretty scene.

We know that the tribulation period will be very blood he seen a very horrific scene, but but it gets better and the better part happens when Jesus comes back, he's going to end all that is happening on the earth. He's gonna tell the politicians move over boys and girls I'm in a show you how it's done in Jesus will take over the earth that he himself created. I have a friend in the ministry who some years ago went and visited a mental institution for children. He said as he was walking down the corridor doors. He noticed these tiny little handprints on all of the windows, and he asked the director to explain those handprints and the director said while the children here love Jesus and they are so eager for him to return.

They leaned against the windows as they look up to the sky.

When I first heard that. I thought if that's being mentally handicapped and let me be so afflicted as to look for and long for the return of Jesus. Jesus Christ is coming back, he is coming back and that is the most wonderful news ever. You know in the newspaper industry to have an actual print type called second coming type and that is referring to when there's a big event they put this banner capital letter a print across the top of the page of a president gets elected or or up president gets assassinated or there's an attempt on his life. Or we make some kind of a journey into space. They use what they call second coming type want to know how the newspapers go to cover this, but it is a headline event. Jesus is coming back to look beginning at verse 11 down to verse 21 what I meant to give you is not knocking to drill down and every single verse and explain every single nuance that would be a series in and of itself. What I want to do is give you five aspects to the return of Jesus. No, I'm talking about the return here, I'm not talking about the rapture I'm talking about the second coming.

We have seen those differences before, so let's get right to it. Beginning in verse 11. Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse and he who sat on him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

His eyes were a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the word of God and the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses. Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword there with that he should strike the nations. And he himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and the wrath of Almighty God and he has on his robe and on his thigh a name written, king of kings and Lord of lords. There's the headline right there and then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, and gather together for the supper of the great God that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men in the flesh of horses and those who sit on them in the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great, and I saw the beast, the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army and then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

These two were cast alive into the lake, burning with brimstone and the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

The first aspect of the second coming of Jesus Christ. The return is that it is anticipated by prophecy.

I want to go up one verse. I know we began in verse 11, because that's where the event begins. But notice the very end of the 10th verse in chapter 19 it says this for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, and then following that statement is John's vision of the second coming of Christ, the new living translation translates verse 10 this way for the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. In other words, Jesus Christ is the star on the center stage in the theater of biblical prophecy. He is what the prophets focused on more than anything or anyone else. Both his redemption as well as his rule in a scholars will often talk about the scarlet thread of redemption that runs through the entire Bible.

In other words, what they're saying is that no matter where you read in the Bible there are hints of his coming sacrifice on the cross that scarlet thread of redemption.

But I also believe there's a golden thread of his rule of his coming rule and reign over the earth that is also woven through the text of Scripture.

Did you know that next to the subject of faith. No subject is more discussed in the Bible than the second coming, the second coming is dealt with 1845 times in the Bible 1527 are in the Old Testament, 318 are in the New Testament. You think that's a lot. This water translates to one out of every 30 verses in the Bible either speaks of or alludes to the second coming of Christ or the end of days as a prominent subject for everyone time. The first coming is mentioned in the second coming is mentioned eight times for everyone, time, atonement is mentioned the second coming is dealt with twice.

21 times.

Jesus personally referred to his return and over 50 times. The Bible tells us to be ready for his return. Why simply this, the coming of Christ is the culmination of all redemptive history all of God's people throughout all of the ages have all look forward to this event for 3500 years the Jewish people have long for their Messiah to come know he came in. They didn't receive him and he is coming again. 3500 years they have prayed this prayer I believe in the coming of Messiah, and even though he tarries yet. I will wait for him every coming day. That's because the prophets all spoke about him coming and the apostles all anticipated in the writings and now we are reading about the event itself.

In Revelation chapter 19. This is the time when the serpent's head will finally and fully be crushed. That takes us back to Genesis 3.

This is the time in the scepter. The rule will once again be reinstated in Judah that takes us back to Genesis 49. This is the time when God's promise to King David that somebody from his family line with rule and reign forever. Second Samuel chapter 7 would come to pass. This is that time that Isaiah the prophet spoke about when he said, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and of the increase of his government and his peace there will be no end.

This is the time that Nebuchadnezzar saw in a vision that was interpreted by Daniel the prophet, Nebuchadnezzar saw this large image representing a succession of world governing empires. We also saw in that vision a stone careening out of heaven and hitting the base of that statue and destroying that statue, but it formed a mountain that covered the entire earth, and Daniel interpreted that vision by saying the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed.

He will break in pieces and consume all of the kingdoms in this kingdom will stand forever.

You see all of the prophets saw this coming one who would come from heaven to the earth who would dethrone that final Antichrist leader and would set up his own kingdom. They all knew that human history would reach this culmination. By the way, that's what Jesus taught his disciples to be praying for and effectively us to be praying for you.

Remember the prayer our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Beginning in chapter 19 in the following chapters that prayer is finally answered.

This is what Jesus spoke about when on the Mount of olives. He explained the end of days to his disciples and he said he immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the power of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and with great glory.

And by the way, some of the greatest songs.

Some of the greatest hymns that the church has been singing for a couple thousand years. Focus on the second coming did you know that Charles Wesley, who was a great hymn writer in his lifetime. Guess how many songs he wrote one man wrote 7000 songs. My fingers are tired just thinking about writing 7000 anything he wrote 7000 songs 5000.

It is estimated out of his 7000 songs have is the subject. The second coming. You should also know that come Christmas time when using Joy to the world. That song has nothing to do with Christmas. Isaac Watts originally wrote Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive hurricane. He wrote that about the second not the first coming Julia Ward Howe in the anguish of the Civil War as the North and the South were battling it out. She looked past all of that heartache to the second coming of Christ, as she gave us. We know as the battle hymn of the Republic and the language sounds like it comes right out of Revelation 19 mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored so many great songs both in our nation and of our faith that deal with the second coming of Christ. So this coming is anticipated by prophecy. Second aspect is coming will interrupt hostility. You know when he comes back, he's interrupting a battle that takes place this right in the midst of that war that language is written here in this text. Now as we go through some of these descriptions of Jesus in our text we understand this is a very different Jesus than the ones we read about in the four Gospels, right when we read the four Gospels we read about Jesus looking on people with compassionate eyes here. Look at verse 12 and his eyes were like a flame of fire that penetrating gaze as he comes back as the judge in the Gospels we picture Jesus wearing a crown of thorns placed on him by the Romans, but here we read on his head were many crowns DI Don Motta is the word means crowns of rulership crowns of ownership, crown of sovereignty crowns of authority in the Gospels we picture Jesus standing before Pontius Pilate saying my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would rise up and fight. But here we see Jesus coming to our world with the armies of heaven, we read about Jesus and the four Gospels we can picture him as his bloodstains. The very garments that he is wearing, but here in Revelation chapter 19 we are told and he had a robe dipped in blood. This is not his blood is the blood of his enemies.

So this is a very different Jesus. This is not the Lamb. This is the lion of the tribe of Judah. This is the warrior king. This is the Jesus described in second Thessalonians 1 by Paul the apostle when he said the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is going on in this passage.

What is going on is the end of a battle, the mother of all battles called the battle of Armageddon. It is hinted at it is previewed already in the book of Revelation.

In chapters 14 and in chapter 16 and chapter 16 demons go out to convince armies to gather together in this Middle Eastern Valley. The picture that you saw at the beginning and march toward Jerusalem and Jesus speaks in Revelation 16 in verse 15 behold I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame to listen to this and they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew.

Hotter, Maggie, Don, Armageddon, the valley around the mountain or the civilization of Megiddo and ancient battleground.

Did you know Napoleon Bonaparte who fought there. By the way, said the battle of the Valley of Armageddon was the most natural battleground he'd ever seen in his life. It was in this valley that Deborah and Barrack fought Sisera in the book of Judges was in this valley that Gideon fought the Midianites it was in this valley that said net Caribbean Syrian king amassed his army to fight Hezekiah. It was in this valley that Pharaoh NECO killed good King Josiah on and on and on. Blood was shed in that valley of Armageddon and more blood will be shed in that valley. In fact, all of those battles of the past are just harbingers of what is coming in the end of days. So what's happening here in the natural.

This is the very end of the end and hostilities toward Israel will reach a fever pitch. Hence this battle and at the peak and height of these armies gathering together and marching on Jerusalem. Jesus will come and interrupted. Zechariah 14 puts it this way. Behold, the day of the Lord is coming.

I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem and then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. By this time the antichrist kingdom known as Babylon. In the book of Revelation is in shambles.

By this time his economic plan is a failure. His authority is collapsing and his coalition assembles in and around this 375 mi.˛ Valley and marches toward the Jewish headquarters of Jerusalem.

Jesus coming is an interruption and overthrow about battle it out.

I talked to Christians of all right, man.

You know what being on that battle. I can't wait to fight that battle. You're not in a fight that battle is not like where the bride of Christ and by the way, we were army boots. Now there's only one weapon in this battle.

And that's the sword that comes out of Jesus. Now, that's his word. He's just going to come and stop the battle. This is not a fighting. This is a falling that takes place. This is total victory in insert another something I want to make a contrast with in Revelation 19. There are two suppers that are written about the first supper, we didn't really read because we went right to the second coming, but it's a supper that takes place in heaven called the marriage supper of the Lantus verse seven and John gets very excited about writing about this. What he sees this marriage supper of the Lamb. That's for seven but in verse 17 it talks about the supper of the great God. Now that's a very different kind of supper that's Armageddon. That's the supper for the vultures, the birds of the air, devouring the corpses of those who fall in this battle.

The real gross kind of a supper so it's interesting that in the same chapter you have the marriage supper of the Lamb.

And then you have the supper of the great God which you want to first supper sentence number one thing number one thing that's 37 message top 40 messages count is from the series. What's next. Here's to share. You can help keep this broadcast going strong connecting you and others around the world with God's word, the Bible is full of promises by a promise keeping God and our goal is to share all those promises. With friends like you to encourage and strengthen you in your faith. That's why we make these Bible teachings available to you, but we rely on listener support to make that possible. So if this ministry has blessed you.

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Skip Heitzig six years. Another tough message about sacrificial love stronger so Skip presentation of connection communication through ever-changing time