Christ's Return

Best-selling author, speaker and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarland, best-selling author and apologist Dylan Burroughs together bringing you truths for a new generation. This is TMG radio Alex McFarland tier 2, three new generation radio with Dylan Burroughs. Do you know there was a pop song a few years ago that asked the question why do things always go wrong. Maybe your having one of those days where the car keys are lost.

The car won't start. There's a traffic jam making you late for work. We often ask ourselves Murphy's Law is something can go wrong will rise like that well on today's program were good to talk about that that we all really deep down long for a world where things go right, and the good news is the Bible talks about the coming rain, a coming reign of Jesus Christ. That will be a world of pervasive righteousness when things go right. Sometimes painters have painted a picture of the restored garden of Eden, the millennium peace on earth, they often call it the peaceable kingdom and Dylan, haven't you had those days when you just kind of throw up your hands and say Lord come quickly because we need you to be back and restore righteousness and make things go right in this world that so frequently goes wrong. Have you thought that sometimes, of course, that happens in our own personal lives. When things go around mentioned.

It happens we read the headlines. We see all of the negative things that occur in our society we say God, why do you let these things happen. We long for this time and things are made right now. As believers we realize there is a time and there is a place where there will be a new heaven and a new earth and those who know the Lord will reign with him forever and ever. But we don't set. I guess necessarily sense that we were going through the trials and difficulties of our day-to-day limits.

We want to encourage people today as we talk about some of these future things we get to look forward to his followers of Jesus should also encourage us as we share our faith that those who do not yet believe Alex would get us started. The reign of Christ out one of the key things of Christianity that we talk about is the fact that Christ is going to return had the privilege of years ago of writing a book call stand courtrooms you must know for an unshakable faith and in the book stand. We talk about some of the core foundational beliefs of Christianity, the inspiration of Scripture, the virgin birth that Christ had no sin, the deity of Christ that he is God incarnate the atonement that he paid for our sins, the resurrection and the return now. The first five of the six core beliefs have already transpired in our present realities. The inspiration of Scripture Jesus being the son of God, he rose from the dead. The sixth reality is the return. So in the show were going to give several facts about the coming reign of God's son, Jesus, for one, it will be a just rain justice. Now Dylan in recent years, we've heard the phrase over and over social justice and some people really cry out for justice. It's it's interesting to me that oftentimes in riots and protests and even the breaking of the law. A lot of people who see themselves as the warriors for social justice do things that are in fact unjust. They in trying to implement law, they do things that are unlawful, but there will be my dear friend one day and a rain on earth. A culture worldwide global state of actual just justice. You know it's never right to do wrong to attempt to do right is no cliché says, but the reign of Jesus will actually be just and death. Dylan, the ever think about this and I have to say this with trepidation and humility because we are were all sinners. I'm a sinner, forgiven, safe center, but in in no way do I presume to put myself up on some moral high horse. I say what I say with humility and fear. But a lot of the people nowadays that cry out against what they perceive as injustice and they stand against the narrow ways of conservatives and Christians. What what they're going to find out when true justice comes and when the sun of righteousness returns. I think a lot of people are going to be in for a rude awakening. Would you agree will certainly because in our world when we look at social justice we define it from our point of view.

Sometimes that's right but other times it is simply a matter fact Ron is contrary to what God's will is in his revealed scriptures so we need to be careful and someone says that they are advocating for a view of social justice, to define what they mean by that. Make sure it's in line with what Scripture teaches. Because, as believers in Jesus Christ, we want to make a difference in our world. We see something that's wrong. Whether is poverty or human trafficking or natural disaster. The needs of response we want to do something to help, but we also want to do it in a way that is honoring to God.

So we want to be cautious about that and look forward to the future time when there will be a just rain like you just mentioned that a second fact that that we want to discuss today is idea the future coming of God's son, Jesus Christ, being a welcome rain and by welcome to something, we anticipate that.

I love the end of first Thessalonians 4 when we're told about the return of Jesus and at the end of that. The apostle Paul tells the readers to encourage one another with these things.

So for those of us who know Christ. The future is nothing that should be scary. It should be something that's encouraging that we long for.

Anticipate, so this is just an exciting thing for us to know Christ. But again, it should also encourage us to share faith with others exactly exactly. It is called the blessed hope to remember him as you said in the first Thessalonians 4, the rapture comfort one another with these words and the return of Christ is a great hope in in the book of Revelation. Many of the people that were martyred for the Christian faith are in heaven crying out how long the Lord, how long will you wait before you avenge our death. Now I will say this is a Christian I'm not your crying out. Oh God, you know, make people get their just desserts you know we want the loss to get what's coming to them. Not at all about me that is not our posture or mindset. We are were brokenhearted for those that don't know God and I think about this Dylan in Psalm 119.

There's a verse that says horror has overtaken me for those who for secular law me let me ask you this folks, when we talk about the return of Christ in the coming reign of righteousness. And yes, that the saved will be with Christ. But the loss will be separated from God when is the last time you really felt broken, horrified, even according to Psalm 119 over the lost that are rejecting God really flaunting their unbelief because we live in a time with her. There are atheists. There are people that are anti-theists.

There against the idea of God. It's going to be a time of justice once and for all. But when we come back going to talk about the facts related to the coming reign of Christ, who is returning to planet Earth. One day, and we want you to be ready for centuries the Bible has inspired humanity and shape the very world we live but how do we know this book is the word of God, not merely the words of man, what we believe about the Bible is based on what we believe about source. The God who speaks explores the evidence of the Bible's inspiration and authority to some of the world's most respected biblical scholars have essentially a jewel so it's true to say that Paul wrote Romans is equally true to say that God's decision.

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There has to be some personal investment in the living out in the preservation of stand strong American is that you face help you become a champion champion for Christ in stand strong American Jason Jimenez and I lay out the facts about our nation. The current condition and how you yes you will.

Family community can be involved in keeping this great Republic Scantron America is a guide for encouraging wherever Christian electricity generation video Alex before Lynn delivers to our conversation about the reign of Christ and his return.

I do want to remind people that a lot is going on in this ministry we are so excited. We've just hired full time, Carla McGlynn, who's worked with us for many many years and now full-time.

Carla and her husband are working with us in the truth for new generation conferences that are being organized across the country and so we encourage you to keep us in prayer.

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Won't Dylan, Haley, Shira thought I was doing some visitation with the church and we were out, following up on people and a visitor to our church and ask us to go visit a lady and we did. We knocked on her door and were there to share about Christ, and she looked me in the eye.

She asked, she said do you really believe Jesus is coming back. I said I do I believe Christ is coming back. The Bible talks about it and as we begin the you know share the good news of the gospel, but the the true reality that Christ is coming back physically, literally, Jesus is coming back. Remember in acts chapter 1 as the disciples were watching Christ asked send back to heaven the angels ask a rhetorical question, not a rhetorical question is one where the answer is pretty obvious you men of Galilee, why are you standing here gazing in the heavens. Because remember, Jesus told his followers, going to all the world and make disciples preach the gospel to every creature. That's Matthew 28 in Mark 16 and they said this same Jesus, as you are seeing him go will return in like manner, so don't just stand around looking at the sky, be about your father's business and you will be ready when Christ does return anyway were telling this to this lady on her front doorstep and she got this real look of fear in her eyes.

She said you really think Jesus is coming back and and nervously. She said will I hope it's no time soon and she shut the door and the conversation was over, but Dylan and my right Christ return and seeing the Lord face to face one day.

It's not something we have to be morbidly fearful about or nervously. You know, hoping it's no time soon know it's something that for the believer for the born-again believer. It's an excitement and it's a joy and it's it's a great assurance and comfort knowing that one day the struggles of this life.

The injustices the disappointments the heartbreak is doggedly over one day and in a state of joy and eternal happiness.

We will be with our Savior. One day Watley is so true Alex and to get a bit personal for me it's it's very touching because it gives us also. This opportunity for those who have passed before us. You know Christ that we can look back and say one day will be reunited with those people back in 2000. My father died from complications related to having cancer and is sad is that was as difficult as that was as difficult as it still is.

At times I can look forward with hope knowing that I will be reunited with him in the future.

That is something that is Christians, we grieve at the Bible says we do not grieve like those who do not have hope. So there is a difference a distinct difference between those who follow Christ and those who do not. As we look forward to our future as we look forward to the afterlife as we look forward to this future reign that the Bible talks about. It's a rain that is welcome as we talked about it. It's also a rain that is righteous where everything will be made right will talk about this a little bit Alex this idea that when there's a new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21 four, says he will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away is that such a great encouragement as we look forward to our eternal future with the Lord. Amen, amen and friend if you're listening to this, obviously, our first and most primary message to you is to know that you know Christ and if you've got one shred of question you.

You're not sure, then you can turn to Christ right now Jesus is disclosed buys a prayer by the way if you if you need spiritual help. At the end of the program.

I will give the address and everything that we got a little booklet that we've given out to tens of thousands of people over the last 22 years and the book is titled what does God say about my relationship with him.

The first half of the book is a very simple explanation of the gospel, how you can call on Christ and be saved. But then there the second half of this book is about a 40 page little booklet we wrote its basically how to understand Christianity we take one of the ancient statements of belief.

One of the creeds of the church call the apostles Creed. Maybe you recited that in church one time growing up or something but it says I believe in God the father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord, and it goes on and we explained line by line. The basics of Christianity. How to understand how to defend the faith, how to even share the gospel and will send this booklet to you free of charge. No obligation. If you just contact us and you can email us info@truthfornewgeneration.com but one of the core truths of Christianity is this return of Christ, blessed hope, Christ is coming back and there will be not only a righteous rain but a universal reign. The Bible says in Habakkuk. The knowledge of the board will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. His reign will be a universal reign Dominion from C2 city and we want you to be a part of that Christ will be a part of that will talk more about it when TMG radio returns. First Peter 315 tells us to be ready always to give an answer for the hope we have were instructed to be prepared to defend our faith. This is Alex McFarlane for the life answers teams students we train at North Greenville University, a leading Christian college in South Carolina. The life answers. Teams are made up of students who will inspire and equip your congregation. These apologetics teams.

We train speaking churches to youth groups and train Christians of all ages to address key issues of our times. From a biblical perspective like is there a God is the Bible true. What about gender and moral issues. Call me at 864977 2008 and we will arrange for the life answers team to come to your church and give a presentation that will benefit your people for years to come.

864-977-2000 eight and always be ready for a new generation is here to equip Christians with a biblical worldview through conferences and camps and speaking about camps. Registration is now underway for the TMG summer youth, apologetics, happening July 22-26 at North Greenville University in South Carolina.

Alex McFarlane will be there along with Tony being the vice president for student services in Christian worldview.

It NGU will engage your thought topics like if God is so good why is the world so bad. Understanding and applying what God's word says about gender and a whole lot more. 15 apologetic and worldview training sessions and all along with a field trip to the Billy Graham Center, and of course outdoor fun and games. And don't forget about food, great food, enough to fill up and keep going. Find out more about the 2018 TMG summer youth apologetics camp when you visit truth for a new generation.com. He he he he he. This is Dylan Burroughs and Alex McFarlane back with you truth for new generation radio we been talking about the nine facts regarding the coming reign of Jesus. We all look forward to this future day when we will reign with him for ever and ever. As followers of Christ. We talked about many aspects of his reign. Another when we want to talk about 1/5 one is this idea of a restorative rain now do we mean by restorative. There's a verse of Scripture that talks about a future time when there will be an abundance of grain upon the earth. And it's a figurative way of talking about a time when everything that is wrong now on this earth are fallen human world will be made right now I don't know about you but I see a lot of the fallen side of our world today is a look at our headlines. They look in our communities and we discourage many times that the truth is, this will not be forever our forever home. Our eternal home with the Lord is a time where peace will be restored where justice will be restored and so we don't have to feel the need to fix everything in this life, but instead to store up treasures in heaven as scriptures talk about to invest in the things of eternity is that we want to emphasize as were talking about this that we want to do all the good we can in this world to make the greatest impact.

We can for Christ in this life, but knowing that everything we do will be imperfect at that will one day be made perfect. When were in the presence of the Lord. Amen. You know, Dylan, I was traveling and I went to a cemetery at a church where I heard some relatives were buried some of my relatives that have been dead for well over hundred years, but I went to this church cemetery and I was looking for the graves of some of my ancestors and I saw a tombstone of apparently little child. It was was stillborn or died after only a day or two, was from the 1800s and a little child that was so you know didn't live but a day or so and obviously that's just indescribably painful. But the epitaph said this and it's a famous statement it says earth has no sorrows that heaven can't erase that that's not a trite little cliché or just a you know little statement. Really it is a restorative rain that Jesus is going to bring out we will be reunited with our loved ones who were believers.

I think about the millions of of parents that miscarried and I've done a few funerals for children that died in that's oh so sad. But listen friend rather than hold God at arms length and rather than reject God and be angry look. The circumstances of life, many of which we don't understand we can't begin to understand why things go the way they do sometimes, but I think about in John chapter 6 Dylan went some of the people walked away and Jesus said to the disciples, will you walk away Peter said, where would we go. Lord, you have the words of eternal life. If you've experienced a heartbreak in this life and in life has dealt you some pretty hard circumstances.

The only hope you have for resolution and restoration is in Jesus. So returned to Jesus because he is bringing restoration and he's bringing order. I guess I'll say this with all the wrinkles will be ironed out, all the question marks will become!'s and it will be a reign of order and holiness, and it will be victorious and friend Jesus Christ. He loves the world, people sometimes fault Christianity for being narrow and exclusivist stick. And yes, it is just as specific roads get you to specific destinations was and if if you want to go to Washington DC and you're in the mid-Atlantic region. You can't take 40 W. That road will not get you to DC you can't take 95 S. If you want to go to a specific city specific destination you to be on the right road in a similar way, if you want to go to the city called heaven. She's gotta be on a very specific road and that pathway is called the Lord Jesus Christ. It is narrow it is exclusivist stick and while there is a right way to achieve the desired result. There are 10,000 wrong ways to not get your desired result. And so Christianity is a specific message about a specific outcome, which is salvation and being with Jesus. But, in conclusion, Dylan.

Aren't you glad that it's victorious and it's personal. The return of Christ, the reign of Jesus on earth again one day. It is going to be victory and it can be and must be for everyone who desires to be with Christ. It must be personal yes and I think just recently my daughter had a dance instructor had passed away and we're talking about the loss of this person and how it affected everyone in the dance studio and she said I hope that that person knew Jesus and that there are in heaven now, and it was wonderful for me to think that one of her first reactions was did that person know Jesus because in the end that's what matters the most.

And if your listing out there and you are uncertain about your eternity where you will spend your afterlife. Let me encourage you Jesus came to provide a way for you to have eternal life that you must accept his free gift of salvation. Ephesians 289 tells us it's a gift. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

You can do that today and Alex as we wrap up today give some closing thoughts and encouragements as we send our time together.

You know when I first became a believer at age 21. I begin to hear a lot of songs that I didn't know before the great hymns the faith and I love to take note of the words of one of the songs that we sang in the church where I came to Christ was Jesus says Jesus saves. We have heard the joyful sound, Jesus saves, and it talks about giving the winds a mighty voice and let the nations now rejoice.

Jesus saves. And so it is a message friend. This is a reality worth being excited about worth living for and I will tell you what we have in Jesus and telling the whole wide world, and the fact that he's coming back and we will see him one day. This is a passion that will wake you up in the morning propel you through the day, put you peacefully to sleep at night and get you up tomorrow to tell the world. Jesus is coming. Jesus saves. It will be just as it will be righteousness, it will make all things new. And if you know Christ and those that you love know him as well.

It will be very personal and very victorious. So come to Christ who loves you so and we will see him and we want you and in fact the whole one world to be prepared for a new generation in association with Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries exists to equip Christians with the biblical worldview through conferences and camps for information about upcoming events visit for a new generation.com or give us a call at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries PO Box 485, Pleasant Garden, NC 27313 that's PO Box 485, Pleasant Garden Carolina 713 will give online@alexmcfarland.com generation.com.

Thanks for listening and join us again next time. As we bring you more true for a new generation on TMG radio