Risen and Returning

 

Scripture Texts

Acts 1:11, John 14:1-6

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Intro: The resurrection of Jesus is the key to God's plan for the future. Because Jesus is risen from the dead we are assured that Satan, sin, and death has been defeated. We also have assurance of our salvation and the promise that Jesus will one day soon return.

I. After Jesus' resurrection He ascended into heaven. Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV)
⁹  Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹  who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." After His resurrection Jesus was assembled with His disciples and told them to wait for the Father's promise of the Holy Spirit which was to come. In verse 8 Jesus said they would receive power after the Holy Spirit had come upon them and they would be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. As they watched Jesus was taken up and a cloud received Him, this cloud was the Shekinah glory of God. The angels that stood with the disciples prophesied that this same Jesus (not a different One) would come back in like manner as they had seen Him go into heaven. One day Jesus will break through the clouds to call His children home.

II. Jesus promised His return to His disciples. John 14:1-6 (NKJV) ¹  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ²  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.³  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴  And where I go you know, and the way you know." ⁵  Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" ⁶  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. In verse 1 Jesus was speaking to His disciples and us here today to not to let our hearts be troubled. They were troubled because Jesus had told them He was going to leave them. As we look at our world today we could be very troubled. But Jesus promised to come back and deliver us from this sin sick world. We shouldn't be troubled because When Jesus left this earth, He went to prepare a place for us. Jesus stressed the truth and reality of "God's house" and its "mansions" or abiding places. "If it were not so Jesus said, I would have told you." When all things are complete Jesus will return.He is coming back to receive all believers unto Himself so that we may always be where He is. From the sermon last week we are not to let our hearts be troubled, but we should be eagerly awaiting our Lord's return ²⁰  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. [Philippians 3:20-21]

III. All believers will be resurrected at His return. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 (NKJV)¹³  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. ¹⁵  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.¹⁶  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. When Jesus descends from heaven, three spectacular events will occur. Christ, the Lord himself, will descend from heaven, for that is where he has been since His resurrection. The supreme Majesty of the universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, will rent (open) the skies and miraculously appear in all the spectacular glory, majesty and power of heaven itself. The souls of all the saints who have died will be with Him when He returns. Christ’s return will be unmistakable. (2) No believer will miss it, for Jesus will descend with a shout like John heard in Revelation 4:1 that said “Come up here.” Then the voice of the archangel will start the trumpet call of God to gather the dead in Christ. These sounds will herald his return. Paul used distinctive imagery associated with the end times. An archangel is a high or holy angel appointed to a special task. Clearly, the angelic hosts will be taking part in this celebration of Christ’s return to take his people home. The Jews would understand the significance of the trumpets. they were always blown to signal the start of great festivals and other extraordinary events. (Numbers 10:10).1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (NKJV) ¹⁷  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸  Therefore comfort one another with these words. After the dead bodies have risen from their graves, the believers who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. A reference to “clouds” in the Bible often symbolizes the Shekinah glory of God. Clearly, all believers—whether alive or those who have died before the time of Christ’s return—will be together with one another and with the Lord forever. This supernatural event will cause a great reunion among believers who are alive and those who have already died. Both groups will experience Christ’s return together. This joyous reunion will go on forever. This will occur in God's timing. We are only told to be ready. God alone knows the exact time. Verse 18 says we are to encourage one another with these words. No matter how bad things look, we are to lift up our heads because our redemption draws nigh. Any day now Jesus could come to take us to our eternal home and all our troubles will be over.

Invitation: Are you ready for the return of Jesus Christ? We are told to be ready at all times. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, right now where you sit confess your sins to Christ and ask Him to forgive you and save you for heaven. Then publicly confess Him before a church congregation as your personal Savior and Lord. Then be baptized. If you do know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, are you living your life eagerly awaiting His return from heaven?