2 Peter 3:3-4 – “3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
People sometimes wonder what a local church teaches. The Assemblies of God embraces sixteen fundamental Biblical truths. Yet, sixteen core values can be difficult to remember. How about remembering four?
When people ask, “What does your church believe?” give them these four truths: People are to have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to dynamically reveal Jesus to others. Supernatural healing is available because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Believers are to live each day with expectation of Jesus’ second coming.
The second coming of the Lord is referred to as the “Blessed Hope.” Are your conversations indicating indifference to this special hope? Have you developed a “business as usual” mentality? Rarely, if ever, do people use the phrase, “Should Jesus tarry…” when speaking about future plans.
A lot of emphasis is placed on the Christmas holiday. The glorious truth of Scripture is the immense step from the Babe of Bethlehem to the triumphant Lord returning to earth for His own people. Whenever church bells ring the joys of Christmas, they should cause greater alertness for the final trumpet announcing His second coming. The value of Christmas, other than helping the economy, is to remind everyone Jesus is coming again.
This end-time series is divided into three groups. The first is in four parts entitled, “Look Who’s Coming.” The second is in two parts entitled, “Notice the signs.” The third is in five parts entitled, “Living with the promise.”
Through the ages people have mocked the idea of His coming. When we think of mockers, we normally think of the unchurched. What the unchurched say is of little value to those in Christ. The church is not of the world and should not expect beliefs to be viewed favorably. The mockers of this world will one day become the mourners of His coming. (Revelation 1:7) Beliefs are based on the Bible, not the opinions of the unchurched.
Of greater concern are mockers in the church; people who mock His coming by the way they live. Second Peter 3:3 defines a scoffer as one who follows their own evil desires. A form of mockery about His coming is to pursue the excessive accumulation of possessions and live solely for worldly pleasure.
Life-changed believers demonstrate transformation by rendering service to God. The property thought to be owned are more accurately resources that are managed and are for the Lord’s usage. Some who attend church hoard the little they have and build higher fences to keep people out. Believers distance and isolate themselves so nobody can lay claim to their treasures.
Jesus is coming for a ready church, a church more concerned about adorning herself for her Redeeming Groom, than with acquiring notoriety and fame.
Scriptures do not leave “Jesus is coming again!” as a question but as a statement.
Reasons to consider His second coming
How you view all of Scripture is dependent upon this event. Over 300 references are made in the New Testament to His coming. One out of twenty-five verses make reference to His coming. Whole chapters are devoted to this event; Matthew 24-25, Mark 12, Luke 21, 1 Corinthians 15. Whole books deal with this promise; 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Revelation. What you believe about the Second Coming will decide how you understand Scripture and will impact how you live for Jesus.
Your beliefs about God will be influenced by when you think the rapture will occur. Believers use terms such as pre-tribulation (pre-trib) or mid-tribulation (mid-trib). Some speak of a pre-wrath rapture when discussing the “meeting in the air.”
Your anticipation of eternity will be influenced by your thoughts about the millennial reign of Christ. His second coming is important to your understanding of all God’s word.
The signs of His coming are intensifying. Although signs will be considered later, present-day events take on a whole new dimension when seen in the light of Scripture. The conflicts of the Middle East take on greater meaning when Scripture is studied. Though Hollywood and the Media loosely use the term “Armageddon,” a genuine worldwide conflict will take place on a piece of real estate located at the crossroads of the world.
God wants prepared believers. Is the church ready for His coming? Hebrews 12:1 declares, “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Is there anything still entangling you? Is there anything holding you down when being called up?
Some believers desire to experience more of life. They want Jesus to come, just not yet. Women want a big wedding and marriage, or have a baby, then He can come. Men want to explore the world and hope He holds off His return for awhile. If not careful you can find yourself void of a “first love” relationship. His second coming should not be second place in your life.
Five Biblical reasons His second coming will happen
The fact that Jesus came a first time testifies that He is coming a second time. There are 300 references in the Old Testament to His first appearance. His birth, life, ministry, trial, death and resurrection are revealed in the Old Testament. Every one of the prophecies was fulfilled.
There is more stated about His second coming in the Old Testament than stated about His first coming. How He will appear, His rulership over Israel, His judgment upon the nations, and many details of the coming conditions of the earth under His leadership are recorded in the Old Testament. These prophecies will also be fulfilled, as were the prophecies of His first appearance.
Jesus said He would come again. A follower of Jesus lives with the assurance that what Jesus said is true. To believe He is God and confess He is Lord yet deny His return is to call Him a liar.
Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)
Jesus said, “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:39)
Jesus said (after being asked if He was the Christ), “I am; and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)
Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)
Jesus will fulfill what he promised.
The angels declare He will come again. The heavenly messengers sent from God, who surround His throne, who have a special audience with the Almighty, who minister to us, declare He is coming. “They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:10-11) All of heaven is waiting with expectancy for this event.
The Apostles declared He is coming again. Those who were His eyewitnesses, who heard what He said, saw what He did, walked with Him along the shores of Galilee, and did signs and wonders in His name, believed without doubt that Jesus would come again. If an eyewitness testimony cannot be disputed in their lifetime, it stands as true.
Paul declared, “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16)
The writer of Hebrews wrote, “So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
James declared, “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:8)
Peter declared, “But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13)
John quotes Daniel and Zechariah in Revelation and affirms, “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him….” (Revelation 1:7)
Jude writes, “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones to judge everyone….” (Jude 1:14-15)
The Apostles proclaimed with assurance that Jesus will come again.
The ordinances Jesus gave to the church inform us He is coming again. Participation in water baptism and communion is based on believing in His eminent return.
Water baptism is a testimony of a future resurrection. You identify with His death and resurrection, declare new life has come in place of a dead nature, and give a physical statement of looking ahead to the day of your bodily resurrection.
Communion is a testimony of His return. “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)
Jesus said, “I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29) The best way to prepare for His coming is to never forget His continual presence, which is the purpose and design of communion.
These ordinances keep before the church Jesus will return for His own.
The final victory over evil
Some think the ultimate triumph over evil will come by human advancement, the gradual evolution of human potential. Given enough time mankind can make the perfect utopia. World War I gave the idea a major blow and World War II broke its spirit. Vietnam laid it in the grave and terrorism has shoveled the dirt of interment over it.
Will human progress stop people and nations from sinning? Will human progress and achievement ever wipe away all tears from our eyes or heal our broken hearts? To ask these questions is to answer them.
The final victory will not come through some natural progress of human development or through the religious forces that are operative in the world right now. The victory will not come by an improvement of the present order. The high point
Jesus, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords, is coming for His people. Are you included? Are you entangled with the cares of this world? Is there something able to hold you down when the trumpet sound calls you up? Do not mock the promise of His coming by how you live.
