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The next great prophetic event will be the personal return of Jesus. This is a major theme in the New Testament. 

I.       PROMISES OF HIS RETURN 

a)       Jesus - John 14:3 – “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.” 

Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I am coming quickly”           

Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming quickly”           

Revelation 22:20 – “Surely, I am coming quickly” 

b)       The Angels – Acts 1:11 – “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” 

c)       Paul – 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the LORD Himself will descend from heaven” 

Philippians 3:20 – “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus  Christ.” 

Colossians 3:4 – “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” 

Titus 2:13 – “Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” 

Hebrews 9:28 – “To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time” 

d)       James – James 5:8 – “The coming of the Lord is at hand” 

James 5:9 – “Behold the Judge is standing at the door”

e)       Peter – 1 Peter 5:4 – “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” 

f)        John – 1 John 2:28 – “And now, little children abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” 

1 John 3:2 – “We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him” 

II SIGNS OF HIS COMING – two sets, two tracks

1.      Negative Signs

a)     Deception – Matthew 24:4-5 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ”, and will deceive many.”

 b)     Matthew 24: 11 “and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

Matthew 24:24 “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.” 

c)     Political Chaos – Luke 21:10 – “Nation [ethnos] shall rise against nation [ethnos]”

Luke 21:25 – “Distress of nations with perplexity” 

Bewilderment , No way out, under pressure, no where to turn 

d)     Natural Disasters – Luke 21:11 “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.”

Luke 21: 25-26 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” 

Romans 8:32 – “The whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs until now” 

e)     Persecution – Luke 21:12 “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.” 

2.      Positive Signs

a)     Worldwide outpouring of the Holy Spirit –

Acts 2:17 – “In the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh.” 

b)     Ingathering of the Harvest

Joel 2:23-24 – “He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat.” 

Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.” 

c)     Restoration of Israel – Parable fig tree (Matthew 24:32-33) “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”

Hosea 3:4-5 “For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol.  Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.” 

KEY VERSE – Matthew 24:34 – “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” 

III WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN HE RETURNS

a)     The Dead in Christ will be Raised 

I Thessalonians 4:16 – “The dead in Christ will rise first” 

b)     The Living Believers are Caught Up

I Thessalonians 4:17 – “Those who are alive and remain shall be caught up.” 

c)     We will Receive New Bodies

I Corinthians 15:52 – “We shall be changed”15:53 – “This mortal will put on immortality” 

Philippians 3:21 – “Who will transform our lowly bodies that it may be conformed to His glorious body” 

Psalm 17:15 – “I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” 

d)     We Will Go To Heaven

I Thessalonians 4:17 – “To meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the LORD.” 

John 14:3 – “That where I am, there you may be also.” 

IV HIS COMING/OUR HOPE

a)     Blessed Hope – Titus 2:13 – “looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” 

Luke 21:28 – “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” 

b)     Purifying Hope – 1 John 3:3 – “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 

I Peter 1:16 – “Be holy, for I am holy.” 

Romans 13:11-14 ”And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”