Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim
The Second Coming of Christ
Luke 21:25-28

Introduction
I believe Jesus Christ is. was, and always will be the second person of the Trinity. Jesus is the eternal Son of God, Messiah and returning Lord. In the Old Testament the Messiah - Christ is promised and He comes to this earth. In the New Testament Jesus promises to return to this earth.

I believe His return will be in two phases. I believe in what is called the rapture of the church where Christ comes in the air and takes His people out of this earth. Then there will be a seven year tribulation period, and then Christ will return in power and glory for all to see. The text tells some details of the Lords return when all shall see Him.

    Christians Look Up and See the . . Shaking.

        Christians Lift Up and See the . . Savior.

        Christians Live It Up and See . . Salvation.
 

1.    Christians Look Up and See the . . Shaking. 21:25-26
    25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

A.    Signs and . . Shaking. v 25
    25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

B.    Shivering and . . Shaking. v 26
    26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

    Matt 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

    Mark 13:25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in heaven will be shaken. NKJV

    2 Peter 3:10-13 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. NKJV

    Rev 6:12-17 12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,  16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" NKJV

    There will be a whole lot of shaking going on, and it will be in the sky and not in the barn

Illustration
When Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius there were people everywhere that were buried by the ashes. Some were found in attics, others were in cellars, obviously trying to find a secure place. Guess where one Roman sentinel however was found?

Standing at the city gate where he had been placed by the captain with his hands still clutching his weapon. There, while the earth shook beneath him, while the floods of ashes and cinders covered him, he had stood his post ... and even after a thousand years the impression of his body still standing there unmoved gives testimony to others of his faithfulness during his lifetime to his guard-duty! - Source Unknown

Application

The Children of God on earth at this time need to be examples of confident believers at the times of Christ Return. They will know some things can not be shaken.

Today we need to display similar confidence in the Lord.

Heb 12:27-29 27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire. NKJV
 
 

2.    Christians Lift Up and See the . . Savior. 21:27
    27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

A.    See the Savior in the . . Means of His Coming. v 27 a
        "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud . . ."

B.    See the Savior in the . . Manner of His Coming. v 27 b
        ". . . with power and great glory."

Illustration
Peace-loving Francis of Assisi joined the Fifth Crusade in Egypt, though he did not fight. He risked his life crossing enemy lines to preach to Muslim sultan Malik-al-Kamil. The sultan did not convert, but he offered Francis riches (declined) and had him escorted back to the Christian camp. -- "The Crusades," Christian History, Issue 40.

Illustration
A compass is narrow-minded-it always points to the magnetic north. It seems that is a very narrow view, but a compass is not broad-minded. If it were, all the ships at sea and all the planes in the air would be in danger.

We must discipline ourselves, personally, to fight any deviation from the course Jesus set for us. We cannot be tolerant of any other course. To deviate is to sin. -- Billy Graham (1918- )

Application

When the believer focuses on Christ and Him alone they will be brave in the midst of a world shaking all around and above them.
 
 

3.    Christians Live It Up and See . . Salvation. 21:28
    28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

A.    The . . Command to See Our Salvation. v 28 a
    "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, . . ."

B.    The . . Countenance of Seeing Our Salvation. v 28 b
    ". . . because your redemption draws near."

1 Peter 1:4-5 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. NKJV

Illustration
The great newspaper publisher of the early 20th century, William Randolph
Hearst, was a great patron of ART works, he spent a great deal of time and money collecting great works of art. One day he found a description of an artwork that he felt he must own so he sent agents around the world looking for it. After months of searching for this one piece overseas they returned empty-handed, but they discovered some amazing information. The art work was actually near-by, it was found in a warehouse owned by William Randolph Hearst!!!

HE ALREADY OWNED IT BUT HAD FAILED YEARS EARLIER TO UNCRATE IT. HE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR A TREASURE HE ALREADY HAD BUT DIDN'T REALIZE HE HAD IT! - Source Unknown

Illustration
During the American Civil War rival armies were encamped on the opposite sides of the Potomac River. The Union band one night began to play one of its patriotic tunes to annoy the Confederates on the other shore. In response the Confederate band began to play one of its own tunes dear to the hearts of southerners. In the midst of this competition some other band suddenly struck up the tune, "HOME SWEET HOME."

Suddenly, the competition ceased and both sides began to sing "HOME SWEET HOME" ... both the Union band and Confederate bands joining in. Soon voices from both sides of the river could be heard singing, "THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME," Like them, the church in spite of our many differences have the same home we are going to, we have a common destiny. We may as well sing the same tune now in spite of our differences! - Source Unknown

When the Second Coming of Christ Occurs all believers will be HOME in the SWEETEST HOME THEY HAVE EVER SEEN.

    Christians Look Up and See the . . Shaking.

        Christians Lift Up and See the . . Savior.

            Christians Live It Up and See . . Salvation.