10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
10250 North Freeway @ West
Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
What
We Believe and Why
Written by Dr.
Lester Hutson
Copyright
- Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced
without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
THE
LORD'S RETURN
ACTS 1:11
We believe in a literal second coming of Jesus Christ. His appearance is our hope; and we believe His appearance will be soon and will greatly alter the complexion of this whole world.
I. We believe in a personal, audible, visible, bodily return of our Lord to this earth:
A. Jesus Himself said He'd return:
1. Matt. 16:27 While on earth, He spoke of coming again.
2. Matt. 25:31-32 Note that "Son of man is used, thus specifies Him.
3. Jn. 14:2-3 is said to refer to His going to Calvary to prepare a way; but it also well establishes the second coming.
4. In Jn. 21:22-23 Jesus told His disciples that He'd return; as if the second coming was a foregone conclusion.
B. Heavenly beings testified of a second coming:
1. Acts 1:10-11 They told the disciples He'd return.
2. Notice that they said "this same Jesus." The Christ of Calvary will return.
C. The apostles were inspired to be sure of a return of Christ:
1. Paul wrote of the return:
a. Phil. 3:20 says he looked for the saviour from heaven.
b. Titus 2:13-14 said he looked for Him who gave himself for us.
c. Heb. 9:28 says He shall appear.
2. James said be patient in waiting for His coming. Jam. 5:7.
3. Peter looked for His return, II Pet. 1:16-17. (He points attention back to the transfiguration which foreshadows the second coming.)
4. Jude prophesied of His coming. Jude 14-15.
5. John looked forward to His return:
a. I Jn. 2:28 says be ready at His coming.
b. Rev. 1:7 also announces the return.
D. This also establishes the point that His coming shall be a very literal, visible one:
1. Rev. 1:7 Note well that all shall see Him. (Not imaginary).
2. Acts 1:10-11 He will return "in like manner" as he left. This was certainly a very visible, bodily ascension.
3. Zech. 14:1-4 establishes the literality of the appearance.
4. Rev. 19:11-21 There can be little doubt about how literal this is.
E. All this business about the second coming being figurative, symbolic, etc. is nonsense and without scriptural support.
II. The literal return is a blessed hope to the saved:
A. Titus 2:12-13 calls it a blessed hope and says it causes us to live soberly.
B. I Pet. 1:3-5 says He rose and gives us hope of resurrection and rewards with Him.
C. I Jn. 3:1-3 That hope makes us keep ourselves pure.
D. Jam. 5:7-8 That hope gives us ability to be patient.
III. The second coming of Christ is imminent:
A. The fact that it is imminent means it could occur at any time:
1. We know that it shall occur; we don't know just when.
2. It is impossible for us to date the appearance. (Mt. 24:36) (But, this being true, we cannot rule out any date.)
B. The Bible shows us that the second coming could be at any time:
1. Mt. 24:42-44 Jesus warned the disciples that the appearance could be at any time. (He warns us not to grow confident thinking it would be a long way off.)
2. The 7 mystery parables of Mt. 13 show that sooner or later a climax to the earth will occur. Vs. 30--No one can say when the harvest will be; but it will be.
3. Mt. 25:19 In anticipation of the return, this text shows that they knew the Lord of the harvest would return, but they didn't know when.
4. In Rev. 16:15 Jesus warned, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments... "
5. In the very excellent passage by Paul (I Thes. 5:1-4), Paul said the appearance will be sudden, but it should not overtake us unawares. We have the warnings that the time is near and will soon be. Let us, therefore, watch.
So in view of the testimony of God's word, we do look for the soon visible, personal, literal second coming of our Lord. We can say with Paul in Phil. 3:20, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"