Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

In Part 2 of our series the Coming King we are going to dive into the question from the disciples to Jesus of the signs of His coming, and the end of the age. My hope is to bring simplistic understanding of what the scripture says, but we must also lay some theological foundation today as part of the message.

To understand the nature of the second coming of Christ we need to first lay some groundwork. The theological word used for the arrival of Christ 2000 years ago was the word advent. It simply means the coming or second coming of Christ. The first advent of Jesus was 2000 years ago as baby born in Bethlehem.

This event is what we refer to as the incarnation. Literally, the doctrine that in Jesus of Nazareth God took on human flesh and became the divine God-man. During Jesus earthly ministry, He spoke of His second coming. Which we could also call His second advent.

For many the second coming of Christ often brings up the thought of the rapture. While the rapture certainly deals with events that will happen in the end it is not the fullness of the second coming of Christ. There are two distinguishing events between the rapture and the second coming.

This is what we will look at today.

The Rapture is characterized by in the New Testament as a translation or resurrection coming in which the Lord comes for His church, taking her to His Father’s house.

Remember, that I shared with you in the Parable of the wise and foolish virgins that the concept of the rapture is similar in reference to an Eastern wedding. The bride lived in a state of readiness for the return of the groom. When the father gave the command the bridegroom would go to the home of the bride and with gladness brings the bride to his own home for the marriage supper.

Notice the reference. I go to prepare a place for you. This statement would have been understood by the hearers of the time because the groom would go back to His Father’s house, build a room for Himself and the bride. When everything was ready, He would go and receive the bride to Himself.

A major distinction found in this verse vs. the second coming of Christ that Jesus himself describes in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 is that with the rapture of the Church He will receive the bride to himself, that where He is, we will be also. In this context, location matters. Where is Jesus currently? With the Father.

When He comes for his bride, it is to take her to be with Him where He is, not to remain with her where she is.

The Apostle Paul speaking to the church at Thessalonica also spoke of the catching away of the Church in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Those who have prepared themselves for the groom will enter what Revelation 19:9 refers to as the marriage supper of the lamb.

During this time the earth is experiencing what is called the tribulation. During the tribulation there are seven years. These seven years are broken into two parts. The first half is known as the tribulation the second half is known as the great tribulation. During this time God will pour out His wrath upon the earth. There will be great distress and upheaval. People will be filled with fear at the judgements of God.

The antichrist will come to power. He will rule the world for 7 years. Halfway through the seven years he will require a mark to buy and sell. This mark is a pledge of allegiance to the anti-Christ. During the great tribulation the Anti-Christ will plot to do battle with the Lamb of God. He will be unsuccessful.

The events of the tribulation leading up to the second coming of Jesus are described by Jesus in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Remember, the disciples asked two questions. What will be the sign of your coming, and the end of the age? His second advent or return to earth will be at the end of the tribulation time period. Let’s look at what Jesus says in Matthew 24:4-27.

This time is marked by deception. Many claiming to be Christ. There are wars and rumors of wars. Societal upheaval, famines, plagues, and earthquakes. These are simply the beginning of sorrows.

For those who surrender their lives to Jesus after the rapture it will be a time marked by persecution. They will be delivered to tribulation and death. They will be hated for His name’s sake. There will be false prophets, and lawlessness, but the Gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world for a witness, and then the end will come.

A major distinguishing mark of His second coming is that it will be visible to everyone. He said in Matthew 24:27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” The whole world will see His coming.

The rapture is imminent. Happening at any moment without sign, and it will happen faster than you can blink. 1 Corinthians 15:52 “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

At His second coming there is no translation of the saints. Those who have been caught up previously return with Him to the earth. His second coming affects all.

This second coming sets the stage for the millennial reign of Christ. At the rapture the Lord comes for His saints. At the second coming the Lord comes with His saints. He will rule and reign over the nations until the time when all things are made new, and a new heaven and new earth come.

Here is a final caveat for this message. There are differing positions on the placement and time of the rapture. What I have presented to you today is pre-tribulation rapture based on the imminent return of Christ. There are arguments made for mid or post tribulation rapture.

Here is the truth. Despite all the studying. No one can say with 100% certainty when it will be. What I can say with 100% certainty is that we each need to live ready to meet him no matter when He comes. If he takes the church before tribulation, you will need to be ready. If he takes the church at the end of the tribulation or anywhere in between you need to live ready.

Your faith must be rooted and grounded in love. You must know why and who you believe in. You must have faith that can withstand anything that comes your way. Whether its persecution or the threat of death. We each must prepare ourselves and be wise with the time that we have.

If any of us think we will prepare at some other time and put off what is needed today, we will end up like the 5 foolish virgins who were not ready to meet the Lord. It is up to us individually to seek the kingdom of God, and His ways. To live surrendered in everything we do. To have a faith that’s been tested and tried in the fire.

If we live this way, we will be ready to meet the Lord no matter when He comes. He has promised us that His grace would be sufficient for us, and that greater is He who lives in us than He that is in the world.

Today, lets choose to live ready to meet the Lord.