The Return of the King
When Jesus first came, it was to seek and to save
When Jesus returns, it will be to judge and bring justice
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Introduction
Jesus's Return is Our Blessed Hope
When Jesus first came to this world, He came not to condemn the world, but to seek and to save the lost. He did that by dying on the cross for the sins of the world and then rising from the dead. But Jesus did not remain on earth. He ascended into the clouds and will return in clouds also. When Jesus does return, it will not be to save the world, but to judge it, rule it and bring perfect justice. The book of Revelation describes this time as bitter-sweet. For followers of Christ, Jesus' return is our Blessed Hope and the consummation of all things when we will be forever with Him.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that 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."
Jesus - John 14
Judgement is not a popular topic, but without judgement there can be no justice. And our world is crying out for justice. So we must ask ourselves, when will perfect justice come? The answer is when King Jesus returns to make all things right. As we consider this topic, it is worth reminding ourselves that Jesus' Return is the next big event on God's calendar.
The Last Days
Where are we in God's Big Plan?
Warnings about the end of the world are not new. Even today, some climate alarmists have predicted that the world will end in 'x' number of years. Those dates have come and gone. In Christians circles, some believers have also predicted dates about the end of the world, and have likewise been proven wrong. Jesus clearly said that no man knows the day nor the hour of the Lord's return. The Last Days in Scripture are defined as the period of time from the Cross until Jesus return. In the big sweep of history, this is how things stand.
When 1st century believers asked about the last days, the Apostle Paul begins by describes the gospel going out to the ends of the earth. We know the missionary effort to the gentiles as the Great Commission of Acts 1:8. In Romans, Paul then unpacks the mystery of how Israel's rejection of Jesus as their Messiah will last until the gospel has been preached to all Gentiles.
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in
Romans 11:25
Today, through mapping and broadcast technology, all nations have heard the gospel is some form for several generations. Many gentile individuals and households heard the good news and turned to Jesus. As societies embraced the truth of God's Word, they even built their policies and social structures on a Christian worldview. But sadly, after embracing the truth, many individuals and nations are turning away. Scripture prophesies this rebellion or 'falling away' as a pre-cursor to Jesus' return.
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day (Jesus Return) will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Many in the West have observed a recent dramatic shift away from identifying as Christian and a re-embrace of pagan lawlessness. In Australia, the number of people professing identification with Christianity has fallen 30% in 10 years. This shift is also reflected in changing cultural norms and the explosion of LGBTQI+ identification. These are signs of the end times. However, the increase of gentiles deconstructing their faith also corresponds with a reemergence of Israel seeking their Messiah. False christs have deceived people since the 1st century, but in the last days a false christ will lead a significant and destructive rebellion. We need not fear. As believers, we can rest knowing that all of history is continuing to operate under the sovereign plan of our all powerful God.
Tribulation and Hope
The Lead Up to Jesus Return
Prior to Jesus' return, Scripture describes a period of great tribulation. This description is not isolated or generic. It will be a time of large scale deception, animosity and tragic events. The Bible compares this time to the Days of Noah, with humans indulging in debauchery and pleasures before being overcome with sudden destruction.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
But the Bible also provides hope for believers. Jesus promises to return for His bride, the church, to take us to be with Him - John 14. Scriptures describes this return as a catching up (rapture in latin). Without getting into the weeds, there are various views on the timing of events surrounding His return. Some say the rapture will occur before the tribulation (pre-tribulation), some say it will occur during the tribulation (mid-trib/pre-wrath), and some say it will occur after the tribulation when Jesus returns to judge and rule the earth (post tribulation). Each position can point to hints and patterns within Scripture as to that interpreted sequencing. Regardless, all Christians agree that when Jesus does return, it won't be a moment too soon, nor a moment too late.
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthian 15:51-52
We can rest with full assurance that Jesus will return. God does promise that the church will be spared His wrath, but He does not promise that the church will escape end times persecution. In fact He warns us of the opposite, that we will be persecuted for His name's sake. And so like Habbakuk, we cry, 'How Long O Lord'. Not out of doubt, but out of a longing hope for the fulfilment of God's promise of justice, peace and rest. This promise is for both believers who are living and those who have died.
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For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
As believers, as we observe individuals and nations fall away from the truth, we are to comfort and encourage each other with the sure promise of His return. For those of us who have lost loved ones to the grave, we look forward to our re-union with them. The momentary trials of this world's tribulations will be forgotten when we are re-united with all of God's family.
The Millennium
Jesus Return, His Judgement, Reign and Eternity
The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is a fascinating book written in apocalyptic language. Despite is many symbols, it describes the last days on earth as God brings judgement and separates the 'sheep' and the 'goats'. In Revelation 20, God describes a period of 1,000 years where Jesus reigns on earth, prior to the final judgement of all things. This 1,000 year period is called the millennium. During this time Satan is bound and God and His martyred saints rule world. As followers of Christ who long to live under the reign of King Jesus, this is a beautiful picture which we long for. Christians have wrestled over how and when the millennium will occur. There are 3 main views:
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Pre-millenial view: The world will experience a great falling away (tribulation) prior to Jesus return for His church and ushering in the millennium. Jesus will reign for 1,000 years over all before a final judgement and the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Post-millenial view: The gospel will be proclaimed to all the ends of the world until everything is brought under the Kingship of Jesus. At that point, Jesus will return and judge all things - bringing in the New Heaven and New Earth.
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A-millenial view: The 1,000 years is symbolic of a period of time of spiritual kingdom growth, like the last few hundred years of Western Civilisation. At the end of this period, Jesus will return to wrap up the world and bring in the Kingdom.
It should be noted that each of these views have a theological system of interpretation behind how they arrive at their conclusion of the order of end times events. Nevertheless, one day we will all know which view was correct. The most important interpretation is to commit to the Biblical truth that Jesus could return physically for the church at anytime. This is the same hope that 1st century believers longed for. Furthermore, we should know that heaven and hell are not metaphors or a metaverse. They are real and tangible places which should motivate how we live and journey through this present world.
In describing His coming Kingdom, Scripture used the term New Creation'. Just as the original creation in which we live in today is real with trees, grass, water, sky and animals, so the new creation will also be a physical place.Revelation even provides dimensional details of our eternal home. If God created this world in six days, just imagine how magnificent heaven will be when He has been preparing it for us for 2,000 years. The sure nature of Jesus' return and our home in heaven provides the believer real certainty and hope for the future. Furthermore, just like Jesus, we will have resurrection bodies that can eat and enjoy fellowship. These bodies will not live under the curse of the Fall, but are perfectly designed for an eternity of joy with Jesus.
Prepared for Eternity
Living for His Return
The hope of Jesus return is both a comfort and a purifying motivation for how we live. We are warned that many people will mock us for believing in our Saviours' return. But derision of God's judgement is not new nor to be unexpected. It comes from the same people who deny God as their Creator. God says that whereas he previous judged the world through a flood, in the end, His final judgement will be through fire.
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world of that time perished in the flood. And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
2 Peter 3:3-5, 10
The topic of judgement is sobering. But we rest assured that our all-knowing and all-seeing God will judge justly and righting at the Great White Throne judgement. On that day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. There will be no grounds to accuse God of not being worthy for all His judgement will be true and correct. As believers, we rest in assurance that Jesus death of the cross has already fully absorbed God's judgement on our behalf. Therefore, we need not fear that day. Rather in light of knowing God, we should purpose to live soberly and rightly in this present world.
When God does chose to usher in eternity, we will rejoice. No longer will we live under the thumb of successive Babylons, but we will live with the True and Living God.
