Sept 15 - The Return of the Lord
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Acts 1:11

This passage is speaking about the second part of Christ’s return, not the rapture.

I. There are two phases to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first is the rapture of the saints (not the church). (I have heard some people say the saints and the church is the same. They are not. Saints are saved people, while the church is the body of Christ. They say this because there is no mention of the church after Revelation 3, but there is mention of the saints, therefore their idea of a Post-Tribulation is bolstered.) The rapture will be followed by a seven year tribulation period in which God will once again deal with the world through the nation of Israel. The second phase of Christ's return to the earth is when He literally places His feet on Mt. Zion, and establishes His millennium reign.

A. The Fact of the rapture of the Saints. (The first part of Christ's return.) (This will happen at the beginning of the tribulation period. The tribulation period is when Christ deals with Israel.)

1. I Thess. 4:15-18 - Return in the Rapture of the Saints.

2. We are constantly admonished to be watchful for His return. This is the point that makes me believe in a rapture. If there is to be no rapture, there is no need for us to be watchful for His return in the air. People that stop looking for Jesus to return are like Peter who stopped looking at Jesus, looked at the waves, and began to sink.

a. Mark 13:33-37 – The word "watch" appears 4 times in these verses.

b. Luke 21:36 – Read verses 29-36 – Jesus is telling his disciples to watch for him, not for the tribulation, or any other event.

c. I Thess. 5:1-10 – See verse 6 – Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to watch for Jesus to return, as they look at the signs of the times all around them.

d. I Peter 4:7 – "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."

e. Rev. 3:3 – "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." The church at Sardis.

f. Notice the personal pronouns in I Thess 4:15-18. Paul is very sure that he will yet be alive when Christ returns.

g. Matt. 24:36-42 - Nobody knows when Christ will return. Tie these verses in with Matthew 25:13 (Parable of the ten virgins) and Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the talents).

h. Heb. 10:25 - People who don't attend church regularly aren't looking for Christ to return.

3. II Peter 3:3,4 - Scoffers about the Rapture and Return of Christ.

B. The Fact of the Second Return. (This happens at the end of the tribulation period, and saves Israel from destruction.)

1. Acts 1:9-11 - Scriptural proof that Christ will set his feet once again on this earth.

2. Zech. 14:33,4 - a description of Christ placing His feet on Mt. Zion.

II. We are living in the time before the rapture of the saints (not the rapture of the church). After the rapture, the next event on God's calendar is the seven year tribulation period in which Satan will rule over this entire world. We are living in the time period when Satan is slowly gaining control over all facets of this world's operation.

A. Satan's kingdom.

1. Luke 4:5,6 - Jesus Christ admits that Satan has been given a time to rule this world.

2. I John 2:18,19 - Those of the Anti-Christ movement will go away from God's Word. Its participants started Satan's kingdom many years ago, back in the Garden of Eden, and it continues until this day.

a. II Thess 2:3 - There will be a great falling away from the truth.

b. II Tim. 3:1-7 - There will be perilous times in the last days.

c. II Tim. 4:3,4 - Some that say they are believers will turn their ears from the truth.

d. Isaiah 32:5 - We are now living in a time when good is called evil and evil is called good.

B. This is why we see so many terrible things taking place today.

1. Daniel 7:25 - Satan is "wearing out" the saints of the most high.

2. Many international governments are flocking to endorse the United Nations.

3. Marriage between lost and saved has increased like they did in the days of Noah.

4. Homosexuals are gaining their "rights" like they did in the days of Lot.

5. Abortion is being used as birth control.