Personalities of the Apocalypse

The VictorLesson 8 08/16/15

Introduction:Because of the abundant grace we experience every moment of our lives, we often forget about God’s justice. Or worse, we try to turn the tables and judge God for His justice, accusing Him of being overly harsh and unloving.

Introduction:For many people, the idea of a judging God is a deal breaker – an excuse to reject Christianity.

Introduction:How could we call God “good” if He forever allowed evil to corrupt the world He created and pronounced to be good? The Bible gives us some key details about the way Christ will return to earth in judgment and justice.

The Priority of His Return

Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:30

8:1

8:1• Scholars have identified 1,845 biblical

references to the Second Coming.

8:1• Scholars have identified 1,845 biblical

references to the Second Coming.

• In the Old Testament, Christ’s return is emphasized in 17 books.

8:1• Scholars have identified 1,845 biblical

references to the Second Coming.

• In the Old Testament, Christ’s return is emphasized in 17 books.

• In the New Testament, Christ’s return is emphasized in 23 of the 27 books.

8:1• Seven out of every 10 chapters in the New

Testament mention Jesus’ return.

8:1• Seven out of every 10 chapters in the New

Testament mention Jesus’ return.

• One out of every 30 verses in the New Testament teaches us about the return of Jesus.

8:1• Seven out of every 10 chapters in the New

Testament mention Jesus’ return.

• One out of every 30 verses in the New Testament teaches us about the return of Jesus.

• In 1 & 2 Thessalonians the return of Christ is taught in every chapter.

8:1• The Lord Jesus Himself referred to His return

21 times.

8:1• The Lord Jesus Himself referred to His return

21 times.

• The Second Coming is second only to salvation as the most dominant subject in the New Testament.

I. The Priority of His ReturnThe fact that Christ’s Second Coming is so prominent is Scripture is an indication that this event is important to God – and should be to us.

The Prediction of His Return

As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 9:27-28

II. The Prediction of His Return“Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’”

Jude 14-15

Enoch

II. The Prediction of His Return“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” ~ Jude 14-15

Daniel

II. The Prediction of His Return“The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.’”

Zechariah 14:3-4

Zechariah

II. The Prediction of His Return“… Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Matthew 24:27, 29-31

Jesus

II. The Prediction of His Return“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:11

Angels

II. The Prediction of His Return“The Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.” ~ 2 Thess. 1:7-10

Paul

II. The Prediction of His Return“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.”

2 Thessalonians. 1:7-10

John

The Place of His ReturnIn that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.

Zechariah 14:4

III. The Place of His ReturnWhile we cannot know exactly when our Lord’s second coming will occur, we can know, without a doubt, where it will occur.

III. The Place of His Return“Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’” ~ 2 Peter 3:3-4

III. The Place of His ReturnChrist’s coming is certain. It is the time of His coming that is uncertain, known only to God the Father.

The Preparation for His Return

I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

Revelation 19:19

IV. The Preparation for His ReturnIn the final showdown, all the rebellion of the prior seven years will come to a head at the Battle of Armageddon.

IV. The Preparation for His ReturnIn this battle, the Antichrist, the kings of the earth, and the pitiful souls following them will gather together one last time to try to defeat Jesus Christ.

IV. The Preparation for His ReturnThe Beast, with the false prophet at his side, will lead the massive army in defying Christ’s authority and right to rule – the ultimate revolt against God.

The Portrayal of His Return

I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Revelation 19:11

V. The Portrayal of His ReturnThe first time He came to earth, Jesus appeared in obscurity. The second time, however, “every eye will see Him.”

V. The Portrayal of His ReturnChrist the victor looks like no other warrior in the history of the world.

V. The Portrayal of His Return• His Names

1. The Word of God

V. The Portrayal of His Return• His Names

2. Faithful and True

V. The Portrayal of His Return• His Names

3. Faithful and True Witness

V. The Portrayal of His Return• His Names

4. King of kings and LORD of lords

V. The Portrayal of His Return• His Eyes

Will pierce through the motives of nations and individuals and judge them for what they really are.

V. The Portrayal of His Return• His Crowns

Will point to the fact that no rule, might, or authority will be able to stand against Him. He will, in effect, wear the crown of every nation.

V. The Portrayal of His Return• His Robe

Speaks of the very essence of His victory – the redemption Jesus secured for us on the cross.

The People with Him at His Return

The armies in heaven clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Revelation 19:14

VI. The People with Him at His ReturnThese armies are the believers from all ages standing shoulder to shoulder in one massive force.

VI. The People with Him at His ReturnThey are dressed in clean, white linen which represents the righteousness of Christ. Jesus will wear the bloodstained garment so that we might wear the clean, pure garment.

The Purpose of His Return

In righteousness He judges and makes war.

Revelation 19:11

VII. The Purpose of His ReturnThe central purpose for Christ’s return to earth is to judge and make war.

VII. The Purpose of His ReturnWhen Christ returns, His long-suffering patience will have run its course. He will impose judgment on those who have defied Him, smite the ungodly from all nations, and establish His absolute rule.

The Punishment of His Return

I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people free and slave, both small and great.”

Revelation 19:17-18

VIII. The Punishment of His ReturnThe punishment of the wicked at this moment will be so horrific, and death so extensive, than an angel from heaven will summon the birds of the sky together for a grisly feast of human flesh.

VIII. The Punishment of His ReturnThose who fall in battle will be the “mighty men of the earth as well as free and slave, both small and great.” Death is the great leveler. It recognizes no rank, treating all equally.

The Penalty at His Return

The beast was captured, and with him the false prophet …. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of His who sat on the horse.

Revelation 19:20-21

IX. The Penalty at His ReturnThe word “captured” means “to grab or snatch,” meaning when the time comes the Lord will snatch up the beast and the false prophet and cast them into hell.

IX. The Penalty at His ReturnThe rest of the beast’s army will be killed with the sword and eventually be cast into hell at the conclusion of the Great White Throne judgment.