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GOD’S PLAN IS UNFOLDING
A. Introduction: We are living at the end of this age, in what the Bible calls the last time or the last days,
the years leading up to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The last days began when Jesus came to
earth the first time and they will culminate when He returns to establish His visible, eternal kingdom on
earth. Acts 2:12; Heb 1:1-2; I John 2:18; Jude 17-18; etc.
1. The Bible makes it clear that the period of time immediately preceding Jesus’ return will be filled
with tribulation unlike anything the world has ever seen. Jesus Himself said so. Matt 24:21-22
a. Jesus said that peoples’ hearts will fail them for fear of what is happening on the earth. But He
told His followers: Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads
because your redemption (salvation) is drawing near (Luke 21:28, Amp). The Greek word
translated look up has the idea of being elated in joyous expectation.
b. You can only respond this way if you know what is happening and why. We are taking some
time to examine what the Bible says about why Jesus is returning and what it means for us, so
that despite the increasing chaos in the world, we can be elated in joyous expectation.
2. To be excited about Jesus’ return, we first need to understand that a plan is unfolding, a plan
conceived in eternity past, God’s plan for a family. Your life is not random; we are part of His plan.
a. God created human beings to live in loving relationship with Him, as His holy sons and
daughters. He created the earth to be a home for Himself and His family. The Bible begins
and ends with God on earth with His family. Eph 1:4-5; Gen 2-3; Rev 21-22
b. However, neither humanity nor the earth is as God created or intended them to be. Both have
been damaged by sin. When the first man (Adam) sinned, the entire creation (humanity and the
earth) was infused with corruption and death. Rom 5:12; Gen 3:17-19
c. Jesus came to earth two thousand years ago to begin of the process of recovering and restoring
God’s creation (both the family and the family home) by dying as a sacrifice for sin.
1. Because of His sacrificial death, when a person acknowledges Jesus as Savior and Lord, God
can cleanse that person of sin, and then indwell them by His Spirit. This makes him or her
God’s son or daughter, through what the Bible calls a new or second birth. John 1:12-13
2. All who believe on Jesus are now God’s children, but none of us are yet all that we’re meant
to be in character and behavior. Our bodies are still subject to sickness, old age, and death,
and the family home (this earth) is still filled with suffering, disaster, hardship, and death.
3. When Jesus left this world, His first message to His followers was: I’ll be back (Acts 1:9-11).
Jesus is coming back to complete God’s plan to recover His family (human beings) and the family
home (this entire planet) from sin, corruption, and death and set up His eternal kingdom on earth.
a. When Jesus returns He will bring full (complete) salvation to the world: Heb 9:26-28—(Jesus)
came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial
death for us (NLT)…(He) will appear a second time, not carrying any burden of sin nor to deal
with sin, but to bring full salvation to those who are (eagerly, constantly and patiently) waiting
for and expecting Him (Amp).
b. Full salvation includes resurrection of the dead (the reuniting of the inward and outward portions
of our makeup that separate at death), restoration of the earth (the family home), and a return to
pre-sin conditions, with all sin, corruption and death forever removed. God Himself will come
to live with His family forever in the world He made to be our home.
c. John, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, was shown the end of God’s plan of redemption in a vision
which he recorded in the Book of Revelation. John saw the earth renewed and restored.
1. Rev 21:1—Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth
had disappeared (NLT). The Greek word that is translated new in these verses is kainos. It
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means new in quality and superior in character—not something that never existed before.
2. Rev 21:2-3—I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven… I
heard a loud shout from the throne saying, Look, the home of God is now among his people!
He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them (NLT).
3. Rev 21:4-5—He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow
or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever. And the one who sat on
the throne said, Look, I am making all things new (NLT).
4. Possibly you are wondering why Jesus told that first generation of Christians that He was coming
back when He knew that He would not return in their lifetimes.
a. First, a quick side note: What about the verse that says that no man knows when the end will
come, not even the angels in Heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father knows. Mark 13:32
1. Jesus is God Incarnate—God become fully man without ceasing to be God. Jesus incarnated
(took on a human nature) so that He could die for the sins of mankind. Heb 2:14-15
2. When Jesus made the above statement, He was speaking as a human. Jesus, as a man, didn’t
know the time of His return, but in His Deity, Jesus was and is Omniscient or all knowing.
b. Jesus wants every generation to have the hope that comes from knowing we’re part of something
bigger than ourselves. Paul the apostle called Jesus’ return our blessed hope. Titus 2:13
1. This hope helps us face the pain and loss of life in a fallen, broken world because we live
with the awareness that everything in this life is temporary, we’re only passing through this
world in its present condition, and what is ahead far surpass even our best days on earth.
And, we know that reunion, restoration, and reward await us in the life to come.
2. Rom 8:18-21—Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us
later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day…All creation anticipates the day
when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay (NLT).
5. To fully appreciate how the Bible can help us deal with the hardships of life more effectively
(especially the worsening conditions in the world), we have to understand what the Bible is.
a. The Bible is a collection of sixty-six books inspired by God, that altogether tell the story of
God’s desire for a family and the lengths He’s gone to, to recover His family from sin,
corruption, and death through Jesus. II Tim 3:16; John 5:39
1. It’s a gradual revelation of God’s unfolding plan of salvation and restoration. It gives the
beginning, middle, and end of the story, which gives us understanding and hope. Rom 15:4
2. The Bible was written over a 1500 year period, by over 40 authors, who lived on three
different continents. It is 50% history, 25% prophecy, and 25% instruction for living.
b. God has been talking about the end since the beginning. The first book in the Bible reveals that
when the first humans (Adam and Eve) disobeyed God, and corruption and death entered all of
creation, God immediately promised that the Seed of the woman would come and undo the
damage done (Gen 3:15). The Seed is Jesus (Gal 3:16) and the woman is Mary (Luke 1:35).
1. The rest of the Old Testament is the history of the people group that Jesus was born into (the
Jews). As God interacted with them, He gave them numerous prophecies about His plan.
2. Jesus’ first followers were Jewish. They understood from the Scriptures that the promised
Seed was coming to earth to establish His eternal kingdom and renew and restore the earth.
B. Jesus’ apostle Peter, in a sermon given after Jesus left this world, said: (Jesus will remain in Heaven)
until the time for the complete restoration of all that God spoke by the mouth of all His holy prophets for
ages past—from the most ancient time in the memory of man (Acts 3:20-21, Amp).
1. Let’s look at a few statements made by the prophets about the restoration of the world. This will
help us understanding the mindset of the first Christians and why they had hope for their future.
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a. A man named Enoch lived during the last 308 years of Adam’s life (Gen 5:22-24). The Book of
Jude says that Enoch prophesied about the removal of false teachers at the end of this age.
1. Jude 14:15—Enoch, who lived seven generations after Adam, prophesied…(that) Lord is
coming with thousands of his holy ones. He will bring the people of the world to judgment.
He will convict the ungodly of all the evil things they have done in rebellion and of all the
insults that the godless sinners have spoken against him (NLT).
2. A quick side note. The Book of Enoch was an ancient text known in the 1st century AD.
Both the rabbis and the church fathers quoted from it. It was considered recommended
reading, but never part of inspired Scripture. It was largely forgotten by about AD 700.
3. There has been a revived interest in the book in recent years. It is not on the same level as
inspired Scripture (the Bible), and it doesn’t contain special knowledge needed for salvation,
b. The prophet Moses compiled the Book of Job, a book based on an account of a man who lived
more than four hundred years before Moses, and two thousand years before Jesus.
1. Job was not part of the Jewish people, but he knew that a Redeemer was coming, and that he
(Job) would one day be resurrected and stand with his Redeemer on this earth.
2. Moses quoted Job as saying: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon
the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God. I will see
him for myself with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought (Job 19:25-27, NLT).
c. Isaiah the prophet wrote about the new heavens and new earth seven centuries before Jesus was
born. In the context of Israel’s sin of persistent, unrepentant idol worship, Isaiah wrote that God
would not abandon them and there was hope and restoration for them when the Redeemer comes.
1. Isa 65:17—(The Lord says) I am creating new heavens and a new earth; everything of the
past will be forgotten (CEV). The Hebrew word translated new means renewed, refreshed.
2. Isaiah wrote that earth will return to Eden-like conditions (Isa 35:1-7; Isa 51:3; Isa 55:12-13).
In that day, the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard and the goat will be at peace.
Calves and yearlings will be safe among lions, and a little child will lead them all…cattle
will graze among the bears…Lions will eat grass as the livestock do. Babies will crawl
safely among poisonous shakes. A little child will put its hands in a nest of deadly snakes
and pull it out unharmed. Nothing will hurt or destroy (Isa 11:6-9, NLT).
2. Jesus’ first followers knew from reading the prophets that, prior to the Redeemer’s coming to set up
His kingdom and restore the earth, there will be calamity on the earth. But information in the Old
Testament assured them that God will preserve His people through the turmoil.
a. The prophet Daniel was the first to use the term Son of man for the coming Redeemer who will
set up an everlasting kingdom: I (Daniel) saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son
of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him
near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people,
nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall
not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall never be destroyed (Dan 7:13-14, KJV).
b. Daniel was also the first to use the term Messiah for the coming Redeemer (Dan 9:24-26), and
the first to describe a final world ruler now commonly called the Antichrist (Dan 7:7-8; 11) who
will be defeated by the Promised One.
1. Daniel’s book is sometimes called the Old Testament’s Book of Revelation. Much of the
Book of Revelation is actually an elaboration of the information first given to Daniel.
2. Daniel wrote that at the time of the end: There will be a time of anguish greater than any
since nations first came into existence. But at that time, every one…whose name is written
in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up,
some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt (Dan 12:1-2, NLT).
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A. We said last week that a few days before Jesus was crucified, He told His apostles that
the Temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed (Matt 24:1-2). They connected that event
to the time when the Lord comes to set up His kingdom and restore earth. (They didn’t
know He was talking about Rome’s destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.)
B. The apostles knew from the Scriptures that tribulation will precede the Lord’s return.
But they also knew that God will preserve His people: (Then) the God of heaven will set
up a kingdom that will never be destroyed (Dan 2:44, NLT); anyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved (Joel 2:32, NLT).
c. Note how Daniel’s book ends: I (Daniel) asked, How will all this finally end, My lord? But he
said: Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is for the time of the end…As for you, go your way
until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of days, you will rise again to receive the full
inheritance (full salvation) set aside for you (Dan 12:8-13, NLT).
3. Peter, many years later, wrote an epistle to Christians who were experiencing persecution for their
faith that was about to get worse. In the context of this kind of increasing tribulation, Peter
encouraged them by reminding them of the big picture and the end of the plan—full salvation.
a. I Pet 1:3-5—All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is his boundless
mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again (present salvation). Now we live with
a wonderful expectation because Jesus rose from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless
inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach
of change and decay. And God, by his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this
(future) salvation, because you are trusting in him. It will be revealed on the last day (NLT).
b. I Peter 1:10-11—This salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They
prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they had many questions
as to what it could all mean. They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking
about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward (Ps
22: 6; Isa 53; Dan 9:26). They wondered when and to whom all this would happen (NLT).
c. I Pet 1:12-13—They were told that these things would not happen during their life time, but
many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been announced by those who
preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit…It is all so wonderful that even the angels are
eagerly watching these things happen. So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look
forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ (NLT).
4. The first generation of Christians (many of whom were eyewitnesses of Jesus) lived their lives with
an awareness that they only passing through this world in its present condition. This perspective
gave them hope and courage in the midst of frightening times. It will do the same for us.
C. Conclusion: There’s a generation that will see the Lord’s return. It could be us. The Bible has a lot
to say about world conditions at Jesus’ return (future lessons). Consider these thoughts as we close.
1. Whether or not we see Jesus’ return, hard times are ahead as the world moves closer to the closing
days of this age, because those conditions won’t come out of a vacuum. Many are setting up now.
2. Knowledge from God’s Word (the big picture, the unfolding plan) assures us that nothing is out of
control in the sense that it surprises God. And He really will get us through until He gets us out.
a. This doesn’t mean that there is no help for our present problems. However, the greatest help
comes from having an eternal perspective and living with the awareness that this life is
temporary. Even if you have a problem free life in this life, old age and death take it away.
b. The greater and better part of life is after this life once God’s plan is completed. In the life to
come there won’t be any loss or death. Whether or not Jesus returns in our lifetime, the hope of
what is ahead helps us keep this life in perspective and lightens the load of life’s hardships.
