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HEED THE SIGNS OF HIS COMING
A. Introduction: We are currently working on a series about the second coming of Jesus and have more to
say tonight. The second coming is a foundational Christian doctrine or teaching (Heb 6:1-2). Jesus’
first message to His followers after He returned to Heaven was: I’ll be back (Acts 1:9-11).
1. The second coming is part of the gospel that the apostles (eyewitnesses of Jesus) preached. All but
four New Testament books mention the second coming (three of the four are short personal letters).
a. The first Christians lived with the awareness that Jesus is coming back to this world, and it
profoundly affected them and the way they lived. Paul the apostle wrote: We are filled with
hope, as we wait for the returns of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13, CEV).
b. Knowing that Jesus is coming back is a tremendous source of hope in this very challenging life,
because His return will mean the permanent end of everything that hurts and harms in this world.
1. Sadly, many people are robbed of this hope because of lack of teaching about why Jesus is
coming back and what it will mean for those who believe in Him.
2. Second coming is a broad term that includes a number of events that will happen over a
period of time at the end of this age. People tend to focus on individual events that aren’t
yet clearly explained, and they miss the big picture, which is where hope comes from.
2. Here’s the big picture. God desires a family. He created human beings to become His sons and
daughters through faith in Him, and He made this world to be a home for Himself and His family.
a. Sin has damaged the family and the family home. Because of sin, humans are disqualified from
the family, and the earth is infused with a curse of corruption and death. As a result, everything
deteriorates and breaks down. And all living things grow old and die. Rom 5:12; Gen 3:17-19
b. Jesus came into this world two thousand years ago to begin the process of recovering (saving,
redeeming) God’s family and the family home from sin and its effects.
1. When Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice for sin, He opened the way for all who believe in
Him to be restored to God’s family as His sons and daughters. II Pet 3:18; John 1:12-13
2. At the Cross, Jesus activated God’s plan to recover His family and the family home. Jesus’
sacrifice was effective, but the plan is not yet complete. People still get sick, injured, old,
and die. And the earth is still filled with wickedness, deterioration, corruption, and death.
A. Jesus is coming back to complete what began at the Cross. He will bring full, complete
salvation. 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 and restoration of the earth to pre-sin
conditions. The Lord will then come to establish His eternal kingdom on earth and live
with His resurrected family in the family home. Heaven and earth will come together.
c. Not long after Jesus returned to Heaven, Peter the apostle (an eyewitness of Jesus) preached to a
crowd in Jerusalem that Jesus “must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of
all things, as God promised long ago through his prophets” (Acts 3:20-21, NLT).
1. God has been talking about full salvation (full restoration) since the first man (Adam) sinned
and brought corruption and death into the world. The Old Testament prophets wrote about
resurrection of the dead, restoration of the earth, and God’s eternal kingdom on earth.
2. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born into this world, Isaiah the prophet prophesied
about the completion of God’s plan for His family. Isa 65:17-18—Look, I am creating a
new (renewed) heaven and a new (refreshed) earth—so wonderful that no one will ever think
about the old ones anymore (NLT)…nothing will hurt or destroy (Isa 11:9, NLT).
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3. Both the Old and New Testament make it clear that the period of time immediately preceding the
Lord’s return will be filled with tribulation unlike anything the world has ever seen.
a. Two days before Jesus was crucified, He Himself said: There will be a time of greater horror
than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again. In fact, unless that time of
calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed (Matt 24:21-22, NLT).
b. Jesus said that men’s 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 is drawing near (Luke 21:28, Amp).
c. The Greek word that is translated look up has the idea of being elated in joyous expectation.
You can’t respond this way if you don’t see the big picture.
4. We pointed out last week that when the first man, Adam sinned, not only did corruption and death
infuse the earth, the governmental structure of the world changed. Satan became the god of this
world and established a counterfeit kingdom on earth. Luke 4:6; II Cor 4:4; John 12:31
a. Part of the process of restoring the earth includes removing this counterfeit kingdom. Removal
will take place when Jesus brings full salvation. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus
defeated the Devil (broke his power), but he has not yet been subjugated (removed from human
contact and forced to submit). Satan still has power over all who are in his kingdom.
b. Prior to the Lord’s return, Satan will offer the world a false Messiah, a Satan inspired and
empowered man, in an attempt to prevent Jesus, the rightful King, from taking control of earth.
c. This false Christ will preside over a worldwide system of government, economy, and religion.
The actions of this man and the responses of the world to him will produce the chaos and
tribulation of these final years leading up to Jesus’ return. Rev 13
1. II Thess 2:9-10—This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and
signs and miracles. He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on
their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them (NLT).
2. II Thess 2:3-4—(He) is the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy
every god there is (and) position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is
God (NLT).
B. Not long before Jesus was crucified, He began to prepare His apostles for the fact that He was going to
leave them. But He also assured them that He would return one day to establish His kingdom on earth.
1. Two days before His crucifixion, Jesus told the apostles that the Temple in Jerusalem was going to
be destroyed (Matt 24:2). These men were not devastated by Jesus’ words because they knew from
the prophets that, before the Lord establishes His eternal Kingdom on earth, there will be tribulation,
with much of it centering around Jerusalem. Zech 12; 13; 14
a. But they also knew from the prophets that when the tribulation is over: The Lord will be King
over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped (Zech
14:9, NLT)…and anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Joel 2:32, NLT).
b. The apostles simply asked Jesus: Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the
signs of Your coming, and of the end of the age (Matt 24:3, NKJV).
2. Jesus gave them a number of signs that will indicate His return is near (lessons for another day).
The first sign He gave (and the only one He mentioned more than once) was religious deception,
specifically false Christs who proclaim a false Christianity.
a. Matt 24:4-5; 11; 24—Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name,
saying, ‘I am Christ,’ and will deceive many…and many false prophets will arise and deceive
many…For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to
deceive, if possible, even the elect (NKJV).
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b. These false Christs and prophets won’t be wild-eyed, crazy people. Paul the apostle wrote that
they will be appealing, seductive people who have departed from the true faith. The Greek
word that is translated deceive means to roam (from safety, truth, or virtue). Note Paul’s words:
1. I Tim 4:1—The Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from
what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons (NLT).
2. II Tim 3:1-5—In the last days…(people) will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God…they
will consider nothing sacred…and love pleasure more than God. They will act as if they are
religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly (NLT),
3. II Tim 4:3-4—(In the last days) a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right
teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them
whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth (NLT).
A. Notice that this deception is self-imposed because people don’t want to submit to their
Creator and King and obey His moral Law. They reject the truth and the power of God.
B. Eph 2:2—(Paul reminded Christians) You used to live just like the rest of the world, full
of sin, obeying Satan, mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit that is at
work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God (NLT).
3. Even now we are now witnessing the development and rapid growth of a false religion, a false
Christianity, that will welcome the final world ruler, the ultimate false Christ.
a. This false religion seems like a new form of Christianity because it refers to Jesus and quotes
Scripture. But it denies basic teachings of the Christian faith and seems more inclusive, loving,
and non-judgmental than orthodox Christianity (what Jesus and the apostles taught).
1. This new form talks about Jesus, but not Jesus as He is revealed in Scripture. It credits Him
as a good teacher and moral example, but does not insist that you believe He is God or rose
from the dead. Many say the resurrection is an allegory rather than a historical reality.
2. This false form of Christianity quotes passages from the Bible, but they are taken out of
context. It also claims that many passages shouldn’t be taken literally.
3. This new “Christianity” claims there are many paths to God, and it doesn’t matter what you
believe or how you live, as long as you’re since and trying to be a good person. They say
it’s really all about love, and we each can have our own definition of what it means to love.
b. It has become increasingly common to hear people make statements like the following about
Jesus. All of them are false, but they sound right—if you don’t know what the Bible says.
1. Jesus just wants us to love each other (false statement). The truth, according to the Bible, is
that Jesus wants men and women to repent and believe the gospel. Matt 4:17; Mark 1:14-15
2. Jesus came to bring peace to this world (false statement). The truth is, Jesus Himself said:
Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. (Matt 10:34, NKJV).
A. Matt 10:35—No, I came to bring a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a
daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law (NLT).
B. With this statement, Jesus was preparing people for the fact that if they choose to follow
Him it will put them at adds with those people who reject Him.
3. Jesus told us not to judge (false statement). The truth is that Jesus tells us how to judge. To
judge means to decide if something is right or wrong. We must judge or make decisions
based on what is right or wrong, according to what God says is right or wrong. Jesus tells us
not to judge from a position of superiority or hypocrisy. Matt 7:1-5
c. This new religion says our that primary duty is to improve society by working to end poverty,
homelessness, inequality, injustice, and war. But that’s not our mission. This doesn’t mean we
shouldn’t have compassion on those who suffer or try to relieve it when we can.
1. But the world’s root problem is sin. Even if we could solve the world’s problems, people
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are still guilty of sin and on their way to eternal separation from their Creator and Savior.
2. We are to proclaim the good news that because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection,
sinful men and women can be reconciled to God and receive full salvation.
3. We can’t fix the world’s root problem. It will take supernatural transformation by the power
of God to make this world right. We need to recognize the times. The end of the age is at
hand. The most important thing is that people come to saving knowledge of Jesus.
C. Conclusion: The circumstances that will produce the chaos and tribulation preceding Jesus’ return
won’t come out of a vacuum. They’ve been gradually but steadily setting up for some time. And, in
many ways life will seem normal right up to the end.
1. That’s how it was when Jesus came the first time. Many missed Him because they rejected the
signs that marked His first coming and refused to believe His words. John 5:39; Matt 16:1-4
a. Just as there were signs that Jesus’ first coming was at hand, there will be signs that His second
coming is near. Not everyone will see those signs because they aren’t looking for His return.
b. Jesus compared the period leading up to His second coming to the years that preceded the
worldwide flood in Noah’s day, and the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
1. Jesus said: People enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah
entered the boat…People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and
selling, farming and building—until the morning Lot left Sodom…Yes, it will be ‘business
as usual’ right up to the hour when the Son of man returns (Luke 17:26-30, NLT).
2. Days before Jesus was crucified, He wept over Jerusalem because they had rejected Him.
He prophesied that the city would be destroyed (Rome will do so forty years later): This
will happen because you did not see that God had come to save you (Luke 19:44, CEV).
2. I believe that we are at the end of this age and Jesus’ return is near. People ask me why I believe
this. It’s because the Bible has a lot to say about world conditions when Jesus returns, a number of
which have not been possible until recently, indicating that we are in the season of the Lord’s return.
a. The Bible predicts a huge departure from Christianity just before Jesus returns (II Thess 2:3).
Statistics show that traditionally Christian countries are rejecting Christianity in huge numbers.
b. The technology for a worldwide government, economy, and religion has only existed for a few
decades. And, the worldwide web not only connects all of us, it facilitates the spread of new
religious ideas to a global community in a way that couldn’t have happened until now.
c. We are witnessing the development of a potentially global religion, a compromised, false form of
Christianity, with the capacity to draw people from many faith backgrounds, that will eagerly
welcome the ultimate false Christ, the final world ruler.
3. For several decades the emphasis in many Christian circles has been on learning principles that will
help you live a prosperous, successful in this life, with little reference to the life to come. The
internet is filled with preachers and prophets with little or no education in the Bible.
a. Are you able to recognize a false Christ or false prophet? Can you recognize when a preacher is
taking a verse out of context or making it say something that it doesn’t say?
1. If ever there was a time to know who Jesus is according to the Bible—why He came to earth,
and what He is doing in the earth—it’s now. Jesus is gathering His family for eternity.
2. That’s much more important than trying to figure out who the Antichrist is or keeping up
with what the internet prophets and preachers are saying.
b. Treasury agents who work to stop counterfeiters spend their time looking at genuine bills until
they are so familiar with them that they can instantly recognize a fake. We need to do the same.
4. Full salvation is coming: I Pet 1:5—And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you
receive this salvation, because you are trusting in him (NLT). That’s our hope. More next week.
