R493 The return of Jesus Christ

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based freezing of Dr. Don Wilton about the return of Jesus Christ. Today Dr. Don Wilton takes us to the book of acts chapter 1 as we begin to study about what it is we have to look forward to the return of Jesus Christ.

We don't fear is coming with the Bible calls our blessed home study the word together.

Know that we are for you and we love to connect with you on our website@ewonline.org tewonline.org fresh book from Dr. Wilson good friend Dr. Charles Stanley message from Dr. Wilson to go with that as well take a peak right now on our website. 19 W line.org right now.

Let's open our hearts to God's word together with Dr. Don Wilton today's message I'm going to speak to you this morning on a timeless truth that is remarkable beyond description. The return of Jesus Christ. Turn with me in your Bibles to the book of acts. In chapter 1, the return of Jesus Christ. The book of acts. In chapter 1. People get ready. Jesus is coming soon. The return of Jesus Christ. I'm going to put this into context today and I want to read to you from acts chapter 1 because acts chapter 1 puts the return of Jesus Christ into its rightful conflict so you follow along with me in my office in the book, Theophilus, I wrote about Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen after his suffering on the cross. He showed himself to these men. And he gave many convincing what that he was alive, not by the way of you wondered how long Jesus is on the earth. Between the time that he rose from the grave and the time that he went and ascended to be with God in heaven that the Bible says that he paid to the disciples and others, and he gave them many convincing proofs that he was alive, how long did he do that well. It tells us why. He appeared to them). 15 days. It's a long time and he spoke to them about the kingdom of God. On one occasion while he was eating with them that we can just hold on, if remote everybody watch me.

I want to jump ahead next Sunday. I'm going to be preaching on the reunion that we have with our loved ones in London, if you going to see your loved ones again my dear mother, your father, your brother, sister might be a child who is died in you and see them again.

What does the Bible say what is the Bible tell us about that and how do we know these things. Next week I'm going to be preaching on this incredibly subject because the Bible has a lot to say about and folks it begins right here you see the reunion that we have with the Lord Jesus Christ is tied into the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything that Jesus Christ was about. I want you to look at with me and we going to see written down this For example, not Jesus died. Remember when he rose on one occasion advertisement while he was eating with them he gave in this command he said do not leave Jerusalem wait for the gift my father promised, which you have heard me speak about. John baptized you with winter, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. What's he talking about what if you turn over the page acts chapter 2 and verse one you going to read about what he was talking about. He says that when the day of Pentecost came up folks look at just what happened. Jesus was on this earth, he was crucified.

He rose from the dead.

He pantries disciples and to others for 15 days he took them, show them about himself and then he announced that he was going to leave them. They were scared they were going to be abandoned by the one who'd taken care of them by the one they had grown to love so intensely.

Jesus said, hold on a minute I want you to know something off.I have gone to heaven. I am going to send someone more than it not something someone you and his name is the Holy Spirit.

He is the third person of the garbage God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit.

That's the Trinity. That's the doctrine of the Trinity three in one. I'm going to go to be with my father, God the father the son is going to be within and while I'm gone on data send my spirit and my spirit is going to come down upon you at Pentecost and the Pentecost, people are going to be drilled and food that the Holy Spirit my Holy Spirit. That's what Jesus said now Jesus was telling them this because he wanted them to know that there was a direct correlation between the coming of the Holy Spirit in his absence, if you please, while he is in heaven. And the point at which Jesus would come back again and Jesus is about to ascend and leave and he's about to tell his disciples something very special. So he says in verse six so when they met together, they often Lord all at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel might be the disciples were still a little bit fuzzy about what Jesus said maybe they were still grappling with his Messiah ship.

Maybe they didn't fully understand Jesus said I'm going to restore my kingdom the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven. One of which I have rain and authority, the disciple said. But hey, wait a minute you leaving us how you going to restore my kingdom and he said to them is not for you to know the times of the dates the Father has set by his own authority. Folks watch me coming up to the year 2000. I'm already beginning to hear some TV preachers making statements like Jesus Christ is coming back in January. Folks do not believe that do not send your money into them. Now why there it is. It is not for you to know the dates all the times that the father, God the father has said, by his own authority. Only God knows that now we can talk about the signs of the times. That's fine, but nobody can say Jesus Christ is coming back at any specific time because God says we are not going to know that that is something that only God knows. So that is he going to do in the meantime, the conversely but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. After this he was taken up before their very eyes with him and by the way, to point out for not wanting to write you going to heaven is it's not down. How do we know that well look at this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and what hit him from their side.

A cloud little clouds. By the way, everybody knew this, they wrap you won't find any crowds down there.

I promise you on verse 11, they were looking intently where into the sky as he was going. He was in motion.

He didn't vanish. He was going. He was moving into heaven, and the disciples was standing there with their mouths open. They were looking in them.

They were absolutely thunderstruck when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them and said, men of Galilee, why do you stand your looking up into the sky. Here it is this same Jesus who has been taken from you will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.

I want to speak to you this morning about the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. People get ready Jesus is coming soon. Well I believe that there are people who think were kinds of things about the second coming. Someone couldn't care less. Some people couldn't care less. Some people have a mild interest.

I think we would agree with that. Some people father a tad bit inquisitive.

They want to know just a little more about some people are skeptical. Some people are openly hostile, Steve. I remember one person we were in.

I got to preaching. We had many many give their lives and makes decisions for Jesus Christ, but there were two men sitting over on my left side that I'm turning you brother if looks could kill, I would've been bid they didn't like it one bit. Some people are very hostile. Some people are argumentative but I want to have a debate over some people absolutely refused to believe, but some people believe that Jesus Christ is coming back and people are getting ready for that. The question that I want Austin day is what is the Bible say about this. Let's look at the Bible says a number of things about the second coming about the return of Jesus.

First of all, we must understand that the second coming of the return of Jesus Christ is a clear promise.

It is a clear promise.

I want you to page back with me to John chapter 13 everybody turned back to John 14 love to hear those pages of God's will cross-link you know why that's important because actually I've got nothing to say about this. This is what God says to us, a man John chapter 13.

Listen to what happens here.

It is a clear promise of God. Do not let your hearts be troubled mallets to stop there for mom and I love that guard you that something isn't it amazing that Jesus Christ in his humanity. The God man understood most perfectly just exactly how troubled our hearts would become Jesus knew and understood. Perhaps better than any of us that in life's journey that we would be fair with every kind of circumstance and situation that would come along and Jesus looked at his disciples as he looks into our hearts and he says listen just for a minute. Let not your hearts be troubled you believe in God you believe also in me. In my father's house there are many rooms and if it were not so I would've told you. I am going there future tense hasn't done it.

I am going there and I'm going 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 and by the way, you know the way to the place where I'm going. He said please forgive the eruption will be back with more of today's message on the return of Jesus Christ with Dr. Don Wilton in just a moment, but Dr. Don Wilton is to remind you that were here for you. It's not just a presentation.

It's a conversation and if there's something going on in your life. Perhaps the study already has has queried a unique question for you.

You like to ask us will meet you on the phone right now at 8668 to seek out the answers to those questions in the Bible itself cuts Encouraging Word just give us a call again.

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That's all available online@twonline.org as a matter fact, right now there is a wonderful resource featuring his good friend Dr. Charles Stanley, here's list with all the details about how you can have this resource today going on in your life is getting carried on the Christian journey much is at stake this month. Dr. will then have to special resources to send you for your gift that supports the encouraging, you will receive Dr. Wilson's inspiring message harassing along with courageous faith by Dr. Charles. Both of these ministry resources will help fortify your staying the course on the Christian journey, 866-899-WORD, 866-899-WORD 973 and request pressing forward in the bonus courageous faith for supporting The Encouraging Word not fulfill our mission without mallets dive back into the days teaching the return of Jesus Christ and the book of acts chapter 1 with Dr. Don Wilton here on The Encouraging Word.

You know that because I do that I am the way the truth and the life no man can come under the father but by me. This is a clear promise there been times in my life that that I've made all kinds of promises to my children that will come up to me and I will sign Betty how about let's do this do that also. I will not we not going to do and they look me in the excitement that you promised. You know something God never breaks his promise.

God is not to the shortcomings of our humanity, and when Jesus said something Jesus meant. He's going to do it. It's a clear promise number two. It is a confirmed fact not read the passage and X chapter 1. I'm not going to read it again, but Terry John chapter 13 Jesus makes a clear promise in acts chapter 1.

It is a confirmed fact Jesus actually ends up doing what Jesus said he was going. He followed up. He didn't just say this Jerry was standing on the Mount of olives and he turns to his disciples and he says all right, gentlemen. I'm about to do what I told you I was going to do I'm going to send me seated at the right hand of the father. I'm going to make intercession for you while I'm gone. I'm going to send my Holy Spirit. You need to wait for him to come.

He's going to come in next chapter and verse one on the day of Pentecost.

And while I'm gone you, but I want you to know that I'm going to come back the same way that I live so just watch out for me because I'm coming soon. It is a confirmed fact number three. It is a comforting full turn with me to first Thessalonians chapter 4 first Thessalonians chapter 4 everybody turned the first Thessalonians chapter 4 in the New Testament.

It is a comforting folks. I want to show you something interesting and I want you to listen to this because in first Thessalonians chapter 4 we are not dealing with the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are dealing with the rapture of the church not watch media soon as you got that place in the Bible. This is very important. I'm going to try and explain it to you this morning. All right, this is the rapture of the church, Jesus Christ, the Bible says is going to come at some time, the rapture of the church is going to take place every morning everybody worshiping on television today. Everybody was a believer in the entire world when the rapture takes place believers are going to be snatched away we going to be taken away into the presence of the Lord now is Jesus going to be. He's going to be in the habit we going to see him you going to see him but there is one difference at the rapture of Jesus is not going to touch down on the rapture of the coming about the rapture is not the second coming, the rapture is when Jesus is going to come in the clouds and we going to be equipped up together with them to meet him in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord Jesus Christ. Now when the rapture of the church takes place.

What happens upon the immediately there begins the seven year tribulation divided into two, 3 1/2 year periods.

The antichrist is going to rise up and be made known. He is going to take control at the end of the tribulation. Jesus Christ is going to come back again. That is the second coming. And when Jesus comes back again. I'm going to be with him and so are you. Because you given your heart to Jesus Christ and incredible and we going to come back within the second coming is the moment at which Jesus Christ in his glory is going to come back and this time he's actually going to land on the Mount of olives exactly the same place and in the same manner that he left us according to acts chapter 1 the next year I'm going to be taking another group about people of Israel again why because folks we going to go and stand at the Mount of olives we going to look over Jerusalem. We going to have a look at what God's word says about these extra ordinary circumstances that are about to take place in the world in which we live, and so look out with me at first Thessalonians chapter the Bible says in verse 13, for example, we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have died in him according to the Lord's own would we tell you that we who are still alive and who are left until the coming will not precede those who have died in him himself come down from heaven with a loud command, and the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. And after that we are still alive and remain and lift equipped up together with them in the clouds to meet the world in the area and so shall we ever be with the loan is a comforting thought. Why look at verse 18. Therefore encourage one another with these words, the return of Christ is a clear promise. It's a confirmed fact it is a comforting thought, but also want to submit to you today.

It is a purifying hope turned one John one John just before the book of Revelation as you know so well that offer drawings in the Bible is one big John and three little drawings I want you to turn to the first of the little drawings one John chapter 3 and verse 21 John chapter 3 in verse two folks in my private study.

This passage of Waterloo for me and at some time. I want to come back and I want to develop this and preach on it and do an adequate treatment of it. Listen to what the Bible says, dear friends, first one John chapter 3, we now all now we are children of God, and we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Jesus Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him, as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him does not purifies himself, just as God is pure.

You see and understand the return of Jesus Christ. We've got to understand that it is I purifying hope God's grace through this extra memory event of the return of Christ which is the coupling together of the rapture of the church when we will be caught up to meet him in the air and then the magnificent second coming, the return of Jesus Christ to the server to setup the thousand year reign and to bring to an end through the battle of Armageddon to complete the feet of Satan and his allies. God's word is through this process we purified this is part of God's sanctifying process in the life of the believer.

Footnote finally, it is a compelling belief. It compels us turn with me to practice just a couple of pages back from James Hebrews and then you get Titus. The smaller pursuit of Titus Titus chapter 2 verses 11 through 14 listen to what the Bible says it is a compelling belief. Verse 11 for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to every man what is it teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, quiet, godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope of the various appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ listen to me friends this morning.

The return of Christ, subject people ready. Why because it's a clear promise.

Jesus said it is a confirmed fact Jesus did. It is a comforting is terrifying and it is a compelling belief.

I want to tell you when I find myself filling faltering and flailing in the presence of God. All I have to do is think about the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back on it does for me it compels me it gives me the strength to be able to say no it in a brings me to go through the purifying process as I am being sanctified unto the day of God's celebration's walk. The return of Christ is all about it right you a heads with me this morning. Everybody value heads. It's just wonderful.

This is the most exciting thing that God could've ever told us about here today.

I concluded this message God hasn't concluded, you need to give your heart to Jesus Christ.

Would you do that tonight you turned your life over to him.

Are you ready to sample your account with God. That's the challenge to settle accounts with God. You need to know that we're here for you. Would love to talk with you to pray with you about that challenge our numbers. 866-899-WORD 866899673 email us at online@tewonline.org G that since of settling your account something the pastors very passionate about it.

You've heard him preach about it now as he steps in the studio. Open your heart to this challenge that you ready to give you.

I'm so happy that wanted to pray this prayer dear God on very very not know that the Lord God of that on my feet today.

I repainted I can face/bike. Pray that prayer may be the first want to welcome family of this is my hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying for and how very important this is for me. Corliss so that we can hope to connect to the right place so you can begin this wonderful journey. And in just a moment I'm in a come back with the final perhaps you just gave your life to Jesus Christ, praying along with Dr. Don Wilton hero The Encouraging Word. Perhaps you rededicated your life, you need to know that we are excited and believe that God has equipped us with some resources that will help you growth there absolutely free. Dr. Don has chosen these resources for you to have as you rebuild where you start fresh with Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, would you give us a call and let us put these resources in your hands are phone numbers 8668866899967.

Rather, we can connect on our website@twonline.org that's tewonline.org cheap. A great place to connect with many different resources including one you heard about earlier featuring Dr. Don Wilton's good friend in his new book Charles Stanley again all the details are on our website@teonline.org and before you get away closing thoughts from our pastor and chief encourager Dr. Don Wilton here I am again being, you know, one of the things I want to say you know we got so many means to be able to do that you can dress email I should go to all the details directly in front of us. We all were a family together. We stay connected in so many ways and your life is very icing and gone shows and I want to be held pray with rule relationship needs a mind I'm walking and I want to pray for you. Please don't stop Corliss rocked us. Keep praying. Keep giving keep connecting keep rejoicing. Keep celebrating keeps driving daughters on. He strode this is The Encouraging Word and now you know why our times conference today that all tomorrow we begin a two-part series that so important because all of us have dealt with loss.

The idea of losing someone. Dr. Wilson shares from his personal experience in a message called I will see dad again, the loss of his father. Great pastor and friend of the ministry. Many of you know, his teachings will John you'll hear that message in its entirety. Tomorrow, the next couple days. I hope you'll join us and bring a friend. Till then let's stay connected online at tewonline.org large