The Return Of The King
Article 9: Christ’s Return
Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to capture the audio and video of the service.
The following is a rough manuscript of the sermon:
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You might think based on my sermon title that I’m going to open with a Lord of the Rings introduction…
Nope, Batman
Specifically, a plot hole in the Batman Movie “The Dark Knight Rises.”
And I guess, if you haven’t seen it since it came out like 15 years ago, SPOILER ALERT.
But, again, it’s a Batman movie and about halfway through the movie, Batman loses a fight to the villain, Bane and Batman he’s held captive and shipped off to this prison known as the PIT
Now, as you might know: Batman fights in Gotham City … which is just another name for New York City
And the prison that he gets sent to is in India — although some people argue the chanting heard in the prison is Moroccan, so some people argue the prison is in Morocco.
REGARDLESS, Africa or Asia, Batman is on a completely different continent.
But Batman is able to escape the prison and, just in the nick of time, he gets back to Gotham to save the city from the super villain Bane.
Here’s the problem: how in the world did Batman get back to New York City?
Cause starting off, it looks like this prison is in the middle of the desert — how would he even have known which direction to go?
He doesn’t have his Batman gear with him AND if you’ve seen the movie, Batman has no money either — all of Bruce Wayne’s money gets stolen.
So he can’t buy a plane ticket, so maybe he snuck on a plane?
But even then, Gotham City is on lockdown at this point in the movie, there’s no planes flying in there.
And even if he lands somewhere nearby, you have airport security and then, in the US, he’d have to go through customs and immigration and it’s not like you can just sneak in and out of the airport.
And you’re probably going: DAVID, WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE RETURN OF CHRIST?
Here’s my point:
“It’s not truly important HOW Batman gets back to Gotham.
The Important Thing Is He’s HERE
And in his arrival, there is HOPE”
And if you want a summary statement for how I’m going to talk about the return of Christ today:
“It’s not truly important HOW Jesus gets back to Earth.
The Important Thing Is He’s HERE
And in His arrival, there is HOPE”
And how we’re going to talk about this:
1. The Secondary Issues
2. The Primary Truth
3. The Main Application
Now, what do I mean by secondary issues?
Let’s talk about what our SOF used to say up until 2019:
“At our EFCA One General Conference in June of 2017 the Board of Directors introduced a motion to amend our Articles of Incorporation by replacing the word “premillennial” with “glorious” in Article Nine of our Statement of Faith. This motion will be considered for action at our Conference in 2019… we speak of the “personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ” rather than the “personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ” as a required theological position in the EFCA.” The Proposal to Amend our Statement of Faith: A Rationale for the Change
And if you’re sitting there going, “What in the world does premillenial mean?”
Don’t worry, this’ll get even more confusing:
“The 1950 EFCA Statement of Faith affirmed belief in the “premillennial” return of Christ that was believed to be “imminent” and was the believers’ “Blessed Hope.” Even though the Premillennial view was considered a mildly Dispensational perspective, it was not exclusively Dispensational Premillennial. A commitment to Premillennialism included the various Premillennial views: Dispensational Premillennialism, Historic Premillenniallism, and Progressive Dispensationalism. Additionally, within the Premillennial view, various views of the tribulation were allowed: pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, pre-wrath tribulation, and post-tribulation.” Theological Positions: What is the EFCA’s position on the timing of the rapture and on the millennium?
So, in premillennialism — whatever that is — count em: You can have 12 unique views of the arrival of Christ!
And if that sounds like a lot to you … wait, there’s more!
Because at that point our statement of faith didn’t mention other EVANGELICAL views like …
Post-millennialism, amillennialism, preterism, partial-preterism, the historist view, the classical view, the futurist view, and the idealist view … and probably more and more and more and more than you and I can count.
So, at this point, there’s like 20 or so unique camps you can fall into.
And here’s the fun part — for those of you who like to be told THUS SAITH THE LORD — as written in Evangelical Convictions: “A historical survey reveals that all three of these eschatological views [premillenialism, postmillenialism, amillenialism] have been held in the church, even within the Evangelical tradition. Furthermore, the millennial issue has not been defined in any major ecclesiastical creed or confessional statement…”
So we have like 20 camps and no historical precedence for which view to hold to.
So, what do you do?
“In light of our distinctive ethos in the EFCA of uniting around central doctrines of the faith, we chose in 2019 to eliminate premillennialism as a required doctrinal position within our movement. We welcome those with various positions on this issue who also affirm the entire truthfulness of Scripture and share our central theological convictions.”
And IMPLIED in that decision is this VITAL truth: Holding OR NOT HOLDING to one of these views DOES NOT DICTATE YOUR SALVATION.
Your standing before God is not based on how you theologically view or understand the circumstances surrounding the end times.
And you can have a wide range of views on the issue — so far as you base them in Scripture.
Now, more on this in two weeks, will your view of the end times change how you live, how you read your Bible, and how you practice ministry?
Yes.
We saw this a few weeks ago when a number of Christians believed the rapture was going to happen on one of the Jewish holidays in September.
Their view of the end times CHANGED how they lived.
So, I don’t want to say these positions/conversations are not important — THEY ARE
But they are not SALVIFIC like other theological beliefs are.
For example: 2 John 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the [first] coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
So, if you do not believe Jesus came in the flesh, you’re on the pathway to destruction.
That’s a to-die-for, salvific, theological belief.
End times views are NOT like that.
Now, all this said … I recognize the fact that denominations and different conclusions can be a stumbling block for people.
So, let me oversimplify all this and say your personal view of the end times will come down to 4-5 basic questions:
1. How do we interpret Revelation 20 – the Millennium?
Specifically: 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
…4 I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Straightforward reading says: Satan is bound, Christ returns to earth, rules for 1000 years, then the end comes.
That’s WAY OVERSIMPLIFIED premillenialism (Christ returns before his millennial kingdom) – that’s where this comes from — it was the view of the Free Church for almost 70 years.
Amillenialism (or no/without-millenialism) argues Revelation 20 should be read symbolically/spiritually/apocolyptically/poetically — pointing out that Jesus’s kingdom is already established. He already rules and reigns as we read in the Great Commission (all authority in heaven and on earth) … and Satan is already disarmed and bound by Christ’s work on the cross and his resurrection
Furthermore, 1000 is a SYMBOLIC number, often incorporated in apocalyptic writing symbolically — that’s where A-millenialism comes from.
Post-Millenialism, sometimes confused with amillenialism … and admittedly (I don’t know if this tells you where I stand) but I get sort of confused as to what post millenialism teaches.
Alan Bandy explains it this way: What distinguishes postmillennialism from amillennialism is… the nature of the millennium. Whereas amillennialism expects the Church to experience both victory and suffering simultaneously until the second coming, postmillennialism maintains a gradual end to much of the Church’s suffering before Christ returns. They expect a golden age of righteousness on earth… in which the church experiences increasing prosperity and great influence on the culture. This ‘golden age’ is what the postmillennialist understands as the millennium. “Views of the Millennium”
Now, if you read that go — so a lot of PROSPERITY teachers hold to that view …
Actually that was the view of the Sinners in the Hands of Angry God guy … and many of his puritan influencers.
So, where do you land on the millennium dictates your end times view.
2. (Dictates your end times view) How do you interpret 1 Thessalonians 4?
Specifically: 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
And then you read this passing comment in Mt 24: 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
Question is: Is that referring to the second coming itself? Or is that referring to something (namely a rapture) that happens before, during, or after the so-called “tribulation”?
3. What is the nature of the tribulation?
There’s a reference in Revelation 7, but the main question comes from Matthew 24… 3 As [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” … 21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”
And again, is that a literal still-to-come tribulation lasting a specific amount of years? Is the great tribulation referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD?
OR Is Jesus referencing life in general AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN 70 AD?
And why does John say Rev. 1:9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation…
So, was that a throw-away word or was John arguing the tribulation IS happening or ALREADY happened …
4. Lastly, how many (none, some, or all) OT and NT prophecies have been fulfilled?
For example, the prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, the Olivet Discourse in Matthew’s gospel … are those prophecies fulfilled already? Are SOME fulfilled and others aren’t?
Or are NONE of those prophecies fulfilled yet?
And where you land will dictate your view of the end times
AGAIN, all of this is secondary … ministry-altering, but not salvific … so let’s move on to what is primary: The Primary Truth
SOF: We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God…
And this might be the shortest point in the history of sermon points, because there isn’t really a whole lot to unpack here.
Jesus’ coming will be personal, bodily, and glorious…
IT WILL BE HIM … It will be him in his resurrected body, the same way he left…
9 And when [Jesus] had said these things, as [the disciples] were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Mt. 24: 30 They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call… 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations…”
AND WHEN IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN?
And Jesus gives us the concerning: Mt. 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man… 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Which brings me to my final point: The main application of this doctrine:
SOF: The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
And here’s the question: What does it mean to live like this? To live expectantly?
Well, Jesus often used parables and imagery about parties and gatherings and feasts and work … EVEN GETTING ROBBED … to explain EXPECTANCY.
Often ending with the exhortation: BE WATCHFUL.
But that’s the question: How do you become a watchful person?
Do I stare at the sky all the time? What….
No, again, as we talked about last week: It’s HEART work.
Being an expectant, being a watchful person is HEART work.
Think about it like this:
Imagine the difference in your behavior between knowing a solicitor was going to come to your door tonight versus a friend you havent seen in a long time
It’s actually a regular thing to put a sign on your door that says “No soliciting”
Growing up, my parents would make up excuses at the door with solicitors … “We’re just sitting down for dinner”
And it would be like 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
But a friend, though … you clean the house, get out refreshments and you’re probably ready hours ahead of time … not so much because you’re trying to be a good EXPECTOR…
It’s just … you’re excited to see your friend.
Consider the HEART language the Bible uses to describe Jesus return…
In his final epistle, Paul wrote, 2 Tim. 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
He writes Romans 8: 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God… 23 we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
And, finally, the reference our statement of faith makes Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed [happy/fortunate] hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…
SO … The “trick” of being someone obedient to command to be watchful and expectant is not to scold yourself to stare up at the sky … but to love the Jesus you’re expecting.
It’s continuing to, 2 Corinthians 3:18: 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
The way to get excited and expectant about Jesus’ return is to meditate on who Jesus is.
And how much better he is than the world and the people around us — even the people we love dearly.
So, are you excited about Jesus’ return?
And if not, then maybe it’s because something else has taken #1 priority in our hearts … and we need to repent.
But let me consider one other PASTORAL reason you might not be excited for Jesus’ return….
Maybe you’re not excited because you’re worried you might be REJECTED when Jesus arrives to judge the living and the dead.
As Thomas Brooks put it: “How can [unassured believers] rejoice and glory in God, that do not know whether He will be an everlasting friend—or an everlasting enemy to them, whether He will always breathe out love—or wrath upon them? …How can they be cheerful or thankful, who do not know but that they may at last hear that heartbreaking, that conscience-wounding, that soul-slaying sentence, “Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!” Matt 25:41.” Heaven on Earth.
I know that was a problem for me for a while… still is sometimes.
Maybe you heard the Matthew 7 reference last week (not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom) and went “That’s me.”
Our statement of faith … it doesn’t talk about ASSURANCE … “How do I know I’m saved.”
And assurance is a topic worthy of it’s own sermon, and we’ll probably talk about this next week, too…
But for those here concerned about what’s going to happen to them on the day of judgment … (which is what we’ll talk more about next week) … let me just go back to the verse our SOF references:
13 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…. 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession… 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
What’s my point in quoting this?
Certainly, fruit of a changed life is a great proof that we can be confident on the day of judgment… and falling or backsliding into sin is going to impact our confidence
But in the end it all comes back to this: Do you believe that you are saved by the mercy of Christ or your own good deeds?
Cause go back to Matthew 7 … do you notice how these people respond to Jesus? 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven… 22 “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’”
So when they were told ‘No’ (IT SEEMS LIKE) what these people were ultimately banking on was their good deeds
AND I hope I didn’t give the impression last week that feeding poor people or doing justice to the oppressed is what saves you…
No, no, no … that’s just the OUTWORKING/RESULTS of understanding the gospel of grace of Christ.
What ultimately saves you, WHO ultimately saves you is Christ and Christ alone.
Hear the plain word of Christ friends: 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
If your gameplan is to tell Jesus on the day of judgment all the good things you did and how many poor people you fed and all the demons you casted out…
He’s going to reject you…. Because you missed the point of the gospel and never really believed it.
But if you come to Him …. Broken, naked, sinful, needing help … As the Savior of the World … He will never cast you out.
And since Abbie asked me to please stop doing impressions of preachers when I quote them … especially Scottish ones … let me give you this clip from Allistair Begg to drive my point home … take a listen:
The man on the middle cross said I could come … that IS the only answer we can give when we die or when Christ returns…
SOF: godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
And if that’s what our king is like … the guy who invites knowledgeless, penniless, BUT Penitent thieves to his party … then why wouldn’t I be excited and encouraged and EXPECTANT about Him coming back?
And why wouldn’t that make me a person who lives a life of pleasing that good King?
Who makes sure the house is clean, heart vacuumed, mind cleared, feet dusted and ready to go, looking out the window
Why wouldn’t the impending arrival of this good king make me a person who sacrifices my coats, my food for my neighbors
And why wouldn’t his impending arrival make me a person who goes to friends, and family, strangers on the street, and the ends of the earth proclaiming: THE GOOD KING IS RETURNING … THE GOOD KING IS RETURNING … CAN I TELL YOU ABOUT HIM?
HE’S THE MAN BLEEDING ON THE MIDDLE CROSS WHO SAYS WE CAN COME.
So, to the non-Christians here this morning, I end where the Bible ends: 17 The Spirit and the Bride [of Christ] say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price… 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
And in anticipation of His arrival, let’s enter into a time of communion…