The Return of Christ
What is a kingdom without its king? The Lord Jesus testified of His second advent throughout His ministry, promising that one day the earth and heaven would shake and that the world would see the “Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” [Luke 21:25-27]. It has always been important to the Lord that His disciples would know concerning His return so that they might be prepared, that the day would not overtake them as a thief. For as the apostles saw His ascension into heaven, it was promised that He would return in like manner. Thus Peter asked, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” [2 Peter 3:11-12].
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It is imperative therefore, that the citizens of the Kingdom, who are filled with the light of Christ, be sober and watchful. Not pursuing the kingdoms of men, but seeking after the Kingdom of God and to establish His righteousness. For the day of the coming of the Son of Man shall be like in the days of Noah, where those who hearkened unto the voice of Lord sought to build an ark that they might be obtain a temporal salvation. Similarly, God asks us to build up His Kingdom, so that those who enter in and remain faithful might obtain an eternal salvation with Him and Jesus Christ.
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The Lord Jesus came the first time to die for our sins and to teach us all things pertaining to His Kingdom. The second time He comes, it will be to fulfill the covenants which God has made with the children of men, even to the granting of their inheritance and the death’s defeat. However, the Lord promised the apostles, that before “that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first.” [2 Thessalonians 2:3].
Scriptures to Consider
Luke 21:25-36 (KJV)
21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
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21:29 And He spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
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21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
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Matthew 6:10 (KJV)
6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
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Acts 1:9-11 (KJV)
1:9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
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2 Peter 3:10-14 (KJV)
3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
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3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
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1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (KJV)
5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
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1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (KJV)
4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
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1 Corinthians 15:22-26 (KJV)
15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 15:25 For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
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2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (KJV)
2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
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2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth [truth], and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming [light]
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