Let's dig deeper into today's question by exploring five additional questions about Christ's upcoming return.

1. Will Christ actually return in the flesh? Yes, Jesus will actually return in the flesh. Here's some words from the angels. Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Coming back the same way He left. At the Mt of Olives, visibly, physically to reign. 2. How will every eye see Him? We live in a unique age where we can witness things around the world in real time. Revelation 1:7 "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen." (See also - Daniel 7:13 and Zechariah 12:10) What seems impossible will be a reality, we all will see Him. 3. Why so many different interpretations of Christ's return will be like? There are basically 4 views of Christians of the Book of Revelation: ⁃ PRETERIST - everything in the book of Revelation was fulfilled for those 1st century believers. ⁃ HISTORICIST - What the book of Revelation does is it tracks Christian history until the very end of time when Christ returns. ⁃ FUTURIST - say what the book of Revelation portrays is the events that are yet to come and will happen in the last days of our planet's history. ⁃ IDEALIST - maintain that what the book of Revelation does is it gives us timeless truths and principles that have always been true and will be until Jesus returns. 4. Why all the different views. Who is right? Pastor posses a "what if": What if they are all right? What if God intentionally gave this so that people of every age would see what needs to be seen to stay close to Him. ⁃ PRETERIST - what if the book of Revelation really did have remarkable application to the 1st century believers ⁃ HISTORIST - What if the book of Revelation does track the Christian history til Christ returns ⁃ FUTURIST - What if the book of Revelation will be fulfilled in some future ways. ⁃ IDEALIST - What if the book of Revelation applies in every age because what it says is timeless and true. God is brilliant - He can and does brilliant things! Differing interpretations doesn't make the Bible unclear - it means that God is amazing!

Common Beliefs of each differing view: ⁃ Missionary Age - great commission ⁃ Great tribulation ⁃ Rapture ⁃ Millennium ⁃ Physical return of Christ ⁃ Resurrection of the dead ⁃ New heavens and New Earth

Early believers put together basic statements of the fundamentals of the Bible. Examples Nicene Creed says, "I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come." and the Apostle's Creed says, "I believe in… the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting." They chose short summations of basic agreed on biblical beliefs and leaving out the details, acknowledging the wide diversity of interpretation around what Jesus' return will look like and because we will find out the details when He returns.

The first advent Jesus came as a humble servant and laid down His life for us all. For His second advent Jesus comes in glory!

5. What are the sign of the times that indicate the eminent Second Coming of Jesus? Signs of the times: ⁃ Gospel to the entire world Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." ⁃ Persecution, apostasy & deception Matthew 24:9-11 "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many." ⁃ Warfare, earthquakes & famine - Mark 13:8 "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains." What we have observed since Jesus' first advent, these signs are closer together. ⁃ Israel's return Luke 21:24 "They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." About 40 years after Jesus spoke these words in 70AD they happened and now in 1967, after nearly 1900 years, the Jewish people have returned.

In Matthew 24:42 we are told by Jesus, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." How do we stay awake? We keep our eyes on Jesus! The Savior of the world. God is for us! He's coming back and the day is fast approaching!

May we trust the Lord Jesus with all our hearts and rejoice in the salvation He won for us at the cross as a gift by faith.

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