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Back to the Bible. Let it be our plea, God's word alone, our authority, every word, every step in the name of Christ, back to the Bible for the way of life. Thank you for tuning in to this period of Bible study. Today we're going to be looking at the idea of the second coming of Jesus Christ. We looked at that a couple of programs ago and I want to continue our thinking along those lines before we get started in our period of Bible study. There are just a couple of things that I want to note. First of all, it may be that there's something that I say or teach on this program that you disagree with or that you at least have questions about. We would be happy to respond to those questions in the best way that we can. We would be happy to engage with them and to think about them and whether that's just a response over the email or maybe it's another program that we need to address some of those issues. Or if you want to talk about that, we would be happy to do so and we want to make ourselves available for that. So if you want to reach out to us, the best way to do it probably would be through our website, backtothebiblepodcast.com on that website there are contact forms and you can reach out to us and I know who you are and you can make your concern known. You can also email us@backtothebiblemail.com and that would be a good way to get to us as well. So if you have questions or concerns or you want to offer a word of caution or a word of encouragement, whatever it might be, you would be welcome to reach out to us there@backtothebiblepodcast.com Let me also make mention, if you are listening in the Jasper area via that radio station, then you probably would not be able to make it to this particular occasion that I'm going to talk about. But if you are in the Russell area listening on WGOL when this program airs, it should be July, excuse me, June 15, 2025. And we will be in a Gospel meeting this week at the Isbel Church of Christ just south of town. And if you would just keep in mind, our services are going to be at 11 on Sunday morning and 7:30 on Sunday evening. Then I believe they will be at 7 o' clock on Monday and Tuesday night with the Isbel congregation. They were willing to adjust their services around so that I could meet my responsibilities at the Quinn congregation that I work with regularly and I appreciated them being willing to do that. And so I'll be there on Sunday, June 15th, 16th and 17th. Again you can reach out if you want more information about that. And we will be trying to preach the Gospel. We'll be trying to teach truth over those days and hope that that will be a useful and beneficial period of time. Also, if you are listening in the Jasper area, maybe you can go ahead and be making preparation. It'll be a couple of Sundays away, but at the end of June I will be in a Gospel meeting at the North Jasper Congregation. That'll be Friday, June 27, Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29. So we will meet Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday morning, and then Sunday afternoon at 3 o'. Clock. And again I will be sharing details about that more we go along. I've seen announcements going around about that on Facebook and lesson titles. Already decided. So I better get to work getting some lessons together. Most of them have been preached before so we'll be Lord willing will be alright on that. Alright, well let's jump into the lesson for the day. Last time, when we talked about the second coming of Jesus Christ, we talked about the fact that it is a focal point of the New Testament. You can really go through all of Scripture in the New Testament especially and see the idea of the second coming of Jesus. I say in the New Testament especially, I don't know that we get that full picture in the Old Testament. I think that we do get glimmers of it. But I think that the Old Testament kind of presents the coming of Christ as one big event. And what we learn as Jesus comes is that event is occurring even as we speak, but it is in stages rather than being in one event, maybe as it seems in the Old Testament. That is, the Old Testament is giving us the big picture and we get to zoom in on that as we come to the New Testament and we can talk about that more on a later occasion. But it is the focal point of the New Testament. From Matthew to Revelation. There is a sense in which we are looking toward the second coming of Jesus Christ. Now that is not to say that every passage with regards to judgment is about the second coming. There are passages in in the New Testament that are focused on other judgments. For example Matthew 24 and Mark 13, which are passages that are routinely taken to be talking about the second coming. I think it is clear in those passages that what Jesus is talking about is the judgment that is coming on Jerusalem. Now I say that because there is language in that passage that has been taken and applied to the second coming. And what happens is people come away with bad ideas about the Second coming because they are reading texts that are talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. So let me make this point. There would be some language that would be parallel anytime that a judgment is coming, you could use similar language. And I believe that the judgments in the Old Testament on some of those Old Testament nations were a preview of the judgment that would come on Jerusalem. And the judgment on Jerusalem was a preview of the judgment that's coming on the whole world. So, yes, there would be some language that would be comparable to the Second coming. One example that just comes to mind is that in talking about the days before the judgment on Jerusalem, Jesus mentions Noah. Things were going on like they had been. People were eating and drinking and being married and being given in marriage. And then the judgment came. And he says, it's going to be similar with regards to the destruction of Jerusalem, Matthew 24, Mark 13. And yet wouldn't we say that it would be similar in the way that the judgment is going to come on the whole world? Yes, but it's important that we see in those passages that it is not intended to be telling us about the details of the coming of Jesus in the second coming. Rather, it is talking about making preparation for the destruction of Jerusalem. Of course, there are principles that we can take away from, but we need to understand what we're reading first. The other place that might be even a more egregious violation of this principle is the Book of Revelation. Basically, I would say the vast majority of people who are reading the Book of Revelation are reading it as if it is a codebook for what's going to happen in the second coming. They are reading it as if it is detailing the events that are leading up to the second coming. Now, depending on your view of the book, there are faithful good Bible students who say, no, this is just another repetition of the destruction that's coming on Jerusalem. I think it would be more common to find people who say this is a description of the judgment that's coming on Rome. Regardless, I don't think that is necessarily essential to our reading of the book. But what it is saying is that the judgment that was coming on the oppressor of God's people was indeed going to come. Now, that doesn't mean that there's no previews of the second coming. I think as we get to the end of the book, maybe chapter 21 and 22 do point to what comes at the second coming, and we may make reference to that today. However, the primary Focus of the book is those who are oppressing God's people at that time and the cry of the people under the altar saying, when will you avenge us now, again, the language of revelation seems very end of the worldish. And there are places in which I think we can say this is parallel or this previews what's coming in the final judgment. But that's not the primary focus. However, overall, the second coming is the focal point of the New Testament. That's what we're looking toward. That's the grand thing that is coming. So we made that point last time. Focal point of the New Testament is the second coming of Jesus Christ. That's where it's all headed. That's where our direction, that's where our thinking is pointed. Now let me make. I've got five points to make. And if we get through all of them, great. If we don't, that will be another program in this line of thinking. The first thing is that we do not know when it will be. We do not know when the second coming will be. I have been. I'm not that old, but I have been aware of lots of guesses about when the second coming of Jesus would be. I remember 2000 y2k. There were lots of folks who had all kinds of concerns about Y2K, but that was one of the things, is that this was the coming of Jesus. I believe it was 2012, wasn't it? The idea that the Mayan calendar lined up just perfectly for 2012 and that was going to be the end. And there were folks who were saying this is an indication that this is the end of the era and this is going to be the end of it. But that didn't happen, did it? That didn't happen. Do you know that there are some people who say that, that the second coming of Jesus has already happened in a meaningful way. There was an idea that in 1914 that Jesus came in his second coming, but it was in a more of a secretive way. All that is to say is that we do not know when the second coming will be. And we can say some things about that in order to know that it hasn't already happened. But in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, and beginning at verse 2, here's what. Well, look at verse 1. This is what Paul says to the Thessalonians. It seems to be that they have some questions about the second coming. And I'm glad they did because we get the answers in verse one now, concerning the times and the seasons. Brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. Now, let me make this point here. Thessalonia. Thessalonica was a long way from Jerusalem. So we're not just talking about the destruction of Jerusalem when we talk about this coming. Because this is something that's going to affect the Thessalonicans, the Thessalonians, all right? It will come as a thief in the night while they are saying peace and safety. Then destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape. That imagery is helpful because what you have is people saying, everything is going to be fine, no need to worry. But then destruction comes, and that's important because he says it's like labor pains on a woman who is pregnant. Now, my wife and I, we have four children. We did have two at one time. So she's been expecting three times in our lives. And what you have there is you have an anticipation of what is coming, but then the labor pains hit. And what's. What's being said here, I think, to the Thessalonians is, yes, that day is coming. Yes, the labor pains are going to hit, but there's no reason to be unprepared. Be expecting, be prepared for that occasion. Verse 4. But you brothers, are not in darkness that the day would overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night, nor of darkness. So then let us sleep as others do. So let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But we are of the day. Let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him. Therefore, comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing. Notice what he says here. Yes, the day of the Lord is coming, just like a thief in the night. But I love verse four. But you're not in darkness that the day would overtake you like a thief. The idea here is we don't know when it's coming, but we are the kind of people, Christians, disciples of Jesus, followers of Christ, are the kind of people who don't have to be overtaken by the thief. We don't have to be Unprepared, we can be ready for, for that day. We can have that expectation. And so we don't know when it will be. But that doesn't mean that we have no means by which to be ready. We don't know when it will be because it's coming like a thief. But that doesn't mean the thief is going to be able to get us. And so what we can say is that we need to make preparation in view of the fact that we don't know when it's going to be. We are living in the day, and, and we're not living in the darkness. Now, somebody will say, and we'll address this in just a second, somebody will say, but it's taken a long time. Yes, it has. It's been a long time. But that doesn't make it any less present for us. In fact, let me say this. Can we say it is near? Can we say it is near in James chapter two, Excuse me, James five? In James chapter five, James is writing to these people and he's actually just talked about in this section about the rich and their need to repent and the judgment that's coming on them because of their treatment of some of the poor brethren. And in James chapter five, looking forward and talking about the second coming, James here says, this is James 5, beginning at verse 8, he says, you too, be patient, strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not groan, brothers, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. Now, when we think about that idea and saying it's near, that the Judge is right at the door. Is that true? I mean, James wrote that 2,000 years ago, was he right? That it was near, that it was at hand, that he was standing, that the judge was standing right at the door. In fact, when we think about First Peter, chapter four and verse seven, the text there says, the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be of sound thinking and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Now, I understand that chronologically it doesn't seem like it's near, though we're going to address that. But I will say that we can in fact say that it is at hand, that it is near, that the Judge is standing at the door. Because biblical writers 2,000 years ago, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit, apostles of Jesus Christ, said it was at hand. Now, lots of people, lots of Bible teachers, not good ones, I don't think, but will say, well, the disciples really didn't understand. They thought it was going to be any moment. Maybe they did think it was going to be any moment. But the Lord would not have had them pen the idea that it was at hand unless there was a real sense in which it was at hand. Now, one brother used an illustration that I thought was really helpful. The idea is, it's not as if it's chronologically what he's talking about. It is that in God's scheme of things, there is nothing standing between us and the end. And what he used, the illustration was, is imagine that rather, instead of talking about a long path that is going to end over a cliff, imagine you are walking on the edge of the Grand Canyon. Imagine it is right beside you and you are walking along that line. Could you say that the end was near, that it was at hand? Sure. One step and it's over. One step and you're over the edge. And so the idea here, if I understand it correctly, is not that chronologically we can determine that it's close or near or right here, but rather that it's always present. It's always right there. It's always at hand. The Judge is right at the door. I think this is the sense. Up until the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. There was always something else on God's divine calendar that stood between us and the end of all things. It would not have happened from the time of creation all the way till the time of Jesus. But now nothing stands between us and the end. There is no other divine event, no other occasion that has to be accomplished before the end comes. And so it is as if it is true that the Judge is standing at the door. So can I say that it is near in our sense chronologically? I don't know that I can say that. But can I say that it is near? Yes, because nothing stands between us and that occasion. We used to sing the song, and some of you may still sing this. Jesus is coming soon. And there would be some people who would say, well, we can't sing that. We don't know when he's coming. We don't know when he's coming. But it is soon. It is at hand. It is near in the sense that it is always right there. There is nothing standing between us and. And that occasion. Does that make sense? I hope it does. If it doesn't, please reach out. Now, let me say this. Let's go over to Second Peter, chapter three, because I think this will deal with some of the objections that people have. So Peter is saying in Second Peter that some false teachers are going to be coming along, and they are going to say, this is not happening, right? Look at verse three of second Peter three, Peter knowing this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. And so there will be people over time who will come along and they will say, you know, everything is going on just like it was. Where is he? So it seems to me that Peter here has a sense that the time will be maybe longer in chronology. You know, some people say first Peter four, he says, it's going to be right there chronologically. And second Peter 3 says, it's going to take a long time. I think what he's saying in first Peter four is, nothing stands between us and that. But in Second Peter three, I think he's saying people are going to say, this is taking too long. It was supposed to happen any day now. It was supposed to happen right away. And Peter says in verse five that, or verse four that they say, everything's going on just as it has been since creation. Now Peter says when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God, the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water. And by water through which the world was destroyed at that time, being deluged with water. You see, they are saying, everything's going on like it always has. And Peter said, did they forget that there was already a global judgment? Did they forget that the world was already destroyed? And he says, verse 7, but by his word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. That is, the earth was destroyed by water. But right now God is holding everything as it is to be reserved for fire. For a day of judgment, and especially pointed out here, is the destruction of ungodly men, verse 8. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. A few moments ago I said, has it been a long time? Yes, it's been a long time. But it's only been a long time from our perspective, from a human perspective, because a thousand years is like a day, and a day is like a thousand years. And so it is. It has not been that long. When you think about the eternal scheme of things, when you think about the eternal scope, 2000 years is nothing it's not even a blip on the radar of eternity to our eternal God. But verse 9. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. That's a vital passage. God's delay is not because he is slow. God's delay is not because he's dilly dallying. The fact that Jesus hadn't returned is not because God is not keeping his promise. God's delay is because he wants you and me and everyone else to come to repentance. Because when the Lord comes, that will be the end of it. That will be the end of opportunities to repent. And the Lord wants as many as will all to come to repentance. Now, it does not appear to me that the day that the Lord comes will be when everybody has repented, because we know there will be unrighteous on that day. But it seems that the text here is telling us that God is waiting so that as many as can will come and as many as will can come. Now look at verse 10. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat and, and the earth and its works will be found out. Your text may say, be burned up. Now, what we've got here is we have these people saying, well, the Lord's delaying. He's not coming back. He's not going to keep his promise. And Peter says, did you forget the flood? God's already destroyed the world once with the water, but he's holding out now for destruction by fire. And he says, don't let them tell you that time is too long, that God is being slow. One they don't have the divine calendar in front of them. They don't understand that a thousand years is like a day and a day is like a thousand years. Time is of no relevance to the plan of God in the grand scheme of things. And the Lord is not being slow because he's delaying. The Lord is being slow because he wants people to repentance. He is not slow. He is patient. He is not slow. He is patient. And so it is important that we have that idea. So he says, the day of the Lord will come. They may have their doubts, and there may be what you think is a delay. It may be slower than you thought it was going to be, but it's God's patience. But understand that patience doesn't last Forever. His patience will end when the Lord comes like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away and the earth will be destroyed. Now notice what Peter says, and we will come to this in a later lesson in verse 11. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed and the elements will melt with intense heat? But according to his promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. The question that comes, Peter says, is, since this day is in fact coming, what kind of people should you be? What kind of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, because you're looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed and the elements will melt with intensity? The question here is not whether or not the Lord is coming. He is. The question is not even when is the Lord coming? It may seem like a delay to you, but God is being patient. The question here is knowing that the Lord is coming and knowing the consequences of that. What sort of person ought you to be? What sort of person ought you to be? I love verse 14. Therefore, beloved, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be found by him in peace, spotless and blameless. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to you, given to him, wrote to you, look at what he says, since we're looking for that stuff, therefore based on that, since we're looking for that, let's be diligent to be found by him in peace, spotless and blameless. And every day that passes, don't think of that as a delay, he says. Think of that as the patience of our Lord, and think of it as salvation. One more day to make things right. What a blessed gift. And we can use that to help others and to help ourselves to be ready. Because the day of the Lord is coming. Thank you for your kind attention. Until next time we bid you a pleasant good day. Back to the Bible. Let it be our plea. God's word alone, our authority, every word, every step in the name of Christ back to the Bible for the way of life.