The Glorious Return of Christ

Old Testament – Isaiah 35:1-10
New Testament – Revelation 20:4-6

 The Glorious Return of Christ
“When Jesus Comes Again”

Revelation 19-20

Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor

In this series of sermons, we have outlined the major prophetic events that precede the millennial reign of Christ on the earth.

• The Rapture of the Church – John 14:1-3, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, 1 Corinthians 15:50-55.
  • While the Rapture of the Church is a “signless” event, which means it is always imminent, according to Revelation 3:10, it will occur before the Tribulation.
  • While the Psalm 83 war and the Isaiah 17 war will occur, and the Gog-Magog war will begin before the Tribulation, they are not in any way connected to the Rapture of the Church.
• Unbelievers endure the Tribulation – Matthew 24:21 – this seven-year event is also referred to as “Jacob’s Trouble,” and “Daniel’s 70^th
  • While the wrath of God is being poured out on those who refused to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, the Antichrist will rise to rule the world and persecute those who do receive Christ during the Tribulation.
  • During the second half of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will declare himself to be God, demand to be worshipped as God, and destroy those who refuse to declare their allegiance to him.

• Near the end of the second half of the Tribulation, God will gather all of the nations of the world to come against Jerusalem in that final attempt to defeat the Jews and destroy the city.
• This final war between God and Satan is called the Battle of Armageddon because the armies of the nations assemble in the Valley of Megiddo.
• However, as the evil nations believe their victory is in sight, Jesus will return to earth, and with just the word of His mouth, He will strike down the nations of the world, bringing this age to an end.
• Believers stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ – 1 Cor. 3:11-15 – during those seven years, every believer will stand before the Lord to give an account of their works of righteousness during their lives on earth.
• Believers attend the Marriage of the Lamb – Ephesians 5:25-27, Isaiah 54:5, Hosea 2:16-19, 2 Corinthians 11:2 – those whom the Lord ransomed and redeemed will be united with Him in an eternal relationship like a marriage.
• Believers return to earth with Christ to establish His Kingdom beginning with the Marriage Supper of the Lamb – Revelation 19:6-9 – this celebration will include all the saints from all of the ages, as well as those who were saved during the Tribulation.
• Jesus will inaugurate His reign over the earth for 1,000 years, during which He will:
  • Put down all rebellion restore the earth to its former peace.
  • Vindicate Himself as well as all those who believed in Him.
  • Exalt the saints of all ages to serve as priests and kings.
  • Judge the nations according to their righteousness.
  • Restore a righteous government over all the earth.
  • Restore all things as they were before sin entered into the world, and God condemned it with a curse.
• Daniel 2:44 – “The God of heaven will set up a new kingdom, which shall not be destroyed.”
• Matthew 19:8 – Jesus referred to this as a “regeneration,” – a time of new birth and new life.
• Acts 3:19 – Luke referred to this as “times of refreshing,” when the earth will be flooded with God’s righteousness.
• Ephesians 1:10 – Paul referred to this as “a time of fullness.”
• Philippians 1:10 – Paul referred to this as “The Day of Christ.”
• Theologians referred to this as “Paradise Regained,” as everything will return to the way it was when God first created them.

1. The Inauguration – How the Kingdom of God will begin

• The Kingdom will not be brought about by preaching the gospel.
  • Contrary to the Dominionists, the Kingdom Now proponents, and those involved in the Apostolic Reformation, the Kingdom of God will not be ushered in by worldwide evangelism.
  • Neither has God given us the spiritual authority to conquer all evil before Christ returns.
• The Kingdom will not be brought about by organized religion.
  • Whether in the form of liturgical-ism or Laodicean-ism, Evangelicalism is moving toward apostasy, not revival.
  • Under the banner of ecumenical unity, organized religion has abandoned the essential doctrines of the Christian faith and is supportive of the one-world religion of the New World Order.
• The Kingdom will not be brought about by any government agency or humanitarian effort.
  • World peace will not result from good thoughts, good works, or military conquest.
• The Millennial Kingdom will be inaugurated by:
  • Revelation – Acts 1:9-11 – the Lord will return to this earth.
  • Transformation – Romans 8:18-24 – Jesus will remove the curse of sin upon the earth. Isaiah 35:1, Amos 9:13-15, Isaiah 11:6, Isaiah 65:20, Isaiah 2:4
  • An Incarceration – Revelation 20:1ff – Satan will be bound in chains and cast into the bottomless pit.
  • The resurrected saints will rule and reign with Christ during the Millennium.
    • The Apostles will rule over the 12 tribes of Israel.
    • The rest of the saints will be assigned to serve as priests and kings in different parts of the earth.

2. The Administration – How the Kingdom will operate – Revelation 20:4-6 – “And they lived and reigned with Christ for 1,000 Years.”

• Jesus Christ will rule and reign on this earth for 1,000 years, as He is now ruling and reigning in Heaven, and we will reign with Him as priests and kings over a specified territory of the earth.
• Jesus described how the basis of our service will be decided in the parable of the Nobleman in Luke 19:12-27.
• On the day we all want to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant; you were faithful in little (while on earth) you now have authority over ten cities.”
• What we allow the Lord to do through us today counts for eternity.

3. The Consummation – How the Kingdom will conclude

• Revelation 20:3 – Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years and then released just before the end of the Millennium.
• The millennial kingdom is an “earthly” kingdom populated by earthly people and glorified saints.
• The earthly people will reproduce after their kind, and after 1,000 years, there will be many earthly people, most of whom will be unbelievers.
• To reveal their true nature, Satan will be released to attract unbelievers unto himself, and the Bible says the number of them will be as great as the sand of the sea.
• Understand this: The Millennium will be a “Christian Culture!”
  • Jesus will be on His throne in Jerusalem – He will be able to be seen, heard, and observed.
  • However, a perfect environment cannot create a perfect heart.
  • Jesus said unless one is “born again,” one cannot see, comprehend, or understand the Kingdom of Heaven.
  • Revelation 20:10 says those deceived by Satan will be devoured by fire from heaven, and then the one who deceived them will be cast into the lake of fire, along with the beast and the false prophet, and they will be tormented day and night forever.
  • Revelation 21:6-7 says Jesus will give “of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.”

   The true believer longs for the day Christ returns to earth to establish His Kingdom.

• Without the second coming of Christ, there would be no real purpose for His first coming.
• Christ’s second coming is the culmination of His life and His work.
• Christ’s second coming is where He finally receives the justification, glorification, and exaltation for all the humiliation He received when He came to earth 2000 years ago.