ANSWERS TO YOUR BIBLE QUESTIONS
Why Is Christ Coming Back?
Every Christian is looking and waiting for the return of Jesus. We have been told that He is coming, and having studied the subject, we accept it as fact. But many do not stop to consider why He is coming back. Generally, we just think about ourselves, “He is coming back for me.” Although that is one reason, yet we want to look at the whole picture. We are not the only reason Jesus is coming back.
1. The promise Jesus gave. John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:1-3
This promise is what gives every Christian encouragement to fight the hardships of life, knowing that Jesus is coming back, and all signs indicate, this is not far into the future.
2. The angel’s assurance and promise. Acts 1:9-11
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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.
Acts 1:9-11
Just as they observed His physical ascension, we can be assured that we will witness His physical return. We don’t have to worry about a secret return, wondering if He has already come. We will know assuredly when that time takes place.
3. All who are in the grave. John 5:28-29
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
John 5:28-29
This uses the word all who are in the grave. There is an appointment that every individual will have to meet. All those who are in the grave will come forth and face the “judge” to receive their just reward. Everyone will be rewarded, either with eternal life or with death. Another reason Jesus is coming back is to raise the dead.
4. The dead in Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
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:
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Even though we may be alive when Jesus comes back, we will not meet the Lord ahead of those who are dead. The righteous dead will come forth, and we will rise to meet the Lord together.
5. God hath appointed a day. Acts 17:30-31
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to REPENT!
Because HE hath appointed a day, in the which HE will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom HE hath ordained; whereof HE hath given assurance unto all men, in that HE hath raised Him from the dead.
Acts 17:30-31
This tells us that God has appointed a day to judge the world. The date has already been set. But the date and time, God is keeping secret. Only He knows the date, not even His Son knows (Mark 13:32). Also, there is nothing you and I can do to hasten or delay it.
6. The Word shall judge! John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.John 12:48
God is so gracious to us, He even has told us on what basis the judgment will take place. The judgment will be fair to all. The rich will not have preferential treatment nor will the highly educated. Everyone will be judged according to whether they have or have not obeyed His Word.
7. A separation takes place. Matthew 25:31-34
When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Matthew 25:31-34
The sheep represent the righteous and the goats represent those who are not righteous. It will be a sad day indeed if we should be one of the goats. God treats everyone alike. Everyone has the opportunity to choose to live by the rules (the Word).
8. Reward every man. Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.Revelation 22:12
Another purpose for the return of Christ is to reward the righteous. That reward will not be based on our position in life, our material possessions, or our education. It will be based on one principle, “how we have lived.” Therefore everyone has an even chance to please God and be privileged to hear those wonderful words, “…well done thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
9. Father’s good pleasure. Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Luke 12:32
Have you ever given a gift to your children and seen how happy it made them; in turn, it made you feel so good. This tells us our heavenly Father is going to feel the same way when He presents the kingdom to us.
10. To them who obey not. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
When Jesus returns, the wicked receive their sentence, which is death. Some think God is so loving that He will not destroy anyone. The Scriptures are plain. He will destroy the wicked, those who chose not to obey His Word.
11. Cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:13-15
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:13-15
The time will come when the wicked are finally destroyed. They will not burn forever but will be destroyed. Verse 14 speaks about death, not eternal life in a burning fire. See also Malachi 4:1
12. King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:15-16
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:15-16
After Jesus finishes all of this work, then He will reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords. Apparently, there is work yet to be done. A king has subjects to rule. The Bible refers to this period of time as a thousand-year (millennium) reign with Christ. (That is another study.)
13. Turns the kingdom over. 1 Corinthians 15:24-25
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.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1 Corinthians 15:24-25
When Christ turns the kingdom over to the Father, His work is done. He has carried out His Father’s plan.
14. Be always ready! Matthew 24:44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.Matthew 24:44
If we want to be accepted by the Lord and have a part in His finished work, we need to live every day as if it were our last.
SUMMARY
We have studied the reasons for Jesus to come back to this earth. As we have seen, although there are various reason’s, Christ is only carrying out or fulfilling the Father’s plan for man.
Material from the book Answers to Your Bible Questions by Wesley Walker.
More info: http://BibleAnswers.press
