There are all kinds of voices talking today about the return of our King, Jesus Christ.  Some say He will come prior to the Great Tribulation, others say He will come in the middle of it, while others declare He will return at the end of it.  Then there are the pre-millennialists, the post-millennialists, and the a-millennialists.  Some point to this one as being the anti-christ, others point to someone else.  And the trouble is, they can all argue their point quite convincingly!  So in this post, I want us to quietly consider the first of three important things concerning the return of the King.

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He Will Return

If there is one thing that is firmly established in the New Testament, it is that Jesus Christ will one day return to our planet.  Let’s look at four voices that proclaim this fact with great clarity.

1.  Jesus

He spoke of His return as He sat with His disciples on the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem.

“For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.

“Immediately after the anguish of those days,

the sun will be darkened,
    the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”  Matthew 24:27 – 30

He even declared it in the presence of the Sanhedrin during His trial.

But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Jesus said, “I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  Mark 14:61 – 62

It is also one of the final assurances He gives in the Book of The Revelation.

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”  Revelation 22:12

2.  Peter

Peter exhorted His readers to look forward to the salvation that would come at the King’s return.

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.  1st Peter 1:13

3.  John

John encouraged his readers to remain in fellowship with the King because he was convinced He would come back again.

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.  1st John 2:28

4.  James

James was the half brother of King Jesus.  He urged his readers to have patience in light of the Lord’s return.

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.  James 5:7 – 8

His Coming is Certain

While there are other passages of Scripture we could examine, these are sufficient to establish that the return of the King is a certain as the rising of the sun.  Look for the next post on the subject in which I will share two other important things concerning the return of the King,  For now, let’s let this hope fill our hearts as we continue, day-by-day, living in the Reign.

M

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.