Living Here in Light of There

My Reunion: I’m Eagerly Anticipating the Return of Jesus

This sermon was prepared and preached by Pastor Mike Rose at First Federated Church in Des Moines, Iowa,
on Sunday, April 27, 2008.
Copyright © 2008, First Federated Church

Series Title: Living Here in Light of There

Series Text: Hebrews 11:13-16, New International Version (NIV) – 13All these people were still
living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and
welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

GOAL: To grow in knowledge and application that as a child of God, earth is NOT my home; I am
an alien and stranger here.

To facilitate our understanding, several Biblical texts were considered to help us discover what
Living HERE, In Light of THERE means.

Philippians 1:21, New American Standard Bible (NASB) communicated My Purpose: Jesus is my
life, my reason for living.

Matthew 6:19-33, NASB, helped us see My Home: My Citizenship is in God’s Kingdom. While I’m
here, I will give Him (God) and It (God’s Kingdom) my very best.

Proverbs 4:23, NLT & James 4:4, NIV instructed us about My Heart: Maintaining Spiritual
Faithfulness.

Today, Philippians 3:20-21, NASB focuses our attention on My Reunion: I am eagerly anticipating
the return of Jesus.

Philippians 3:20-21, NASB - 20But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And
we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. 21He will take these weak mortal bodies of
ours and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same mighty power that He will
use to conquer everything, everywhere.

The Apostle Paul says that as “… citizens of heaven …” we “… eagerly wait …” for the return of
Jesus our Savior.

Most all of us are familiar with the initial coming of Jesus. It’s what we celebrate during the
Christmas season when we look toward the “sacred” side of things. In His first coming, Jesus was
meek and lowly, a baby born of a teenage virgin in an animal stall.

But the Bible teaches that when Jesus returns, He will come in power and great glory for two
important purposes:

Part 1 is about gathering to Himself those who belong to Him, so they may be with Him forever
– John 14:1-3

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 Part 2 is about conquering His enemies and establishing a 1,000-year kingdom, on this earth,
where He will rule with those He gathered to Himself in Part 1 – Revelation 19 and 20.

Theologically, this is called eschatology, which means the study of last things. Sounds intriguing and
exciting doesn’t it? We could spend months studying this. But this morning, we will stay anchored to
two small parts of the overall topic of the Second Coming.

1. The Bible teaches there will be a generation of believers who will not see physical death but
will be taken out of this world by a supernatural act of God.

2. There are some things we need to concern ourselves with today, tomorrow and next week, if
we want to be ready, in case we happen to be that generation.

I. The Rapture

If you’ve been around church very long, you’ve probably heard the word “rapture” used. Although
the word itself is not found in the Bible, it is used to describe a supernatural event that is.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NLT gives us a glimpse of what this is all about: 51But let me tell you a
wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. 52It will
happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet
sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are
living will be transformed so that we will never die. 53For our perishable earthly bodies must be
transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, NLT also speaks of this event; 13… now, brothers and sisters, I want you to
know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people
who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe
that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. 15I can tell
you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet
Him ahead of those who are in their graves. 16For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with
a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the
Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17Then, together with them, we who are still
alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain
with Him forever. 18So comfort and encourage each other with these words.

So we find that there is an event yet future, when Jesus is going to “come again” and Part 1 of the
purpose is to resurrect the bodies of believers who died physically and to “SNATCH” believers who
are still living out of this world ans into His presence.

Now, I want to ask the followers of Jesus an important and sobering question. If that trumpet were to
blow right NOW, and the events we’ve read about were to take place, does the thought of that
frighten you, or excite you?

Think before you blurt out an answer – remember it would be Jesus, the Son of God, who has
perfect knowledge about your life that you would be face to face with.

So again I ask, based on the life you’ve been living, would you be joyful to see Him OR would there
be things that would cause you embarrassment and shame?

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This must have been on the Apostle Peter’s mind as he contemplated the return of Jesus. Consider
carefully the question he asks and the exhortation he gives.

II. The Preparation

2 Peter 3:10-14 – New King James Version (NKJV) – Here Peter is talking about the second part of Christ’s
return – not to take His followers into His presence, but to pour out His wrath on an unbelieving world. 10But
the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise,
and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.
Question 11Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! 13But
we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world where everyone is right
with God. Exhortation 14And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every
effort to live a pure and blameless life. And be at peace with God.

The Bible teaches that, as followers of Jesus, there are some things that we are to be working on here
while waiting for there. They are referred to as Things to Take Off and - Things To Put on.

Romans 13:12, New Living Translation (NLT) – 12The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will
soon be here. So don’t live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe
yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.

Ephesians 4:22-24 - 22that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man (nature)
which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24
and that you put on the new man (nature) which was created according to God, in true
righteousness and holiness.

Things to TAKE OFF

Lying – Ephesians 4:25, NKJV - 25Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth
with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

Revenge – Romans 12:19, NLT - 19Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it
is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.

Fornication/adultery – Ephesians 5:3, NKJV - 3But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness,
let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints.

Unwholesome talk – Ephesians 5:4, NKJV 4neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting,
which are not fitting …

Drunkenness – Ephesians 5:18, NLT - 18Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.

Things To Put ON

Armor of God – Ephesians 6:11, NKJV - 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil.

Jesus Christ – Romans 13:14, NKJV - 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for
the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

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Mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness – Colossians 3:12-13, NKJV
12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility,
meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a
complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Love – Colossians 3:14 - 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Now, if we worked diligently at taking off that which is to be rejected and putting on that which is to
be accepted, what type of people would we become? We would be more powerful, free, effective, on
fire, God-honoring, God-blessed.

And what is our motivation to actively pursue these things? The fact that as followers of Jesus we are
not citizens of this world where SIN is KING, but citizens of HEAVEN, where Jesus is KING. And
we know that the King is returning to receive us unto Himself, and when He comes, He wants to find
us living in holy conduct and Godliness. So what about it brother/sister? Are you actively pursuing
growth in holy conduct and Godliness?

Living HERE, in Light of THERE means: I am eagerly anticipating the return of the Lord Jesus to
take me into His presence forever.

Of course the only people who can be excited about the return of Jesus are those who follow Him.
Are you a follower of Jesus?

To be a Follower of Jesus means that you have acknowledged and repented of your sin, and by faith
have accepted the gift of forgiveness, which Jesus purchased for you through His sacrifice and
resurrection. If you have not receive God’s gift of Salvation through Jesus, I invite you today to do so.

The First Federated Church copyright, above, is for the sermon itself, not for any items quoted in the sermon, unless
otherwise stated. All quoted items are done so in good faith, and the source is attributed when it is known.

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