Preview of Coming Attractions: The Second Coming
Sermon
A Fine Gospel for Preaching
Cycle B Gospel Text Sermons for Pentecost Last Third
Object:
One summer my wife and I took a vacation week and went to a South Carolina beach just to relax. On the way there we passed through a dozen or so small towns. Shifts in population had left many of these towns hurting. Service stations were closed, businesses were boarded up, and playgrounds were overrun with weeds. Almost without fail there was a movie theater in the city center. The door was padlocked. The windows were soaped up and the message on the marquee said, "Out of business." Then below it, on the bulletin board were the words, "Preview of Coming Attractions." This is where the color pictures used to hang -- the ones that made you want to see the movie. Now the space was simply empty. The sign said "Preview of Coming Attractions" and the space below it was blank. There were no coming attractions, nothing to look forward to at all. Some people think this is the way the world is. As far as a preview of coming attractions, they say it's a blank. Life will all end like a bankrupt cinema -- lights out, trash on the floor, the door locked, people gone -- the end.
But is this the way of the earth? Are there no coming attractions to look forward to with hope? Yes, there are! The way of the world is not the way of the Lord. In the text Jesus Christ himself is talking with his disciples about the future of the great planet earth. You might say Christ is giving his disciples a sneak preview of coming attractions.
Evil Is Expanding
The first point Jesus makes in this long text is that evil is expanding. He says, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars... and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places... and many false prophets will arise and lead many astray." Here in this text the Lord is giving prophecy. He is giving predictions, history written before it happens. The disciples had asked him: "Tell us, when will this be. What will be the sign of your coming?" Jesus told them plainly: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences." He also said there would be numerous false prophets who would lead many more astray.
Right here is where reading Jesus' words is like reading today's front-page headlines. The twentieth century was a time of war: World Wars I and II, the Russian Revolution, the Spanish Civil War, Korea, China and Japan, Vietnam, Northern Ireland, San Salvador, Somalia, the Gulf War, Israel, and a host of other wars were fought in that 100 years. More people were killed by war in the last century than in all other wars in all other centuries put together. You'd think humankind would be sick and tired of fighting. But, no! There are still so many "rumors of war" that nations are buying arms at an unprecedented rate! Military expenses are often higher than any other item on a nation's budget.
Take a look at earthquakes. In recent years quakes have hit Chile, Haiti, Mexico, California, China, Italy, Turkey, and a host of other places around the globe. Then there is the matter of famine. At least 20,000 people die each day due to starvation. The key word today is shortage. Russian wheat crops often fail. India, Pakistan, African nations, Mexico, South America, and others are often short of food. Over half the world's population goes to bed hungry each night.
In Luke 21:11, Christ predicted pestilences as a sign of his coming. This doesn't necessarily mean grasshoppers, mosquitoes, locusts, beetles, boll weevils, and the like. It can also mean pollution. The Greek word for pestilence means trouble in the air or little things in the soil. And certainly we have pestilence with us today from influenza and AIDS to air pollution.
Christ also predicted false prophets. He said they would come and lead many astray. The last forty years have certainly been a fulfillment of his predictions. Moonies, gurus, transcendental meditation, astrology, Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and more; young people and old flocking to their ranks. They are, like Jesus said, being led astray.
Many of you are thinking what I'm thinking. We have always had quakes, famines, wars, pestilences, and false religions. Why get alarmed? Today is no different than the past! But Jesus qualified his predictions. The Bible says that these things will come upon the earth like a woman in travail (1 Thessalonians 5:3). In other words, like birth pains. They start off slowly and gradually come closer together and more and more intense. Then comes the actual birth itself. Is this not what we see happening with the things Jesus predicted? Earthquakes are becoming more and more destructive and growing closer and closer together. The same is true of war and famine, false prophets, and pestilence.
Evil is expanding! Christ said it would be so before he returned!
Now this is a lousy point to have to make to you this Sunday morning. It's like saying, "Cheer up! Things are going to get worse!" But the point comes clearly from the text! We live in a world that is progressing toward evil just like Christ said it would. I must confess that I am fairly pessimistic about man and largely optimistic about God. Man aided by God can still repent and live faithfully. With some major scientific and social breakthroughs in diplomacy, population control, food supplies, and energy sources, the earth might just go on for another hundred or thousand years. Yet technological advances have far outstripped moral advances. In other words, we have the modern weaponry to destroy the earth but we still have the Dark Ages character of a four-year-old boy.
Time Is Demanding!
Evil is expanding! Jesus said it would. But in the text he also said time is demanding! Jesus said he would come like a thief in the night. He said, "You must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
A small boy was playing on the living room floor near an old grandfather clock. Noontime was approaching and when both hands reached twelve, the chimes began to sound. As he always liked to do, the little fellow counted each gong as it sounded. This time, however, something went wrong with the clock's inner mechanism. Instead of stopping at twelve, it kept chiming thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen times. The lad couldn't believe his ears. He jumped to his feet, ran into the den, shouted, "Daddy! Daddy! It's later than it's ever been before!"
His words are true of the second coming also. It is late, later than it's ever been before. This is no time to be living without Christ. It is no time to follow Christ in a poor sloppy manner. Yet some of us are living like we have all the time in the world. To us Saint Paul says,
Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
-- Romans 13:11-12 RSV
"Wake up," Paul is saying, "Christ is coming soon and you don't want to be unprepared." We don't have forever! As to the time of Christ's return, let me say this with all honesty. I do not know when it will be. It may be soon. It may be late. The signs seem to indicate that it might be any time now. But we know this for sure. It's later than it has ever been before! There are some who like to blueprint the future and give a date to the Lord's return. Believe me! This is a waste of time! It is pure speculation. In the text Jesus said, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only" (Matthew 24:36 RSV). In other words, Christ himself does not know when the second coming will take place. God only knows.
The Christian position in regard to the time of our Lord's return is to watch for it expectantly, have hope, and always be ready by living and working faithfully. There is a fine country place in Italy. It has marble fountains, huge lawns, and manicured gardens. The owner lives in Rome. He has not visited his country estate in over fifteen years. Yet every day the gardener does his work. He knows that if the master were to return and find things overgrown he'd be fired. A visitor asked the old gardener, "You keep things like the owner might return tomorrow, don't you?" The gardener said, "Oh, no, sir! I keep things like he might return today!" That is the position of the faithful Christian. Precisely because the Lord might return at any hour we must be ready every hour! Are you ready? Right now? Are you living and working faithfully? Would Christ be happy with your life right now?
Christ Is Commanding!
Evil is expanding! Time is demanding! And now the text tells us that Christ is commanding. Jesus said, "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds."
One gets the distinct impression from reading this text that though the world looks hopelessly out of control, God himself is still in full control. He is able to predict events before they happen. He will come on the clouds.
If you read Psalm 2 you get the feeling of just how firmly God controls the universe. Though the kings of the earth set themselves, though they throw off the Lordship of Christ, God still rules and overrules. Though the creature strives to be greater than the Creator, the Bible says God laughs! He doesn't feel one bit threatened! He can come back at any time and crush his opposition. The psalm ends with the statement, "Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Queen Victoria of England was one of the few earthly leaders who recognized the Lordship of Christ. She took refuge in him by faith. During her elderly years the Queen was heard to say, "Oh, how I wish the Lord might come during my lifetime!" When asked why, her reply was, "I should love to lay my crown at his feet!" Few world leaders have that kind of attitude today. Too often they are puffed up with vain conceit. They refuse to recognize God or obey him in their stewardship of power. They set themselves in opposition to the Lord's will. They are unjust and oppressive but the end will bring their downfall. Christ is commanding!
I wonder: Can we not take on the attitude of Queen Victoria? Can we not let God be in our lives right now what he already is in heaven, and that is king and Lord forever? Why not let him command you? Every Sunday in church we pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." It's time to start meaning and living that prayer. Jesus commands in heaven. How about on earth in your life? Is he commanding? If he is, then you can have peace. Like Psalm 2 says, "Blessed are all who take refuge in him."
A ship at sea was weathering a terrific storm. The boat was being tossed about by the waves and the wind. Most of the passengers were panic stricken. Some were seasick. But a little boy was seen playing quietly in the forward chamber. His young face registered none of the fear of the other passengers. "Aren't you scared, little boy?" asked a woman.
"No!" replied the child, confidently.
"And why not?" the woman pursued.
"Because my daddy is the captain of the ship," he said.
The Bible teaches that in the latter times great storms will rock humankind. Men's hearts will faint within them (Luke 21:26). But Christ is commanding! Our Father is the captain of the ship! He is able to keep until that day what has been entrusted to him. So be at peace. Take refuge in the Lord. Let him command your life and all will be well. I like the way the psalmist puts it.
God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam.
-- Psalm 46 RSV
God is our refuge. He is at the helm and he is able. So be at peace.
If one of you here today does not know Jesus Christ as Savior, why not repent of your sins right now and ask God to save you and then live faithfully? Serve God in his church. Serve him in your family. Serve him in your work. Tell others about the peace he gives all those who recognize his Lordship. Evil is expanding! Time is demanding! Christ is commanding! Repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Conclusion
This world we live in is not like a bankrupt old movie cinema with no coming attractions to preview. There is a God in our future. There is a new and better world coming! Injustice, oppression, and unrighteousness are on the way out. The kingdom of God is on the way in! If you believe Jesus' words and take refuge in him by faith, then you won't look forward to a hopeless end like the world does. Like Christians, you will know an endless hope!
The last words of the Bible are a promise from Christ. He says, "Surely I am coming soon." John the writer of the book of Revelation, says, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Until that time, until his return, how should we live? What should we do?
The answer is simple. It is faith. Live faithfully. Live spiritually like Jesus might return today but live consequentially or practically like it might be in a week or ten years or 100 years. It's okay to save for your child's education or to buy your groceries for the week ahead. But spiritually, we must live moment by moment in faithfulness. This means we must not bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich and let the world pass us by like some are saying. We should get involved. We should work to make the world better until Christ returns to make it the best it can be. I was preaching on the second coming in a rural Presbyterian church not far from here. After the service a farmer shook my hand and said, "You know, pastor, if the Lord were to return tonight, I can't think of a single thing I'd need to go home for." I'm sure that's the kind of attitude Christ hopes we all can come to have as we look for his return.
"Surely I am coming soon," Jesus promises.
The faithful say, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Can you say that and mean it? Say it with me: Come, Lord Jesus!
Suggested Prayer
Father, forgive me for being part of the expanding evil in this world. While there is still time, forgive me of my sins. Be my Savior. Command in my life! Let me not bury my head like an ostrich and let the world go by. Instead, let me work to make it better until Christ returns to make it the best. In Jesus' name, I ask for it. Amen.
But is this the way of the earth? Are there no coming attractions to look forward to with hope? Yes, there are! The way of the world is not the way of the Lord. In the text Jesus Christ himself is talking with his disciples about the future of the great planet earth. You might say Christ is giving his disciples a sneak preview of coming attractions.
Evil Is Expanding
The first point Jesus makes in this long text is that evil is expanding. He says, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars... and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places... and many false prophets will arise and lead many astray." Here in this text the Lord is giving prophecy. He is giving predictions, history written before it happens. The disciples had asked him: "Tell us, when will this be. What will be the sign of your coming?" Jesus told them plainly: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences." He also said there would be numerous false prophets who would lead many more astray.
Right here is where reading Jesus' words is like reading today's front-page headlines. The twentieth century was a time of war: World Wars I and II, the Russian Revolution, the Spanish Civil War, Korea, China and Japan, Vietnam, Northern Ireland, San Salvador, Somalia, the Gulf War, Israel, and a host of other wars were fought in that 100 years. More people were killed by war in the last century than in all other wars in all other centuries put together. You'd think humankind would be sick and tired of fighting. But, no! There are still so many "rumors of war" that nations are buying arms at an unprecedented rate! Military expenses are often higher than any other item on a nation's budget.
Take a look at earthquakes. In recent years quakes have hit Chile, Haiti, Mexico, California, China, Italy, Turkey, and a host of other places around the globe. Then there is the matter of famine. At least 20,000 people die each day due to starvation. The key word today is shortage. Russian wheat crops often fail. India, Pakistan, African nations, Mexico, South America, and others are often short of food. Over half the world's population goes to bed hungry each night.
In Luke 21:11, Christ predicted pestilences as a sign of his coming. This doesn't necessarily mean grasshoppers, mosquitoes, locusts, beetles, boll weevils, and the like. It can also mean pollution. The Greek word for pestilence means trouble in the air or little things in the soil. And certainly we have pestilence with us today from influenza and AIDS to air pollution.
Christ also predicted false prophets. He said they would come and lead many astray. The last forty years have certainly been a fulfillment of his predictions. Moonies, gurus, transcendental meditation, astrology, Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and more; young people and old flocking to their ranks. They are, like Jesus said, being led astray.
Many of you are thinking what I'm thinking. We have always had quakes, famines, wars, pestilences, and false religions. Why get alarmed? Today is no different than the past! But Jesus qualified his predictions. The Bible says that these things will come upon the earth like a woman in travail (1 Thessalonians 5:3). In other words, like birth pains. They start off slowly and gradually come closer together and more and more intense. Then comes the actual birth itself. Is this not what we see happening with the things Jesus predicted? Earthquakes are becoming more and more destructive and growing closer and closer together. The same is true of war and famine, false prophets, and pestilence.
Evil is expanding! Christ said it would be so before he returned!
Now this is a lousy point to have to make to you this Sunday morning. It's like saying, "Cheer up! Things are going to get worse!" But the point comes clearly from the text! We live in a world that is progressing toward evil just like Christ said it would. I must confess that I am fairly pessimistic about man and largely optimistic about God. Man aided by God can still repent and live faithfully. With some major scientific and social breakthroughs in diplomacy, population control, food supplies, and energy sources, the earth might just go on for another hundred or thousand years. Yet technological advances have far outstripped moral advances. In other words, we have the modern weaponry to destroy the earth but we still have the Dark Ages character of a four-year-old boy.
Time Is Demanding!
Evil is expanding! Jesus said it would. But in the text he also said time is demanding! Jesus said he would come like a thief in the night. He said, "You must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
A small boy was playing on the living room floor near an old grandfather clock. Noontime was approaching and when both hands reached twelve, the chimes began to sound. As he always liked to do, the little fellow counted each gong as it sounded. This time, however, something went wrong with the clock's inner mechanism. Instead of stopping at twelve, it kept chiming thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen times. The lad couldn't believe his ears. He jumped to his feet, ran into the den, shouted, "Daddy! Daddy! It's later than it's ever been before!"
His words are true of the second coming also. It is late, later than it's ever been before. This is no time to be living without Christ. It is no time to follow Christ in a poor sloppy manner. Yet some of us are living like we have all the time in the world. To us Saint Paul says,
Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
-- Romans 13:11-12 RSV
"Wake up," Paul is saying, "Christ is coming soon and you don't want to be unprepared." We don't have forever! As to the time of Christ's return, let me say this with all honesty. I do not know when it will be. It may be soon. It may be late. The signs seem to indicate that it might be any time now. But we know this for sure. It's later than it has ever been before! There are some who like to blueprint the future and give a date to the Lord's return. Believe me! This is a waste of time! It is pure speculation. In the text Jesus said, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only" (Matthew 24:36 RSV). In other words, Christ himself does not know when the second coming will take place. God only knows.
The Christian position in regard to the time of our Lord's return is to watch for it expectantly, have hope, and always be ready by living and working faithfully. There is a fine country place in Italy. It has marble fountains, huge lawns, and manicured gardens. The owner lives in Rome. He has not visited his country estate in over fifteen years. Yet every day the gardener does his work. He knows that if the master were to return and find things overgrown he'd be fired. A visitor asked the old gardener, "You keep things like the owner might return tomorrow, don't you?" The gardener said, "Oh, no, sir! I keep things like he might return today!" That is the position of the faithful Christian. Precisely because the Lord might return at any hour we must be ready every hour! Are you ready? Right now? Are you living and working faithfully? Would Christ be happy with your life right now?
Christ Is Commanding!
Evil is expanding! Time is demanding! And now the text tells us that Christ is commanding. Jesus said, "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds."
One gets the distinct impression from reading this text that though the world looks hopelessly out of control, God himself is still in full control. He is able to predict events before they happen. He will come on the clouds.
If you read Psalm 2 you get the feeling of just how firmly God controls the universe. Though the kings of the earth set themselves, though they throw off the Lordship of Christ, God still rules and overrules. Though the creature strives to be greater than the Creator, the Bible says God laughs! He doesn't feel one bit threatened! He can come back at any time and crush his opposition. The psalm ends with the statement, "Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Queen Victoria of England was one of the few earthly leaders who recognized the Lordship of Christ. She took refuge in him by faith. During her elderly years the Queen was heard to say, "Oh, how I wish the Lord might come during my lifetime!" When asked why, her reply was, "I should love to lay my crown at his feet!" Few world leaders have that kind of attitude today. Too often they are puffed up with vain conceit. They refuse to recognize God or obey him in their stewardship of power. They set themselves in opposition to the Lord's will. They are unjust and oppressive but the end will bring their downfall. Christ is commanding!
I wonder: Can we not take on the attitude of Queen Victoria? Can we not let God be in our lives right now what he already is in heaven, and that is king and Lord forever? Why not let him command you? Every Sunday in church we pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." It's time to start meaning and living that prayer. Jesus commands in heaven. How about on earth in your life? Is he commanding? If he is, then you can have peace. Like Psalm 2 says, "Blessed are all who take refuge in him."
A ship at sea was weathering a terrific storm. The boat was being tossed about by the waves and the wind. Most of the passengers were panic stricken. Some were seasick. But a little boy was seen playing quietly in the forward chamber. His young face registered none of the fear of the other passengers. "Aren't you scared, little boy?" asked a woman.
"No!" replied the child, confidently.
"And why not?" the woman pursued.
"Because my daddy is the captain of the ship," he said.
The Bible teaches that in the latter times great storms will rock humankind. Men's hearts will faint within them (Luke 21:26). But Christ is commanding! Our Father is the captain of the ship! He is able to keep until that day what has been entrusted to him. So be at peace. Take refuge in the Lord. Let him command your life and all will be well. I like the way the psalmist puts it.
God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam.
-- Psalm 46 RSV
God is our refuge. He is at the helm and he is able. So be at peace.
If one of you here today does not know Jesus Christ as Savior, why not repent of your sins right now and ask God to save you and then live faithfully? Serve God in his church. Serve him in your family. Serve him in your work. Tell others about the peace he gives all those who recognize his Lordship. Evil is expanding! Time is demanding! Christ is commanding! Repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Conclusion
This world we live in is not like a bankrupt old movie cinema with no coming attractions to preview. There is a God in our future. There is a new and better world coming! Injustice, oppression, and unrighteousness are on the way out. The kingdom of God is on the way in! If you believe Jesus' words and take refuge in him by faith, then you won't look forward to a hopeless end like the world does. Like Christians, you will know an endless hope!
The last words of the Bible are a promise from Christ. He says, "Surely I am coming soon." John the writer of the book of Revelation, says, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Until that time, until his return, how should we live? What should we do?
The answer is simple. It is faith. Live faithfully. Live spiritually like Jesus might return today but live consequentially or practically like it might be in a week or ten years or 100 years. It's okay to save for your child's education or to buy your groceries for the week ahead. But spiritually, we must live moment by moment in faithfulness. This means we must not bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich and let the world pass us by like some are saying. We should get involved. We should work to make the world better until Christ returns to make it the best it can be. I was preaching on the second coming in a rural Presbyterian church not far from here. After the service a farmer shook my hand and said, "You know, pastor, if the Lord were to return tonight, I can't think of a single thing I'd need to go home for." I'm sure that's the kind of attitude Christ hopes we all can come to have as we look for his return.
"Surely I am coming soon," Jesus promises.
The faithful say, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Can you say that and mean it? Say it with me: Come, Lord Jesus!
Suggested Prayer
Father, forgive me for being part of the expanding evil in this world. While there is still time, forgive me of my sins. Be my Savior. Command in my life! Let me not bury my head like an ostrich and let the world go by. Instead, let me work to make it better until Christ returns to make it the best. In Jesus' name, I ask for it. Amen.
