6: Christ is Coming Back: Does it Matter When?

Contents:

• The Time Interval (Luke 19:11-27)

• Is this a time to be dogmatic, or diplomatic? (2 Cor 5:17-21)

• The “Christian” attitude (Matt 24:9-14)

• How do you want to be found? (Matt 24:42)

• Call to Action

Getting hung up on the timing of Christ’s coming rather than the necessity of the work to be done before it happens can be a great distraction for the church, and an excuse for some to remain ignorant of our duties as disciples!

Let me explain what I mean.

Not taking the time to understand prophecy and prophetic language can be an excuse to avoid such books as Daniel, 2 Thessalonians, and Revelation by claiming this is for the "gifted" to understand. And, now with the fascination of “prepping” for doomsday, disciples's eyes may be getting too focused on the present for preservation instead of using the

time wisely to live, speak, and spread the gospel to a world in need of Christ’s salvation.

“ Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thess 2:3, English Standard Version).

The time interval (Luke 19:11-27).

Jesus gave numerous parables on the kingdom where the emphasis on the believer is for an interval of time between the King initially coming and his return in consummation glory (Read the Gospel accounts). Do you forget that you are to deny your own will and way, and keep your hand to the plow (Heb 9:23, 62), and an eye to the sky (Matt 24:30, 32-35, 44) as you pray for that day ? (See 1 Pet 3:9-13 ). Jesus says he will come (Matt 24:29-30); and the angels said it will be just as he left (Acts 1:11).

Is this a time to be dogmatic, or diplomatic? (2 Cor 5:17-21).

There are four primary views on the timing of the rapture; but this is not what Jesus wants you to be concerned about (1 Thess 4:13-18). Jesus wants you to be concerned with how he finds you when he comes (Matt 24:45-51). Peter says,

“What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Pet 3:11b-12a, ESV).

Disciples have been given a mandate to “make disciples” by going, baptizing, and teaching until he returns (Matt 28:18-20). Jesus has also given us “status” under his authority in which to operate:

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:18-20, ESV).

Now is not the time to be dogmatic and plant your flag to defend your rapture position! I have found when it comes to eschatology (study of the end times) that people either do not understand what they think they know, or really have not taken a position they can even defend. Thomas Schreiner says, “Godly lives are related to and grounded in eschatology. Those who disregard the future cosmos will not live well in the present one.”[1] What Jesus intends, being as the time is short, is to be taking the gospel out in our everyday experience and be disciple-makers! Once, in a small group setting, I made the mistake of going from explaining the book of Revelation, to proving why a couple of positions that others held were wrong, and the position I held to be more probable and accurate from the Bible’s big narrative. That group and study did not end well. I became dogmatic instead of diplomatic!

The “Christian” attitude (Matt 24:9-14).

Going back to our introduction verse:

“ Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thess 2:3, ESV).

Disciple, understand: a terrible time for Christians is coming, according to the first 5 Seals progressively being opened (Rev Chapter 6: compare with Matthew 10:16-22; Chapter 24). Jesus said,

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:9-14, ESV).

How do you want to be found? (Matt 24:42).

I want to be found as I should be doing every day of my life; living and witnessing of Christ until I die or I am blessed to be called up into the air at his coming. If you have secret sins, now is the time to release them to Jesus. If you have never surrendered to the gospel, today is the day, for tomorrow, indeed, the next minute may be too late. Jesus said,

“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  (Luke 18:8, ESV).

Call to Action.

Maybe the “end times” is not your pet doctrine, but another one is. Whatever you are spending your time on, is it more important to you than being a disciple-learner, a disciple-maker, and a missional disciple who is advancing the kingdom through Christ’s church? “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35, ESV). We looked at your ambassadorship with the message and ministry of reconciliation earlier (2 Cor 5:18-20); so what are you waiting for? Get grounded, get growing, and get going!

Where to go to find the extra help you need:

I am going to suggest you do your own homework! I began reading many books on Revelation as well as commentaries. I kept a notebook and continued to make my own reference charts. Things just did not add up in every way with the Bible as was being presented in books. Then I happened upon a particular author (Marvin Rosenthall),[1] and was told to leave this particular book alone. After reading it, I saw more of the puzzle in eschatology finding missing pieces. I spent years on this, and it is still one of my go to study doctrines. You need to learn to do this as well. In the end, until the events of the end times start to unfold, no one can be 100% on their doctrinal view. But disciples should educate themselves because Jesus did say that believers present in that time will see many indicators. Be ready, be watchful!

Every believer – a disciple of Christ!

[1] Marvin J. Rosenthal, The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990).

[2] Thomas R. Schreiner, 1-2 Peter and Jude: the Christian Standard Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2020), 397, ProQuest Ebook Central.