The Blessed Hope: Anticipating the Second Coming

Devotional

Day 1: The Assurance of the Blessed Hope

The Second Coming of Jesus is often referred to as the "Blessed Hope" because it provides believers with comfort and strength, assuring them of the ultimate victory over evil. This hope is not just a distant dream but a reality that shapes the way Christians live today. It is a reminder that no matter the challenges faced in life, the end of the story is already written, and it is a story of triumph and redemption. Believers are encouraged to hold onto this hope, knowing that Jesus' return will bring about the fulfillment of God's promises and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. [01:21]

Titus 2:11-13 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

Reflection: In what ways can you let the assurance of Jesus' return influence your daily decisions and interactions with others today?

Day 2: The Global Visibility of Christ's Return

Unlike the quiet and humble first coming of Jesus, His Second Coming will be a global event that is instantaneous and loud, visible to all. This event will be marked by the brilliance and glory of Jesus' return, ensuring that no one will miss it. It serves as a powerful reminder of the majesty and authority of Christ, who will return in a manner that leaves no doubt about His sovereignty. This visibility underscores the importance of being prepared and living in a way that honors God, as His return will be undeniable and all-encompassing. [09:25]

Revelation 1:7 (ESV): "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen."

Reflection: How does the certainty of Jesus' visible return challenge you to live more authentically in your faith today?

Day 3: The Just Judgment of Christ

The Second Coming will be a time of judgment, where Jesus will judge the world with justice. This event highlights the dual nature of God as both loving and just, reminding believers that there will be a day of accountability for all. While the first coming of Jesus was marked by a mission of love and redemption, His return will be characterized by the righting of wrongs and the punishment of evil. This understanding calls Christians to examine their lives and choices, ensuring they align with God's standards and reflect His righteousness. [23:22]

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to align your actions with God's standards, knowing that a day of accountability is coming?

Day 4: Living in Expectation and Readiness

Believers are called to live with a sense of expectation and hope, being ready for Jesus' return. This involves living a life that honors God, being part of His family, and looking forward to the true homeland in heaven. The anticipation of Christ's return should inspire Christians to live purposefully and intentionally, focusing on eternal values rather than temporary worldly pursuits. It is a call to be vigilant and prepared, ensuring that one's life reflects the hope and faith in Jesus' promised return. [41:12]

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (ESV): "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to live with a greater sense of expectation and readiness for Jesus' return?

Day 5: The End of Pain and Suffering

The Second Coming will mark the end of all pain, suffering, and evil. Jesus will wipe out all atrocities, injustice, and the effects of evil, bringing about a new era of peace and righteousness. This promise offers hope and encouragement to believers, assuring them that the struggles and hardships of this world are temporary. The anticipation of a future without suffering motivates Christians to persevere in their faith and to trust in God's ultimate plan for restoration and renewal. [39:30]

Revelation 21:4 (ESV): "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Reflection: How can the promise of a future without pain and suffering give you strength and hope in the midst of your current challenges?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound significance of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, contrasting it with His first arrival at Christmas. The Second Coming is a pivotal event in Christian eschatology, often referred to as the "Blessed Hope," because it provides believers with comfort, strength, and confidence about the future. Unlike His first coming, which was marked by humility and quietness, the Second Coming will be instantaneous, loud, and visible to all. It will be a time when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

The first coming of Jesus was to save the world, a mission of love and redemption. John 3:16 encapsulates this purpose, emphasizing God's love and the promise of eternal life for those who believe. However, the Second Coming will be a time of judgment, where Jesus will return not to save, but to judge the world. This judgment will be just and fair, as God will right all wrongs and punish evil. It is a reminder that while God is loving, He is also just, and there will be a day of accountability.

The message also highlighted the importance of being ready for Jesus' return. We are encouraged to live with a sense of expectation and hope, knowing that our true homeland is in heaven. The Second Coming will be a time when Jesus gathers His family, those who have accepted Him, and takes them to be with Him forever. It is a call to live for Him, looking forward to His return, and to be part of His family, the church.

In conclusion, the Second Coming of Jesus is a reminder of the ultimate victory of good over evil, the fulfillment of God's promises, and the hope of eternal life for believers. It challenges us to examine our lives, our choices, and our relationship with God, urging us to be ready for His return.

Key Takeaways

1. BfZi8&t=81s'>[01:21]
2. The Instantaneous and Loud Return: Unlike the quiet and humble first coming, the Second Coming will be instantaneous and loud, visible to all. It will be a global event that no one will miss, marked by the brilliance and glory of Jesus' return.

3. Judgment and Justice: The Second Coming will be a time of judgment, where Jesus will judge the world with justice. It is a reminder that God is not only loving but also just, and there will be a day of accountability for all.

4. Being Ready for His Return: We are called to live with a sense of expectation and hope, being ready for Jesus' return. This involves living a life that honors God, being part of His family, and looking forward to our true homeland in heaven.

5. The End of Pain and Suffering: The Second Coming will mark the end of all pain, suffering, and evil. Jesus will wipe out all atrocities, injustice, and the effects of evil, bringing about a new era of peace and righteousness.

** [01:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - The Significance of the Second Coming
[01:04] - The Blessed Hope
[02:37] - Differences Between First and Second Coming
[03:07] - Slow Arrival vs. Instant Return
[05:06] - Quiet Arrival vs. Loud Return
[07:37] - Few Honored vs. All Will Honor
[09:25] - Global Visibility of the Second Coming
[13:49] - Judgment and Justice
[18:30] - Different Purposes of the Comings
[22:24] - Jesus as Savior and Judge
[28:34] - Jesus Came to Die for Our Sins
[31:11] - Gathering His Family
[34:19] - Humility vs. Glory
[39:30] - The End of Pain and Suffering
[41:12] - Living in Expectation
[48:59] - Invitation to Accept Christ

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the differences between the first and second comings of Jesus as described in the sermon? [02:37]
How does the sermon describe the manner in which Jesus will return during the Second Coming? [09:25]
According to the sermon, what will happen to every knee and every tongue at the Second Coming? [15:13]
What does the sermon say about the purpose of Jesus' first coming compared to His second coming? [18:46]

Interpretation Questions

How does the promise of Jesus' return in John 14:2-3 provide comfort and hope to believers? [01:58]
In what ways does the description of the Second Coming in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 challenge or affirm your understanding of Jesus' return? [10:08]
What is the significance of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord, as mentioned in Philippians 2:9-11? [37:13]
How does the sermon explain the justice of God in relation to the Second Coming and the final judgment? [23:22]

Application Questions

The sermon emphasizes living with a sense of expectation and hope for Jesus' return. How can you cultivate this mindset in your daily life? [41:12]
Reflect on the idea that Jesus will return as both Savior and Judge. How does this dual role influence your relationship with Him? [22:54]
The sermon mentions that the Second Coming will be a time when all wrongs are righted. How does this promise affect your perspective on current injustices you see in the world? [26:36]
Considering the instantaneous nature of the Second Coming, how can you ensure you are spiritually prepared for Jesus' return? [06:05]
The sermon calls believers to be part of God's family, the church. What steps can you take to deepen your involvement and commitment to your church community? [33:15]
How can the hope of the end of pain and suffering at the Second Coming provide comfort in your current struggles? [39:30]
The sermon challenges us to live for God's glory and honor. Identify one area of your life where you can make a change to better align with this calling. [27:08]

Sermon Clips

"The second coming of Jesus is called the Blessed Hope. And it's called the Blessed Hope because when you really understand it, it gives you comfort, it gives you strength, it gives you confidence to face the future, it gives you hope, and then you know that no matter what's gonna happen, you've read the final chapter of the book. And I have read the final chapter of the book, we win, okay, we win, and he is coming back one day." [00:01:14]

"The Bible says in I Corinthians 15:52, 'It will all happen in a flash as fast as the twinkling of an eye.' I mean, that's fast. Now, a twinkle is not a blink, a blink takes about a 10th of a second, a twinkle is the amount of time it takes light to reflect off the back of your eye. And since light travels 182,000 miles a second, that's a whole lot faster." [00:05:12]

"The Second Coming is gonna be very, very loud, it will not be quiet, it will be the greatest celebration in history as history ends, because history ends with the second coming of Christ, we're moving toward a climax. Here's what the Bible says, I Thessalonians chapter four, 'For the Lord himself,' that's Jesus, 'will descend from heaven with a loud command,' circle loud, 'and with the shout of the archangel,' circle shout, 'and with the great sound,' circle that, great sound, 'of the trumpet of God.'" [00:09:30]

"Romans chapter 14, the Bible says this, 'As surely as I am the living God, everyone will kneel before me, and everyone will confess that I am God.' That's a done deal. That means in the second coming of Christ, every celebrity that you can think of, will kneel and say Jesus is Lord, every politician, every global world leader, will kneel and say, 'Jesus is Lord,' including the dictators, every businessman, every businesswoman, will kneel and say, 'Jesus is Lord,' every military person will kneel and say, 'Jesus is Lord,' every pro athlete that you can name will kneel and say, 'Jesus is Lord,' every skeptic, every agnostic, every atheist, will kneel and say, 'Jesus is Lord.'" [00:15:22]

"First time Jesus came to save the world, next time he's coming to judge the world. He's coming back to say, 'Which of those two choices did you make, to trust me or to not trust me, to follow me or to not follow me, to love me or to not love me, to live for me or to live for yourself, which of those two choices did you make?' You get the choice. When Jesus comes back, he will either be your savior or he will be your judge, it's your choice." [00:22:24]

"Here's what the Bible says on the screen, Acts chapter 17, 'God has set a day when the entire human race,' that's all of us, 'will be judged with justice.' If you're taking notes, circle that phrase, judge, judged with justice. God is a fair justice, humans aren't, even the corpse sometimes get it wrong, but God is totally impartial, he's totally just. 'He will judge the entire race, human race, with justice, and set everything right.' All the stuff that's wrong, he's gonna set right." [00:23:20]

"When Jesus comes back, he's gonna end all atrocities, all aggression, all bloodshed, all bondage, all brutality, he's gonna end all corruption, cruelty, darkness, dehumanization, all dictators, disasters, he's gonna end all enslavement, evil, hate, harassment, all inhumanity, he's gonna end all injustice, he's gonna end all killing, maliciousness, manipulators, molesters, murderers, oppression, racism, tyrants, violence, war, he's gonna end all greed, but he's also gonna end the effects of that in our lives, he's gonna end all illness, all hopelessness, all betrayals, all cancer, all deafness, all death, all deformities, all defects, all dementia, all depression, all disappointment, and on, and on." [00:39:30]

"Live for him, looking forward, live for him, looking forward, with a sense of expectation, with a sense of hope, with a sense that no matter what happens in your life, you know the end of the story, and that God is going to save your life because you have trusted him. So you live with deep hope and you live with the spirit of expectation." [00:41:12]

"Philippians, the book of Philippians, tells us this, it adds this on, 'Our true homeland is in heaven. You weren't made to live for forever on Earth,' I'm glad I'm not gonna live forever on Earth, there's too much pain here. I wanna live forever, just not here, I wanna live where there's no sadness, suffering, sickness, sorrow, stress. You only get 60, 80, at the most 100 years, on this planet, that's not very much time compared to the trillions of years you're gonna spend an eternity in heaven or hell." [00:42:58]

"Luke chapter 12:29-38, 'Jesus said, "Don't worry, don't worry, your father knows all you need, and he'll give you whatever you need if you make his kingdom your first concern."' And by the way, don't be afraid either, don't worry, don't be afraid about the future 'cause it gives your father great happiness to give you his kingdom. If you're in God's family, God's gonna share with his children his kingdom, you're gonna share his kingdom, that's part of your inheritance as a child of God, it gives your father great happiness to give you his kingdom." [00:44:46]

"Jesus says when he comes back, if you've been faithful, you've served him, he said, he's gonna serve you. He's goes, 'Sit down, I'm gonna make your meal.' He puts on an apron. I don't know the full understanding of that, he just said, 'I'm going to serve those who have served me.' 'He himself will seat them, put on an apron and serve them as they sit and eat.' Now, he may come in the middle of the night, or just before dawn, but whenever he comes, there will be special favor for his servants who are ready." [00:46:40]

"II Peter chapter three, 'The Lord isn't being slow in keeping his promise to return,' no, no, no, 'instead, he's being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish.' God doesn't wanna have to judge people, he's a God of love, he doesn't wanna have to, he doesn't want anybody to perish. So he's giving more time for everyone to repent, that's why he hasn't come back yet." [00:48:59]

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