One amazing aspect about Christianity which distinguishes it from all other major religions is that God often tells us in advance what He is going to do. The coming of Christ into the world at the time He did was great news, but not new news. Hundreds of years prior to the event God used the prophet Isaiah to foretell of his coming.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, NKJV).

Jesus has come. In His short 33 years on earth, he has impacted our lives more than anyone who has who has ever lived. But His impact will continue

As wonderful as it is to imagine the nativity scene in all of its glory and splendor, the Bible assures us that Jesus is coming back. Known as the Second Coming, this is an event which will not be contained to a small geographical area with a relatively small number of people involved. When Jesus comes again, the whole world will know.

I want to spend a few minutes considering the future at the Second Coming of Christ. We can draw hope and encouragement as we see what God’s Word says about the future and our home in Heaven. I say this for three reasons:

First, the hope of a world restored under God proclaims that evil is not the final word. If we were to read only the newspaper accounts of murder, espionage, violence, wars, and the like, we would have only a negative view of the world. Or if we were to visit the hospitals with the terminally ill, the psychiatric wards with the mentally deranged, or the prisons filled with lawbreakers, we would see the world only from this view. Likewise if we were to spend all our time among the poor, among those who are starving to death, among those who are oppressed under political or economic systems that dehumanize and depersonalize people, we would have a pessimistic view of the world.

What the second coming says to us is that the evil of this world is doomed. God has dethroned these powers and taken away their ability to have ultimate control over history and over our lives (Col. 2:15).

Second coming says that the ultimate word in history is the triumph of God, the reign of God’s kingdom, the eternal and lasting rule of the good. We will be united with God in Heaven and will spend eternity there with Him.

Third, we are to be about our Father’s business.  While we should live in anticipation of all that will happen, we should not stand by idle.

Please turn to Rev 21 and we’ll begin reading there.

Rev 21:1-5 – God Is Making Everything New

1.    Please note the description of what Heaven will be like.

2.    New heaven, new earth, New Jerusalem. Can’t take possessions. Even have a new body!

3.    You talk about the EXTREME MAKEOVER!

Rev 21:6-8 – Tells Us Qualifications to Enter Heaven

1.    Nets Basketball- get on line with Ticketmaster. Won’t work here!

2.    Note carefully what Scripture tells us about who can inherit Heaven.

3.    And what it tells us about who can’t make Heaven.

Rev 21:9-2:5 – Description of the Heavenly City

1.    Try to imagine the splendor and beauty of Heaven.

2.    Note the repeated warning about the requirements for Heaven.

3.    Poem by 13 yr. old boy who died of a brain tumor on 14 Dec 1997.

Rev 22:6-21 – Jesus Is Coming Soon

CONCLUSION:

In light of Christ’s Second Coming, what ought we be doing?

1.    Has Jesus come into your life? Are you ready for Jesus to return?

2.    Are you making the most of the life God has given you?

3.    Are you telling others about Jesus?

Most Precious Possession

An incident is told about two soldiers who had recently been released from a prison camp in Siberia following World War II.  “We did our best,” said an officer, “to repatriate the men as fast as possible, but many were still there when winter threatened to close up the port.”  Only a limited number could board the last small boat.

Among those waiting to be transported were two who had been chums all through the war.  One of them was selected, but the other seemed doomed to remain behind.  An order was given that those who were leaving could take only one important item of luggage.

The heart of the man who was chosen went out to his buddy, so he emptied his duffle bag of its prized souvenirs and his personal belongings and told his companion to get into the canvas sack.  Then carefully lifting the bag on his shoulders, he boarded the ship with his friend as his single, most precious possession.  This man truly loved his neighbor as himself.