Making the Return of Christ Simple

David Sproule

The denominational world has surely complicated what the Bible teaches about the return of Christ.  They have added much to the simple information that we have in the Bible.  Let’s see just how simple it is.

(1) The timing of the return of Jesus is unknown and completely unpredictable (Matt. 24:36-44; 1 Thess. 5:2).  There will be no signs to indicate the time is near.

(2)  “All” of the “signs” in Matthew 24 before verse 34 were signs that would happen in that “generation” at the fall of the Jerusalem and destruction of “the temple” in A.D. 70. (24:1-34).  None of them apply to Christ’s coming at the end of time.

(3)  “Every eye will see” Jesus when He is “revealed from heaven” with “a shout” and “with the trumpet of God” (Rev. 1:7; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Thess. 4:16).  There will be nothing secretive about His return.

(4)  When the “last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:52) sounds on “the last day” (John 6:40, 44, 54), “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” in the same “hour” (John 5:28-29).  The Bible never places any amount of time between the resurrection “of the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:15).

(5) The only people under discussion in First Thessalonians 4:13-17 are the “dead in Christ” and the “alive” in Christ at the time of His coming.  No one outside of Christ is in view.  On the same day, the dead in Christ will be raised, and then the alive in Christ will be “caught up” to meet them.

(6) Once everyone on that “last day” is removed from the earth (the dead and the living), the earth will “pass away” (Matt. 24:35), “with a great noise,” “the elements will melt with fervent heat,” and everything “will be burned up” and “dissolved” (2 Pet. 3:10-12).  Nothing will be left.

(7)  Christ established His promised kingdom in the first century, just as He promised to do (Matt. 4:17; 16:18-19).  The kingdom has been in existence since Acts 2 and Christians are part of it today (Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9).  Christ will not step foot on this earth again (1 Thess. 4:17; Acts 1:9-11) nor be coming to set up and reign over a literal kingdom for a literal 1,000 years.  Revelation is written in symbolic language (Rev. 1:1), including the events and time in chapter 20.

(8) At the time of Jesus’ return, He will “sit on the throne” and “all nations will be gathered before Him” (Matt. 25:31-32).  All will be judged on the same day (Acts 17:30-31).

(9) Christ will sentence the “righteous” to “eternal life” and the unrighteous to “everlasting punishment” (Matt. 25:46).  The eternality of both realms is firmly established.

A lot is going to happen on that “last day.”  But it is not as complex or drawn out as some try to teach.

Fight The Good Fight – Part 4

Wade Webster

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen” (1 Tim. 6:11-16).  In the past installments of this study, we examined the contrast, the commission, and the charge of the Christian soldier. In this installment, we will notice one final thing.

The Commander

“Which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen” (1 Tim. 6:15-16). Imagine serving under Alexander the Great, Napoleon, or Patton. What an honor that would have been. We have an even greater honor. We don’t serve under just any commander. We serve under Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. In Revelation, we read, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:14; cf. 19:16). We serve under “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” Notice the word “only.” This word puts Jesus in a class by Himself. Furthermore, notice that He “alone has immortality.” Not only is He the only King, He is the only one who has immortality or eternal life (1 John 5:11). Other commanders might lead us to physical victories, but Jesus alone can lead us to spiritual victories. Salvation from sin can only be found in Him. Peter declared, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Paul continues by pointing out that Jesus dwells in unapproachable light and is deserving of great honor. Finally, Jesus possesses eternal power. If He is for us, no one can be against us (Rom. 8:31). We will enjoy victory through Him. Paul wrote, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:57-58).

Since every Christian is a soldier (Eph.6:10-17), these verses have something to say to all of us. Each of us should stand out as soldiers. We should be known for what we flee from, for what we follow after, and for what we fight for. Each of us should honor the confession that we made when we were commissioned. Each of us should keep the charge that we were given to obey the commandments. Finally, we should rejoice that we serve the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Fight The Good Fight – Part 3

Wade Webster

In the first two installments of this study, we examined the contrast between Timothy, a man of God, and other men, we designated as men of gain. Timothy was different in what he followed after, fled from, and fought for.  This week we will see two more points about fighting the good fight (1 Tim. 6:11-16).

The Commission

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12). Please note that Paul spoke of Timothy’s call and confession. You might think of this in terms of an officer’s commission and oath. Like all Christians, Timothy had been called by the gospel. To the saints at Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (2 Thess. 2:13-15). Timothy had been commissioned by Christ, the Commander in Chief, to be a soldier (Eph. 6:10-17). He had taken the oath or made the good confession (Matt. 10:32-33; Acts 8:37). He was determined to keep that confession even if it cost him his life (Rev. 2:10; Heb. 10:23). Timothy was determined to please the one who had chosen him to be a soldier. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim. 2:3-4).

The Charge

“I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing” (1 Tim. 6:13-14). Please note that Paul was urging or charging Timothy in the sight of God to keep the commandments of God. He was to keep them without spot until the coming of Christ. No doubt, the language reminds us of the meticulous care that the soldier takes in preparing his boots and uniform for inspection. Everything has to be just right. Jesus had made the good confession before Pilate. It had cost Him His life. We read, “And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest” (Matt. 27:11). Jesus was perfectly without spot or blame. Peter wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Pet. 1:18-20). Though Timothy would never be as spotless or blameless as Christ, he could pass inspection. Jesus had done all things to please His Father. We read, “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:28-29). He had performed all that had been asked of Him. He had kept the Father’s commandments. We read, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:9-10). Now, Timothy was charged to do the same. He was to walk as Jesus walked. John wrote, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:3-6; cf. 1 Tim. 4:16; 6:20). Timothy was to strive to keep the commandments of God without blemish. We might think of the elite military guard that serves at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington cemetery. These soldiers spend hours preparing their uniforms and shoes for their guard duty which lasts only 30 minutes to 1 hour. These soldiers make a life-long commitment not to drink alcohol or swear in public. In like manner, we as Christians have made a commitment to live our lives in holiness.

Fight The Good Fight – Part 2

Wade Webster

Last week, we began contrasting Timothy with the other men mentioned in the context.  We saw first that Timothy was different because of what he fled from.  This week, we will notice two additional contrasts.

What He Followed After

In addition to fleeing covetousness, Timothy was to follow after other things - righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. These traits are grouped into three pairs of like virtues: righteousness and godliness, faith and love, patience and gentleness. Righteousness and godliness refer to doing what is right in God’s sight. All of God’s commands are righteousness (Psa. 119:172). When we obey God’s commands, we are righteous. John declared, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (1 John 3:7). When we disobey God’s commands, we are unrighteous. Again, John declared, “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death” (1 John 5:17). Godliness is also tied to God’s word. In the context, we read, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness” (1 Tim. 6:3). The men of gain were not consenting to these words. Timothy was to do so. Consent means to come to something or to draw near to something. The next pair of traits that Timothy was to follow after were faith and love. Earlier in the context, Paul described the brethren as faithful and beloved. We read, “And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort” (1 Tim. 6:2). The faith and love mentioned in these verses is of the highest form. Both are willing to die (Rev. 2:10; John 15:12-13). Timothy was maintain his faith or love no matter the cost. The final pair of traits that Timothy was to follow were patience and gentleness. Patience has to do with bearing up under burdens (Heb. 6:12; 12:1-2; Lk. 21:19) and gentleness has to do with bringing strength under control as in the case of taming a horse (Gal. 5:23; 6:1). Timothy was to bear up under whatever burdens came his way.

What He Fought For

Finally, Timothy was different in what he was fighting for. Timothy was fighting the good fight of faith. He was trying to lay hold on eternal life. Of course, Timothy had a great model in this. Shortly, before his death, Paul declared, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8). The other men in the context were fighting over words. They were trying to lay hold on earthly gain. We read, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Tim. 6:3-5).

Fight The Good Fight – Part 1

Wade Webster

Paul often used military references in his writings. In Second Corinthians, he spoke of the mighty weapons of our warfare (2 Cor. 10:3-4). In Ephesians, he described the armor and the weapon of the Christian soldier (Eph. 6:10-17). In Second Timothy, he spoke of waging war (1 Tim. 1:18), of enduring hardship (2 Tim. 2:3), and of pleasing the One who has chosen us to be a soldier (2 Tim. 2:4). In our text, taken from First Timothy, Paul talked about fighting the good fight of faith. We read, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen” (1 Tim. 6:11-16). As we examine these verses, we will see four things - the contrast, the commission, the charge, and the commander.

The Contrast

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:11-12). Please note the first word - but. But is a word of contrast. Timothy, a man of God, is being contrasted with others in the context. We will call the others men of gain. Gain, rather than God, was their master and motivation. Describing Timothy as a “man of God” was high praise. It placed Timothy into the elite company of men like Moses (Deut. 33:1; Josh. 14:6), David (Neh. 12:36), Elijah (1 Kings 17:18), and Elisha (2 Kings 5:8). The difference between Timothy, a man of God, and the other men in the context, men of gain, was displayed in three things - what he fled from, what he followed after, and what he fought for. Let’s notice each of them in more detail.

Flee

Timothy was to flee from the things mentioned in the immediate context; primarily, the love of money. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:9-10). The other men in the context were not fleeing covetousness. They were pursuing it. Paul wrote,

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Tim. 6:5). They remind the Bible student of Balaam who said that he wouldn’t help God’s enemies for a house filled with silver and gold, but he did. Peter said that he did so because he loved the wages of unrighteousness. We read, “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet” (2 Pet. 2:14-16). Paul didn’t want Timothy to follow Balaam or his New Testament counterparts. He wanted him to flee from covetousness. He wanted Timothy to understand that a man’s life doesn’t consist of the things that he possesses (Lk. 12:15). He wanted him to understand that covetousness is idolatry. We read, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5). Timothy was to flee from covetousness or idolatry (1 Cor. 10:14). After all, no man can serve God and money. Jesus declared, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Mat. 6:24).