30 Sermon Illustrations on Second Coming Of Christ

At one time the recording engineer of the author's radio broadcasts, a very dear saint of God, was almost completely blind. Whenever I visited him and prayed with him, he always wanted to hold my hand as I prayed. He told me that did something to him. Physical contact meant special inspiration and comfort to him. I thought he would not hold my hand when I prayed with him after the restoration of his eyesight, but he still continued to do so. I think this is a perfect illustration of the earnest desire of Christians for the physical appearance of the Lord Jesus. Be Prepared A servant whose master and mistress were away was uncertain when they would return. A friend visited her and feeling rather tired went in to rest. When she got up she saw that the servant had gone to all kinds of trouble to lay the table for tea as if her master and mistress were coming home that hour. She questioned the servant whether the master and mistress were coming home that day, but her friend answered, "I have not heard, but as the time is uncertain, I always have everything ready each day." What a lesson this is for the Christian-to have everything ready every day and every hour of the day. The Patient Farmer What good will it do the farmer to be angry at the plants because they are later in yielding fruit than he thinks they should be? It won't affect the plants. It is not in his power to ripen fruits at his pleasure. Therefore, as the farmer exercises patience and long-suffering waiting for the earth to yield her fruit, so should we in waiting for the presence of the Lord. Be Ready The Lord wants us to live all the time as if today would be our last. I believe it was John Wesley who was asked at one time, "What would you do if you knew that tonight you would die?" That great preacher of years gone by said, "I would do exactly what I have scheduled to do." Could you say that?

As that great preacher of the Word, Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, said, "To me the second coming is the perpetual light on the path which makes the present bearable. I never lay my head on my pillow without thinking that maybe before morning breaks, the final morning may have dawned! I never begin my work without thinking that perhaps He may interrupt my work and begin His own. This is now His word to all believing souls, till He comes."

"When we expect any one, we turn our eyes that way, as the wife looks towards the sea, when she expects her husband's return." Surely, then, if we look for Christ to come we shall keep our eyes heavenward, and our minds occupied with the country from which he cometh. If we mind earthly things, it will be evidence that the coming of the Lord has no power over us. Yet a good wife does not sit idly by the sea watching for a sail, but she sets the house in order for her husband's return. She who should sit looking out of window, or studying almanacks, and have no provision made for the home-coming, would show but scant love for her lord. We should watch, but we should also stand with our loins girt, and do the duty of the hour, that when our Lord comes he may not blame our negligence in his service. If we know little of the prophecies, we can show our expectancy by keeping the precepts.

Happy the day when every war-horse shall be houghed, when every spear shall become a pruning-hook, and every sword shall be made to till the soil which once it stained with blood! This will be the last triumph of Christ. Before death itself shall be dead, death's great jackal, war, must die also; and then shall there be peace on earth, and the angel shall say, "I have gone up and down through the earth, and the earth sitteth still, and is at rest: I heard no tumult of war nor noise of battle."

— Spurgeon

Effect of unbelief in Christ's coming is worldliness and licentiousness. v. 45 is the theology of unfaithful stewards who will be caught unawares in their shame

Loins girded—ready in service. Lights burning—ready in testimony. Those who are found active in service at His coming will greatly rejoice

We have received a report, by an unidentified Messenger as He was

passing through the "Portals of Glory", that Christ is expected to

return at any moment for His church. Local church members are

flooding their spiritual leaders with phone calls, crying, and

screaming with bankrupt hopelessness, asking "How can I get ready for

His return?," "What must I do?," "HELP me!"

Is such a reaction not expected? All during their religious life they

have "left the things of Scripture and of God up to their pastor to

tell them." However, the Bible plainly warned all to SEARCH the

Scriptures for themselves.

The Messenger from God also included in His announcement:

"For I say unto you, That except your

righteousness shall exceed the righteousness

of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no

case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Some immediately recalled this warning was given nearly two thousand

years ago as we have it recorded in \reference{Matthew 5:20}{Matthew

5:20}. Evidently the urgency of the message was not taken to heart,

until this last Messenger spoke the revealing and convicting words.

Whoever it may have been, that reported this as He passed through the

Portals of Glory on His way to earth, has given the last warning. The

LORD's arrival is expected at any moment.

The multitudes are now frighten to the point of having nervous

breakdowns. Many have been reported out in the streets tearing at

their flesh and pulling their hair from their heads in utter fearful

horror. Evidently they have suddenly realized that all their pomp and

ceremony which they have paraded before the eyes of others every

Sunday morning is not going to be sufficient to save them when the

Lord does soon return.

For years they have placed themselves in admirably positions, serving

as many thought their lord. But the evidence is surfacing and due to

their extreme fear of this pending announcement, they are no longer

comfortable behind their charades of religious activities, but find

themselves complete naked of God's righteousness and covered with

their own false righteousness which is plainly revealed as pure

filth. Lord, what are these people to do? Had they only studied and

learned the teachings of God's JUSTIFICATION and had really known what

it means to be IN CHRIST.|

One day in 1789, the sky over Hartford darkened ominously. Some of the members of the Connecticut House of Representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quieting a clamor for immediate adjournment, Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the House, rose and said, "The Day of Judgment is either coming or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. It it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought."

The Wise and Foolish Virgins - Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told a story about the kingdom of heaven that relates to His second coming when He is to return for His bride which is known as His Church.

There were ten young women whom Jesus described as virgins, or pure, undefiled young ladies, who took oil lanterns into the night to await the coming of the bridegroom. They all were to participate in the wedding ceremonies and were very happy to be included in the wonderful festivities that were about to occur. They had heard about the wedding which was to be the grandest that ever had occurred in the whole world. The splendor of the arrangements would be breathtaking. The ceremony and the feast were to be beyond imagination. This was to be the most magnificent event of all time.

Five of the young ladies, considering that the bridegroom might not come early in the evening, took extra oil in containers so that their lamps would not go out. The other five who were foolish took only the oil that already was in their lamps.

The bridegroom was delayed in his coming and so the ten young ladies fell asleep while they were waiting. At midnight an advance messenger rode up to the ten ladies and called, "Look! The bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!"

All of the young ladies arose and began to trim the wicks in their lanterns. The five foolish young ladies cried in dismay, "Look! We are running out of oil and our lamps are flickering. Please give us some of your oil so that our lights will not go out."

The five wise young ladies answered, "No. We are sorry, but if we share our oil with you there will not be enough oil for our own lamps. If we share with you we will miss the bridegroom and not be able to join the wedding party ourselves. We cannot give you part of our oil"

The five foolish young ladies ran back into the village to buy oil for their lamps so that they could join the wedding party. While they were gone the Bridegroom came and the five wise young ladies joined him and went to the wedding. After they had entered the wedding pavilion the door was shut so that no more people could enter.

After a while the five foolish young ladies came and pounded on the pavilion door, calling, "Please let us in to the wedding. We are supposed to be in the wedding party!"

Nevertheless the bridegroom answered, "You knew that I was coming and that you were supposed to wait for me with your lamps trimmed and full of oil. I am sorry, no people can enter into the wedding pavilion because the door is closed and locked."

The five foolish young ladies were extremely sorry and went away weeping.

Jesus ended this story with the admonition for all believers at all times to be prepared for His coming.. He urged them at all times to be watching in anticipation for His second coming if we are to enter into His wedding with His bride, from among the Church of believers.

Jesus was pointing out that being part of His church depended not only on living a righteous life in oneself but that it is necessary to have the salvation provided through His sacrifice on Calvary through faith in the name of Jesus. It is necessary to be filled with His Holy Spirit, which is equated in the Bible as the oil of the Spirit, 1 Sam 16:13, \reference{Exodus 31:11}{Exodus 31:11}, \reference{Acts 10:38}{Acts 10:38}.

Jesus indicated in other Scriptures, such as \reference{Matthew 24}{Matthew 24}th chapter, that we could anticipate the general time for His return for His Bride by observing events that had been predicted in the Scriptures as necessary to have occurred before His second coming. He compared that with our ability to predict that summer is near because we observe the changes that happen during springtime. Because of the predictions made in the Scriptures it appears that the season or time for the return of Jesus for His bride could occur in the very near future. Like the five wise virgins, we should be spiritually ready for His return at any time, day or night. To be left behind will be a tragic loss. To be ready we need to confess all of our sins or mistakes to God as we become aware that we have failed to fulfill God's will in our lives and to ask forgiveness because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We then need to ask God to lead us by His Holy Spirit in all of our ways. \bold{Key Concepts} 1. Jesus is coming again as the bridegroom of His Church, His Bride. 2. To be included in the bridal party we need to be waiting and watching in anticipation of Jesus' return. 3. We need to have plenty of oil for our "lamps" or souls so that we are ready for Him. The "oil is known as the anointing of the Holy Spirit in our souls. 4. We need to be prepared for His return at all times, watching and waiting and our souls filled with the oil of His anointing Spirit. \bold{Scriptures} \reference{Matthew 25:1-13}{Matthew 25:1-13}. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

\reference{1 Samuel 16:13}{1 Samuel 16:13} Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

\reference{Exodus 31:11}{Exodus 31:11} And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy [place]: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

\reference{Acts 10:38}{Acts 10:38} How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

This Bible story is part of the Virtual Church

The Jacobites of Scotland never met one another on the mountain paths, never sat down to a table of council and conference, without lifting a cup to pledge the return of their king and prince, Charles. At length Charles came back, but only to bring to Scotland defeat, disaster, and suffering. In every celebration of the Lord’s Supper, since that last and first night in the Upper Room, the followers of Christ have lifted the sacramental cup as a token of their faith that their King shall come. That is the meaning of those words, which we hear so often that we forget their deep import: “As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.” Till he come! And when he comes, He shall come, not to bring pain and suffering, as did King Charles to unhappy Scotland, but to usher His faithful and joyful saints into the eternal joys of His presence and His heavenly kingdom.

________

McCartney (edited by D.V.M.)

Our absent Lord has given special commendation to those who not

only WAIT for His return, but also earnestly WATCH for Him. The

difference between these terms is illustrated by the story of a

fishing vessel returning home after many days at sea. As they neared

the shore, the sailors gazed eagerly toward the dock where a group of

their loved ones had gathered. The skipper looked through his

binoculars and identified some of them: "I see Bill's Mary, and there

is Tom's Margaret and David's Anne." One man became concerned because

his wife was not there. Later, he left the boat with a heavy heart

and hurried up the hill to his cottage. As he opened the door, she

ran to meet him saying, "I have been waiting for you!" He replied

with a gentle rebuke, "Yes, but the other men's wives were watching

for them!"

Bishop Steed was a preacher of another day. It is said that the

first thing every morning he would go to the window, raise the shade,

look out and say, "Perhaps today, perhaps today, Lord. I will be

busy, but I will be ready." Then at night he would go to the window

before retiring and would say, "Perhaps tonight, Lord. I will be

asleep, but I will be ready. I will wake up when you come."

There was a man who called the assistant postmaster general in

Washington and urged him to issue a stamp commemorating the Second

Coming. The Washington official said, "If you will tell me the exact

time and place of His coming, I will get a stamp ready." The caller

hung-up. The incident was published in Kansas City and the official

in Washington received 12 letters from people naming the time and

place. The times ranged from July 1961 to 2061. But Jesus said, "No

man knows the day nor the hour, neither angels nor the Son of Man."

There was a little girl in a certain home. She was to young to

tell time. But in the evening she seemed to know that it was time for

her daddy to come home. She would begin to look out the window and

listen at the door. Soon she would see him coming. The door would

open and she would leap into his arms.

So ought we to be looking and listening for the Lord. His coming

may be near.

By: Dawn Morris submitted by Rev Ian Altman

Jesus is coming to earth again soon, Maybe at midnight, or daybreak, or noon, Angels will round up ready Christians and take, Them up in the air, for safety sake, Clear from God’s anger and wrath that He’ll pour, On evil of earth that’s increased more and more.

Are you now ready that day for to meet? Have you ever just knelt in faith at his feet? Repenting if sin in your life you have done, Confessing it all to the Crucified One, And asking his pardon, He died to forgive, His death paid the price, so that your soul may live, He loves you far more than you ever could know, He craves your response, so please don’t choose woe.

This day is soon coming, so get ready now, Or you will be left on the earth, I a-vow, To go through His wrath, though He’s longing to save, >From wind, storm and mudslide, fire, tempest and wave, Some of these things recent days we’ve gone through, So why go through worse, when there’s things you can do?

I know that day’s near by the data collected, From twenty years documentation, reflected, And watched Bible prophecies fit one by one, In the jigsaw of end time events, all but done.

So take my advice, I plead with you now, Trust Jesus as Saviour, and give Him your vow, Then safe you will be on that terrible day, Enjoying life forever, with no body decay.

I hope as time passes you’ll try to remember, Perhaps He may come back, as soon as September, So make your move now, while there’s time on your side, Too late when he gets here, you’ll wish you had died.

You may not believe what I say, what you heard, But come true this will very soon, mark my word.