“He stilled a storm with one command.He raised the dead with one proclamation.He rerouted the history of the world with one life.”

Max Lucado

Jesus – our concepts of Him as a man often strive to keep Him somewhat soft, more palatable, less fanatical and appealing to all!

Jesus…. He could hold

the universe in His palm

but gave it up to float

in the womb of a

maiden

Questions to be considered: Has our concept of Jesus, the God man

made Him safe, sane and logical in our minds?

Is Jesus predictable? Is Jesus offensive? Have we “domesticated” Him in

our thoughts & expectations? How “Tame” Will The Return of Jesus

Be?

“Who is it you are looking for?” Jesus in John 20

The “Caught Up” aka “Rapture” Jesus ▪ 1 Thess. 4:17 Greek word – “harpazo” = to seize,

pluck/pull out by force Latin word – "rapiemur" = rapture

The Millennial reign of Jesus

The Tribulation

The return of Jesus to the earth

The most notable of theologians do not agree on the timing of the end time events; I will not presume to tell you when, only “that” these things will happen.

To speak about the enormity of

the second coming of Jesus, we must briefly

discuss 4 separate events of the end times to provide a look into the stage of events to which

He comes.

He WILL return again-suddenly and bodily for the whole world to see

His purpose: to save

There are those who distort these facts and deny the true purpose of the second coming of Christ.

Acts 1:11

Hebrews 9:28

 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and He will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD. Then once more the LORD will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past. “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

Have we tamed Him down in our expectations

?

Malachi 3:1-6 Prophetic

Image

God’s people are destined to be preserved as His distinct people!

The Jews understood this promise, but struggled with…

Because of God’s covenant with His people, a new period of “Grace” is beginning.

Messianic dualism

The Jews could not come to grips with a Messiah who would be both: One who suffers One who conquers

The Jews were looking for THIS Messiah……they ignored the prophetic word from Isaiah 53

Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.

“…so also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and he will come again, but not to deal again with our sins. This time He will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for him.” Heb. 9:28

[“…but he will save those who eagerly wait for him….” God’s Word]

In the NT letter to the

Hebrews, believers are instructed to understand

that Jesus will return to save

us.

2 levels to consider:

What do I expect of my LORD, healer, redeemer, friend, Savior….NOW in this present life I’m living?

What do I expect looking forward to when He returns?

So our question:

Have we tamed Him down in our

expectations? Is very pertinent because we need to have a good

understanding of WHAT to expect!

Jesus clears the temple the first time

Jesus clears the temple the second time “Then his disciples remembered this

prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

John 2:13-17

Matt. 21:12-17

And from this we can learn:

1st. -How soon men forget the most solemn reproofs, and return to evil practices.

2nd. -That no sacredness of time or place will guard them from sin. In the temple, under the very eye of God, these men soon returned to practices which they knew God disapproved.

Though Jesus thus purified the temple at the commencement of his ministry, yet in three years the same scene was to be repeated.

God’s people are destined to be preserved as His distinct people!

Our expectations of who He is to us should come under our own scrutiny, through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Again – What do YOU expect?

Jesus asks: Who do YOU say I am?

“So comfort

and encourage each other with this news.”

1 Thess. 4:18