Jesus came Once, but He will come Again, the Second Time

 


Jesus came Once as a baby, but He will come Again, the Second Time as our King


Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus the Messiah. We are reminded that Jesus came the first time as a tiny baby, but today we will explore the fact that he is coming again in the clouds to receive all who have invited Jesus to live in their lives.

There are signs all around us indicate that it may be soon. Recently two planets Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in our solar system came together to form what is sometimes referred to as “Christmas Star” or the Star of Bethlehem.  We understand it was two planets - - but this conjuncture only occurs about every 800 years.  Is this a sign of Jesus coming again? ?

Verily verily I say onto you, This could  have been the Star that announced the first coming of Jesus our Lord. Perhaps God is announcing in the heavens that Jesus will soon come a second time and for each of us, it is good to keep the slate clean.

We understand that Jesus first came to earth as a baby, born to a Virgin girl, conceived by a miracle; God as His father. As Jesus matured and began his ministry he selected 12 men to be his inner circle.

Jesus attempted to educate his disciples to understand that he was sent to fulfill all the promises and predictions in the Old Testament. Prophets foretold regarding his birth, his death, resurrection and returning to heaven, and a final promise to come back for all believers.

Bible Scholars call this 'The return of Christ;' or “The Second Coming.” Jesus spoke plainly to his twelve disciples, yet their minds were dull and they refused to accept what he was telling them.

Actually they had their own thoughts and ideas of how the Kingdom of God was to be set up. They envisioned Jesus setting himself up as King on earth at that time, and taking over the government, but this was not so.

In the gospel of John chapter 14 verses 2 and 3, Jesus spoke about heaven and many mansions, and that he would leave his disciples, but he would return some day to bring them to be with him. When they asked; when shall this happen? Jesus replied that no man – not even the angels know the hour, but only the Father knows the time of Christs return.

Reading from Matthew chapter 16:21 Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

The disciples heard his words, but to them it made no sense, so they brushed off what Jesus was telling them.

How often do we brush off the words of the person teaching or preaching God's Word? May you each and everyone have listening ears to hear and understand what is being presented.

Again in Luke 18:31-34 Jesus explained for the third time:  “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them.

There are times we do not understand what is going on in our world, but we can always trust that God is working out situations according to His eternal plan. We can believe God as he reminds us in the Bible that He will take care of us, even in troubled times.

After his resurrection Jesus spoke to 400 believers in Acts chapter 1; to return to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come on them for power to be witnesses. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, Jesus was taken up in the air, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two angels stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Reading from 1 Thessalonians 4-13-17 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Today as we consider the Second Coming of Jesus - It pays to be ready, for when Jesus returns to gather his own children, it will be so quick that no one will have time to receive Jesus as their savior, no time to correct those things that hold them bondage. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 says it this way: It will take only a second - as quickly as an eye blinks - when the last trumpet sounds. The trumpet will sound, and those who have died will be raised to live forever, and we will all be changed.

Friend, are you prepared for the return of Jesus? In the blink of an eye, you can become ready, by asking Jesus to become the ruler of your life. Turn your life over to Jesus now, and he will come to live in your heart and his promise is to never leave or forsake you.


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