OceanSide church of Christ

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THE TWO COMINGS OF JESUS CONTRASTED

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Our precious Lord Jesus Christ came to this world some 2,000 years ago.  He lived among men.  He was crucified, raised from the dead, and taken back up into the heavens where He sits on the right hand of God (Heb. 1:3).

 

B.      He now awaits His Second Coming.  It has been promised, but only the Father knows when it will happen (Matt. 24:36).

 

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

 

C.     The two comings of Jesus are radically different from one another.  In this lesson, let’s consider this title:  “The Two Comings of Jesus Contrasted.”

 

I.             HIS ENTRANCE

 

A.    When Jesus came the first time,

1.        He came as a child to the virgin Mary (Luke 2:7)

 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

2.       There was little fanfare among humanity when Jesus was born. 

a.       A few shepherds were informed by the angelic hosts (Luke 2:2:8-14).

b.      Wise men from the east saw His star and came to worship him (Matt. 2:1-2).

 

B.      When He comes the second time, all will know it.

1.        There will be a shout and a trumpet blast (I Thess. 4:16).

 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God…

 

2.       There will not be just a few who lay their eyes upon Him, but according to Revelation 1:7, “every eye will see him…”

 

II.           HIS STATUS

 

A.    When Jesus came the first time,

1.        He was born to relatively poor parents (See Luke 2:24, a pair of turtle doves).

2.       He was brought up in the despised town of Nazareth (Luke 2:39; John 1:46).

3.       In adulthood, He did not have a dwelling of His own (Matt. 8:20).

 

Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

 

B.      When He comes the second time, He will come as the King of kings in splendor and with great power (Matt. 25:31).

 

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all he holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.

 

 

 

III.         HIS PURPOSES

 

A.    Purpose #1

1.        The first time, Jesus came to die on the cross of Calvary (1 Cor. 15:3)

 

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

 

2.       The second time Jesus comes, He will raise the dead (John 5:28-29).

 

Marvel not at this:  for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

 

B.      Purpose #2

1.        The first time, Jesus came to save mankind (John 3:16-17)

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

2.       The second time Jesus comes, He will come to judge the world (2 Tim. 4:1).

 

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

 

C.     Purpose #3

1.        The first time Jesus came to earth, He came to make saints (Matt. 28:19-20).

 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.

 

2.       The second time Jesus comes, He will reward His saints (2 Tim. 4:8)

 

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous just, shall give me at that day:  and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

D.    Purpose #4

1.        The first time Jesus came, He came to destroy Satan spiritually, that is, to destroy his works (Heb. 2:14).

 

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise too part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

 

2.       When Jesus comes the second time, He had the devil literally cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10).

 

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

E.      Purpose #5

1.        The first time Jesus came, He came to unite all men in one body or one flock (John 10:16; Eph. 2:13-17).

 

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:  them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice:  and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

 

2.       When Jesus comes the second time, He will separate the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32-33)

 

And before him shall be gathered all nations:  and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats:  and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

 

IV.        HIS TREATMENT

 

A.    Illustration #1

1.        When Jesus came the first time, very few acknowledged Him as the Son of God.  The majority rejected Him (John 1:10-11).

 

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

2.       When He comes the second time, every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess the Christ (Phil. 2:9-11).

 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God.

 

B.      Illustration #2

1.        When Jesus came the first time, He was persecuted and destroyed by man (John 5:16).

 

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.

 

2.       When Jesus comes the second time, He will take vengeance on all those who have rejected Him and have not obeyed the gospel (2 Thess. 1:7-9)

 

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the from the glory of his power.

 

V.          HIS CHARACTER

 

A.    The first time Jesus came, He came as a Lamb.

1.        A lamb is meek (Matt. 11:28-30).

 

…for I am meek and lowly in heart…

 

2.       A lamb follows the direction of the shepherd (John 10:4).

 

…the sheep follow him:  for they know his voice.

 

3.       A lamb is an object of sacrifice (John 1:29).

 

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!

 

B.      The second time Jesus comes, He will return as a Lion.

1.        He will come in boldness and courage.

2.       He will come as the King of all.

3.       He will come with a roar that will strike terror into the hearts of His enemies.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Another contrast:

1.        The first coming of Jesus had some signs that could be detected.

a.       In the days of the Romans kings (Dan. 2:44).

b.      Born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14).

c.       Born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2).

2.       When Jesus comes the second time, there will be no signs at all (2 Pet. 3:10).

 

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…

B.      Right now, we are between the two comings of Jesus.

1.        Now is the time to take advantage of the benefits of His first coming.

2.       When He returns, there will be no opportunities for anyone to be saved (2 Cor. 6:2).

 

…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.