What Would Happen If Jesus Came Today?
Matthew 24:44
Matthew 24:44: Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as
ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Introduction
A. There are three great truths concerning the second coming of our
Blessed Lord which we want to see before we consider the things that
will happen at His return.
1. The first great truth is that He is coming back.
2. His coming is imminent. It could be any moment.
3. Some things are going to happen when He comes. Some changes are
going to be made such as has never been before.
I. There Would Be A Resurrection
1 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: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
A. The hope of the ages at last shall become a reality.
Job 19: 25-26 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and
that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though
after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see
God.
B. On special occasions the trumpet would be blown in Israel, and
they would start coming toward the tabernacle from all directions.
1. One day there is going to be a great trumpet sound, and a great
loud voice will be heard up in the sky, and the saints of the ages
will start coming from every place. They will come from the sea;
from the ground; from the ash heaps; from nowhere, as some have been
burned and nothing is left of them.
2. All the little aborted babies will be there.
C. There won�t be any left out of that great gathering when the
trumpet blows.
II. There Would Be A Rapture
1 Thess. 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall
be caught up together.
A. Immediately after the dead come to life, and receive their new
glorified bodies, the living saints are changed over into their
glorified bodies, and we will all go up together.
Illustration: I read recently where they had to move a cemetery
because they were building a lake there. But, you know, not one of
those people they dug up said a word, or showed any life of any
kind; they were dead. But, comes the day when Jesus returns, there
has never been commotion like we'll see when the "saints go marching
in."
Illustration: We once had a neighbor lady who hanged her clothes on
a clothesline outside. She said she liked for the night air and the
sunshine to get to them. She put her clothes on the line one
evening. The next morning early she knocked on our door, and asked
if we heard any noise during the night? We told her that we had not.
She said, "My clothes are all gone. Someone has come and got them
while I was asleep." One day soon, the old world is going to
ask, "Where have all the Christians gone?" Someone will have
come for us: His name is Jesus.
III. There Would Be A Reunion
1 Thess. 4:17b ------ caught up together with them in
the clouds------
A. Here lies our hope in the dark hour of death: we'll meet again.
1. David's son was taken from him. David said, "I can't bring him
back but I can go where he is."
B. Truly this is a comforting hope.
1 Thess. 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these
words.
IV. There Would Be A Rewarding
2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his
body---
Our works will come up for review
1. God is the great record keeper.
2. Let us work, not as unto men, but unto God for He is the One we
must account to.