## Behold He Cometh

## Revelation 1:1-8

This is God's revelation to man through John while he was exiled on the isle of Patmos. God promises those who study this book and promises to show us things which must shortly come to pass...begin to be fulfilled.

Since He went away. When He was caught up in the clouds to the right hand of the Father, men have looked for His coming. Jesus said He would return.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)

The apostles wrote of His return and how they longed for the day when Jesus should come back to this earth. Luke says that He is coming as He went away.

“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

This morning I would like us to consider the return of Christ. John wrote, “Behold, He cometh...”

I. Christ will return!

A. John describes Him as the FAITHFUL WITNESS.

1. From His entrance into this world as a babe...from the manger to the cross...everything about His life exemplifies faithfulness.

2. The path of human testimony is imperfect.

a. We turn the pages of history and look at Nations as they rise to splendor then fall.

b. Look at men who have risen to heights as rulers and see them fall.

c. We see men whose fame carried them to earthly honors and then they fall and fade away.

d. But this is not so with Jesus.

3. He did the very thing for which He came into the world.

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4)

B. He is described as the FIRST BEGOTTEN OF THE DEAD.

1. Someone may ask, 'Wasn’t there others who came forth from the dead? Even prior to the resurrection of Jesus?’

2. Yes, but they did not come forth by their own power, and not with glorified bodies.

“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:18)

3. Jesus came forth by His own power...the first fruits of them that slept and is at the Father's hand.

4. He was killed, buried, but He is risen.

C. He is the PRINCE OF THE KINGS.

1. He is King of kings....Lord of lords.

2. Some may claim this title, but they do so with no right.

3. He will reign and by rights all things of the earth already belong to Him.

“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Col 1:17)

4. When He came the first time He came as the Lamb of God, when He returns, He will come as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev 19:16)

D. He is the Christ that Loves us.

1. There never has been a time when He did not love us.

2. “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

3. When we were ungodly.

4. When we were dead in trespasses and sins.

5. When we were enemies of God.

6. The way to God is by the cross of Jesus.

a. Only by the blood of Jesus can one come to God.

b. Just as life for the body is in the blood, so spiritual life is by the blood.

c. There is no other way. “...without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb 9:22)

II. When is He Coming?

A. No man knows the hour. cf Mt. 24:36

B. Many try to set the time, but only God knows.

1. One day God will say, “Time shall be no more!”

2. When man least expects Him....He shall come.

“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:40)

3. When evil is rampant, when hearts are cold, when men are indifferent to God's way, that is when Jesus will come.

C. The shout of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet will signal His coming in a moment.

1. The ‘rapture’ is the term we use to describe the return of Christ in the air.

2. He will come to gather to Himself all who have put their faith in Him.

3. Paul describes it in 1 Thes. 4:13-18

D. Seven years later, He will return to the earth to establish His kingdom.

III. Why is He Coming?

A. He is coming to reward His people.

1. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev 22:12)

2. You see there will be eternal benefits to serving Christ.

3. Just as sure as there will be rewards, there will also be judgment.

B. He is coming to execute judgment on the ungodly.

1. “... Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” cf Jude 14-15

2. Is there any doubt as to who will be judged?

3. Those who have rejected God and chosen to go their own way will one day stand before Him and be judged by the very One that they have rejected.

C. He is coming to establish His kingdom on this earth.

1. At His first coming, the people of the earth said, “Crucify Him”.

2. They said, “We will not have this man rule over us!”

3. But He will rule and reign on this earth...not the new heavens and the new earth, but on this very earth!

- Behold He Cometh! - Are we ready for Him to come? - Are you saved this morning? -Have you put your faith and trust in Him? -You can today, if you will come and yield yourself to Him. - Christian, are you ready for Him to come? - Are we living for Him...Serving Him with our lives...Giving Him His rightful place? - If you need to come this morning and spend time with Him at this altar, do not delay! - Come now!