Message Outline

The Arrival

Pastor Jonathan Stockstill
Sunday, Dec 18, 2022

Matthew 24:30-31 (NLT) 30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world--from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. 

What will it be like?

  1. The Sight
    1. A Great host, great power, great glory.
    2. All will see!
  2. The Sound
    1. The Lord will shout
    2. The Trumpet will sound!
  3. The Response
    1. Dead people will resurrect from their graves.
    2. We will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NLT) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.

Matthew 24:32-51 (NLT) 32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

When will it be? 

  1. When the fig tree begins to sprout - Israel
  2. No one knows, not even the Son Himself.
  3. As in the days of Noah
  4. “He will come when least expected.

In all three gospel accounts, Jesus tells them to be ready! 

Romans 13:11–14 (NLT) — 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Three ways to prepare for the arrival:

  1. Take off deeds of darkness. 
    1. When Jesus comes, don’t let him find you stuck in your old ways, in your sin, shed it! 
    2. Revelation 22:15 (NLT) - 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
  2. Put on the armor of righteousness.
    1. Put on the shining armor of right living.
    2. Don’t just remove nasty living; start living in the opposite direction. Give, love, serve, sacrifice, and pour out. 
  3. Work until He comes.

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