The Kingdom of God (3 things)

• 1^st – The Kingdom of God is within… vs. 20-21

• Conquering King or Suffering Servant…
  • The Pharisees asked Jesus about when the Kingdom of God would come…
  • There was great debate among Hebrew Scholars over the role of the Messiah…
  • The problem is that there are two different pictures given in the Old Testament…
  • The Messiah would be a Conquering King – setting up His Kingdom – Psalm 2…
  • But there is a second depiction of the Messiah as a Suffering Servant – Isaiah 53…
  • The religious leaders could not find a way to reconcile this contradiction…
  • The solution is that Jesus comes twice – 1^st as the Servant / the 2^nd time as King!
  • Jesus came the 1^st time to die on the cross for the sins of all men – salvation…
  • But He will come a 2^nd time to set up His Kingdom here on earth – Revelation 20:1-7
• The Kingdom of God does not come by observation…
  • The term the ‘Kingdom of God’ can be a bit confusing to us – what does it mean…
    • The Kingdom of God is not a country – you cannot go and see God’s Kingdom…
    • God’s Kingdom is established in the hearts of everyone who receives Jesus…
    • II Corinthians 6:16 – “You are the temple of the living God… I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
  • The Pharisees were looking for the Christ to come and conquer a place…
    • They were waiting for the Christ to overthrow Roman rule…
    • To restore the glory of the reign of King David – set up a Jewish Kingdom!
    • If you’re looking for a Conquering King – dying on a cross does not make much sense
    • Yet Jesus had not come to conquer nations – He had come to conquer sin!
    • Often people miss the work that God is trying to do in their lives…
    • They are looking for the Conquering King – they want a Kingdom here on earth… 
    • But God wants to give them something far greater – eternity with Him in heaven!
    • Therefore they get frustrated when God does not given them monetary blessings…
    • Instead God gives them trials – to teach them they need Jesus – give them eternal life!
      
• 2^nd – The signs of Jesus’ return… vs. 22-30 (3 things)
• 1^st – Like lightning flashing in the sky… vs. 22-25
  • Jesus turned to His disciples and told them…
    • The day will come when you want to see ‘the days of the Son of Man’ – but will not…
    • Jesus knew His time was coming to an end – the cross was looming ahead…
    • Soon He would be crucified/resurrected – and He would return to heaven – Acts 1:9
    • The disciples would longingly want to see ‘The Day’ – the return of Jesus…
    • But it was not for them to see – it has been 2000 years and still we are waiting…
    • Some people think because Jesus has not come yet – that He is not coming…
    • II Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
    • God has shown amazing patience because He desires for many to be saved…
    • If Jesus had come back 30 years ago – how many of us would be in heaven!
    • But Jesus IS coming back – and He is coming VERY soon…
  • Jesus warned – if someone tells you the Christ is here or there – don’t believe it…

• There have been 100s of predictions on the date of Jesus return in the last 50 years…
• The most recent of them was widely publicized to be May 21^st, 2011 – we are still here!
• When will Jesus return – no one knows – only the Father in Heaven – Mark 13:32…
• If anyone tells you they know when the Rapture will take place – they are wrong!
• If someone tells you Jesus has already come (JWs) – do not believe it!

• Just as lightening flashes from one end of the sky to the other…
  • Lightning can be seen over 100 miles from where it strikes – lighting up the sky…
  • When Jesus does come it will not be in secret – no one will miss it…
  • We call it the ‘Rapture’ – from the Latin translation of the Greek word – Harpazo…
  • Those who believe in Jesus – the church – will be snatched up into heaven…
  • Imagine millions of people all disappearing in a single moment – all over the world…
  • Nothing left behind – other than maybe a pile of clothes – just gone…
  • No one will wonder if Jesus has come – it will be obvious to the whole world!
• First the Son of man must suffer and be rejected by this generation…
  • Jesus told his disciples before His return – He first had to leave…
  • Jesus still had to go to Jerusalem to be betrayed – and crucified…
  • We are not waiting for Jesus to complete the work of redemption…
  • We are waiting now for His return – we are waiting for the rapture of the church!

• 2^nd – As in the days of Noah… vs. 26-27
  • Jesus gave a sign to look for – the Days of Noah – exceedingly wicked days…
    • Genesis 6:5 – “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
    • So a sign that the Rapture is close – is the wickedness of men on earth…
    • We live in a world dominated by greed / violence / self-indulgence – II Timothy 3:1-4
    • As in the days of Noah – Just like the world today…
  • In the days before the flood – so will the coming of the Son of Man be…
    • Men were eating / drinking / marrying – right to the moment the flood came…
    • The idea is men were going on with their lives oblivious to the coming danger…
    • They were completely unprepared – and so missed the salvation of Noah’s Ark…
    • Like the Flood – Jesus will come without any warning…
    • I Corinthians 15:52 – “In a moment, in the blink of an eye…”
    • Jesus came to seek and save the lost just as Noah and family were saved by the Ark…
    • Anyone who believes in Jesus will be spared the judgment of God…
    • Noah and his family had to go through a doorway into the Ark to be saved…
    • So we too have to go through a ‘doorway’ to be saved – Jesus is the door…
    • John 10:9 – “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.”
    • The Door is open – anyone can enter in – and Jesus wants to save everyone…
    • But there will come a day – in a blink of an eye – when the door will close!
• 3^rd – As in the days of Lot… vs. 28-30
  • Jesus gives a 2^nd sign to look for – the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah…
    • Sodom & Gomorrah were very prosperous cities on the Dead Sea…
    • But along with their prosperity came GREAT evil and wickedness…
    • Genesis 18:20 – “The Lord told Abraham, ‘I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are extremely evil, and that everything they do is wicked.’”
    • So God sent two angels to ‘investigate’ and see first hand the evil of the cities…
    • The men of the city tried to rape the angels – even blinded they groped to find them!
    • So the Angels told Lot to get his family – God would destroy the cities…
  • Lot went and warned his friends and family – Genesis 19:12-14…
    • But the people would not listen to his warning – they mocked him…
    • They could not believe that judgment was only hours away…
    • Instead the people ate / drank / bought / sold / and built right up the very last moment
    • When God rained down fire and brimstone and destroyed them all!
    • So many people today are just going about their daily lives – oblivious…
    • They assume they have all the time in the world – tomorrow will be just like today…
    • They do realize that Jesus is coming soon – judgment is right around the corner…
    • Like a car speeding down the road towards an unsuspecting child…
    • It is our opportunity to share with them – to warn them…
    • They may mock us – they might not believe – but then again they might and be saved!
      
• 3^rd – On the day of the rapture… vs. 31-37

Be ready – get in the Ark – make sure when Jesus comes up you will be looking up!

1^st – Remember Lot’s wife… vs. 31-33

If you are on a housetop – or in the field – do not turn back…

The idea is when the trumpet of God sounds – I Thessalonians 4:14-17…

Jesus comes like a thief in the night – do not ask Him to ‘wait a minute’…

Do not look at the things you are leaving behind – money / possessions…

And think ‘if only I could go back and grab those first and take them with me’…

Lot’s wife ‘looked back’ – and she became a pillar of salt…

When it says that Lot’s wife looked back – it would be better interpreted…

Lot’s wife hesitated to go – or even went back to the city!

Therefore she was covered in the erupting tar and salt explosions – pillar of salt…

She was un-willing to leave the world behind – and it cost her, her life!

The danger of living life on the fence – is falling off on the wrong side…

It is not worth the danger to play around with the love of this world…

It is far too easy to fall in love with this world – miss Jesus – be left behind!

If you seek to save your life – you will loose it…

Only the one who looses his life for Jesus’ sake – preserves it…

It is when we live for Jesus – not hold onto the things of this world – we find true life!

* John 12:24-25 – “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Only when we are willing to let our life go – do we truly find life in Jesus!

Then we will find the ultimate reward – not only eternal life with Jesus…

But a full and fulfilling life while we wait for His soon return!

2^nd – One will be taken – the other will be left… vs. 34-36

Two are lying in bed / working in the house / working in the field – only one is taken…

Jesus gives the illustration – two identical people – only one is raptured…

Neither expected it was THE day – they were working like any other day…

There will be no warning – nothing out of the ordinary…

But when we least expected – Jesus will come back for His Church…

Luke 21:28 – “Stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!”

We have everything to gain by Being Ready for Jesus SOON return!

So are we ready – no man knows the day and the hour…

But we know we Jesus is coming VERY soon – in our lifetime…

Let us live every day – knowing today could well be the day we see Jesus!

3^rd – What happens to those who are left behind – the judgment of God… vs. 27

Jesus coming through the clouds – riding out of heaven…

Revelation 19:11 – “I saw heaven opened, behold, a white horse. He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”

He comes with all the elect – the church of God – Revelation 19:14

Jesus will come to make war with the Anti-Christ and armies of the world…

* Revelation 19:17-19 – “…gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”

With one word Jesus will defeat them there in the Valley of Armageddon…

And all the birds will come together for the ‘supper of the Great God’…

Where the birds gather (scavengers) – that is where Jesus will return!

Are we ready – if Jesus came back today – what would He find us doing…

This is an important message – both as an encouragement and warning – I John 3:3

Are we caught up in the cares of this world – are we like Lot’s wife – looking back…

Do not be left behind – the judgment of God is coming – the birds are circling…