Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

1. The first recorded promise:
   1. Was given to our first parents at the time He had to sentence them because of sin - Gen. 3:15
   2. During the reign of sin and sorrow the believers found a gleam of hope in the promise of the Messiah.
2. It is inspiring to note how Enoch, the seventh from Adam, pointed to the second coming of Christ: Jude 14, 15
3. The theme of the Patriarchs centered in the coming of the Redeemer:
   1. We think of Job, in the hour of great sorrow and pain, pinned his hope on the return of his Redeemer - Job. 13:17; 14:13; 19:25
   2. The Psalmist emphasizes the importance of the coming of the Lord - Ps. 50:1-9
   3. Abraham rejoiced that he was permitted to see the consummation of God's promises, which will culminate in the second coming of Christ - John 8:56
   4. Angels reassured the sorrowing disciples that Jesus would come again - Acts 1:10, 11

1. Paul called it the "blessed hope": Tit. 2:13
   1. It is the blessed hope of the sleeping saints - John 5:28, 29; 1 Cor. 15:22, 23
   2. In John 14:1-3 the Lord assures us that He will come to reunite with the believers.
2. Events connected with the second coming of Jesus Christ:
   1. The first resurrection takes place; it is the time when the dead in Christ shall come forth out of their dusty chambers - Dan. 12:2; 1 Thess. 4:13- 17; John 5:28, 29
   2. It is the time when the Lord will bestow immortality upon the saints - 1 Cor. 15:13-18; 50- 58
   3. Saved families will be reunited - Jer. 31:15-17; 2 Thess. 2:1-3. That will be wonderful to behold - Ps. 126:2
3. For the world:
   1. Separation of the wheat from the tares - Matt. 13:40-44; 25:12, 31-38
   2. It will not be a time of conversion of the wicked, as assumed by some people. Compare Luke 13:25 with Heb. 9:28, 29; Matt. 25:31-33; Rev. 6:14
   3. That will be a real shock for some deluded souls when they find that their hope was pinned on falsehood and deception.

1. The saints:
   1. They are praying, "Come Lord Jesus" - Rev. 22:20
   2. They will say, "we have waited for him" - Isa. 25:9
   3. They have actually looked for His appearing - Heb. 9:28; Phil. 3:20
   4. They are making preparation for His coming. Compare 1 John 3:1-3 with Rev. 19:7, 8; Matt. 22:1-12; 24:44; 25:12
2. The world at large:
   1. Will be occupied with the sinful pleasures of this world - Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-31
   2. Many professed Christians will be indifferent to His coming - Matt. 24:48-51; Luke 14:16-32
   3. Some will actually scoff at the promise of His coming - 2 Pet. 3:1-3
   4. To all these the Lord will come suddenly, when they do not think that He will come. Compare 1 Thess. 5:1-6 with 2 Thess. 1:7-9
   5. They will seek shelter beneath the rocks and the mountains - Rev. 6:13-17
3. "Be ye ready also":
   1. This is the admonition of the Lord, and we are wise if we heed it.
   2. As it is, we are a long way from being ready to stand before the Son of man when He comes - Rev. 3:14-17
   3. We know considerable about the coming of the Lord; it is, therefore, up to us to be prepared when He comes.
   4. May the God of mercy and grace give us the courage to make ready for that blessed event.