Signs of the Coming of Christ
The current events signal the coming of the Lord Jesus and we should keep our focus on him and his soon return.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the signs of Christ's imminent return amidst the world's turmoil, reminding believers that while many may cry 'peace and safety,' sudden destruction is coming. He references biblical prophecies, including Jesus' warnings about distress among nations and the need for Christians to remain vigilant and hopeful. Wilkerson encourages the faithful to look up and recognize that these troubling times signal the nearness of redemption. He reassures that, like the early Christians, we should find comfort in the promise of Christ's return, urging us to focus on Him amidst chaos.
Text
"For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief" (1 Thessalonians 5:3-4).
Right now, the world is in such turmoil that people are asking, "Is the world spinning out of control? Are we seeing the winding up of history?" We now understand what Jesus meant when he said: "There will be ... distress of nations ... men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Luke 21:25-26).
When Jesus gave that warning, he added this statement: "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (21:27-28).
All the terrifying things we see coming upon the earth right now have to do with the coming of Christ. Beyond all the gross darkness covering the earth, a cloud is being formed in heaven, and one day soon Christ is going to enter that cloud and reveal himself to the whole world. "When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near" (21:31).
The Christians in Paul's day wanted him to write about prophetic times and Paul responded that "the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). He went on to further describe the event and then he said, "Therefore comfort one another with these words" (4:18).
Paul's exhortation was meant to be an encouragement. Likewise, today, we are not to fret or be overly concerned over current events because we well know that it is all signaling the coming of the Lord Jesus to take away his people.
When Jesus said, "Look up" (Luke 21:28), he was telling us to keep our focus on him and his soon return! Truly, this is our wonderful hope!
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Coming of Christ
- A. The world is in turmoil and people are asking if the world is spinning out of control
- B. Jesus warned of distress of nations and the expectation of things coming on the earth
- II. The Signs of the Coming of Christ
- A. Terrifying things are happening on the earth that signal the coming of Christ
- B. A cloud is being formed in heaven that will reveal Christ to the world
- III. The Lord's Return
- A. The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, voice of an archangel, and trumpet of God
- B. We are to comfort one another with these words and not be overly concerned with current events
Key Quotes
“When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” — David Wilkerson
“Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” — David Wilkerson
“When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should not be overly concerned with current events because we know that it is all signaling the coming of the Lord Jesus.
- We should keep our focus on the Lord Jesus and his soon return.
- We have the hope of the Lord's soon return and we should comfort one another with this hope.