INTRODUCTION
The return of Jesus in glory is one of the most precious truths of the whole Bible, and there are more prophecies related to the Second Coming of Jesus than any other event. I want to share with you today what Jesus taught about His return. I have divided our study into three parts: the good news, the bad news, and the most important news.
I. THE GOOD NEWS
First, the good news Jesus taught about His return. The return of Jesus in glory is certain. Speaking to His disciples in the upper room, Jesus gave a prophecy regarding His return in glory. (Read John 14:1–3.) Did you hear the promise of Jesus, “I will come again”? (John 14:3).1 The return of Jesus is certain. Someone ought to shout Hallelujah!
That is not the only passage of Scripture where Jesus teaches about the certainty of His return in glory. In Matthew 24:27, we read these words of Jesus: “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” The glorious return of Jesus, like lightning flashing from the east to the west, is certain.
Look at the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:30. “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Notice that this certain return of Jesus is visible and dramatic.
According to Jesus, there are signs that show us His coming is drawing near. We can read about those signs in Matthew 24. (Read Matthew 24:4–13.) And the final sign that Jesus mentions that points to His return is already being fulfilled right before our eyes. Notice the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:14. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” We are seeing that sign come to pass right now!
According to Jesus, while no one knows that day or the hour of His return (Matt 24:36), we can know that the day is approaching. And we can know for sure that the return of Jesus in glory is certain. That, my friends, is good news!
II. THE BAD NEWS
But there’s some bad news that Jesus taught about His return in glory. The bad news is found in a parable about a wedding. (Read Matt 25:1–4.)
Tell me, what does this wedding represent? The return of Jesus in glory. And who do the ten virgins represent? The professed followers of Jesus. How many of these professed followers of Jesus are looking forward to the coming of the bridegroom? All of them. How many of them have lamps? All of them. How many of them have oil in their lamps? All of them. All of them, at some point, have experienced the blessings of God. All of them have received the anointing of God’s Spirit. But not all of them will be ready for the bridegroom’s arrival. And not all the professed followers of Jesus will be ready for His return in glory.
Let’s read on. (Read Matt 25:5–13.) What percentage of the professed followers of Jesus in this parable were not ready for His return in glory? Fifty percent. That, my friends, is bad news. Now I realize that it is not wise to build our understanding about last-day events on a single parable. I’m praying that every man, woman, and child here today will be ready when Jesus returns in glory. Isn’t that your prayer too? But while we don’t want to read too much into this parable, one lesson is very clear. Not all of those who profess to be followers of Jesus will be ready for His return in glory.
What have we learned so far from the teaching of Jesus about His return? First, the good news: the return of Jesus in glory is certain. And I’m so thankful for that good news, aren’t you? But then comes the bad news. Many of those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ will not be ready for His return in glory. That’s the bad news. Now if we ended our study here, we would all be depressed!
But we’re not going to end here. If you remember at the beginning of our study, I told you that I’ve divided the teaching of Jesus regarding His return into three parts: the good news, the bad news, and the most important news. We’ve heard the good news that Jesus taught about His return: the return of Jesus in glory is certain. We’ve heard the bad news: many of those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ will not be ready for His return in glory. What is the most important news Jesus taught about His return?
III. THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS
The most important news Jesus taught about His return in glory is also recorded in Matthew 24. (Read Matt 24:36–44.) What is the most important news that Jesus teaches about His return in glory? (Read Matt 24:44 again.) Jesus wants you to be ready for His return in glory.
Perhaps you are thinking, “I want to be ready. I believe the return of Jesus in glory is certain. And the signs tell us His coming is near. I want to be ready. But how can I be ready?” That’s a vitally important question, isn’t it? In the parable of the wedding feast, to those who were not ready, the bridegroom said, “I do not know you” (Matt 25:12). “You don’t have a personal relationship with Me.” Remember the words of Jesus in His great prayer of John 17: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The way to be ready when Jesus returns in glory is to have a personal saving relationship with Him today. Those who have a genuine saving relationship with Jesus as their personal Savior are ready for His return in glory. And how can I know that my relationship with Jesus is genuine, and not just empty words like the foolish virgins? The evidence of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus is loving obedience. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus taught, “but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21). He also said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). The evidence of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus is loving obedience.
CONCLUSION
What have we learned today from our study of what Jesus taught about His return? The return of Jesus in glory is certain. And while it’s a sad reality that many of His professed followers will not be ready for His return in glory, Jesus wants you to be ready. Will you trust Him fully today as your Savior and Lord? You may have walked with Jesus for fifty years, or this may be your first day in church. But will you trust Him fully today as your Savior and Lord? Jesus wants you to be ready for His return in glory.
I believe that many, if not all, of the people here today want to be ready when Jesus returns in glory. Am I right? I have a very specific appeal today in response to this message.2 (Review the decision card either passed out by the deacons or inserted in the bulletin. Allow time for people to complete their decision card.) Angels are singing over decisions made here today. Never forget this precious truth, my friends: Jesus wants you to be ready for His return in glory. I invite you to stand with me now and hold your decision card toward heaven. Let’s pray together.3
1 All Scripture references are from the NKJV.
2 Prepare a simple call card that includes the following: I want to be ready when Jesus returns in glory, I want to accept Jesus as my personal Saviour, and I desire to be baptized as a public confession of faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
3 Collect decision cards as people are leaving the service.
Derek J. Morris, DMin, is the former president of Hope Channel International, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA.
