Maranatha: The Lord is Coming

Maranatha: The Lord is Coming

Message By Dr. K. Chitima at

Hercules AFM Easter Conference

Acts 1:1-11; Mark 13:31-37 

His second coming is the reason Jesus came the first time. It is the reason why he died and rose again a victor. He came the first time to prepare his church for his second coming.  His death and resurrection provided all the church needs to prepare for that day when he returns. It was finished (John 19:30)  but will be done (Revelation 21:6) when his bride is ready and he comes back. The second coming is the enduring hope of the church (Revelation 22:12).The early Church believers,  at a time when they were faced with much persecution, comforted themselves with the Aramaic word ‘Maranatha’, which means “the Lord is coming”, “Our Lord comes” or “come, O Lord.”  The purpose of life is to prepare for that day.

Christ’s return is a major theme in the Bible and yet we ignore it sometimes because of controversies among theologians about its nature and timing.   This message looks at the issues that are not disputed, their signs and their implications on the life of believers.

I. Certainties of His Coming

What we know for sure includes:

1) Jesus promised to come back. He  also said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away : but my words shall not pass away (Mark 13:31)" Jesus said, "And if I go and prepare a place for you , I will come again , and receive you unto myself ; that where I am , there ye may be also (John 14:3)."  "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:27, 28)".  " For as often as ye eat this bread , and drink this cup , ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come (1 Corinthians 11:26)."   Jesus will certainly come, if not for the Church at the end of the age he will come sooner or later for you when you die. 

2) He will come personally and visible. It is the same Jesus who came first time and ascended to heaven who will come again, not another Jesus. Not a representative, an angel, or an image. "Which  also  said , Ye men  of Galilee , why  stand ye gazing up  into  heaven ? this same  Jesus , which  is taken up  from  you  into  heaven , shall  so  come  in like manner as  ye  have seen  him  go  into heaven (Acts 1:11)".

3) He will come in great glory.  The first time, Jesus came unnoticed into the world, the second time “every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7). In his first coming Jesus humbled himself, being born in a stable in Bethlehem. When he returns, he will come back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. "And  when he had spoken  these things , while they  beheld , he was taken up ; and  a cloud  received  him out of  their  sight (Acts 11:9)". The cloud that carried Jesus into heaven was no ordinary cloud but was in fact the same cloud that led Israel in the wilderness. It is the cloud that represents the glory of God. "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:27, 28)". Jesus warned that they say, "Look, here!' or 'Look, there!' Do not go away, nor follow them, for as the lightning, when it flashes … so will the Son of Man be in his day (Luke 17:23-30)."  " For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels ; and then he shall reward every man according to his works .  (Matthew 16:27; 25:31)."   "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout , with the voice of the archangel , and with the trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)."   He will return for and with His saints and the saints will be with Him forever.  2 Thessalonians 2:1; ; Zechariah 14:4-5;  Jude 14-15; Revelation 19:11-16).

4) He will come to set up his Kingdom and judge nations and individuals according to their obedience to His gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:3-12). When he came the first time he was judged unfairly. When he comes the second time he will judge with truth and justice. Every life is on course to a day of its final account. For we must all appear before His judgment seat; that every one may receive according to what he did, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians  5:7-10). Every man’s work shall be revealed and tried to show what sort it is (1 Corinthians 3:11-13). Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

4) He will come soon and suddenly. "And , behold , I come quickly ; and my reward is with me , to give every man according as his work shall be (Revelation 22:12)".  As we used to sing that soon and very soon we are going to see the Lord, Maranatha. We may have to wait patiently.  He can come when we don't  expect, like a thief in the night, he will appear.  He will be like a thief especially to those who are not watching for His coming (Matthew 24:36-51; 25:1-3; Mark 13:32-37;  2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11: Revelation 22:7, 12, 20; Revelation 3:3; 16:15;).

5) He will come at his Father’s appointed time. "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man , no, not the angels which are in heaven , neither the Son , but the Father .  Take ye heed , watch and pray : for ye know not when the time is (Mark 13:32).   "And he said unto them , It is not for you to know the times or the seasons , which the Father hath put in his own power (Acts 1:7).  No one knows the exact day or hour. Whatever date you set, he could also come before or after. "Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come” (Mark 13:33).

II. Signs of the Season or Times

 Believers can however know the climate. " He answered and said unto them , When it is evening , ye say , It will be fair weather : for the sky is red.  And in the morning , It will be foul weather today : for the sky is red and lowering . O ye hypocrites , ye can discern the face of the sky ; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Mathew 16:2,3). " Most of the signs are already evident in our world today.

A) The prophetic clock. Israel and the Middle East have a special place in international relations because the Bible has made predictions about events in the region, which make a prophetic clock in understanding last day events. Israel is the nation whose history and future is fully recorded in the Bible. Events to do with Israel provide an indication of where we are on the prophetic time line. The clock is approaching midnight. "I saw in the night visions , and, behold , one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven , and came to the Ancient of days , and they brought him near before him.  And there was given him dominion, and glory , and a kingdom , that all people , nations , and languages , should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion , which shall not pass away , and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed  (Daniel 7:13-14)."   "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city , to finish the transgression , and to make an end of sins , and to make reconciliation for iniquity , and to bring in everlasting righteousness , and to seal up the vision and prophecy , and to anoint the most Holy (Daniel 9 :24)." In  the end, Christ will set up a kingdom for a thousand years and eventually an eternal kingdom centered in Jerusalem (Revelation 13:17; 21). "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom , which shall never be destroyed : and the kingdom shall not be left to other people , but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms , and it shall stand for ever (Daniel 2:44)." 

b)     Intense persecution and tribulation culminating into a ‘great tribulation’. "and there shall be earthquakes in divers places , and there shall be famines and troubles (Mark 13:8)."  Also   Matthew 24:9-10, 21; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; and Revelation 6-16. The tribulation includes famines, diseases and earthquakes which have increased (Matthew 24:6-7; Revelation. 6:1-17).

c)    False teaching and deception and false prophets will increase culminating in a one world false religious movement that will be part of an Antichrist system (Mark 13:8; Mathew 24: 5, 11, 24; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 13, 17). "Let no man deceive you by any means : for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first , and that man of sin be revealed , the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3)."  Also 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

d)        Conflicts and wars between nations  culminating in the rise of a star peace agent who will become a one-world dictator or  Antichrist. "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars , be ye not troubled : for such things must needs be ; but the end shall not be yet .  For nation shall rise against nation , and kingdom against kingdom (Mathew 24:6; Mark 13:7)."   Also Daniel 2; Daniel 7; Daniel 18; Daniel 11; Revelation 13; and Revelation 19:11-21.

e) An unprecedented outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh that will take place culminating in Christ’s coming (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17).  "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations ; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14)."  The Lord is going to present to Himself a victorious Church without spot or blemish.  "Repent ye therefore , and be converted , that your sins may be blotted out , when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord ;  And he shall send Jesus Christ , which before was preached unto you :   Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things , which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:19-21)."

III. Implications/How Shall We Respond

Believers may not understand all the details of how things will happen leading to the coming of Christ. God has however made it absolutely clear what they need to do. Which if they do they will be ready when and however he comes. Therefore do not be afraid but be very sure you are  ready.  Be fervent in faith and not lukewarm as the things of which Jesus rebuked the churches in  Revelation 2-3 and other bible passages. In short be careful to:

>>Watch Ye Therefore.   "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey , who left his house , and gave authority to his servants , and to every man his work , and commanded the porter to watch .  Watch ye therefore : for ye know not when the master of the house cometh , at even , or at midnight , or at the cockcrowing , or in the morning :   Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping .   And what I say unto you I say unto all , Watch (Mark 13:35, 36)". Watch by being prayerful and hopeful.  Watch therefore , for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh (Matthew 25:13). The second coming of Christ is a source of hope and comfort in times of trial and persecution (Hebrews 10:35-37). Be awake and alert.   Be alert to the various deceptions that are rising up (2 Thessalonians 2:8, 9; Matthew 24:11). And when the signs of his coming begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28).   While  things may become worse before becoming better, believers have great hope and will become stronger and stronger if they look to God.  Mark 13:32-37; Romans 13:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10).

>>Be fruitfully occupied. Go about your normal work with excellence and diligence. Serve faithfully. Work diligently.  For even when we were with you , this we commanded you , that if any would not work , neither should he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10) .  Put your talents, gifts, resources to gainful use (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11). . Take advantage of the end time outpouring and be a Holy Ghost powered believer and witness for Jesus Acts 1:8. Jesus as in the parable said, "Occupy until I come (Luke 19:13)." Be productive, meet needs and provide solutions. Be busy for the Lord (Mathew 28:18-20). You should be faithful in carrying out the task the master gave - ‘go ye therefore and make disciples’. Remember that every work will be tested 1 Corinthians 3:1-15.

>>Be ready by living godly lives. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; … Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness (2 Peter 3:10, 11).  Be ready all the time.  Therefore be ye also ready : for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh (Mathew 24:44) .  Walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 25:1-13; 1 John 3:2-3; 2 Peter 3:9-13).

Live today with eternity in mind. Live today with the end in mind. Martin Luther, the 16th Century reformer, said he had two days on his calendar - TODAY and THAT day.  He understood that life is to live TODAY to prepare for THAT DAY. Life is about preparing for that DAY. Not just finding rent, spouse, wealth, and health. Gods provisions are not an end in themselves but a means to prepare for that day. Sadly, many are preparing for today and neglecting that day. Christian writer Warren Wiersbe, tells about a horse that took off with a wagon carrying a little boy. Seeing the child in danger, a young man risked his life to catch the horse and stop the wagon. The child who was saved grew up to become a lawless man, and one day he stood before a judge to be sentenced for a serious crime. The prisoner recognized the judge as the man who, years before had saved his life; so he pled for mercy on the basis of that experience. But the judge replied, "Young man, then I was your savior; today I am your judge, and I must sentence you to be hanged." One day Jesus Christ will say to rebellious sinners, "During that long day of grace, I was the Savior, and I would have forgiven you. But today I am your Judge."

Each day that comes ‘that day’ is nearer than  before. You should be ready to give a report on ‘that day’ about your life and ministry.  On that day you will account for every word you spoke (Mathew 12:36, 37). That day will expose secrets of the heart. On that day, you will account for the things you did in private as well as public. On that day, every knee shall bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. There will be  rewards and joy for those found ready on ‘that day’.

>> Keep the faith. I have fought a good fight , I have finished my course , I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).   Will the son of man find faith in you when he returns (Luke 18:8). "Nevertheless  when  the Son of man  cometh , shall he find faith  on  the earth?". Believe him for all he has provided on the cross. What he will come to perfect and consummate believers already enjoy by FAITH. His presence is heaven to us. Will he find you eagerly waiting and faithfully serving him?