Thursday, May 19, 2016

The first and second coming of Jesus Christ

The Joshua Project cites 2.74 billion people as unreached with the Gospel of Christ. The C.I.A. says that as of 2014, the number of deaths per day is 155,520, based on the number of deaths per year, per 1,000. This means, using those metrics the CIA is using, there are 108 deaths every minute, or 1.8 deaths per second. How many of those folks who die every day know who Jesus is? How many were believers? I don't know but I am sure the number of people who die and shall be separated from God for eternity is a staggeringly high number in comparison to the number who do know Jesus and were saved. Let's allow that though sink in for a bit. (PAUSE) We all know that as every day that passes we get one day closer to when Jesus returns. You can believe it or not. But its going to happen and there is nothing to stop it from happening. No one will be able to stop it. We cant warn sinners about the second coming of Jesus if we haven't even told them about the first coming of Jesus. Seriously, many people don't even know who Jesus is or why He came to the earth. 

To start with the first coming of Jesus Christ you must first start in the Old Testament because the Old Testament has many prophecies and foreshadows of the coming Savior of humanity. In the book of Isaiah chapters 11 there is a description of the coming Savior. Isaiah wrote about this Savior 700 years before Jesus was born. The chapter starts speaking about a Rod that shall stem from Jesse, a Branch shall grow out of his roots. Jesse was the father of King David. I want to point out in Matthew chapter 1 verses 5 and 6 Jesse and David mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, amongst others. After that in verse 2 of Isaiah the scripture speaks that the Spirit of the Lord will shall rest upon Him. In the book of Mark chapter 1 in verse 10, the scene is when Jesus was being baptized by John the Baptist. "And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove." As you keep reading, in Isaiah 11 it explains how Jesus would judge people. Verses 6 through 9 I believe and most people believe that this is a prophecy of what the new heaven and earth will be like. After that Isaiah speaks about calling the Gentiles (non-Jews to repentance) and then it speaks about the second coming of Christ in verse 11 "That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left." In Isaiah 7:14 There is an interesting verse and it says “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” In Matthew 1:22-23  the word says "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, "which is translated, "God with us." Jesus was God and He was with us. 


The three year ministry of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection were also prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Coincidence? I think not. God's words never contradicts itself. The Old Testament speaks about and points to Jesus. The New Testament, in particular the four Gospels, tell the story of Jesus and also reveal how His life accurately fulfilled the prophesies in the Bible.  Below is a list of just 44 prophecies of Jesus  in the Old Testament and where we can find them fulfilled in the New Testament. F.Y.I. there is actually 351 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled but this is just a portion of that. 



44 Prophecies Jesus Christ Fulfilled
Prophecies About JesusOld Testament
Scripture
New Testament
Fulfillment
1Messiah would be born of a woman.Genesis 3:15Matthew 1:20
Galatians 4:4
2Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.Micah 5:2Matthew 2:1
Luke 2:4-6
3Messiah would be born of a virgin.Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:22-23
Luke 1:26-31
4Messiah would come from the line of Abraham.Genesis 12:3
Genesis 22:18
Matthew 1:1
Romans 9:5
5Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac.Genesis 17:19
Genesis 21:12
Luke 3:34
6Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob.Numbers 24:17Matthew 1:2
7Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah.Genesis 49:10Luke 3:33
Hebrews 7:14
8Messiah would be heir to King David's throne.2 Samuel 7:12-13
Isaiah 9:7
Luke 1:32-33
Romans 1:3
9Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal.Psalm 45:6-7
Daniel 2:44
Luke 1:33
Hebrews 1:8-12
10Messiah would be called Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:23
11Messiah would spend a season in Egypt.Hosea 11:1Matthew 2:14-15
12A massacre of children would happen at Messiah's birthplace.Jeremiah 31:15Matthew 2:16-18
13A messenger would prepare the way for MessiahIsaiah 40:3-5Luke 3:3-6
14Messiah would be rejected by his own people.Psalm 69:8
Isaiah 53:3
John 1:11
John 7:5
15Messiah would be a prophet.Deuteronomy 18:15Acts 3:20-22
16Messiah would be preceded by Elijah.Malachi 4:5-6Matthew 11:13-14
17Messiah would be declared the Son of God.Psalm 2:7Matthew 3:16-17
18Messiah would be called a Nazarene.Isaiah 11:1Matthew 2:23
19Messiah would bring light to Galilee.Isaiah 9:1-2Matthew 4:13-16
20Messiah would speak in parables.Psalm 78:2-4
Isaiah 6:9-10
Matthew 13:10-1534-35
21Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted.Isaiah 61:1-2Luke 4:18-19
22Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek.Psalm 110:4Hebrews 5:5-6
23Messiah would be called King.Psalm 2:6
Zechariah 9:9
Matthew 27:37
Mark 11:7-11
24Messiah would be praised by little children.Psalm 8:2Matthew 21:16
25Messiah would be betrayed.Psalm 41:9
Zechariah 11:12-13
Luke 22:47-48
Matthew 26:14-16
26Messiah's price money would be used to buy a potter's field.Zechariah 11:12-13Matthew 27:9-10
27Messiah would be falsely accused.Psalm 35:11Mark 14:57-58
28Messiah would be silent before his accusers.Isaiah 53:7Mark 15:4-5
29Messiah would be spat upon and struck.Isaiah 50:6Matthew 26:67
30Messiah would be hated without cause.Psalm 35:19
Psalm 69:4
John 15:24-25
31Messiah would be crucified with criminals.Isaiah 53:12Matthew 27:38
Mark 15:27-28
32Messiah would be given vinegar to drink.Psalm 69:21Matthew 27:34
John 19:28-30
33Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced.Psalm 22:16
Zechariah 12:10
John 20:25-27
34Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed.Psalm 22:7-8Luke 23:35
35Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments.Psalm 22:18Luke 23:34
Matthew 27:35-36
36Messiah's bones would not be broken.Exodus 12:46
Psalm 34:20
John 19:33-36
37Messiah would be forsaken by God.Psalm 22:1Matthew 27:46
38Messiah would pray for his enemies.Psalm 109:4Luke 23:34
39Soldiers would pierce Messiah's side.Zechariah 12:10John 19:34
40Messiah would be buried with the rich.Isaiah 53:9Matthew 27:57-60
41Messiah would resurrect from the dead.Psalm 16:10
Psalm 49:15
Matthew 28:2-7
Acts 2:22-32
42Messiah would ascend to heaven.Psalm 24:7-10Mark 16:19
Luke 24:51
43Messiah would be seated at God's right hand.Psalm 68:18
Psalm 110:1
Mark 16:19
Matthew 22:44
44Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin.Isaiah 53:5-12Romans 5:6-8


(Sources: 100 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus: Messianic Prophecies Made Before the Birth of Christ by Rose Publishing, Book of Bible Lists by H.L. Willmington; NKJV Study Bible; Life Application Study Bible.)

So now that it has been explained how the Old Testament proves the New Testament is accurate, now its time to speak about the second coming of Jesus Christ. I have spent a lot of time studying this subject. In Malachi chapter 4 describes the coming day of the Lord. Its described as a day that will be burn like an oven. The proud and the wicked shall be burned up. But for those who fear His name will be healed and grow up like as calves of the stall. Another place I personally like to reference for the second coming of Christ is Matthew 24. and I want to point out and remind everyone the very first thing Jesus says when He begins to tell His disciples about His second coming. Verses 4 and 5, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars. Nations will rise against nations and kingdoms will rise against kingdom. There would be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places. But Jesus said to not be troubled because all this things must come to pass and that these are just the beginning of sorrows. 

Before the return of Jesus can happen, there are some things that must occur first before He comes. I will list them, I apologize if they are not in chronological order. There must be a falling away from the faith, also known as the great apostasy. The Gospel must be preached all over the world. The third temple in Jerusalem must be rebuilt so that the abomination of desolation can be placed in it and the Anti-Christ can sit in the temple and call himself god and demand everyone to worship him as god. Jesus mentions in Also, the tribulation must occur first, then Jesus comes back to save His church. Jesus judgment on the wicked is His mercy on the saints. 

Matthew 24:21-22  "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

Matthew 24:29-31 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Jesus also mentioned in Matthew 24 that before His return, the days would be as like the days of Noah. Matthew 24: 37-39 "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.How was it like in the days of Noah you ask? Genesis 6 explains this. "There were giants in the earth in those days..." and "...God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Very evil and wicked days come before Jesus Christ comes back to save us from this evil world. 

You cant talk about the second coming of Christ without mentioning the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. (It is not the book of 'Revelations') Many people, even preachers, are afraid to open the last book of the Bible because it speaks of many things that are not humanly desirable. I encourage you to read it and study it. We are in the last days and the information in that book may save your life and the lives of others. The book was written by the apostle John, the beloved disciple of Jesus while he was in prison on the island of Patmos. In Revelation 19, John gives a description of what some of us will see when Jesus comes back.
Revelation 19: 11-21 "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."

Some folks nowadays say that Jesus wont punish or destroy anybody. I just gave you the text where Jesus kills every head of state, every soldier, every person who is a sinner and the Anti-Christ. The judgment of the wicked is His mercy on the saints. But people reject that because they like the version of Jesus who is a sissy hippy savior that is all loving, kind and forgiving. I agree that Jesus is loving, kind and forgiving. BUT, Jesus is also a holy warrior and a righteous judge. He must punish sin and destroy it. When Jesus comes back, there will be no persuading Him. The time is short but there is still time to get right with God. We are not guaranteed our next breath and heart beat. We are not promised tomorrow. Now this brings me to 2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" Sounds like the times we are living in right? 

In conclusion, the purpose of this article is to inform people about the first and second coming of Christ. Not many people know about it and that is sad. That means we, the church of Jesus Christ, are not doing what we are suppose to be doing. What I managed to type out is just the tip of the iceberg. I gave it my best shot. There are so many other places in the Bible that speak about these subjects. But I will leave that for YOU to study on your own. Don't take my word for it and don't take your Pastors' word for it. Study the Bible on your own. Prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal the truth to you, to give you wisdom and understanding. Also ask to know the season in which we are living in. One of the main reasons I rededicated myself to the Lord after many years of back sliding was that I began to see the signs of the end. I knew that I had to get right with God..or else! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but fools despise instruction. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Get on the winning side because God wins in the end. Satan loses. PLEASE, I beg and beseech my readers to share this with your friends and families. The reason I ask this is because its the Lord's desire for no one to have to perish. Charles Spurgeon said "Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stop, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for." So lets warn others and pray for them. 






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