Looking into the Sun Jesus is Coming

1. Jesus is returning. He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. Vance Havner - The early believers were not looking for something to happen, they were looking for Someone to come. Looking for the train to arrive is one thing, but looking for someone we love to come on that train is another matter...With regard to our Lord's return, we emphasize preparation without expectation. Of course, all too generally nothing is said of His return at all. Bringing in the Kingdom is preached, but not bringing back the King....I'm not looking for signs. We've had plenty of them. I'm listening for a sound. Every time you see a scoffer who says there are no signs of His coming, you've just seen another sign. I'm listening for a shout.

Daniel 7 – the Son of Man will appear in the heavens in the clouds; Zechariah 12 – they who pierced him will mourn (repent) The purpose of his coming to judge or to save? Mission and judgment—ours is the mission and God’s is the judgment. Impossible to live an effective Christian life without an awareness of the second coming of Christ. – The doctrine of judgment day makes you very aware of your own flaws, but leaves the judgment of everyone else up to God. Humble and gracious rather than critical and judgmental

Lewis: The doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when the world drama will end. The curtain may be rung down at any moment.... This seems to some people intolerably frustrating.... We do not know the play.... The Author knows. The audience, if there is an audience (if angels and archangels and all the company of heaven fill the pit and the stalls) may have an inkling.... When it is over, we may be told. We are led to expect that the Author will have something to say to each of us on the part that each of us has played. The playing it well is what matters infinitely. The doctrine of the second coming has failed, so far as we are concerned, if it does not make us realize that at every moment of every year in our lives Donne's question, "What if this present were the world's last night?" is equally relevant.

Only God has the right to judge and only God has the knowledge to judge. He is coming with the clouds. The clouds of God’s shekinah glory. Psalm 96 the trees of the woods will clap his hands. The imminent, the any moment coming of our king.

2. John stunned by the presence of Jesus—to see the glorified Lord Jesus Christ, unveiled [12] Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, [13] and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. [14] The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, [15] his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. [16] In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. [17] When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. John fell as though dead.

Every descriptor of Jesus is taken from the OT revelation of the Lord God – His face was like the sun shining in full strength—John is smitten but not killed Daniel 10 – God appears to Daniel and looks very much like Jesus. The angel had to comfort Daniel. John is comforted by Jesus not an angel. Genesis 2 – we were built for the face of God. Everything that you sought of beauty, significance, and love is in his face. Psalm 16 In his face is the fullness of joy.

Isaiah 6 – the prophet is ushered into the presence of God; the thing we most need is the one thing that could destroy us, because of sin. Sin is a life lived independently of God; a life based on self. In a sinful state to come into the presence of God is death. Revelation 1 something significant has happened. Jesus touches and comforts John. How? The judge has taken the judgment for us. Now you can have his touch, live in his presence. To have a joy unspeakable in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Verse 13 what are these lampstands? The churches, we are his lampstands These churches in Revelation are going through suffering. John is writing as an older man. The older you get the more suffering that you have seen. – Impaled, covered with pitch, and set on fire. Torn apart by lions. Set on poles all along the road. Some will have holes drilled and filled with molten metals. Furnace is often a picture of suffering. Daniel 3 the mysterious figure in the flames

Isaiah 43:2 When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Rev. 1. I have the keys of death and hades. Jesus has already gone into the ultimate furnace for us. If you see and believe that he walked in the ultimate furnace for you, then you will see him walking with you in all your smaller furnaces. With him in the furnace with you, the fire beautifies, cleanses, purifies, deepens, and will never consume you. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”