Just the Facts

"Just the Facts Ma'am" This famous quote is from Joe Friday the no nonsense detective on the classic TV show Dragnet.

On Sunday March 20th I preached a message entitled "Just the Facts" about the return of Christ.
There is and always will be a lot of speculation about his return. People through the ages have predicted it and have always been wrong. I want to cover "Just the facts"

1. Jesus is coming back
The New Testament references His return more the 300 times for an average of 1 verse per 26.
Jesus said he would come back:

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Paul taught that Jesus would come back:

1 Th 4:15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Th 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

2. We don't know exactly when

Mat 24:36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

3. The Gospel must be preached to every nation

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

More than just every nation, every people group
We are closer to this happening then ever in History.

Ralph Winter (according to TIME magazine one of the 25 most influential evangelicals of our time) quotes from Habakuk and adds his thoughts:

"Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." (Habakkuk 1:5)

"God's promise to bless all the "families of the earth," first given to Abraham 4,000 years ago, is becoming a reality at a pace "you would not believe." Although some may dispute some of the details, the overall trend is indisputable. Biblical faith is growing and spreading to the ends of the earth as never before in history."

This next quote is the one that really struck me:

"For the first time in history, there are fewer non-Christians within the unreached peoples than there are within the reached groups. As missionaries succeed in establishing church movements in more unreached peoples, that is exactly what you would expect to happen.

As the figures below demonstrate, we are in the final era of missions. For the first time in history we can anticipate the completions of the missionary task, which is to establish an indigenous church planting movement within the language and social structure of every people on earth."

4. We are closer to Jesus' return than we have ever been
Logically and experientially we know this is true.


5. We must be ready
Jesus taught this principle in Matthew 25 when he told the parable of the 10 virgins waiting for the groom. Some were ready and some were not. Those who weren't ready missed it for all eternity.

When Jesus comes I want to be ready
I want to be worshipping Him with my life
I want to be serving His church
I want to be using the gifts He gave me for His glory and honor
I want to be telling others about Him
I want my family to be with me

"Just the Facts"
Are you ready?