Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
6/22/97 pm
How Are You Dressed — Jesus Is Coming
Reading - Acts 1.7-11 & Ephesians 6.10-17
What a joy it is for Georgia and I to be here tonight. The church in Seneca is special to me. You as a church, and Bob Hampton, have encouraged me so many times and I appreciate that. We bring you greetings from the church in Bella Vista. Tonight, I want you to view this lesson more as a Bible study than a sermon. So, access a Bible and lets work our way through this outline together.
President Dwight Eisenhower was vacating in Denver Colorado. In a breakfast meeting with Denver businessmen, civic leaders and governmental officials, it was mentioned to Mr. Eisenhower that the morning paper had carried a story about a six year old boy who was dying of terminal cancer. His name was Paul Haley. His number one wish was to meet the President of the United States.
A few days later, on a bright Sunday morning, like this one, a black limousine pulled up outside the modest Haley home and a gray, balding gentlemen walked alone to the door and knocked. Mr. Donald Hailey, the boy's father opened the door. Donald was barefoot, dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans, dirty shirt and had a day's growth of beard on his face. Behind him stood his six year old son. Donald Hailey stood there astonished... Speechless... Completely numbed by the surprise visit of the world's most important man at his house.
President Eisenhower said to the little boy, I understand you wanted to see me? They shook hands, walked down the steps and across the lawn together. At the street, Mr. Eisenhower showed him the presidential limousine, they shook hands the second time and the visitor was gone.
The entire neighborhood, the city of Denver, the whole nation was pleased at what this famous president had done. They were touched by his compassion, by his sensitivity. To most this visit would be remembered forever with a smile of approval and gladness.
Only one man was not happy with the surprise, Mr. Donald Hailey. He said, "Can you believe it? There I stood, no shoes, blue jeans, dirty shirt, unshaven, hair not combed. What a way to meet the president of the United States". All of his life Donald will wish he had gotten up a little earlier, shaved a little sooner, at least put on his shoes and a clean shirt.
We are always concerned about our dress. Are we properly dressed for the occasion? Should I wear a coat and tie or will a T-shirt and jeans be okay? If Jesus should come tonight are we properly dressed? The second coming is a Bible subject. Did you know that one out of every thirty verses in the Bible speak to us of Jesus’ coming? The Old Testament looks forward to His first coming.
The Gospels are a record of His coming His incarnation, the Word becoming flesh and dwelling with us; God with skin on. There was a time in Palestine two thousand years ago that you could point to a man walking down the street and say there goes God and be correct. His coming to this planet is what Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are about. The remainder of the New Testament concerns itself with our preparations for His return. The second coming of Christ is mentioned in all but four books of the New Testament. Jesus constantly referred to His return. There are 318 references to His return in the 216 from Matthew to Revelation. That means that over one half of the New Testament deals with the second coming.
Sheer numbers alone point out the importance of our study tonight.
Let’s examine four New Testament words which speak of the second coming and see what we can learn.
Now church let me say this here... I am not a Greek or Hebrew scholar okay? So don't let my inability to correctly pronounce these words keep us from learning from their meaning as we explore what the scholars have to share with us.
MARANATHA.
Maranatha is one of those Aramaic words that was not translated in our King James Bibles. It is a New Testament word found in 1 Corinthians 16.22 in the King James and footnoted in the modern speech translations. Maranatha means Lord, come quickly or come O Lord. It became a word of greeting among the early New Testament Christians. The Jews greeted one another with Shalom, PEACE. We say, hi, hello, or good morning... Good evening. The early Christians said MARANATHA! You see, the early church Anticipated, waited, AND wanted Jesus to come. They expected Him to return in their life time. They were excited and enthusiastic about this promised event which would bring the reward of heaven. Their anticipation of His coming impacted their lives, they stayed properly dressed, with their lamps trimmed and ready because they believed He could come any minute.
This is our problem. Jesus has delayed for so long, that we don't expect Him to come during our lifetime. Or before say, 8 PM tonight. If we did more people would be here... RIGHT?
I preached a sermon similar to this a few years ago in Bella Vista and said, "If we really thought Jesus would come before the service was over, then some of you would not be sleeping during this sermon". One of the men, a very close friend got mad at me, because he was asleep. But you see, the point was already made.
Here it is church, what we believe about His coming determines how we are dressed. If we really believe He could come tomorrow, it will change the way we will spend tomorrow. It will change our thinking. It will change what we talk about, our daily walk and our agenda and priorities.
What we believe about the second coming determines what kind of people and person we are. I believe that restoration of genuine New Testament Christianity will not be complete until WE, like the early church, anticipate and look forward to His coming. Maranatha... Lord come quickly... Come O Lord!
Now three words from the Greek. The first is Par-oo-see-ah.
Parousia speaks to us of the imminent, soon to be, for sure coming of Jesus. Parousia says, Jesus' coming is guaranteed. Peter tells us in Second Peter 3 that even in his day there were those who said, no, he’s not coming. Peter says the reason they say this is that time has gone on from the beginning without incident, and so it will always be so. But Peter says, they deliberately forget the flood, when the world was destroyed by water. Then he concludes the Lord will come. His coming will be sure... As sure as the flood. It will be a surprise, like a thief in the night. Question! Do you expect Jesus to come this year, this month, this week, tonight, before this sermon is finished? Are you ready. Are we properly dressed to meet Him?
Our next word is Ep-if-an-i-ah.
This word appears in the Greek text six times. Five times it is translated appearing. Once it is rendered brightness. The idea, the connotation, is There will be a visual sighting of the coming Christ Outside the Bible this Greek word Ep-if-an-i-ah is used to describe the sudden brightness of the stars at night. They are unseen, then all of a sudden their brightness is visible to all. Scripture says, every eye shall see him. How are we dressed? Jesus is coming.
Then there is Ap-ok-al-oop-us.
It is always translated reveal in the New Testament. The word literally means, to take the cover off. The idea is this, He has been here all along, but when He comes again, He will be completely known, visible for all to see. Jesus is here tonight, God is here tonight, but we don't see them, except through the eye of faith.
Jesus promised where two or three are gathered together there will I be in your midst. In John 14.23 He said, if we love Him and keep His commandments, then He and the father would come make their abode, their home, in our hearts. Paul tells us that God does not dwell in temples made with hands, but His temple is church, the body of the saved. God is omnipresent... David said, He fills all of heaven and earth. Just like the stars, they were here all along, but all of a sudden they will be revealed, manifested for us to see.
Today some may choose to ignore Him, but on that day; all will see him, all will know him, all will confess his name, all will bow in reverence to his final authority. How are we dressed?... Jesus is coming.
In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a parable about a wedding banquet that had been prepared by the king, at great expense. The invitation was sent out. Verse 10 tells us the banquet hall was filled with guests. However, when the King arrived at the feast, some were excluded from enjoying the reception because they were improperly dressed. How are we dressed?... The King is coming.
Note with me now some of the events associated with heaven's coming.
First, the time of His coming.
Everyone wants to know when. It was a question on the lips of the early church, and still is a big question in our churches today. Perhaps it is a question in your mind. William Miller, founder of the 7th Day Adventist set a date between March 2nd 1843 and March 21, 1884... Jesus didn't come. Charles Russell and Judge Rutherford of Jehovah's Witnesses also se a date for heaven's coming, it didn't happen. In 1988 a man in Arkansas grabbed national attention by setting a date. Today we don't remember that date or even his name. WHY? Because Jesus didn't appear... Nothing happened.
What does the Bible say about when? 1 Thessalonians 5.1-4 says, Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety", destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
The New Testament tells us, we can know that Jesus is coming. It is a Parousia event... A for-sure event. We can prepare for it so that it is not a complete surprise. But, we do not and cannot know the exact time. Jesus tells us, nobody knows, except the Father. How are we dressed?... Jesus is coming.
Secondly, what are the sequence of events surrounding this coming?
What's gonna happen? Do you have your Bibles? Turn to Second Thessalonians chapter one. While your turning there, I want to say something about the false doctrines prevalent in today's religious world. Many of them are built upon highly symbolic passages in Matthew 24 and Revelation 20. Church, we should never attempt to construct a doctrine upon symbolic and figurative passages, when we have plain text Scripture which tells us otherwise. For instance, if you want to know about what will happen at the end of time, at Jesus' second coming, read the plain text passages that a ten year old child could understand. The second coming of Jesus is addressed in very plain language in:
- First Thessalonians 4.13-18... 5.1-11,
- Second Thessalonians 1.5-10,
- First Corinthians 16.50-55,
- 2 Peter 3.10-13
Let's read these scriptures together
2 Thessalonians 1.5-10, All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
1 Thessalonians 4.13-18, Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 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. 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. 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 for ever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5.1-20, Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety", destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Corinthians 16.50-55, I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
2 Peter 3.10-13, But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
When one puts these scriptures together, we get a good overview of the sights, sounds and sequence of His coming. There will be a loud shout, a loud noise — The last trumpet. Jesus will appear with His angels in flaming fire. He will bring with Him the souls of the saints, those asleep in him mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4.1. The dead in Christ will be raised first. This will be a bodily resurrection. This new body will be immortal, imperishable, capable of living forever. Those alive will be changed in an instant, a flash, in the twinkling of an eye. The saved will be caught up, raptured, to meet Him in the air.
The word rapture is OK... It is Latin, meaning caught up. Scripture plainly says, that those still alive at His coming will be caught up to meet Him in the air. Note what it does not say... nothing is said of a thousand year reign, nothing is said about Jesus on an earthly throne, nothing is said about a second resurrection of the wicked. Then the heavens and the earth, as we know them, will melt, disappear with a roar in fervent heat. There will be a new heaven and a new earth.
Thirdly, lets notice the purpose of His coming:
First, Judgement...
The separation of the saved from the unsaved. Second, sentencing... We will be sent to our final destiny.... Heaven or hell. I believe this is plainly stated in two scriptures... Turn there with me:
Jude 14-15, The Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Revelation 20.11-15, Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
We usually picture the judgement as a long line of people approaching the judgement bar of God arguing their case. There is nothing in Scripture about judgement consuming a lot of time. I believe we will all know instantly if we are saved or lost. In fact, we can know now. John says we can, My little children, I write these things that you may know that you have eternal life. If the Christians of John's day could know, so can we... So can we! You see, if you were accused of a crime and brought before a judge, you would already know if you are guilty or not. Heaven's judgement is not going to be a trial before our peers, but a sentencing before an all- knowing God. There will be no mistakes, no mistrials, no plea bargaining.
You see, only two entities know if O.J. Simpson was guilty or not... God and O.J. Heaven's judgement is not deciding Guilt or innocence, that's already been decided by how we are dressed, how we have responded to God's grace through His word. Judgement will be the pronouncement of eternal reward or punishment. Jesus says, those on the right will be welcomed into the joys of heaven and those on the left will go away into eternal punishment. Paul says, He will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on two groups of people; those that know not God, and Those who Obey not the Gospel.
Our Bible ends with the words, Behold, I am coming soon... My reward is with me and I will give to everyone according to what he has done... Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have a right the tree of life and may go through the gates of the city.
Somebody says, well brother Randall, I feel like I am saved. Hey, feelings have nothing to do with it. If you are flying at 30,000 feet and the hydraulics on that 727 fails, it doesn't matter how you feel, you are in serious trouble. Those on TWA flight 800 felt secure in the fact that they would safely arrive in Paris. Human feelings are not a proper gauge. WHAT IS? Truth!! Have we obeyed TRUTH? Yes, we can know if we are saved or not. We can feel we are saved, safe and secure, If... IF we have obeyed TRUTH, that form of doctrine once delivered. If we are properly dressed, if we have been clothed with Christ.
Go with me to Ephesians 6 and let’s see what is the proper dress for heaven's coming.
WE MUST NOT BE FOUND BAREFOOTED.
Our feet are to be shod, fitted with the Gospel. Folk, we are not dressed, ready for the second coming until and unless we know Jesus. In John chapter 14 Jesus said, I am the way, I am life, I am truth, there is no access to the father except by me/through me. Do we know Jesus?
I know people who believe they are saved who can’t tell you when Jesus died, where he was buried, or on what day he arose. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the Gospel. Take Christ out of Christianity and you have nothing except another law. Without Christ there can be no forgiveness, no redemption, no sacrifice, no atonement, no justification, we have no high
Church, Christianity is much more than a system of thou shall and shall nots. Christianity is about salvation through the name of Jesus, by his death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is through the GOSPEL. Paul said, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16. Being prepared for the second coming means having our feet shod, fitted with the gospel and knowing Jesus.
WE ARE TO WEAR THE BELT OF TRUTH.
The King James says, Being girded about with truth. Folk, if our religious faith and practice is not held together by a Biblical truth, we are not properly dressed, and we are certainly not ready for His coming. This is of utmost importance. Why is it that we insist on truth in every facet of our life, except in religion? We want truth from our stock broker, truth from our doctor, our pharmacist, our courts and truth in labeling on products we buy. But in matters of religion we say, well if it was good enough for uncle Walter it’s good enough for me.
Folk here it is, we expect more truth out on the golf course than we expect or demand in our churches and from our pulpits. Jesus said, You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
Listen to me. There is no freedom from sin in religious error. Sanctify them through Thy truth Thy word is truth. There can be no victorious, abundant life promised by Jesus outside of truth. Paul told Timothy those who have erred from truth... From the faith, have brought many sorrows upon themselves... That's I Timothy 6.10. Read it. There is no salvation, no guarantee of a heavenly reward in religious error. Acts 4.12 plainly states that salvation is in no other except Christ. John 1.17 tells us that the law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. And when the truth of Jesus, the Son, sets you free. You are free indeed. Indeed... Indeed! Jesus is coming... Are we dressed in His truth?
WE ARE TO PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHT LIVING.
I know of nothing more repulsive than one who confesses to be a Christian, but will not practice righteousness... That will not discipline himself. There is more to Christianity than a knowledge of this book and attending church on Sunday mornings. Every day we live we stand before the closet and choose between Satan's shirt, our flesh nature and the shirt of Jesus' nature.
Righteousness has to do with two things... Moral purity and How we treat others. Listen to James, Pure religion and undefiled before God, religion that God accepts is this: to care for the widows and the orphans and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. How are we doing? Help anybody this week? Reached out and torched someone in need? Jesus said, As often as you done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me.”
Truth is all too many of us wear only a half a shirt... half a breastplate. We insist on clean moral living. We point our finger at those who have in any way allowed themselves to be spotted by the world saying look at me I am spotless. Yet, the other half of this right living shirt is missing. We just are not as sensitive to the needs of others as we ought to be. God help us to put on: The whole shirt of right–living, the whole armor of God; Both moral rightness and a genuine concern for others. Let’s work on being properly dressed for his return.
PROPER DRESS FOR THE SECOND COMING DEMANDS THE HELMET OF SALVATION.
Being familiar with the gospel, knowing Bible truth, knowing doctrine and clean living, is great but will not save us. Nicodemus came seeking salvation... What was the answer - you must be born again. The Pentecostains of Acts two asked, what must we do?... Repent and be baptized. Cornelius was a good man. Gus Nichols used to say, Cornelius was a better man than most of us: he was a devout man, feared God, gave much to the poor, prayed regularly and he was righteous and God fearing but he was lost. He was in need of being clothed with Christ. He was still not properly dressed for Jesus' coming. Galatians 3.26-27 in the modern speech translations says, we are children of God by faith, For as many as have been united with Christ in baptism have been clothed with Christ.
Perhaps we have several here tonight that need to do just this: Be clothed and put Christ on in New Testament baptism, immersion in water for the forgiveness of all your sins.
Did you notice the tense of the verbs?: We ARE children of God by FAITH. For as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. You see, verse 26 tells us how we are saved... BY FAITH. Verse 27 tells us when we are saved... In New Testament baptism. Paul tells us that, there is now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ... Who have been clothed with Christ.
HOW ARE WE DRESSED? JESUS IS COMING.
General Douglas MacArthur told the Philippine people, I will return. And he did! Jesus said, I will return... And he will... And He Will!! Some have more faith in MacArthur than in Jesus.
If you are not properly dressed for His coming...
If you are not clothed with Christ...
Do it NOW!
