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The Preacher’s Notebook The Paper and Electronic Pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC (Delivered by E-mail and Us Postage Through Subscription as an Extension of the Pulpit Ministry of this Church)

Dr. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – M ineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858 – E-Mail: [email protected] Copyright (C) 2007. Terry W. Preslar All rights reserved.

Vol. I

July, 2007

Issue 1

The Second Coming of

Christ — A Study of The Last Things — I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Rev. 22:13) The Second Coming has intrigued me since the early days of my Christian life. It must be the same with every like minded believer. The truth of His soon coming is at once rich, and deep and mighty and full of all that leads to the display of His Grace. There can be no greater expression of His Grace than the God of Glory sending The Son for the waiting believers. None deserve that hope and we are altogether unfruitful servants. Yet, by His Grace, we have this hope as a stay for the soul in this troubled day. This study of the Second Coming will seek to explain this hope and flesh out the unseen truths of the last days. We are in need of these tenets being broached by the pen of the ready servant and with humble heart I take up the task. I have taught these things in the services of “First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs,” in Bible Colleges and in many meetings as I preach in Bible Conferences and Revivals. The purpose of the message of the Second Coming is threefold: 1) To comfort the saints (“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thes. 4:18). 2) To convict the sinner (“...because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;” John 16:10). And 3) to counteract the modernistic gainsayer. (“For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” Luke 21:15). The comfort of the saints is not possible through Experience - “...Eye hath not seen...” Human Philosophy has failed to give solace in our fears - “...nor ear heard...” Intuition is not helpful in the dread that is without - “...neither have entered into the heart of man...” The natural tendency of the flesh is toward destruction. Comfort and hope is not of this world but out of this world. (“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9; Isa. 64:4) The comfort of the believer is in the “...blessed hope, and the glorious appearing...” of our Saviour at His coming again! (Titus 2:13) The conviction of sinners is not for the accusing voice of a preacher. All have sinned (Rom. 3:23) but guilt is deepened to the point of godly sorrow under the reality of separation from God. The Second Coming is effective to bring this to bear on the sinner. With this message the Holy Ghost brings the sin benighted soul to see the prospective consequences of his lost state and thus is proffered the Grace of God to redeem. The message of the Second Coming counteracts the constant modernistic jabber of the gainsaying teachers. It forces them to come face to face with the truth of a Spiritual answer to the fleshly objections that would still the action of fundamental eschatology. (“For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” Luke 21:15 with Rom. 10:21; Titus 1:9; Jude 11) -1-

Eschatology is one of the major branches of systematic theology, the study of final or last things or of the period of time dealing with the return of Christ and the events that follow. Everyone has some “eschatology” or thoughts that concern the last days. The term was first used in the 19th century with the critical analysis of the New Testament. It deals not only with the study of the kingdom of God, but also with the final destiny of mankind. It describes the doctrine of last things. (Rev. 20:4) There could be “General Eschatology” which would be the study of the future of the world. (1 Thes. 4:13-18) and “Personal Eschatology,” the study of the future of the individual. (Rev. 20:6) Eschatological subjects include the Resurrection, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennium, the Binding of Satan, the Two Witnesses, the Final Judgment, Armageddon, and The New Heavens and the New Earth. In the New Testament, eschatological chapters include Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, and 2 Thes. 2. In one form or another most of the books of the Bible deal with end times subjects. But some that are more prominently eschatological are Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Joel, Zechariah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 2 Thes. , and of course the Revelation. There are several views of General Eschatology. With the complications of human interpretation from the first century until our day many thoughts have surfaced with less than sound motives. The best system is expressed by “Chiliasm,” also known as millenniumism. Chiliasm is an old system of interpretation that is said to be claimed by the first readers of the New Testament. This is the belief that there is a future 1000 (a Millennium) year reign of Christ where perfect peace will reign. The word “Millennium” literally means 1000 years. (Rev. 20:2-7) In the study of end times doctrines (eschatology) the millennium is the duration of Christ’s rule over the earth. The debate has been over when the millennium will take place and what it actually is. The terms that have arisen out of this debate are “pre-millennialism,” “a-millennialism,” and “post-millennialism.” Pre-millennialism teaches that the millennium is yet future and that upon Christ’s return He will set up His earthly kingdom. A-millennialism teaches that the millennium is a figurative period and that Christ’s rule began when He first became man. Post-millennialism teaches that through the preaching of the Word of God, the world will be converted and will then usher in Christ and the kingdom of God. There are good arguments for each position. “A-millennialism” is the teaching that there is no literal 1000 year reign of Christ as referenced in Rev. 20. It sees the 1000 year period spoken of in Revelation 20 as figurative. Instead, it teaches that we are in the millennium now, and that at the return of Christ (1 Thes. 4:16-5:2) there will be the final judgment and the heavens and the earth will then be destroyed and remade (2 Peter 3:10). The A-millennial view is as old as the Pre-millennial view. “Post-millennialism” is the belief that through the preaching of the word of God, the entire world will be converted to Christianity and this will usher in the kingdom of Christ. This is when Christ will return, as seen by the Post-millennial teacher. “Pre-millennialism” is a very prominent teaching concerning the end times. There might be several other approaches to eschatology but this is the last approach with significance. It says that there is a future millennium (1000 years) where Christ will rule and reign over the earth. At the beginning of the millennium Satan and his angels will be bound and peace will exist on the entire earth. At the end of the 1000 years Satan will be released in order to raise an army against Jesus. Jesus will destroy them and then the final judgment will take place with the new heavens and the new earth being seen. It is pre-millennialism that has marked the evangelistic efforts of the last 150 years. No greater period of emphasized evangelism and missionary endeavors has been recorded in the history of Christianity. It might not be the urgency of the end times, the rich and “in need of nothing” economy or the enlightened generation but it is sure that the shift in theology from other eschatological approaches to pre-millennialism has been the force that has facilitated the efforts that have seen a myriad souls swept into the Kingdom of God. Others positions may have validity in some context but the truth will be found that if Theology is the “Queen of Sciences” then Pre-millennialism is one of her princes and she is due respect from we who love -2-

our Queen. And when the royal search for Truth is joined, in the camp of searchers, we need to lift this banner high. (Taken from the Preface of a book on “The Second Coming of CHRIST - A Study of The Last Things” by Dr. Terry W. Preslar). The Second Coming is a term applied to Christ’s coming to the earth with His saints to begin His millennial rule (Matt.24-25; Acts 1:11; 1 Thes.4:13-18). If there is a second coming, it follows that there must have been a first. The first coming of Christ was His incarnation when He was born. At the second coming of Christ every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:7) as He descends from Heaven through the clouds (Zec.12:10; 14:4; Matt. 24:30; Mark 14:62). Our LORD’S Second Advent is very important to many (1 Thes.4:13-18). What kind of day will it be when Jesus returns? (Luke 21:5-11). CHRIST is coming back for HIS people. HE says so in the New Testament. How will this day of HIS return be recognized as we see almost all days are the same. “...Where is the promise of HIS coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:4) That day will be: I- A day of deception (vs.8–2 Thes.2:8-12) II- A day of false christ (vs.8–Mark 13:22) III- A day of wars (vs.9–Matt.24:6-7) IV- A day of commotion (vs.9 V- A day of world wars (vs.10 VI- A day of Earthquakes (vs.11 VII- A day of famines (vs.11 VIII- A day of pestilence (vs.11 IX- A day of fearful sights (vs.11 X- A day of signs from Heaven (vs.11 - also 25 XI- A day of distress of nations (vs.25 XII- A day of natural phenomena (vs.26 XIII- A day when hearts of men fail (vs.26 XIV- A day when the very powers of Heaven are shaken (vs.26 Without a doubt it can be said that the day described above will take most unawares. Even the saved don’t seem to care that this day is coming upon us so soon. Many Christians sleep in the lap of luxury as others, who are unsaved, head at brake-neck speeds towards the regions of the damned. LOST!! LOST FOREVER!!! If Christ comes now, where will your loved ones spend eternity? If you have your loved ones in what about your neighbors –and the strangers around you? (Ex.12:31-39) The Exodus of Israel from Egypt is seen as a type of the second coming of CHRIST. The word “Exodus” meant to the leaving: I- The beginning of a new life (Ex.12:2) II- The beginning of a new Liberty (Ex.13:3) III- The beginning of a new Fellowship (Ex.12:14) [see Ex.24:11] IV- The beginning of a new Assurance (Ex.6:7-6) The second coming is a personal event for the believer as well as the LORD HIMSELF. A personal, bodily return of CHRIST is a vital teaching of the Bible. 1) In the oldest Book of the Bible (Job 19:25-27) “...Mine eyes shall behold, And Not ANOTHER...” 2) By the angles of GOD (Acts 1:11) “...this same JESUS...” 3) By the Apostle Paul (1 Thes.4:16) “...the LORD himself...” 4) By the words of the LORD (John 14:3) “...I will come again...” There is a certainty of the LORD’S return seen by many unmistakable signs: 1) The prevalence of travel and knowledge (Dan.12:4) 2) Perilous times (2 Tim.3:1) 3) The rise of Spiritualism and occult practice (1 Tim. 4:1) 4) Apostasy in the mainline denominations (2 Thes.2:3) 5) World-wide evangelism (Matt.24:14)

6) The presents of so many “RICH MEN” (James 5:1,8) 7) Israel-GOD’S Sun-dial (Jer.30:11) There is not only a certainty of a return-there is a certainty that it will be a “BODILY” return. I- The certainty of “HIS” coming (1 Thes. 4:16) A) Based upon fulfilled Scripture B) Based upon the LORD’S word (John 14:3) C) Based upon type and shadow (See the ARK of the flood) II- The purpose of “HIS” coming (Heb.9:28) A) The purpose is and always will be to save B) Those who are FREE “in” HIM will then be FREE “WITH” HIM (Rom. 8:21-23) C) To execute JUDGEMENT (Jude 14-15) III- The time of “HIS” coming (Heb.10:37) A) Sealed in the will of the FATHER (Acts 1:7) [Matt. 24:27, 36; 1 Thes. 5:2] B) Pre-determined (1 Peter 1:3-5) C) Deliberate (Rev. 19:11) The Second Coming of CHRIST is seen as the HARVEST Time (Matt.13:24-30; 36-43). The Master Says: “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matt. 13:30). I- The “TIME” of the Harvest A) in GOD’S Time (Matt.13:30) B) in plenty of time (John 9:4) C) in the right time (Acts 1:7) II- The “TYPE” of Harvest A) Selective (Matt.13:41-43) B) Splendid (Rev. 20:6) C) Sure (Heb.10:37) III- The “THING” of Harvest A) A Saved People (1 Thes.4:13-18) B) A Looking People (Heb.9:28) C) A Prepared People (1 John 3:1-3) Watching unto HIS coming is the occupation of the saint in this day (Luke 19:13 “...Occupy ‘til I come...”). Christ said: “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find WATCHING...” - “WATCH therefore; for ye know not what hour your LORD doeth come.” (Matt.24:42) - “WATCH therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matt.25:13) - “Blessed is he that WATCHETH, and keepeth his garments.” (Rev. 16:15) - “BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY.” (Rev. 3:3,11) The Second Advent of Christ Jesus is a vital concern in the face of the hour and the condition of the population. It is sure that Christ will come: “For yet a little while, and HE that shall come will come and will not tarry.” (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:10-11; Heb.10:37) I- A great QUESTION concerning the SECOND COMING “...shell HE find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) A) Apostasy (“Falling away) (2 Thes.2:1-3) B) Pleasure Lovers (2 Tim.3:4) [see Rom.1:25 –you might say “I won’t do that!!! –-Rom.1:28 says that without GOD you WILL!] C) Forgetting GOD (Heb.3:12) II- A great STATEMENT concerning the SECOND COMING “HE is coming for the SAVED” (1 Thes.4:13-18)

A) The Church without spot (Eph.5:25-27) B) The SAVED of every day with the Blood applied (Ex.12:13) C) But best of all I can say that by the bidding of that nail scared hand HE has call me to be a part of HIS Bride. III- A great REVELATION concerning the SECOND COMING HE is going to leave behind the unsaved (Luke 17:30-36) [see 1 Thes.1:10 “When he shall come to be glorified in HIS saints, and to be admired in all them that believe...”] The abiding truth of the second coming is this: The lost will be left with all hope gone. But the savior calls sinners today. (Rev. 22:7; 12; 20; see verse 17). The great truth that Christ is coming back for the believer is one of the most pronounced predictions in the Bible. The Patriarchs spoke to Forecast it (“...Mine eyes shall behold, And Not ANOTHER...” Job 19:25-27), The Prophets wrote to Foretell it (“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake...” Dan.12:2), The Potentates attempt to Forestall it (“And the kings of the earth,...hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne...” Rev. 6:15-17), and yet it looms as a beacon to the child of God (“Well done thou good and faithful servant...”), a beckoning call to the seeking sinner (“Come home, ye who are weary...”) and a banishing curse to the lost Christ rejecter (“Depart from me, I never knew you...”). It is the comfort needed, the call issued and the cherished hope of all who claim CHRIST. No truth can exceed it except the truth that “HE receiveth sinful men...” (Luke 15:2) and HE received me and I look for HIM in the beams of every Sunrise. This Periodical is printed by Gospel Publishing and Colportage, a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC, and is designed for education, evangelism, and edification. If we may assist you in knowing more about Christ and the Christian life, please write us without obligation: First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs PO Box 388, Mineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858

Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2 These Sermons are used through the subscription to an E-Mail list maintained by Bro. Preslar ([email protected]) and are the copyrighted property of Dr. Terry W. Preslar. This document is part of a growing collection that is part of the Fresh Waters Digital Library. Re-distribution is allowed with this restriction: This document must not be disassembled or reverse engineered and all pages must be distributed together. This material may not be used in any commercial manner. All files in this series are in the PDF file format and can be read with the free pdf reader from Adobe called Acrobat Reader (now in version 8 for Windows – It is recommended that ver. 5 or above be used). It is hoped that this restriction will not hinder the effective use of this sermon/essay in the teaching and preaching of this document. – The Editor

“...when thou comest, bring with thee...the books, but especially the parchments. (2 Tim. 4:13) Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2 P.O. Box 388 Mineral Springs, N.C. 28108 1(704)843-3858 E-Mail: [email protected]

First Baptist Church PO Box 388 Mineral Springs, NC 28108