Wednesday, June 24, 2015

He Will Not Tarry

(#211, Hinkley/Yermo/Kelso 1951; Imperial, 1960)
Read Heb. 10:37; 1 Cor. 15:51-52.

Prophecy centers around the two advents of Christ.  The Old Testament prophesies "He came to bear the sins of many".  The New Testament prophesies "He shall appear the 2nd time apart from sin unto salvation."

The first advent prophecies were fulfilled, e.g.:
Isa. 7:14
Matt. 1:23
Gen. 3:15
Gal. 4:4-5
Isa. 53:7
Matt. 27:26-29
Zech. 12:10
John 19:34
Our text says: "Yet a little while and He that shall come will come and will not tarry."  For the great mass of unsaved these words have little interest.  Moreover, it is sad that the larger percentage of God's redeemed are but little enthused or stirred by this all-important announcement.

ƒ    Signs of His Soon Return.
w   Greatest War (1914-the present); greatest famine (China 1920; Russia 1921 where 30,000 perished each day); greatest pestilence (flu epidemic); greatest earthquakes.
w   Anti-Semitism (Matt. 24:9).
w   Religious signs.
    1.  Love of many shall wax cold, Mt. 24:12.
    2.  They shall not endure sound doctrine, 2 Tim. 4:3.
    3.  A form of godliness, 2 Tim. 3:5.
    4.  Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, 2 Tim. 3:4.
w   Social signs (Iniquity abounds, Mt. 24:12; divorce, Mt. 24:37f).
w   National signs (the image of Daniel is in it's last stages as the present war leads to the formation of a "Roman empire".
w   Increasing effort of Satan knowing time is short (Mt. 24:33).
w   Talk of peace and safety, 1 Thess. 5:3.
ƒ    The Meaning/Effect of Christ's Coming.
w   To believers.  1. Finishing of his work of grace, Hb. 9:28. 2. We will be changed, 1 Cor. 15:51f. 3. Resurrection and re-union, 1 Thess. 4:16.
w   To the world.  1. The end of the day of grace, opportunity.   2. The beginning of tribulation.
Yet a little while and He that shall come will come!

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