Spark Notes (3/11)

Introduction to the End Times - Session 4

1. Jesus’ Ascension and His Return
1. Jesus’ Return and the believer’s rapture to meet Jesus in the air will be a glorious event.
1. Jesus is coming back on a cloud.  “He (Jesus) was taken up before their eyes, and a cloud hid him…They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going…Suddenly two men in white stood beside them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?  This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven,”
2. Jesus appearing in the sky will be a spectacular light show!  “If anyone tells you, ‘There He is, in the desert, or here He is in the inner rooms’, do not believe it.  For as lightning that comes from the east is visible in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man…Immediately after the tribulation of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky’…At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky…they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory.”  (Matt. 24:26-30)
3. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and His death outside Jerusalem were both surrounded by glorious events.(angels appearing and singing, bright star, darkness for 3 hours, earthquake, heavens shaken, etc.)  His second coming will be with even more glory and it will be witnessed by all humanity.  “Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess”.  (Philippians 2:10)
2. Jesus is Preparing a Home (Place) for His bride and He is our Great Intercessor in the waiting
1. “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you.  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.”  (John 14:1-3)  Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, yet He is actively working and preparing for us to be together for all eternity.  
2. Jesus the Great Intercessor.  “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).  Jesus is interceding for us while Satan (whose name means “accuser”) is accusing us, pointing out our sins and frailties before God. But the accusations fall upon deaf ears in heaven, because Jesus’ work on the cross paid our sin debt in full; therefore, God always sees in His children the perfect righteousness of Jesus.  Jesus is the only human mediator between God and man.  “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5)
3. God governs the universe in intimate partnership with His people through intercession.  The governmental center of the universe is the “prayer room”; God chose intercession as the primary means in which we could govern with Him.  “You do not have because you do not ask.”  (James 4:2)  “The Lord longs to be gracious to you…He waits to have compassion on you…He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it.  He will answer you.”  (Is. 30:18-19) See also, Ezek. 22:30; Psalm 149:6-9.
3. Jesus will take the scroll from the Father and break its seals
1. God the Father holds the scroll (the title deed of the earth) and Jesus is the only one worthy to take the scroll and break its seals.  “Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll…sealed with seven seals.  I saw a mighty angel proclaim, ‘Who is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals?’ …the Lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed.  He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.  Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain…He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”  (Revelation 5:1-7)
2. Jesus takes the scroll when the prayer movement has become mature and the bowls of incense are full.  “When He had taken the scroll…the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb.  Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”  (Revelation 5:8-9)
3. Jesus is the One releasing the seals, trumpets, and bowls in partnership with the praying church.  Jesus will come back by way of invitation through prayer and worship.  “You will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’.”  (Matt. 23:39)
4. Jesus Procession
1. Jesus’ Second Coming Procession begins in the sky with the rapture.  The saints and the angels will return with Jesus in glory.  “Behold He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him…and all the tribes will mourn because of Him.”  (Rev. 1:7) “At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all the saints.” (1 Thess. 3:13)  “Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You.”  (Zech. 14:5)  “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him.”  (Matt. 25:31)  Jesus will rapture the saints when the trumpet sounds.  (Matt. 24:31, 1 Thess. 4:16, Is. 27:13)  “We shall all be changed…in a moment…at the Last Trumpet.  For the Trumpet will sound, and the dead (saints) will be raised first, and we all shall be changed.”  (1 Cor. 15:51-52)
2. Jesus Procession ends on the earth with victory over the armies of the Antichrist at Jerusalem.  (Rev. 19:11-21; Zech. 12:1-13:6, 14:1-9) “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war…The armies of heaven were following him, riding white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean…Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword…the Beast and the False Prophet were thrown alive into the burning fire.  The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse.”  (Rev. 19)
5. Jesus is Returning to Rule and Reign Permanently
1. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully   dressed for her husband…”Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away…’it is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.’”  (Rev. 21)
   

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