Alright, we are in, excuse me, Isaiah chapter 9, look down at your Bibles in verse number
1, it says here, nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation,
when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea beyond Jordan in
Galilee of the nations.
The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light, they that dwell in the land
of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shine.
Skip down to verse number 6, it says here, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son
is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of
David and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with
justice, from henceforth forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
And the title of the sermon this morning is The Comings of Christ, The Comings of Christ.
Now Isaiah chapter 9, specifically verse 6 and 7, is often quoted throughout this time,
isn't it?
You know, we think of the Christmas season and all the verses that we like to post and
you know you see on social media and on Christmas cards, you see Luke chapter 2, but specifically
you also see Isaiah chapter 9 and verse number 6, where it talks about for unto us a child
is born, a son is given, and that is in reference to the birth of Christ.
Now this verse obviously speaks of his first coming, but this passage of scripture that
we read actually references not only his first coming, but it's also referencing the third
coming and yet it even has symbolism of the second coming.
Now let me preface this by saying that when the Bible refers to the coming of Christ,
whether first, second, or third, it's referencing the birth, of course it's death and resurrection,
but it's also talking about the rapture and it's talking about the millennial reign.
That's what the Bible's referring to when it talks about the comings of Christ.
Now the reason I say that is because, you know, obviously the first coming was at Beth
M's manger, but that's not the first time that Jesus Christ appeared, okay?
The first time he appeared, obviously, was multiple times in the Old Testament.
You think of the appearance of Melchizedek, which is Jesus Christ.
You think of when he appeared to Abraham before he decreed the judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah.
You think of, you know, Jesus Christ appearing in the burning fiery furnace with Meshach,
Shadrach, and Abednego.
He appeared as the captain of the Lord of hosts before Gideon, et cetera, multiple times.
But the first time that he appeared in the flesh was in Beth M's manger, okay?
That was when the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and they beheld his glory
as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Now you don't have to turn, but in Micah chapter 5, verse number 2, it says,
But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out
of these shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth
have been from old, from everlasting.
So Jesus Christ does not find his origins in Bethlehem's manger.
In fact, he doesn't have origins.
He's from everlasting.
He is the eternal Son of God.
Despite what other religions may say, despite what the Jehovah's Witnesses may say, despite
what the Mormons may say, he's from everlasting.
He's the eternal Son of God.
He's the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, so on and so forth.
And so this morning, we're going to specifically stay in Isaiah chapter 9, so keep a marker
there, keep a pen there, a piece of paper, whatever you need to do.
We will reference other portions of scriptures, but we're going to talk about the comings
of Christ.
Now, the first coming, obviously, is referring to the birth of Christ.
Turn with me if you would to Luke chapter 2.
Hold your place there in Isaiah 9 and go to Luke chapter 2.
As we look at the comings of Christ, according to Isaiah 9, we're going to also look at the
events that actually take place within those comings, okay, because they're very important
things that take place every time he came and when he will come.
I'm going to read to you again from Isaiah 9, verse 6, it says, for unto us a child is
born and unto us a son is given.
That's his birth.
But then it says, and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be
called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
That second portion of that verse is not referencing the first coming.
That's referencing the last coming, the third coming, when he actually establishes the millennial
reign.
But we're going to focus on that first part there.
Now, in Luke chapter 2 is where we find the famous passage of scripture of the shepherds,
okay, when they come to Christ.
Now, parts of this chapter is actually referenced even in the Peanuts cartoon, right?
Linus is the one who reads this from the King James Bible.
Look at verse number 6, it says, and so it was that while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and
wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room
for him in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their
flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about
them, and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes
lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.
So a lot of, one of the misconceptions about the, this scene right here is that they believe
that when the wise men came and the shepherds came, those are both synonymous one with another.
But actually they took place years apart.
You have the shepherds showing up when Christ was born in Bethlehem's manger, but then you
have the wise men coming when he was about two years old, okay?
And so the shepherds saw him first and then the wise men.
These humble shepherds beheld the Savior first and then the wise men from the east came and
saw him.
But I want you to notice there that the angels say, Glory to God in the highest and on earth
peace, good will toward men.
Not sovereign, not what these other modern versions of the Bible talk about, good will
toward men.
What is the good will?
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The good will is that God wants to see every man saved, every man come to Christ, every
man's sins forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ.
That is the good will that God has toward men.
And let us not forget what the reason for the season is.
Jesus is the reason for the season.
The reason for the season is to remember and recognize that Jesus Christ, the word of God
was made flesh and he was crucified on a cross later on.
He resurrected and whosoever believeth on him shall be saved.
That's what we should be remembering today.
Yeah, but you know, the 25th, you know, I don't know, that's like a pagan holiday.
You know, Jesus Christ was born on a day though, you understand that, right?
You know, and it could be, you know, there's a small chance that he could have been born
on the 25th.
We don't know, the Bible doesn't clarify that, but that doesn't mean that we should not celebrate
it at all because, you know, of whatever association the 25th may have with it.
You know, we can celebrate the birth of Christ in summer if we wanted to, but there's, but
celebrating it in December on the 25th is a good tradition, okay, to have.
But he says there on earth, peace.
Now what is the peace that he brings?
Well, the Bible tells us that before we were saved, we were at enmity with God.
And through Christ, he basically reconciled us back unto God is what he did.
That's the peace that he's bringing.
And then even after that, as Christians, we have the peace that passeth understanding.
You know, when you're worrying, when you're full of care, when you're going through trials
and tribulations, the Bible says be careful for nothing, but in all things by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God
that passeth understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
The Bible tells him, thou will keep them in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.
Jesus said, my peace give I unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
So obviously, even after salvation, there is a specific, special, divine peace that
God gives to us because we're saved.
We have peace with God, but even after that, we can have a daily peace, right?
That's what it's referring to.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men, all men.
Good will toward all men, not just an elect few, right?
Good will toward all men, and it came to pass, verse 15, as the angels were gone away from
them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem
and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us, and
they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lion in a manger, and when they
had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Now I want you to notice also that when the angel speaks unto the shepherds, they're also
surrounded by a host of angels.
This is the event that's taking place here.
So for Jesus Christ's first coming, what do we see?
His birth.
What do we see?
That he came to seek and to save that which is lost.
What do we see surrounding the angels, a host of heavenly angels saying glory to God in
the highest?
Now, go to Matthew chapter 2, actually, we're gonna skip that for now just because we have
a lot of scriptures we're gonna go to.
Stay in Luke chapter 2.
Look at Luke chapter 2 and verse 25, it says, Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose
name was Simeon, the same man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel.
This is referring to Christ.
And the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had
seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms and blessed
God and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all
people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.
So first and foremost, let me just say right off the bat, this is a great thing to partake
of right here.
I mean, Simeon was able to see Jesus Christ with his own eyes, the baby Jesus Christ with
his own, the shepherds got to see him, so did Simeon.
And he says there in Luke chapter 2, that for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which
thou hast prepared before the face of all people, verse 32, a light to lighten the Gentiles.
You know what that means, that we the Gentiles were not part of God's plan B. You know, he
came into his own, his own received him not, but even before that, he was a light to lighten
the Gentiles, right?
He came to seek and to save that which was lost both of Israel, but also of the rest
of the nations.
So it's not like Jesus is this racist who just doesn't like any other nation.
The Bible tells us he came to seek and to save all men.
And even Simeon states it right there and he's quoting a verse from the Old Testament,
a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.
So he came to seek and to save that which was lost.
He came to save us from our sin, to save our souls.
Now that's not to say that that didn't take place before he came, because the Bible tells
us that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world.
So every single person in the Old Testament before Christ came was saved by faith.
They looked forward to what he was going to do on the cross, whereas we look back to what
he did on the cross, regardless of what the dipstick say, okay?
They both look, you say, well, how can that even be possible?
The reason it's possible is because God dwells in the vastness of eternity, okay?
So he sees the beginning, he sees the end from the beginning, the beginning from the
end, he sees it all.
And so when he looks from the vastness of eternity, these events have already taken
place.
He can see them as they're taking place.
Now go with me if you would to 1 Timothy chapter number 2, but this is important.
He came to save us from our sins.
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death and that death is referring to hell.
And he came to fulfill the prophecy of scripture that says that he would come and pay for the
sins of the people.
The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy chapter 2, verse number 3, for this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
That's good news, amen?
In fact, the Bible calls it good tidings.
Why is that?
Because God has his will is that all men should be saved.
That's why we go on and preach the gospel.
That's why we have so many times.
That's why people in our church make time every single week to go out and partake of
the ministry of reconciliation, to reconcile a lost and dying world to God.
Because why?
Because God is willing that all men be saved.
Look at chapter 4 and verse number 10.
These are verses that the Calvinists need to memorize, meditate upon, and think about
over and over again.
I don't even know.
The only way they can even excuse verses like this that we're going to read right now is
by giving some esoteric argument that makes no sense and saying, well, that's not what
it says in the original tongues, you know, when they don't speak the original tongues.
And in fact, I don't know anybody in this world who's about 2,000 years old.
Do you?
Do you know anybody who's 3,000 years old?
Do you know anybody who was there who wrote the languages and how they pronounced it?
No one does, okay?
So for them to use these arguments, these are straw men to basically teach false doctrine
is what they're doing.
Look at 1 Timothy 4, 10.
It says, for therefore we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God
who is the savior of all men, amen, especially of those that believe.
So the Bible tells us that he's the savior of all men.
Why is that?
Because he's the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins
of the whole world.
He came to save the entire world, but he's the savior especially of those that believe.
He's actually gonna save them.
Why?
Because they believe, okay?
Go to John chapter 11, John chapter 11.
So his first coming, his birth, we see the events taking place, the shepherds and the
wise men in Matthew chapter 2.
We see the host of angels.
We see the reason why he came is to save our souls, okay?
Look what John 11, 49 says, and one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that
same year, said unto them, ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient
for us that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not.
And this make heed not of himself, but being the high priest that year, he prophesied that
Jesus should die for that nation and not for that nation only, but that also he should
gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
And so here we see Caiaphas, though he's not a saved man, God is placing his words within
his mouth to prophesy of Christ's coming to die for the nation and of course for the entire
world.
Now, go to Matthew chapter number 4, if you would, Matthew chapter number 4.
Now in Isaiah chapter 9 verse 2, it says this, the people that walked in darkness have seen
a great light, they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the
light shine.
Now when was this fulfilled?
Now let me just say this is that often in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament,
you will see a scripture of a prophecy in the future.
But it will have an immediate fulfillment, it will also have a future fulfillment like
in the New Testament, but then it will even have a further future fulfillment, for example,
in the millennial reign.
So you often see a scripture that applies to like three different events.
You see that with Joel chapter 2, Acts chapter 2, but then we also see that taking place
in Revelation chapter 6.
And I'll explain that what I mean in just a bit.
Look at Matthew chapter 4 and verse 16, this is a fulfillment of Isaiah 9, 2, it says,
the people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sat in the region
and the shadow of death, light is sprung up.
Now what is that referring to?
It's referring to Jesus Christ being born and he was the light of men.
The Bible speaking of John the Baptist says, in him was life and the light was the light
of men and the light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John, the same came for a witness to bear
witness of the light that all men through him might believe.
He was not that light but was sent to bear witness of that light.
And the light is Jesus Christ.
He's the one that lightens the world with the gospel, with salvation.
Go to John chapter 11.
So one thing we know about Jesus Christ is that he's the light of the world and Matthew
chapter 2, Isaiah chapter 9 is a fulfillment of that.
Look at John chapter 11 and verse 7 says, then after that saith he to his disciples,
let us go into Judea again.
His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee and goest thou
thither again.
Jesus answered, are there not 12 hours in a day?
If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this world.
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth because there is no light in him.
This has an immediate fulfillment because Jesus Christ was literally there but it also
has a future fulfillment.
Why?
Because as we walk in the light, we shall not stumble.
As we walk in the light of God's word on a daily basis, we will not stumble and fall
and do things that displease God.
So he brought peace on earth, goodwill toward men.
He's the light of the world.
Go with me if you would to 2 Thessalonians chapter number 2.
Now I know that's basic and you're like, well I already know this.
Well, you know, we need to read Luke chapter 2 every year on Christmas, amen?
And I hope you have the tradition of your home that on Christmas Day you open that passage
up and read it to your family.
It's a beautiful passage of scripture.
So just keep in mind though, the first coming, the first time he came, it was Christ's birth.
The first time he came, he came to save our souls, right?
The first time he came, he had the host of angels.
The first time he came, the Bible says that he was a light to those who were in darkness,
right?
You guys got that?
Now the second coming is referred to as the blessed hope.
So we have the birth of Christ, but now we have the blessed hope, right?
The Bible tells us, look in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse number 1, now we beseech you
brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto
him that ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word
nor by letter as from us as that that day of Christ is at hand.
Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling
away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition.
Now Titus 2 verse 13, you have to turn there, it says, looking for that blessed hope and
the glorious appearing of the great God and our savior Jesus Christ.
Go to Romans chapter number 8.
So we see that when the Bible talks about the coming of the Lord, it's in reference
actually to the second coming of Christ, which is referred to as the rapture, the blessed
hope.
Now what is significant about this second coming?
Well remember, his first coming, he came to save our souls.
The second coming, what is he doing?
He's saving our flesh.
Look at Romans chapter 8 and verse 22, for we know that the whole creation groaneth and
travaileth and pain together until now.
And not only they but ourselves also which have the first fruits of the spirit, even
we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption to it, the redemption of
our body.
So that word redemption is just another word for salvation.
It's to redeem.
You see, our soul, when we believed on Christ, was redeemed.
However, the purchased possession, referring to the body, has not been redeemed as of yet.
In other words, though it's bought, it has not been taken, it's not been redeemed, it's
not been glorified.
That's why after you got saved, you still struggle with sin.
Why am I struggling?
Well it's because you're saved, but your flesh is not.
But it's because there's a thing called the flesh and there's a thing called the spirit,
and the spirit lusteth against the flesh, the flesh lusteth against the spirit.
These are contrary one to the other so that you cannot do the things that you would.
And what are we doing now?
We're waiting to with the redemption of our body.
You know, we need our bodies to be redeemed.
But when does that take place?
At the second coming.
Okay.
Now as we read in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, the Bible says that that day of Christ,
that second coming, is not at hand.
What does that mean, at hand?
It means it's not gonna happen at any moment.
A lot of people believe that, and obviously there's a false doctrine out there called
the pre-tribulation rapture, which teaches the imminency of Christ.
Pre-tribulation simply means that he can come at any moment.
But the Bible clearly tells us that there are events that take place before his coming.
And in fact, there's literally 75 days of great tribulation and persecution before the
second coming of Christ.
After those 75 days are over, the Bible tells us that the sixth seal is open, the sun and
moon are darkened, and what happens?
Christ comes in the clouds with a heavenly host.
He has his angels that come from the east and the west to gather together his elect.
So what do we see at the first coming?
The heavenly host.
What do we see at the first coming?
The birth of Christ.
What do we see at the first coming?
He came to save our souls, but at the second coming, what is he doing?
He's coming to save our flesh.
Okay.
Now what happens when you die as a believer?
Well, your body goes into the ground, all right, and your soul goes to heaven.
However, at the second coming, that body is resurrected according to 1 Corinthians chapter
15.
It's a twinkling of an eye.
It is changed.
Your corruption shall put on incorruption.
Your mortality shall put on immortality.
You will be changed.
Okay.
You get your glorified body.
He saves your flesh.
He redeems it back unto God.
Now go to Matthew chapter 24.
Let's look at Matthew chapter 24.
He said, well, hold on a second.
You know, what about Isaiah?
Now, I told you to go to Matthew 24, but go back to Isaiah 9.
You should have had a pen there or something right there, but hold your place in Matthew
24.
And then also hold your, no, I'm just kidding, all right.
Grab another piece of paper.
Look at Matthew 9 verse 2.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, and they that dwell in the
land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shine.
That was fulfilled at his birth.
But you know what?
That's also gonna be fulfilled at the second coming.
Go to Matthew 24 now.
Hold your place in Isaiah 9.
Go to Matthew 24.
You see, though it was fulfilled at his birth, at the second coming, at the sixth seal in
Revelation chapter 6, you have the sun and moon being dark, and everything's in darkness.
And that is our marker to recognize, to lift up our heads for our redemption draweth nigh,
as the Bible says, right?
And in fact, look at verse 27 of Matthew 24.
It says, for as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west,
so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
By the way, you also see at the first coming, the star in the east, right?
For wheresoever the carcasses, there were the eagles be gathered together.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heaven
shall be shaken, and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and he shall send his angels with the great
sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from
one end of heaven to the other.
So that is also fulfillment of Isaiah chapter nine and verse number two.
Why?
Because it says the people that walk in darkness have seen great light, they that dwell in
the land of the shadow of death.
Now why, you say, well, what about the, what are you talking about, the land of the shadow
of death?
Well, people are dying during this time.
Specifically, the last 75 days, Christians are dying.
Christians are being persecuted.
In fact, in Revelation chapter six, you see the souls of them that were slain for the
testimony of Christ under the altar, and they're saying, when will thou avenge us?
When will thou avenge our blood, speaking unto the Lord, and then shortly thereafter
is when we see Christ coming.
So those last 75 days is what's considered in the Bible as great tribulation.
Before that is tribulation, but after that is great tribulation.
Christians are gonna be put to death, they're gonna be persecuted.
You know, mother-in-law shall turn in daughter-in-law.
That doesn't seem very, you know, surprising, I'm just kidding.
You know, brother against brother, brother against father, and family members will turn
against one another.
It's gonna be a time of great anguish and distress and tribulation and affliction.
You can basically compare it to walking through the shadow of death, like in Isaiah 9-2, until
the light shines, until, excuse me, when it's dark, and then you see the light shine from
the east.
Christ comes with the host of angels to come gather together his elect from the four winds,
the Bible tells us.
Now go to Joel chapter 2, let's look at Joel chapter 2.
So here at the second coming, he will redeem, he will save our flesh if we've already been
dead, right?
Because the Bible says that the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.
So the Bible tells us that those who, if you die in this moment, in this year, 2019, 2020,
or whatever, you know, before the second coming of Christ, your body will be resurrected at
that day first.
So you got first dibs, okay, on the resurrection.
But then after that, we which are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the
clouds.
Now, that's very significant because, you know, those, you say, man, I wanna be one
of those tribulation saints, you know, there in the last 75 days.
I wanna be able to see, yeah, but you know, you're gonna pay a great price to be able
to see that event.
It's not like you're just gonna be chilling out, just, you know, waiting, and oh, there's
a sun moon being darkened, here we go, guys, let's go, you know, get your last bite in
of food before, it's not gonna be that way.
You know, we're probably not gonna be eating at all, sorry to break it to you, you know,
we probably, so what are we gonna be doing, preaching the gospel?
Running from city to city, running from persecution, but also preaching the gospel, seeing people
saved, and you're probably gonna experience the worst type of tribulation that any Christian
has ever experienced in the history of mankind.
So these people are paying a great price to see the second coming of Christ.
You say, well, I thought you said the second coming, they're gonna, Christ is gonna redeem
the flesh.
Yeah, he's also gonna redeem their flesh.
Because the Bible tells us in Matthew 24, that they that endure unto the end, the same
shall be saved, and that's referring to their flesh.
You know, I joke around, but I honestly hope it takes place like this.
You know, if I make it through the great tribulation, you know, and they're about to chop off my
head, and they bring the guillotine down, and he comes at that moment, like as my head's
flying off, it comes right back, you know, it's just like flying off, and then he comes
and just like, oop, comes right back.
I'm just kidding.
But that would be cool.
I saw too many movies growing up, okay.
Way too many movies.
But those people who experienced that great tribulation will experience the salvation
of their flesh as well.
Look at Joel chapter two, verse 16 says, but this is that which was spoken by the prophet
Joel, and it shall come to pass in the last day, sayeth God, I will pour out my spirit
upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
By the way, that prophesy simply means to preach, and in reference, in context, it's
talking about preaching the gospel, shall dream dreams, and on my servants and on my
handmaidings I will pour out in those days of my spirit, and they shall prophesy, and
I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor
of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and
notable day of the Lord come, and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on
the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This was fulfilled when he first came, why?
Because anybody who called upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
That's what the Bible tells us in Romans chapter 10, verse 13, for whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved.
But here in Joel, this is actually, oh I'm sorry, did I tell you to go to Joel?
Acts 2, that's where I was supposed to go.
But here's the interesting thing, Acts 2 and Joel 2 say the same exact thing.
The only difference is, is that instead of saying shall be saved, it actually says shall
be delivered.
So it clarifies in Joel what Acts 2 is actually talking about.
Why?
Because we obviously understand to get saved you have to call upon the name of the Lord,
but in Acts chapter 2 when it says that, it's actually referencing Joel 2 where it says
that they shall be delivered.
Delivered from what?
From persecution.
Delivered from the antichrist.
Because the Bible tells us that the antichrist will make war with the saints and shall prevail
against them.
He's gonna defeat them, he's gonna kill them, he's gonna slaughter them, but in Joel 2 when
Acts 2, which is what Acts 2 is quoting, it says delivered instead of saved.
Now go with me if you will, go back to Isaiah chapter 9, Isaiah chapter 9.
So what do we see?
We see at the first coming, the birth of Christ, what do we see at the birth of Christ?
A host of heavenly angels.
What do we see?
That those that were sitting in darkness saw great light, which is a reference to Jesus
Christ being the light of the world.
What do we see?
That he came to save our souls from sin.
He came to save us from the wages of sin, which is death, which is hell.
But what do we see at the second coming?
We see the blessed hope.
We see that second coming of Christ.
And what happens at the second coming of Christ?
He saves our flesh.
We get our resurrected bodies.
Those who make it through 75 days of great tribulation get to see the salvation of their
body.
They won't even experience death if you think about that.
Now the Bible tells us in Romans chapter 8, we are a sheep counted for the slaughter.
We're killed all the day long.
That's actually going to be fulfilled in a great way during the 75 days of great tribulation.
Because although they're not going to die, those who make it all the way into the end,
they will suffer great persecution and great slaughter.
Now what do we see at the third coming?
Now by the way, the third coming is not the second coming.
The third coming is like, you know, you come once, you come twice, and then there's a third
one.
You've got to be able to count, right?
So whenever the Bible talks about the coming of the Lord, we obviously understand that
it's not necessarily in reference to the birth.
In context, it's always talking about the second coming, which is the rapture, okay?
And yeah, but it's secret.
No one's going to see it.
No one's going to know it.
The Bible says that every eye shall see Him.
Every eye shall see Him.
And them which pierced Him shall look upon Him as well.
Why is that?
Because the Jews during that day, they will see that.
And guess what?
They're still not going to get saved, okay?
So the Bible doesn't refer to His third coming as the third coming.
We're just doing process of elimination and the ability to count.
So you know, the first one, two, and then three, all right?
So as I mentioned, He came to save our souls at His birth.
At the rapture, He will save our flesh.
At the third coming, all Israel shall be saved.
And no, I'm not referring to the Christ-rejected nation of Israel that does not want to adhere
to Christ at all, okay?
You're in Isaiah chapter nine, look at verse number six, it says, for unto us a child is
born and unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall
be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of
Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace, there shall be no end.
So that did not take place when He was born, okay?
On the throne of David and upon His kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment
and with justice from henceforth even forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform
this.
The Lord sent a word unto Jacob and He hath lighted upon it.
Now, go to Romans chapter 11, Romans chapter 11.
So now you can see how Isaiah nine ties into all of His coming, right?
Ties into His first coming and His birth in Bethlehem's manger.
It ties into His second coming when He comes in the clouds with the heavenly host.
It ties into the third coming when He comes to establish His millennial reign.
The first coming is the birth, second coming is the blessed hope, and you say, what's the
third coming, what's the third B?
Well, the third B is the bloody vesture.
Because when you read in Revelation chapter 19, the Word of God, Jesus Christ, comes with
the bloody vesture, vesture dipped in blood, the Bible says.
And what is He doing?
He's not coming on a pony to just like, say, hey, guys, you know, Jews, I'm here, remember,
you know, I'm the Messiah and all this stuff?
No, He's coming actually to set up a millennial reign, a kingdom.
And this kingdom, you see, the first time He came, He came meek and lowly on an ass,
it's cold, right?
But this time when He comes, He comes on a white horse and He comes with a rod of iron.
He said, what's a rod, what does that mean, rod of iron?
Well, a rod is often used in the Bible to signify discipline.
So just, you know, think of a rod of iron.
You know, rods, a rod of wood, you know, when you discipline can often break or they're
just, a rod of iron never breaks.
That means His reign, His rule is gonna be 100% strict and everlasting.
No if, ands or buts about it.
No exceptions to His rules.
You know, now we have exceptions to the rules, we talk about that, there is no exception
to the rule, to His rules in the millennial reign.
He came meek and lowly the first time in Bethlehem's manger, He was on Bethlehem's manger, but
the last coming, He's not coming like that anymore.
In fact, He's coming with a vengeance.
He's coming to destroy and to kill, oh, hold on a second, whoa, I thought Jesus was like,
you know, I thought Jesus was like this, wasn't He kind, yeah, He was kind and He is kind
to us, but guess what, the next time He comes, He's not coming like that.
He's coming to destroy, because you gotta keep in mind, since the last time He came,
up until now, how much wickedness has the world created?
How much evil has come to pass?
How many babies have been murdered?
How many rapes have taken place?
How many murders, how many unsolved crimes have gone forth and nothing has happened as
far as no justice has been decreed by this, by civil government?
How many years have gone by where crimes upon crimes have been committed and nothing's happened?
Well, not this time.
Because when He comes, He comes with a rod of iron, and He's coming with the law of Moses
to execute vengeance upon evildoers for the entire millennial reign, okay?
Now look at Romans 11, He said, well, I thought you said all Israel shall be saved, though.
That doesn't sound like, well, let's read it, Romans 11, verse 25 says, for I would
not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in
your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness
of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, there shall
come out of Zion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
The first coming, He saved us from our sin.
The second coming, He will save our flesh.
The third coming, He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob, not this Jacob, okay?
Sorry Jacob.
Change your name, man, I'm just kidding.
Jacobo, all right.
You made me lose my place here.
Okay, so when does this take place?
Because it tells us there that at the fullness of the Gentiles, well, the fullness of the
Gentiles, if you just compare scripture with scripture in Luke 12, in Revelation chapter
13, it shows you that it only takes place for three and a half years, okay?
Those three and a half years of the wrath of God, at the end of those three and a half
years, Jesus Christ comes, He turns away ungodliness from Jacob, and what happens?
All Israel shall be saved, and the millennial reign is established.
Now when it talks about all Israel being saved, again, it's not referring to the physical
nation of Israel as of now.
It's not even talking about the land.
Forget the land, everything's just, everything's gonna change.
It's talking about spiritual Israel, okay?
Whether Jew or Gentile, whether Jew from the Old Testament or even some modern Jew
who gets saved, who's no longer a Jew, amen, Jew or Gentile gets saved, the Bible says
that they are now of the spiritual Israel.
Now, but you say, well, you know, I don't know, that's a stretch, it says all Israel
shall be saved.
What you gotta understand is that the reason all Israel could not be saved in times past
as a nation is because the wicked were never plucked away.
This was never removed.
You always had a smorgasbord of believers along with pagan worshiping idolaters.
And so when God would say, hey, you need to remove the idolaters from the land, the idolatry
and Baal and all these people, they would never be removed, and Jeremiah 6, what do
we see?
That nation became a reprobate nation.
Reprobate silver shall men call them for the Lord and have to reject them, why?
Because the wicked were not plucked away.
And we understand according to Proverbs, the Bible tells us that when the dross is removed
from the silver, the kingdom can be established in righteousness.
Well, that's what takes place in Revelation chapter 19.
I know this is deep, but just hang with me if you would.
In Revelation chapter 19, when Jesus Christ comes, go to Revelation 19, when Jesus Christ
comes, he removes ungodliness from Jacob, therefore the kingdom can now be established
in righteousness.
Look at Revelation 19 verse 11 says, it says, and I saw heaven open and behold the white
horse and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true and in righteousness he
doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns and he had a name written
that no man knew, but he himself and he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and
his name is called the word of God, this is Jesus, and the armies which were in heaven
followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
You say, who's that, who are those people?
That's us, amen?
Now we're coming, we're not coming to fight with him, we're just coming to watch, because
the Bible says that he's going to destroy, they're going to be destroyed from the presence
of the Lord, referring to the word of God coming out of his mouth.
Look at verse 15, out of his mouth go with a sharp sword that with it he should smite
the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and he treadeth the winepress
of the fierceness and wrath of almighty God.
Now wrath, fierceness, that doesn't sound good, okay?
So this obviously goes to show that now he meant business the first time he came, but
he really means business now.
Because if you remember in Acts chapter one, when he is resurrected and what do his disciples
come and do?
They're like, are you coming to establish the kingdom, take us out from under the Roman
rule?
And he's like, it is not for you to know the times and seasons.
It is not in thy power to know the times and the seasons, but ye shall receive power
from on high when the Holy Ghost has come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
So what is he saying?
Occupy till I come.
So Revelation 19 is when he comes.
He says, occupy till I come, because when I come, then the times and the seasons, then
I'm going to establish that millennial ring.
Then there's going to be a government established by Jesus Christ in the flesh, okay?
Now go to Revelation 2, if you would.
I'm going to read to you from Psalm 2, verse 7.
So I would declare, the Bible says in verse 7, I would declare the decree the Lord had
said unto me, thou are my son, this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts
of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shall break them with a rod of iron.
Thou shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now, therefore, you kings.
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the sun, lest he be angry, and he perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but
a little.
Blessed are they to put their trust in him.
So this is in reference to the millennial reign.
He's telling the kings of the earth, hey, be instructed, be wise.
Why?
Because he's ruling with the rod of iron, and he's going to dash the potter's vessel
into pieces.
What does that mean?
Well, in the millennial reign, you will have resurrected believers, but you will also have
people who survived the wrath of God.
You will have unsaved people within the millennial reign, and unsaved people have flesh, and
because they have flesh, they will sin.
But when they sin, it's not going to be like, oh, let's just give them some grace.
You know?
Oh, he committed murder?
Oh, let's just, you know, no one's perfect.
Well, actually, these guys are.
These resurrected bodies, these guys are perfect, you know?
Yeah, but, you know, no one's perfect.
Yeah, but here's the thing.
If you commit murder in the millennial reign, you will be put to death.
Because he's going to dash in pieces with the rod of iron.
He's going to execute his law upon the land, and it seems as though he's not very patient
at this time.
Because it says, kiss the son lest he be angry, you perish from the way, when his wrath is
kindled but a little.
So what does that mean?
Don't mess with him.
Don't try his patience.
Don't try to break his law for any reason.
Hey, adhere to the law of God, amen?
Now look at Revelation 2 verse 25, excuse me, verse 26, and he that overcometh and keepeth
my works unto the end.
To him will I give power over the nations, and he shall rule them with the rod of iron
as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, even as I received of my father.
So the Bible tells us here that he that overcometh, referring to those who are saved, because
those who are overcome are those who believe on Christ.
But it also says that keepeth my work unto the end.
These are, you say, I want to rule and reign with Christ, what do I got to do to rule and
reign with Christ?
Well, keep the works unto the end.
You know, that's a great motivation for me to keep my rear end in church.
That's a great motivation for me to keep soul winning.
That's a great motivation for me to keep working for the Lord no matter what.
Why?
Because I want to have power over the nations as well, amen?
You know, you should just love the Lord.
I do love the Lord, but guess what, the Lord whom I love said, if you keep the works unto
the end, you can have power over the nations, amen?
So this should be a motivation to all of us to understand that, and look, it says here,
and he shall rule them with the rod of iron.
That's us as well.
We're ruling with that rod of iron as well.
Now go to Revelation 21, Revelation 21, because remember, we're looking at the elements.
You see, the first coming, the birth of Christ, second coming, the blessed hope, the third
coming, the bloody vesture.
I had to throw that one in there, you know, all B's.
The first coming, he was a light to them who sat in darkness.
Why?
Because those who were in darkness were in sin.
He came to seek and to save that which is lost, okay?
The second coming, he saves their flesh.
Why?
Because they're sinning in darkness because the moon, the sun and moon are darkened.
You know, there's great tribulation and trials going on, and he rescues their flesh.
The third coming, he said, where's the light in the third coming?
Remember, the third coming not only has to do with the millennial reign, but it also
goes into the new heaven and the new earth as well.
So those who sat in darkness saw this great light.
Look at Revelation 21 and verse 22.
It says, and I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the
temple of it.
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory
of God did lighten it.
And the Lamb is the light thereof, and the nations of them which are saved shall walk
in the light of it, and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
So we see how that even applies even until from the millennial reign up into the new
heaven and the new earth.
You say, what's the sermon today?
What doctrines are we fighting today?
We're not really fighting any doctrines, to be honest with you.
I just wanted to expound upon the comings of Christ, you know.
Obviously in two days, we have Christmas, though if you're Hispanic, you probably celebrate
it tomorrow.
Amen.
At 12 midnight, you open up your presents.
Who knows about that?
Anybody know about that?
All right.
That's how you do it.
Okay.
The only thing about that is that when you're a kid, you're like really tired.
And you're just like, can I just one?
It's like 9 o'clock, uno, solo uno.
That during the season, we want to think about this because these are important events that
have taken place, and they will take place.
And they all work in conjunction one with another.
We saw in Isaiah chapter 9 how those events, the passage of scripture that we read in Isaiah
9 verse 1 through 7 is applicable not just to his first coming, but it's also applicable
to his second and his third coming as well.
Amen.
Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer.
Father, we thank you so much for your word.
Thank you so much for, of course, the birth of Christ.
When he came and he died on the cross, he resurrected, and Lord, whosoever believeth
on his name can be saved.
But also, we're thankful for the second coming, the rapture.
Whether we make it to that special event or not, it's still a great event.
Or whether we're able to see it with our own eyes in our flesh.
We are going to see it, but whether we'll see it in our flesh, we should be thankful
for it.
And also for that third coming, when he sets up his millennial reign, I pray and hope that
you'd help us to really meditate and be thankful for these events, Lord.
And thank you for your word that's so deep and there's so much application, but also
just the things that we can study and compare scripture with scripture with.
And I pray, God, that you'd help us to have a greater appreciation for your word.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.